Page 236 of Red Marked

Crap, he’s talking about a vehicle check.

We go out into the sun. Flint walks on my left. I breathe in for four, hold, out for four. It doesn’t help. My palms feel sweaty, but I ignore it.

Flint looks at me. Then his hand finds mine, squeezes once, and lets go.

It’s going to be okay.

I hope he’s right.

Please let him be right.

Flint opens the driver’s door and gets in. I climb in next to him. A new song is playing.

Rift hasn’t followed us. She’s stopped on the gravel a few yards from the vehicle with the sun on her hair, and Winston has stopped with her.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” she says.

“About what?”

“That breakfast.”

Winston’s clipboard drops to his side. “You have?”

“Next time I’m in Mistveil City.” She shrugs one shoulder. “Maybe we could get together.”

“A get-together…” He laughs. “Absolutely.”

“So, what would you make me to eat? You promised me breakfast in bed.” She bobs her brows.

“Anything. You name it.”

“That’s a cop-out.” She tilts her head. “A male who says he makes a mean breakfast should have a signature dish.”

“Eggs Benedict.” He says it fast. “With the hollandaise from scratch, not the packet kind. And crispy bacon.”

“That sounds very yummy.” She licks her lips.

“It would be. You would have worked up an appetite.” His eyes dip back to her breasts.

“Oh, really now?” She laughs, and I watch him melt.

“Yes, really.”

“You said you would give me your number,” Rift says. “Then we could chat about it.”

“Of course. My phone’s inside. At my desk.” He looks at the building like he’s thinking about running for it.

“No problem. Tell me yours. I’ll message you.”

He rattles it off. She types it in with her thumb, and then she turns her back to the building and hooks one finger into the neckline of her shirt and pulls it down. She holds the phone up and takes the picture. Winston makes a sound I’ve only ever heard from a male being darted.

“There,” she says, and sends it. “Now you have my number.”

“Oh my god, Rift.”

Flint chuckles under his breath.

“I want one back.” She winks at him. “I mean, fair’s fair.”