halfway point to the door, she laid hands on Zoe’s bloody, filth-covered hips. Bodies flew past. Blood spurted. Murderous rage claimed lives.
Arms held wide, she spun in a circle.
Being Zoe Morgan wasn’t half bad. She could get used to this.
Chapter Nine
“Are you sure you’re okay with me leaving?” Zoe asked as the Zodiac sped over the waves toward the harbor on Saturday afternoon.
Adriene’s dark brown eyes softened. “Of course. How often do you get to catch up with a long lost cousin on the other side of the world? We’ll be fine, and I have your number if anything goes wrong.
“Besides, we’re going out drinking and talking about you behind your back. Even Iri’s coming. We can’t have you staying home and ruining our fun.”
Zoe tossed out a laugh, but her heart clamped at the lie she’d concocted about her cousin visiting. Adriene would be pissed off if she ever found out Zoe was really going to meet Gavin in Brisbane. Not because Adriene had anything against the guy, but because Zoe had kept quiet about it. Adriene loved a juicy story and would never let Zoe live down the fact that she had a date with the hot, young musician she’d been dreaming about.
But until Zoe’s Vice President contract was signed, sealed, and delivered, it’d be best to keep her extra-curricular activities quiet. Adriene would forgive her.
Zoe hadn’t heard from Gavin since the email he’d sent with her itinerary: a paid flight to Brisbane, limousine pick up at the airport, and a floor ticket at the gig. She had no idea what else was in store, but every time her brain got cranked up about it, she shifted gears to her whales and work. No need to set up expectations that could end in disappointment.
But the truth was, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, no matter how hard she tried. Though she hadn’t seen him in her dreams lately, her mind had made up for his absence by flashing images of him while she was supposed to be working on the boat. Such a beautiful, tempting distraction.
She sighed. “My return flight should get me back early tomorrow night—”
“Zoe, go and have fun with your cousin,” Adriene said. “Don’t worry about a thing here. My leg is fine. Dani and Elizabeth have been great. If, for some reason, you don’t make it back, Iri will go out with us on Monday. We’ll grab any DTAGs that pop up. I’ve got everything under control.”
Zoe glanced at Adriene’s cast. Her best friend’s leg had been snapped when a rival research boat captain rammed the Zodiac a couple weeks ago. Even with Iri there to pilot the boat, she still felt bad about leaving them. Like she was shirking her responsibilities, even though Randy had told her to take some time off.
Maybe she should stay home.
Adriene nodded ahead to the rolling blue waves. “If you don’t put this boat in gear, you’re gonna miss your flight. You need me to drive?” An impish glitter flashed in Adriene’s eyes, and Zoe knew there was no use arguing. Adriene’s mind was made up.
“No, Speed Racer, I think I’ve got it.” Zoe smiled. “Thanks, Adriene. You know I appreciate this.” More than she could ever imagine.
Zoe just hoped she wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life by going on this date.
* * * *
Three hours later, Zoe got off the plane in Brisbane and rolled her overnight bag through the international airport to receiving. A guy in a black suit and chauffeur hat held up a sign with her name on it and escorted her to a limousine.
How big was this band of Gavin’s, anyway? They were opening tonight for a popular group from the States, so they must’ve had some kind of following.
As the driver pulled into the parking area at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, the scope of Just Breathe’s following became clear. Twenty-year-olds with stiletto heels, big boobs, and loads of tattoos crawled the place, their inked and pierced boyfriends trailing like Pavlov’s dogs close behind.
Glancing down at
Arms held wide, she spun in a circle.
Being Zoe Morgan wasn’t half bad. She could get used to this.
Chapter Nine
“Are you sure you’re okay with me leaving?” Zoe asked as the Zodiac sped over the waves toward the harbor on Saturday afternoon.
Adriene’s dark brown eyes softened. “Of course. How often do you get to catch up with a long lost cousin on the other side of the world? We’ll be fine, and I have your number if anything goes wrong.
“Besides, we’re going out drinking and talking about you behind your back. Even Iri’s coming. We can’t have you staying home and ruining our fun.”
Zoe tossed out a laugh, but her heart clamped at the lie she’d concocted about her cousin visiting. Adriene would be pissed off if she ever found out Zoe was really going to meet Gavin in Brisbane. Not because Adriene had anything against the guy, but because Zoe had kept quiet about it. Adriene loved a juicy story and would never let Zoe live down the fact that she had a date with the hot, young musician she’d been dreaming about.
But until Zoe’s Vice President contract was signed, sealed, and delivered, it’d be best to keep her extra-curricular activities quiet. Adriene would forgive her.
Zoe hadn’t heard from Gavin since the email he’d sent with her itinerary: a paid flight to Brisbane, limousine pick up at the airport, and a floor ticket at the gig. She had no idea what else was in store, but every time her brain got cranked up about it, she shifted gears to her whales and work. No need to set up expectations that could end in disappointment.
But the truth was, she couldn’t stop thinking about him, no matter how hard she tried. Though she hadn’t seen him in her dreams lately, her mind had made up for his absence by flashing images of him while she was supposed to be working on the boat. Such a beautiful, tempting distraction.
She sighed. “My return flight should get me back early tomorrow night—”
“Zoe, go and have fun with your cousin,” Adriene said. “Don’t worry about a thing here. My leg is fine. Dani and Elizabeth have been great. If, for some reason, you don’t make it back, Iri will go out with us on Monday. We’ll grab any DTAGs that pop up. I’ve got everything under control.”
Zoe glanced at Adriene’s cast. Her best friend’s leg had been snapped when a rival research boat captain rammed the Zodiac a couple weeks ago. Even with Iri there to pilot the boat, she still felt bad about leaving them. Like she was shirking her responsibilities, even though Randy had told her to take some time off.
Maybe she should stay home.
Adriene nodded ahead to the rolling blue waves. “If you don’t put this boat in gear, you’re gonna miss your flight. You need me to drive?” An impish glitter flashed in Adriene’s eyes, and Zoe knew there was no use arguing. Adriene’s mind was made up.
“No, Speed Racer, I think I’ve got it.” Zoe smiled. “Thanks, Adriene. You know I appreciate this.” More than she could ever imagine.
Zoe just hoped she wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life by going on this date.
* * * *
Three hours later, Zoe got off the plane in Brisbane and rolled her overnight bag through the international airport to receiving. A guy in a black suit and chauffeur hat held up a sign with her name on it and escorted her to a limousine.
How big was this band of Gavin’s, anyway? They were opening tonight for a popular group from the States, so they must’ve had some kind of following.
As the driver pulled into the parking area at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, the scope of Just Breathe’s following became clear. Twenty-year-olds with stiletto heels, big boobs, and loads of tattoos crawled the place, their inked and pierced boyfriends trailing like Pavlov’s dogs close behind.
Glancing down at
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