by S. E. Rose
Bravura
Portentous Destiny Series
Book Three
By S. E. Rose
Copyright © 2018 S. E. Rose
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
www.seroseauthor.com
Cover design © Arijana Karčić, Cover It! Designs
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Each book in this series primarily takes place in real locations where the author has previously visited. However, aside from names of countries and cities, the places are described in a fictional manner. The author has drawn from her personal experiences to describe these locations, but also uses fictitious embellishments for the purposes of the story.
This book contains descriptions of adult relationships and violence as well as derogatory language. If such things offend you, this book is not for you. The book is intended for mature readers.
Author’s Note:
Human trafficking is a serious global problem. According to a multitude of sources that this author has found through simple internet searches, there are over 20 million individuals enslaved in the world due to human trafficking. It is a serious problem that can happen anywhere, no matter how safe you think your community is. While the antagonists in this story are involved in a variety of crimes including human trafficking, the author wants to point out to readers that this is a fictionalized story and details relating to criminal activity or police investigations is purely fictitious.
You never know when you might be able to stop human trafficking. Pay attention to your surroundings and if something doesn’t look right, speak up! Visit your local police department’s, national police’s or the United Nations’ webpages on human trafficking to learn more about this crime and how you can help to stop it.
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Epilogue
Interlude
About the Author
To my readers, you have followed me on this journey so far, and I’m so thankful for that. I’ve done it all for you!
Prologue
Zoe’s Playlist: “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten
Present Day
I slowly open my eyes and at first see nothing. It’s pitch black and there is cold, damp soil beneath me. I mentally survey my body and realize my ankle is throbbing and my hip hurts. Carefully, I sit up and wince as I touch my ankle. It’s swollen, but I don’t feel any protruding bones. My eyes adjust as I look around. I’m in some sort of cave or cavern. Rocks jut out from the sides and ground. I glance upward and the only light I see shines down, blinding me momentarily. I force my eyes to stay open and eventually I can make out a small hole in the ceiling of the cave. The forest plants seem to cover most of it, making it difficult to see anything beyond the sunlight streaming in through the spaces in between vines and leaves.
The hope of someone finding me seems to dwindle by the millisecond and my fear that someone I don’t want to find me seems to grow with each millisecond. I sit back down and look around. As I scan to my left, I see my bag. My bag! I’d almost forgotten I had it with me. I crawl over and open it. My phone is somehow still intact but has zero service. Well, shit, that won’t help. I scour for something useful, anything. A candy bar, Xu’s compass, a pen, a piece of paper with Xu’s number, a pack of gum, a bottle of water, Kleenex, my backup phone charger, a coin, a map of the park, an extra hairband, my sunglasses, and a hat. OK, I’m officially screwed.
With a sigh, I sit down and pick up my phone. I see the last text message that I had gotten before the service dropped. It’s from Cody.
Cody: Stuck in a meeting. Will see you at 7.
Great, my knight in shining armor won’t even know I’m missing for three more hours. I turn the flashlight app on and look at the map. I’m fairly certain I am somewhere near the eastern perimeter of the Laoshan National Park. Why do I have to be so damn independent? I could have taken the guided tour or had Xu show me around, but no, I had to go traipsing around on my own.
I toss the map down and use my flashlight app to scan around the cave. Nothing. I decide to walk around the cave and check each wall. After five minutes, as I stand on the opposite side of the cavern, I hear water. I stop dead in my tracks and listen. Yes, water. I look around. I don’t see any water. And then I spot it, about halfway up the wall there is a small opening. I step back and shine the light toward it. It’s small, about the size of one of those small hula hoops. I search for a way up and decide to try and climb the wall. I throw everything back in my bag and toss it over my shoulder. I try to put weight on my ankle. My attempt isn’t great as it hurts too much to put all my weight on it. I need to stabilize it before I attempt this. I look down and curse myself. I’m going to have to rip my t-shirt. I love this t-shirt. I put on my big girl pants and rip it. OK, I shed a few unnecessary tears, but I manage to get a good long piece of fabric from the bottom. I tourniquet my ankle and try walking on it. Much better.
I slowly scale the wall, only partially wincing in pain with each move. It takes two failed attempts and a good thirty minutes before I reach the hole. I toss my phone into the hole and climb inside. It’s dark and the tunnel seems to go on for quite some ways. I turn back to the cave. Shit! I should have left something in case someone does peer down into the hole. I take the pack of gum and chew a piece and then write a message on the piece of paper and stick it to the pack of gum. I slightly pray to the softball gods that my aim might still be passable, and then I toss the gum toward where the sunshine lights up the floor of the cavern. Yes! It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough.
I turn back toward the tunnel. Please, please don’t let there be bugs! I hate bugs, spiders, and anything else that might live here. I force myself to crawl on hands and knees into the tunnel. I feel like I’ve crawled the length of a football field or more and I still don’t see an end in sight. The tunnel seems to be getting smaller and that concerns me. Did I just crawl into a dead end? I shudder at the thought of crawling backward in the tunnel. I force the idea from my head. I need to think positive. Yeah, like I’m positively sure I’m going to die here. Ugh, why was I so stupid?!! I can only imagine what my brother, Rob, would say at this moment. He’d definitely tell me I’m a jackass and should have never gone off on my own. Yeah, yeah, useful info now.
I crouch down and army crawl as the opening narrows further. It’s difficult to move and it takes me almost forty-five minutes to go what I assume is about the same distance as I had gone with the opening that was twice this size. Just as I am about to give up and turn back, I feel a slight breeze against my cheek. I stop, thinking that I’
ve really lost it now. But then I feel it again. I can hear the water better as well. I scoot forward a little more and I feel a blast of air against my face. The opening is now so narrow, I’m afraid I might get stuck. I’ve already resorted to pushing my bag in front of me. I hold onto it now, not knowing if there is a drop-off ahead and I try to make myself smaller. I squeeze myself and blow out more air and just as I begin to move I see an opening about ten feet ahead. I wriggle until I reach it. Pulling the phone up, I shine the light around.
There is an underground river ahead. I don’t see any light but the fact that water is running here is promising. I push myself through the opening, barely making it. Eventually, I manage to force my hips through the stone. My injured hip now throbs even more. I swallow the pain and look around. The water seems to be flowing east according to my phone’s compass. Seriously, what did explorers do without cell phones?
I begin following the river. At first, it’s small, little more than a stream, but eventually, it widens. I stumble over rocks a few times; however, I manage to keep my footing. The pain in my ankle is excruciating, but I’ve had worse. I’m alive. I’ve beaten the odds twice now and that has to count for something.
I stop to rest and look at the time. It’s now after seven and I know Cody must be worried and I wonder if Xu is looking for me since I never met him at our rendezvous point. I notice my battery is nearly dead, so I place it on the charger and sit. It’s probably dark outside. I debate what I should do. Where will this river lead me? Will it be safer to stay here or outside tonight? How cold does it get at night in here? Who else is out there? I look at the GPS on my phone and then at the park map. I think I’m about five miles from a ranger station or something like that. If I can make it there…then maybe.
I decide it’s do or die, and I trudge on toward what I hope will be an entrance into this cave. It isn’t long before I see moonlight ahead of me. I find myself in the forest. I don’t see any paths, but I again check my GPS against the map and then using the compass I attempt to head toward the ranger station. It’s completely dark out now. Thankfully, I see the moon overhead which provides me with ample light as I walk through the dense trees and foliage.
In the distance, I hear a twig snap and I freeze. I hear another and that is all it takes for me to push aside my physical discomfort and break into a sprint toward what I hope is safety.
Chapter 1
Zoe’s Playlist: “The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness” by The National
10 months earlier…
I roll over on the small cot in the nurses’ station at the PICU. I’ve been on call for forty-five hours. I have three more hours in my shift. I can hear a page over the loudspeaker.
“Code Blue, Code Blue…”
I jump out of bed and sprint toward the hallway. I see two other nurses running toward a room, Olivia’s room. Damn it! I follow them and hear footsteps behind me. I turn to see Dr. Tomlin running toward me. Seriously, could my life get any more fucked up? Nope, that’s rhetorical.
I push aside my personal emotional crisis and run toward Olivia’s room at a full sprint. I rush inside to see the nurses administering CPR. Her parents stand wide-eyed in the corner. I pry my eyes away from her small body and walk toward them.
“Mandy, Ethan, why don’t you come with me into the hallway and let them work on Olivia, OK?” I try to sound reassuring, but I’m not sure if it’s for me or them.
“No, we’re not going anywhere,” Amanda says. Her voice quivers, and I can tell she is doing her best to keep her shit together. I also know she will not want to see what they have to do to try to save her little girl.
“She’s right, Mandy, we should wait in the hall,” Ethan says, giving his wife’s shoulders a squeeze. He guides her out, and I follow them.
I see two chairs down the hall, and I usher them toward the chairs.
“Sit here and I’m going to see what’s going on, OK? I promise I’ll be right back,” I say as calmly as I can.
I turn back and walk into Olivia’s room. They have the paddles out, which is never a good sign.
“Clear!” Dr. Tomlin yells and the nurses step back as he sends a jolt of electricity through Olivia’s tiny body. The room stills as we all hold our breaths and look at the heart monitor. Nothing. Dr. Tomlin repeats the process. As I bite my lip and watch Olivia’s face, I hear the beep, and I turn my head toward the monitor so quick I swear I give myself whiplash.
“OK, she’s back,” Dr. Tomlin yells and he starts barking orders.
I shake my head and run back down the hall. Amanda and Ethan are sitting wide-eyed staring at me, their hands clenched together.
I nod and give them a small smile, and I can see them visibly relax. “They are working to stabilize her, but she has a good strong heartbeat now. I’m going to go back in and check on things. Once they have her stabilized, I’ll bring you back in, OK?”
They nod. I go back into Olivia’s room. She’s whimpering now, a good sign. It takes another thirty minutes until Dr. Tomlin feels she’s stabilized, and I am finally able to bring her worried parents back into the room.
Olivia is my latest “favorite” patient. She’s eight years old and suffers from cystic fibrosis or CF. Unfortunately, she’s contracted an infection that has kept her in and out of the PICU for the past year. She’s on the organ donor list, but kid organs aren’t easy to come by, and I cringe to think how much longer she has before her body gives out on her. This is the third Code Blue we’ve had with her during this latest visit, which is now approaching six weeks.
After fifty-one hours on call, I slump into the seat of my car. I need to get the hell out of here. I see Dr. Tomlin, Rick, coming out toward me, and I curse myself. Rick is cute and nice and after one too many happy hour drinks last month, I slept with him. It was brash and stupid, and I am regretting this action every day, all day. Of course, I’m not regretting it as much as the reason for sleeping with him. No, that would be thanks to Aaron. Aaron, the asshole, who I am pretty sure was using me for a place to crash until he could find a new sugar momma.
“Hey, wait up, Zoe,” Rick yells as he crosses the parking lot.
I roll down my window. “Sorry, Rick, I’m sort of in a hurry tonight. What’s up?”
“Oh, I thought maybe we could grab a bite. I just got off,” he says giving me a warm smile. Clingy, not a turn-on.
“I’m sorry, I promised my mom I’d pick her up at the airport,” I sigh, trying to sound bummed about this, even though it is a total bullshit excuse. Well, technically, I was picking my mom up, tomorrow.
“Well, maybe next week?” Rick says with a hopeful grin. I nod and give him a wave as I pull out and head toward the Ben Franklin Bridge. I need to get away and soon. My mom offered to pay for me to come on her latest adventure with her to Panama, but I decided to stay. I love my mom, but I needed a break from family for a bit. She’s been smothering me lately, not sure why. OK, that’s a lie, it’s because of my breakup with Aaron last year. He was the longest relationship I’d had in five years, and he lasted a whopping six months before he decided I was too crazy, too intense and, apparently, I was just too emotional and demanding. If by demanding, he meant, I actually wanted to do things on the weekends, then yes, fuck, I am demanding.
I make it home to my little condo in Haddonfield, New Jersey. I had picked it merely because my grandparents had lived nearby, and I always loved the cute little historic district. Plus, it has access to the PATCO, which when my hours are decent I can take straight into the city. When I’m not working, then I can walk down my street and pop into a pub or coffee shop or a million cutesy little shops. My condo is part of an old house that was converted into four small apartments. I have the top floor, or as I like to call it “the penthouse.” Yes, that requires walking up two flights of stairs, but it also came with a cool rooftop deck and some decent views of the neighborhood. Plus, no one is above me to make noise, and I get the whole floor to myself. I like the sloped roofline ceilings an
d I also get a bonus room which I use as an office/guest room. It’s not much, but it’s home and it’s mine.
I feed my fish, Marvin. He’s a beta fish and about the only thing I’ve kept alive for more than a week, aside from the cactus that my mom bought me as a housewarming gift three years ago.
“Hey, Marvin,” I say to him as I toss my bag in my room and crawl into my shower. I barely make it to my bed before I fall asleep.
Chapter 2
Zoe’s Playlist: “On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons
I slam my hand on my alarm. The buzzing keeps going. I slam my hand on my alarm again. The buzzing is still going. I pry open one eye and see Lily’s name on my phone. I groan and push my face into my pillow. The phone stops buzzing. I smile. Victory!
Then, I hear the double buzz alerting me to a new text. Shit, I spoke too soon. I glance over and see my cousin Lily’s message. Lily and Nicholas are my brother, Rob, and my younger cousins. I am the oldest and God knows I am also the go-to for everything. I was the babysitter, the responsible one, the confidant, the friend, the, well, extra adult in our foursome. They are my only cousins and I love them to death, but sometimes they drive me nuts. Lily was especially difficult as a child. There are a few years between us, so I’ve only started hanging out for fun with Lily and Nick in the past couple of years. It’s strange transitioning from authoritarian babysitter to peer, but it’s been nice getting to know them as actual adults. With my parents divorcing, and then Lily and Nick’s father being killed in an accident, I spent way too much time as the responsible one. If you really wanted to psychoanalyze me, you probably would start with that time period in my life, but that’s another story altogether.
Lily: I know you are there, butthead. Answer your phone.
I groan and don’t move.
Lily: Seriously, I need to talk to you and I think you’ll want to hear this!!
