Bravura (Portentous Destiny Series Book 3)

by S. E. Rose

  I sigh and let him roll me to my side. He pulls the covers over me and puts on some shorts before heading out to the main living area. I lie awake in bed for a long time. Finally, at 4:55 a.m., I decide sleep isn’t happening and I throw on some cotton shorts and a tank top. I walk out to find Cody sitting on a kitchen stool looking through the documents Lance found on the USB drive. I can see only his face in the glow of the computer screen. The rest of the room is dark aside from the faintest hint of light blue threatening to emerge as the sun makes its way toward NYC. I cross the room in silence, but my motion must catch his attention because his head makes a harsh movement to look toward me.

  “Jesus Christ, Zoe, you scared the shit out of me,” he says way too loudly.

  I put a finger to my lips. “Shhh…Lily and Lance are sleeping,” I whisper. He rolls his eyes, and I can hear the faint rhythmic movement of furniture above us. I put a hand to my mouth to quell the laughter that is threatening to escape. “Guess none of us are getting much sleep tonight,” I say with amusement.

  “Guess not,” he laughs quietly. He pats the seat next to me and I sit, my eyes glancing toward the screen.

  “Find anything else?” I ask.

  “Not sure,” he says. “It’s just strange that project stuff and then this human trafficking stuff would all be together on a drive. I can’t wrap my head around that.” He is opening additional files. “Jesse found some more stuff. I just don’t get it.” He shakes his head.

  I shrug. “Maybe he accidentally copied files onto it that he shouldn’t have. It only takes one click, or so my computer one-o-one prof used to say.”

  “True, but it’s unlike someone that was so anal about his work.”

  “Don’t know.” I shrug again.

  I lean my head on his shoulder as he continues to look through files. He puts an arm around me and absentmindedly rubs my arms with his thumb. I only notice the time when the orange rays of sunlight begin to stream in through the window. I look down at the corner of the screen, it’s a little after six.

  “Did Lance tell you he’s asking Lily to marry him?” I ask as my mind wanders back to earlier last night.

  “Yep,” he says, not taking his eyes off the screen.

  “I’m happy for them,” I sigh.

  “Me too, princess. Me too,” he says as he finally turns to look at me. He traces the lines of my face with this finger and then pulls me close, so he can kiss my lips, my cheeks, my eyelids, and finally my forehead. “I missed your smell, your taste…you,” he whispers as he presses his forehead against mine.

  I giggle. “You know you are really killing my ‘party girl, no relationship’ self,” I laugh.

  He raises an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

  I nod. Then I pull him in closer. “Don’t tell anyone, because I won’t admit it, but I kind of like you.”

  “Kind of?”

  “OK, I really like.”

  “Really like me?”

  “Don’t push it, mister!”

  Cody laughs and puts his hands up in defeat. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

  “Watch me,” I say and jump off the stool to make coffee. Cody smacks me playfully on my ass as I walk away, and I jump. “Hands off the merchandise, Prince Charming. You break it, you buy it.”

  His eyebrows both go up. “Oh really?”

  I waggle my eyebrows at him. “My merchandise is pretty pricey though…” I smirk as I pull out little cups to put in the coffee maker. “Light, dark, or medium?” I ask as I hold up the various options.

  “I think I need dark today,” he mutters.

  “Me too,” I agree as I pull out a second one and pop in the first.

  I hand him a cup of black coffee and wait for mine. I hear movement above us and a minute later Lance is downstairs.

  “Morning,” he says as I hand him the cup of coffee I have made. I give him a knowing smirk and pop in yet another coffee cup. He gives me a shit-eating grin, and thanks me as he sits down next to Cody. He pulls out his phone and dials a number.

  “Hey, Jack, sorry to call so early, but we need to talk with you…er…show you something,” he says as he rubs his forehead. I hear him explain what we found. “Uh, yes…no…yep, got it…OK…sending…how long…no…I see…right…yeah, I understand…will do…yep, this number is best…thanks, Jack,” Lance finishes and hangs up. “Well, I just sent the files in a zip drive to some secured email. Jack’s going to have a friend take a look at them. He said it could take a while, weeks even depending on how much is there. He doesn’t want either of you staying at your homes for now.”

  “What?!” Cody and I say simultaneously.

  “Yeah, sorry. Don’t shoot the messenger,” he says. Cody curses under his breath.

  After a minute, Cody gets one of those lightbulb moment faces. “Ben’s place,” he says.

  I look at him, not understanding.

  “My friend Ben Parker is out of the country on a project for the next two months. He was hoping to find someone to look in on his apartment, but never did find anyone. He ended up hiring his younger sister’s friend, but I could call him and say we’ll stay there. It’s a super secure building in downtown Philly,” he explains as he pulls out his phone. Within five minutes, we have a place to stay and train tickets home for later that day. “You still have everything at your mom’s house, yes?”

  “Yep.”

  “Great, we’ll stop by and get the stuff and then go to Ben’s.”

  Lance looks at him. “OK, we’ll get Rob to stop by your mom’s house and get your stuff,” he says after having another silent conversation with his brother.

  “But why?” I ask.

  “Princess, don’t argue. Lance is right, we need to be cautious.”

  I look at them and roll my eyes. “Damn twin conversations,” I mutter as I head back toward the guest room to take a shower. I hear them chuckling a bit and even in my annoyance I can’t help but feel safe with them, albeit amused and annoyed, but safe.

  Chapter 19

  Zoe’s Playlist: “Unstoppable” by Sia

  We are back in Philly before dinnertime. I’m armed with a list of things to do to help Lance get a wedding together in a matter of weeks. I have to admit it’s an excellent distraction from my current predicament. I spent half the train ride online trying to figure out logistics for Lance’s secret wedding operation, or as I drunkenly dubbed it last night “Operation Lilypond Deed.”

  As the taxi comes to a stop, I look up at the high-rise downtown in which we’ll be staying for the foreseeable future. “Wow,” I whisper as my head continues up and up toward the sky.

  “Yeah, Ben’s bachelor pad is pretty sweet,” Cody mutters as he grabs my bag and hands it to a guy at the door. I look at him and smirk.

  “Pretty swanky, Prince Charming,” I laugh.

  “Wait till you see the penthouse,” he says. I raise my eyebrows and follow him to an elevator. A guard hands him a special key and note card. Cody reads the note and laughs and then inserts the key card in a small slot below the floor numbers on the elevator. He presses the “P” at the bottom of the list of numbers and up we go. The doors swing open, and we are in a foyer with a very tall twelve-foot ceiling. It’s round with a large round table in the center on a Persian rug. A very modern-looking chandelier hangs above it. A modern sculpture graces the center of the table, where one would think flowers in a vase might go. The walls are stark white, and the floor is a black polished cement.

  Cody uses the card to open the double door entrance into the apartment. It is huge. There’s an amazing view of downtown with floor-to-ceiling windows. He presses a button on a remote by a side table. “Watch this,” he says as the windows darken.

  “Wow,” I say. The place is extremely modern. There are exposed beams that look more like works of art than infrastructure. The fireplace has a reclaimed wood surround which gives it an interesting offset look from all the modern fixings. Another chandelier hangs over a giant round dining table that
easily sits ten people. The chandelier is comprised of empty beer bottles in various colors. There is a second floor off the main living space that houses four bedrooms and two more bathrooms, an exercise room and a laundry room. Off the main living space, a hallway leads to the master suite complete with study, two walk-in closets the size of my bedroom, and a giant bathroom with the world’s largest Jacuzzi. There’s even a safe room in the closet of the master bedroom. I roll my eyes at that one. Cody shows me how it works anyhow. There’s a game room/theatre room off the main living room on the other side. The kitchen which is open to a dining/living space is large with chef-grade appliances including a walk-in wine fridge.

  “Quite the bachelor pad,” I mutter.

  “Yep,” Cody agrees as he wraps his arms around my waist and rests his head on top of mine. “Home sweet home for a while, but I think it’s fit for a princess.”

  I laugh. “A gaming, drinking princess. Where are the bunk beds and trampoline?”

  “This isn’t the movie Big, darling. My plans for you are a bit more, well, adult,” he says as he nips at my ear. “Shall we break in that giant shower over there?” he asks as he motions toward the master bathroom. I walk forward and glance around the corner. Not sure how I missed it the first time, the shower is the size of a room, complete with benches and shower jets on all the walls. Before I know it, Cody is stripping my clothes off and leading me into the shower, scratch that, room. He closes the glass door and turns a knob. Steam rises out of, well, I’m not really sure, but steam is definitely filling the large space. I feel the sweat beginning to form on my body. Cody runs a hand down my back and then pulls me against him. His body is beginning to sweat as well. Then he presses a button and classical music fills the room.

  “It’s also a steam room with audio,” he whispers against my neck.

  “I see and hear,” I manage to squeak out as he turns me around and claims me with his mouth. He leads me to a bench and sits down on it, bringing me down to straddle him. I rub against his erection which is slick from my wetness and our mixed sweat. When I can’t take it any longer, I let him slide inside me, one delicious inch at a time.

  “Damn, princess, I love being buried inside you,” he growls as he sucks on one nipple and then another. I slam myself down on him again and then he lifts me up and pins me against the wall. Our bodies are now slick with sweat and we slide easily against each other. I breathe in his scent and the scent of our sex. It’s intoxicating, and I want more. My mouth finds his, and I show him with my lips and my tongue just how badly I need him. He continues to ram into me over and over as we fuck with our tongues as well. I feel it building to a crescendo just as the music begins to build as well. I come to a chorus of strings playing in the background. My hands grip his upper arms for support as my body clenches, and I cry out his name. He soon follows and then keeps us pinned against the wall for a moment as we both catch our breath.

  “Well, the steam room seems to work just fine.” I smirk as I literally slide down his front.

  “Yes, I believe it does,” he chuckles as he switches off the steam and turns on the jets. It’s cold and I let out a gasp from the shock of the temperature change.

  I see Cody glance down at my hardened nipples, and I playfully slap him. “Ass,” I say, but I can’t contain the smile on my face.

  Cody makes the water slightly warmer and then begins to lather me with soap. I return the favor and after a thorough cleaning, we crawl into bed. “Hungry?” he asks. I glance at the clock, it’s nearly 8:00 p.m. now.

  “Not really, more tired than hungry,” I say.

  “Well, then let’s get some sleep,” he says softly and reaches for a remote on the bedside table, pressing several buttons. He sees me watching him and smiles, holding up the remote. “I can set the alarm from here as well.” He shows me how, and then we fall into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  My phone buzzing wakes me in the morning. I reach to the floor, surprised it still has battery left.

  “Hello, Mom,” I groan.

  “And why didn’t you call me to tell me you are here?” she spits out in anger.

  I groan again. “Sorry, I forgot. Plus, I’m guessing Rob filled you in since he brought my bag over here.”

  “What in God’s name is going on, Zoe Beth Greene! You tell me right now,” she commands.

  I stifle a giggle. “Really, Mom, the whole-name thing?” I hear her growl, literally growl. “Fine, I just don’t want you to freak out, OK?”

  “I’ll reserve judgment until you finish,” she says calmly.

  I launch into the story and when I finish she is quiet.

  “Mom? You still there?”

  “Jesus, Zoe,” she says, sucking in a big gulp of air so loudly I can hear it over the phone.

  “I know. I know,” I say quietly.

  “You said Jack knows all of this?” she asks.

  “Yes, Jack is on it, Mom. He’ll figure it all out. I trust him.”

  “So do I,” she murmurs, clearly letting her thoughts get the best of her.

  “Did you tell Daddy?” she asks.

  “Mom, seriously? I barely talk with him, so no.”

  “You ought to tell him,” she encourages.

  “Nope, not happening,” I say.

  She sighs. “Fine. Can I come see you?”

  I look over and Cody is waking up and listening to my conversation. He shakes his head. I roll my eyes. “Mom, why don’t I meet you for lunch tomorrow?”

  “Oh, OK. Text me where and when, and I’ll be there, honey.”

  “Great. And, Mom?”

  “Yes, Zoe?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too, baby girl,” she says, calling me by a nickname I haven’t heard in a very long time. I smile as I hang up.

  “Baby girl, huh?”

  I playfully smack Cody’s chest. “That’s between me and my mom.”

  Cody puts up his hands. “OK, whatever you say, princess.”

  We sit there for a while and my phone buzzes again. “Hey, Cami,” I say as I see my friend’s name on the screen.

  “Hey, stranger,” she answers. “You want to work a shift tomorrow? Lena has the flu.”

  “Sure,” I say, delighted to have something to keep me busy.

  “Great, it’s a twenty-four-hour shift starting at eight tomorrow morning.”

  “OK, see you then,” I say.

  “Working tomorrow?” Cody asks as he traces my nipple.

  “I guess so,” I answer, and I roll onto him so I’m straddling his waist, my hair falling around my shoulders and slightly impeding my view of him as I lean forward and kiss him.

  “Good morning, Prince Charming.” I grin against his lips.

  “Good morning, princess,” he answers.

  After a brief romp, we’re up and heading to a small café around the corner for breakfast. We spend the rest of the day putting away our few belongings that we have with us, and then we watch some old movies and order takeout. By the time I get to work the next day, I’m ready for distractions, especially after Cody spent a good portion of my morning fretting over the security at the hospital. I had to continually remind him how safe it is where I work. He reluctantly agreed that my work is probably a safe place for me to be.

  I pop my head into Olivia’s room first.

  “Hey,” I say, and she looks up at me from her coloring book. She looks a bit gaunt and that worries me.

  “Hi, Zoe,” she says and crawls toward me for a hug. I give her one and sit down to inspect her artwork.

  “This is good,” I say to her.

  “You want me to make you a picture?” she asks.

  “Sure, I’d love one,” I say as I check her vitals.

  Her breakfast is brought in, and her mom pulls me out into the hallway to discuss Olivia’s most recent health issues. I can see the toll Olivia’s recent stay has taken on Mandy. She looks ten years older than when I first met her four years ago.

  “Dr. Tomlin says
she’s not responding well to the treatments any longer,” she whispers in the hallway. “He is looking for clinical trials for us, but so far we haven’t qualified for any.”

  I nod and squeeze her hand. “I’ll ask around as well,” I say.

  Mandy gives me a hug. “Thanks, Zoe,” she says. “You always make her so happy when she sees you.”

  “She makes me happy, too. I don’t like to admit it, but she is my favorite patient,” I acknowledge. Mandy manages a small smile and slips back into the room.

  I manage to keep myself from crying, and I continue checking on patients. By the end of the shift I’m exhausted, I check back in with Olivia.

  “Zoe, here’s your picture,” she says and hands me a crayon drawing. It’s a picture of a blonde stick figure at the beach, and then a smaller stick figure up in the corner. I look at her, waiting for her explanation.

  “This is you,” she points at the blonde stick figure, “and this is me.” She finishes and points to the stick figure at the top.

  “And why are you all the way up here?” I ask. She gets a very serious look on her face and pulls my face down toward hers with both her hands until we are eye to eye.

  “Because I’m watching over you,” she says. A shiver shoots down my spine.

  “And why is that?”

  “Because, I can’t stay here forever, Zoe,” she states matter-of-factly.

  “Olivia, don’t be silly. You’re going to get better and go home soon,” I say.

  She shakes her head, looking a bit sad. “I don’t think so,” she whispers and looks to the corner of the room where her mom is sleeping in a chair. “But don’t tell them, OK? It’s going to be too hard for them, but they will have each other.”

  I take her little chin in my hand and look into her eyes. “Don’t give up, Olivia. You are a fighter!” I say, as my voice falters.

  “Don’t be sad, Zoe. This is what is supposed to happen, and I’m OK with it,” she sighs. “Besides, I get to be everyone’s guardian angel, which is pretty cool.”

  I smile at her. “You are pretty cool, Olivia, and don’t ever forget that, OK?”