Page 109 of Red Marked

“What did she pick?”

“He convinced her to go with the strawberry sorbet. He had the same.”

That is so Jett. “So, he hasn’t mated anyone.”

“It doesn’t look like it. I think she might have been a Draiger, actually. She didn’t have any red in her markings that I could see.” He signals and takes us back toward the bridge. “They sat huddled in the corner, looking pretty cozy. Look, if it’s any consolation, and I doubt it is, he thinks you’re dead. That female has nothing on you. Not a damned thing. I swear he’d be mated to you right now if those pricks hadn’t done what they did. You’d probably be pregnant.” He glances at me. “I’m sorry. I know this must be hard on you.”

“I’m fine.” Surprisingly, I really am fine.

Jett looked exactly like I remember him. His hair might be a little shorter. He’s tall and toned. Not as built as Flint, but good-looking. He always was.

I felt nothing. Not a twinge. I’m relieved, actually. It was the not knowing how I’d feel that was somehow the hardest.

“Are you sure?”

I nod. “As I said, I’ve changed. I’m not the same female I was back then. I’ve moved on, and so has he. It’s over.”

“If he knew you were alive, he would⁠—”

“We don’t know how long this investigation will take. No one can know I’m alive unless completely necessary. It’ll put them and my females up in those mountains in danger. The less anyone knows, the better. In fact, I think I have to be a little more careful. We should stop at the store so that I can buy some hats and dark glasses. Maybe even a wig. I’ve been careless. I’m lucky no one has recognized me.”

“You’re right.” He nods. “I should have thought of it sooner.”

Maybe there’s a reason Jett had to ask me to mate him so many times. I eventually gave in and said yes. There was a small part of me that grew increasingly apprehensive as the ceremony got closer. I told myself it was nerves. Everyone gets nerves.

Maybe not.

Maybe we were never meant to be.

I take a spoonful of Rocky Road and let it melt on my tongue.

“We’ll stop at the mall and pick up those things. Then we should get back to the hotel and get back on the computer,” Flint says. “See what we can find on Red Gate Holdings. I’ll call Jim’s Shop & Save just to be sure. I know Magma has someone on it, but it couldn’t hurt. The more eyes on this, the better.”

“Okay. It’s better than doing nothing.”

“I’m trying to think of all the angles we can explore. There have to be more leads for us to look into. I hate having to sit around and wait. I know it’s been a very long time, but can you remember who the email came from that day? The one that was sent to you in error about the hemorrhagic vaccinations. Can you recall who sent it?”

“I’ve been racking my brain all these years, but I can’t…” I shake my head. “I don’t think there was a person’s name on it. It was a company. Nothing that stood out, or I might have remembered. I opened it, but it was complicated medical stuff, so I forwarded it to Holt without a second thought.”

“Holt?” Flint looks concerned all of a sudden. “Was that your boss? One of the males sent to the jungle as a feral?”

“Yes, that’s right. He was the clinic manager and a doctor.”

“Holt.” He frowns. “Surely not.”

“What do you mean?” I’m frowning too.

“It’s a long shot. I’m sure it’s not the same Holt because what are the chances? But the male we picked up our first day. The very first male we captured was named Holt and tagged as ‘release.’ We took a photograph of him, branded him, took the location details, and released him. Maybe it’s your Holt.”

“Holy crap! It could be.” I nod. “You said you have a photograph on record?”

“Yes, but it was of him in his scales…not his skin.”

I huff out a breath. “I have no idea what his dragon looks like.” I shake my head. “Once I’m working on your team, we’ll find him and get him to shift. If he recognizes me.”

“It might not be that Holt, Star. This could be a dangerous male not eligible for rehabilitation because of the evil-as-fuck shit he’s done.”

“Or it could be him. Holt could be a bit arrogant, but he was a good male. He opened that email. He read the whole thing and then sent it to Fenn. He told us about the contents before we got split up. I never saw him or the other males after that. He didn’t say who it was from, but I’m sure he would know. He was meticulous. If the email freaked him out, which it did, he’d recall. It was so chaotic after the building was raided. I wish I had paid more attention. I wish he had said who sent it. We need to go and look for him when we get back.”