Page 11 of Below the Barrel

Koa nods, his arms crossed over his chest as he studies Gabriel. My eyes roam down his body, the veins in his arms more visible after Gabriel’s tough workout. I drag my eyes back up to his and butterflies explode in my stomach when I find him looking back at me with a knowing look.

For fuck’s sake, woman. Stop drooling over the guy.

I whip my head towards Gabriel with a frown. “Anything else we should look out for?”

“The rip currents can get a bit trippy out there so it’s best to stay triangulated to avoid getting swept away to the sharks.”

“We should get a practice session in before the actual competition,” Koa says, though I refuse to look at him again.

Gabriel nods. “Not a bad idea, I’ll plan something over the next few days.”

All three of our phones notify us of an incoming message. I quickly walk across the room to the bench where my phone lays as Gabriel takes his out from his pocket and curses.

Eliana:

Have you guys seen this article?

*link shared*

I open the link to the article, and my heart drops to my stomach as I read the headline.

Missing: Surf Prodigy, Zalea Evans

I look up at Gabriel, who is glaring down at his phone while the team group chat explodes with messages from the others.

Zale:

Gabriel, do you know anything about this? Her phone goes straight to voicemail. Where is my sister?

Kairi:

Zale, relax, I’m sure she’s fine.

Zale:

I wasn’t talking to you.

Gabriel:

Enough.

Zale:

Where. Is. She.

Gabriel lets out a frustrated growl from across the room, his hand running over his short hair. I glance up at Koa with a concerned expression as he watches Gabriel.

Gabriel:

I don’t know. I’ve had my people looking for her all morning.

Zale:

You knew she was missing from this morning, and you didn’t think to fucking tell me? Are you out of your mind?

Griffin:

Enough, Zale.

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