Page 175 of Red Marked

Her mouth falls open all over again, but she quickly recovers. “Are you insane?”

I start for the door.

“Flint. You can’t expect⁠—?”

“I can, and I do. It stays untouched, just like your pussy. Do you hear me?”

Her eyes narrow to slits. The cardboard dents under her fingers.

I don’t wait for an answer. I leave and close the door a little harder than I meant to.

I smile all the way to the stairs.

I’m sure it’s evil as fuck.

Too bad I don’t care.

Star still doesn’t seem to realize how close she came to death. She’s a little too calm about the whole thing.

Nothing happened.

It turned out okay.

It irritates the shit out of me. Having said that, I’m not sure that’s why I’m still punishing her.

50

Star

We land without a male strapped to the rig for the first time since I joined the rotation.

We thought we had a big green-and-red male, but he managed to get away through thick vines and jungle. In the end, it was too dangerous to follow, and so close to the end of our shift that we decided to head back.

We touch down on the pad. There’s a screen up that wasn’t here earlier. It divides the pad into two areas. There’s a large side for the males and a much smaller side for Rift and me. It could house another two, maybe three females, which shows forward planning.

We shift, and I walk to my clothes. They’re folded over a chair. The lockers are on the other side. I’m pretty sure they’ll put some up on this side for us before long.

Rift steps in next to me, reaching for her shirt.

“There’s a barbecue tonight,” she says, working a button through its hole. “There is a recreational area on the back lawn. You’re invited. I hope you’ll come. We normally have a get-together when all of us are around.”

“I don’t think I have it in me. I’m running on fumes.” I’m supposed to be meeting Flint after our work shift to discuss my findings.

“Of course you have it in you. You can cope for an hour or two. We all have an early start, so it won’t be anything crazy.” She yanks a boot on and stamps her heel into it. “Flint’s coming, by the way. Once he’s done at the office.”

Oh!

Okay.

I work hard at staying neutral.

“I’ll probably jump in the shower and see how I feel afterward. I was up late last night going over a few things.” I widen my eyes, trying to make it obvious.

By things, I mean Veridian Bridge. I don’t say it out loud in case someone is listening in. Although I doubt it’s the case since we’re all the way over here.

“And did you find anything?”

“I have a few leads.”