"I don't have any experience to base us on. Even before...before the Global Leaders, I didn't have anything except surface level with men. If I screw up at times, you need to let me know so I can fix it. The only thing I want to not lose is you. Anything else I've ever had, it's not important."
He wipes my tear. "When this is over, and life can resume to normal, I want you to go back to Spain with me, Zoe."
"You do?"
"Yes. And whatever you want to do with your career, I'll support you, but I want you to figure out what you want in Spain, with me."
More tears fall. "I want that."
"Good."
"And I don't care about my career. I don't need it anymore."
"No. You will sing again. It's who you are. But it's going to be on your terms. Somehow, you'll figure out how to love music again."
"My voice might already be shot. The damage might be too severe, and the next time I sing, it'll just die."
"If that happens, we'll deal with it."
"What about your career? I've destroyed it."
"I'll deal with Interpol. And there are a lot of things I can do. But I don't even need to work. I have my military pension and investments."
"That means you do it because you love it."
"I do. But I'm also forty-two, and it's not a forever career path."
"You're still young."
"I'm at the age guys start retiring. If it doesn't happen now, it'll be coming in a few years."
"But you're not ready to right now. It'll be my fault. I'm scared you'll end up hating me."
"If Interpol fires me, I'm okay with it. And I waited my entire life for you, so there's no way I'll ever hate you."
"But you didn't know me."
"I meant I waited for a woman like you. This person, right here. Not the Zoe Diego everyone gets to see, but the one I'm seeing." He kisses me and all I want is to stay side by side with him forever.
"You keep referencing when things go back to normal. I want that, so much because I want it with you. But how will that ever happen? The Global Leaders, they're too big. And even with orange hair, I'm not going to be able to hide forever. I'm too well known."
"We have to figure out a way to take them down."
"You're underestimating their power."
"When we get to Bermuda, the guys and I will figure out what to do with everything we've learned. There has to be a solution, and we will figure it out."
"But—"
"No more worrying. It's late. And I believe I lost a game earlier."
"Dirk—"
"Shh." He traces his finger down my chest. "The only thing else we have to talk about tonight is explicit favors..."
21
Dirk
We wake up early the next morning and get ready for our day. I dangle the keys, "Ready to drive?"
Zoe cringes. "Do you think I'm capable of not crashing into something?"
"Of course," I say and open the door to the driver's seat.
"Okay. Just remember I asked ahead of time if I run into any trees."
And there's plenty she can run into.
She looks so nervous.
I peck her. "It's easy. Trust me."
She slides in, and I get into the passenger's side.
"Put your belt on," she instructs me.
"It's only the backwoods."
She points. "Do you see all these trees?"
Good point.
"All right, my Little Diva. If it will make you happy."
She adjusts the seat, we buckle up, and she starts the engine. I give her instructions, and when the car moves, she giddily shrieks.
"You're doing good. Now press your foot to go a little faster."
"I'm going..." She looks at the speedometer.
"Not very fast."
"It's not a racetrack."
"Yeah, but my grandma could run faster in her eighties."
"Ha!" She presses her foot down, and the van flies. "Oh, crap!" She slams on the brakes, and we both fly forward.
"Told you to use your seatbelt!" she cries out.
"Glad you know where the brake is located. Want to try this again?"
"I think I'm done. I prefer you to drive."
"Nope. Try again."
We spend about five more minutes driving around until I say, "Want to admit I was right?"
"About what?"
"It's not hard, is it?"
"Hmm." She parks the van. "I'm done now. Thank you for teaching me. You may resume your position."
"You don't like driving?"
"It's fine. But these trees are still too close for my comfort. I'll let you handle secluded forests in the middle of nowhere."
"Fair enough."
We meet halfway around the car, and she circles her arms around my waist.