Property of Zombie (Kings of Anarchy MC: Washington #2)

Prologue

LUCY

Twenty-seven years old…

“Lucy Thomas.”

I smile as I climb the stairs to walk across the stage and receive my diploma for a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.

When I started school at the University of Florida at the age of eighteen, I was a nervous undergrad who lacked social skills and confidence due to a sheltered childhood with parents who cared more about appearances than actually giving a damn about their daughter.

Now, I’m a grown woman with a doctorate and a promising future.

“Thank you,” I say as I shake the Dean’s hand and take my diploma from him.

“Congratulations,” he offers with a smile.

The rest of the graduation ceremony takes thirty minutes, and by the time it’s over, I’m ready to head to my apartment and start packing.

I was matched with the zoo in Tacoma, Washington, through the Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program.

I start in a few days and fly out on the red eye tonight.

“Hey, Luce!”

I glance over my shoulder to see Sharon, one of the other graduates and my closest friend, running toward me.

“What’s up?” I ask when she practically skids to a stop in front of me.

“You’re coming to the party tonight, right?” she asks.

“Can’t,” I quip. “I’m flying out tonight, remember?”

Sharon frowns. “You’re actually going to Washington?”

“I am.” Unlike her, I didn’t get numerous matches in Florida. “It’s a great program, and I’m lucky to have matched there.”

“Yeah, but…” She hesitates before blowing out a breath. “It’s so far away. You don’t know anyone there.”

I huff out a laugh. “Sharon, I didn’t know anyone here, either, and it’s not like there’s anything or anyone keeping me in Florida.”

“What about me?” she scoffs, her tone full of hurt.

“I love you, you know that,” I tell her. “But you’ve got Jeremy, and you’ll be busy with your own residency, not to mention all the wedding planning.”

At the mention of her fiancé, her face lights up. “You’ll still come to the wedding, right?”

I wrap my arms around her in a hug. “Of course, I will. Wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

She steps back and beams. “Okay.” Her name is called, and she glances over her shoulder. “Well, I gotta run. Jeremy is taking me out for dinner before the party. Let me know when you land safely, okay?”

“I will, promise.”

I shiver as I step outside the airport. It’s the middle of the night, and I’m exhausted. All I want to do is get to my hotel and sleep for two days straight. Unfortunately, I need to find a place to live, so I’ll have to settle for a few hours of sleep instead.

After ordering an Uber via the app on my phone, I sit down on a bench and wait. I only have two suitcases with me because I sold most of my stuff over the last few weeks, knowing I’d be completely starting over in Tacoma.

Once I get checked in at the hotel, I trudge to my room, kick off my shoes, and fall into bed. Ten hours pass before I wake, but I feel rested and ready to tackle anything.

The following day, I sign a lease for a condo that’s a few miles from the zoo, purchase a used car, and start shopping for furniture and other household items I need.

Fortunately, my parents sent me a big fat check for graduating.

It would’ve been nice if they’d made the effort to actually come to the ceremony, but heaven forbid they shorten their trip to Greece.

Two days later, I’m driving through the gates of the zoo with a huge smile on my face and a ball of nerves bouncing around in my gut. I follow the signs for the employee entrance, and my smile falters when I see nothing but large pickup trucks in the gravel lot.

Lucy, you’re an idiot. A truck would’ve been the better choice for a vet and zoo employee… not a stupid Ford Fusion.

Grabbing my bag and the lunch I packed, I lock the car and make my way inside to find Melanie, the woman from human resources I was told to report to.

It’s early, and the zoo isn’t open to the public yet, but the building is busy.

Staff mill around, and while some say ‘hello’, others don’t even acknowledge my presence.

“Can I help you?” a middle-aged woman asks when I pause in a hallway.

“Uh, yes, please,” I say. “I’m Lucy Thomas, and I’m looking for Melanie from HR.”

She smiles. “You’ve found her. I was just coming to see if you’d arrived. Follow me,” she instructs, turning on her heel and walking away.

I try to commit the path to her office to memory, but only time will tell if the information sticks. This place is like a maze. Melanie gestures to a chair as she takes the one behind a large mahogany desk.

“I trust you’ve settled in,” she says as she riffles through stacks of papers.

“It’s a work in progress,” I admit. “I moved into a condo two days ago, and furniture is slowly being delivered.”

“Good, good. Oh,” she says, lifting a file folder.

“Here it is. We’ve got some paperwork to get through, and then I’ll give you the tour.

By the time we get through that, it’ll be time for lunch.

Once you’re back from your break, I’ll introduce you to Dr. Binks, the lead vet here at the zoo, and he’ll take things from there. Sound good?”

“Sounds great.”

The morning goes exactly as Melanie stated. As she walks me through the large zoo, it’s almost impossible not to stop and admire all of the animals, but there’s no time. My shift is over at five, and the zoo is open until eight, so I’ll save that for later.

The rest of my first day is amazing, and once I was introduced to everyone, I was immediately treated like family. When I step into my condo that night, I can’t help but be grateful for Tacoma being the place I’m calling home.

At least for the next year.