Page 207 of Red Marked

“Then there’s nobody left for me to expose. Halleron is dead. This Torr male is dead. We never saw anyone else that day.” I lift my eyes in thought. “Veridian Bridge is gone, and Veridian Pharmaceuticals is hanging on by its fingernails.”

Flint smiles, and my stomach does that thing it does sometimes when I look at him. “It’s looking good, Star. You could be okay. I think you and the others might actually be okay.”

“Here you go.” Jett is back.

Flint’s smile is gone in an instant.

Jett walks between us and puts the laptop down on the dining room table.

He brings up the Christmas party photos, and Flint leans over him with his phone, snapping close-ups of every face at that table.

“Twelve of them, including Torr.” Flint checks the shots and sends them. “It shouldn’t take long. It looks like eight are human and the rest are shifters. So more than likely only three more to identify. We’ll have to wait and see.”

“This is good news, right?” Jett’s arm goes back around me and pulls me into his side.

Why does he keep doing that?

It scratches at me, but I make myself breathe through it. I can’t blame him. As far as he knew, I was dead this morning. He’s a good male. I need to do right by him. I just wish he’d back off.

It’s sweet but seriously annoying. He doesn’t know my feelings have changed. How could he?

“Yes, it’s good news.” A muscle jumps in Flint’s cheek. “Once I have those names, we’ll pay the rest of those males a visit and take it from there.”

His eyes move to Jett’s arm. Then to the window. His jaw hardens.

“I’d like that coffee now, please,” I tell Jett. “You offered. Do you still have that fancy machine of yours?” I force myself to smile.

His eyes light up. “I’ve got an even fancier one now. Still cream and cinnamon?”

“Yes. That would be great.”

“What about you, Flint?”

“Double espresso.”

“Coming right up.” Jett is halfway to the kitchen when he turns. “Want to come and see it?” he asks me.

“I’ll let you do your thing.”

He winks at me and goes.

“Listen, Flint.”

He turns.

And I have nothing. Everything I want to say leaves me. I want to tell him that Jett isn’t the one. That I’ve changed. That I’m not with him, whatever this looks like.

I can’t say any of it. Not before I’ve spoken to Jett. And Flint has told me, more than once, what he doesn’t want. If I start explaining myself, it’ll sound like I’m in love with him.

I’m not.

I can’t be.

Shit! I need to do things the right way. That means ending it with Jett and then…

Then what?

I realize I’m just standing there with Flint’s eyes on me, so I clear my throat and smile.