Page 235 of Red Marked

“He didn’t mind traveling in alone?” Flint asks.

“Nah…he was fine about it.” Rift laughs. “He was glad you didn’t ask him to drive in like the rest of us.”

“Good. Are you ready?” Flint asks her. “Do you know what you have to do?”

“Yep.” She nods.

“I’m so sorry about all of this,” I tell her.

“Stop apologizing.” Rift waves a hand.

“No, really, are you sure you want to do this?” Flint catches her eye in the rearview mirror. “You can still back out.”

“I’m very sure. I’ve got this; you’ll see.”

“It might not be the same male at the gate. It could be⁠—”

“It doesn’t matter. They’re all the same, but it will probably be Winston.”

“Okay, then.” Flint reaches over and turns the radio up a little. Some guy is singing about a girl and a truck.

“I really like this song.” He winks at me, looking nothing but calm.

It helps ease my nerves a little.

Flint parks, and we get out. He leaves the SUV running with the radio on.

“It’s hot,” he tells us. “I’ll leave the AC running.” He speaks up since we’re on the other side of the vehicle.

“Good idea.” Rift nods.

It’s the same guard on duty as last time. Winston looks up when the door opens, and his eyes go straight past Flint and me to Rift, and he sits up.

“Well, well. Look who’s back.”

“Hi, Winston.” Rift smiles at him.

Winston has to drag his eyes off her to deal with Flint. “New wheels?”

“New purchase. We need a vehicle at the clinic for the supply runs.”

“Nice.” Winston stamps his papers without reading them. He does the same for mine. He glances at my ID. “Did you have a good break?”

“Very good,” I say. “Just too short.”

He laughs. “Always.”

Then it’s Rift’s turn, and she leans on the counter while she hands over her card, and Winston doesn’t even pretend to look at it. He looks at her breasts instead.

“Sleep well?” he asks her chest. “You said that was the big plan.” He finally drags his eyes up.

“I did. For about a day.” She takes the card back slowly. “Then I got bored.”

“You should have called me.”

“I don’t have your number.”

He grins, and there’s a bit of pink coming up his neck. “That can be fixed. Let’s get business out of the way first.”