“But just so you know, I don’t have the immunity agreement settled yet.” If Naomi gave her evidence and got locked up anyway because Gabby hadn’t done the proper groundwork, she would feel even more like trash than she already did.
Naomi waved her off. “I’m gonna do the right thing, and I trust you to do the same.”
“You realize I’m the government,” Gabby said.
Naomi gave her an up-and-down. “You’re not selling that right now. But I made up my mind. I’m going to email you a file.”
Which email address should she give Lana? She couldn’t remember the password for the Gia Glanville one. She wasn’t supposed to be working, so she shouldn’t use her EOD address. Valentina would see evidence coming in from Inner-G if she looked. Luckily, she still maintained the bake sale account for Queen Palm Elementary and Middle School. “C-O-O-K-I-E M-O-M at gmail.com,” she said.
Naomi raised an eyebrow. “See, you’re barely the government.”
“That’s what my boss said too. It’s a problem.” They turned acorner, and the yacht came into view. TheG-Spotwas scrawled in fancy lettering across the side. And to think that she’d never thought it was a real place.
“Open the email as soon as you can,” Naomi said. “It’ll explain everything.”
“Everything?” This had to be one hell of an email.
“Don’t tell anyone you got it from me.”
Gabby nodded solemnly. “Deal.
“One more thing. I have a question for you.” Gabby stopped walking with the boat in sight, but far enough for privacy. She gave Naomi her best Mom look, the kind of look that would force Lucas into an immediate confession that he was the one who had spilled a gallon of paint on the driveway and then tried to clean it up with all the new monogrammed bathroom towels. Kids.
Naomi squared off. “What now?”
“IMoan, please explain.”
Naomi shrugged. “Oh, that. I’ve been selling stories here and there. Nothing that really hurts anyone. It’s a side hustle.”
“That’s it? Is Jasmine in on it?”
“Yeah, but it’s nothing compared to what I just sent you. If you don’t look past my little side hustle, you’d be crazy.”
Gabby smiled. “If you want to be TMZ, just start a TikTok or something. People get paid for that, right?”
“Who says I’m not on TikTok?”
Gabby accepted Naomi’s statement. It had the ring of truth, which she couldn’t say for everything she’d heard this week.
They started toward the boat again, and a corner of the train drooped into the path. “Let me help you onto the boat with that dress.” Naomi picked up the sagging fabric. “I’m not interested in having to rescue you after you trip off the dock in that thing. Itmight as well be a concrete block as a couture gown if you fall in the water.”
The water sparkled, and the boat gleamed in the afternoon sun. The yacht was decked out in its wedding finery. The railings were strung with flower garlands and fairy lights. A violin was playing… “Is that the theme fromPower Couple?”
Naomi nodded. “It’s classic John Williams. Kinda sounds like theJurassic Parksoundtrack, doesn’t it?”
It did.
Naomi followed her up the gangplank while the quartet played from the part of the movie where G had moved into the redwood forest to start training for the coming apocalypse. It wasn’t exactly Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
Inside, most of the guests were congregated in the luxury dining room with a carved antique bar and chandeliers. Gabby’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of Markus dressed for their wedding. It was really hard to remember they had been fighting just a few hours earlier. But really, what wedding couple hadn’t been fighting just a few hours before the ceremony?
Markus must have felt her eyes on him and turned. The look on his face when he saw her in the dress sent her spirit twirling, while her feet were planted to the floor in complete paralysis. She tripped, and Naomi scolded her. “You remember how to walk, right?”
From the way Markus was looking at her, it was obvious that he thought she was beautiful. It wasn’t an expression of casual admiration. His eyes were shining, and his smile was so big that it took over his whole face. He was smiling like he forgot they were on a mission.
In this moment, in a wedding dress and tux, nothing felt like pretend. She forgot he’d broken up with her yesterday and thatthey were spies currently trying to salvage their careers. This was better than any wedding she’d ever seen on TV.
Genesis broke the spell. He appeared dressed in a flowing open robe over a golden Speedo. On his head, a turban. If anything could distract from the splendor of the yacht and wedding decorations, it was him.
