Page 234 of Red Marked

I’m going to kill him. Here, in his kitchen, with my bare hands.

“Stop!” Star screams. She’s grabbing at me. “Flint, stop. Don’t. Please, don’t!”

I do as she says, and I stop. It’s hard, but I manage. I’m shaking with the need to keep pummeling him.

Star is back in her skin. There’s blood on her neck and plaster dust in her hair. What’s left of the T-shirt is hanging off one shoulder. She’s holding on to me with both hands.

I look down at him. His face is swelling while I watch, and there’s more blood than face. He’s out cold.

“He doesn’t deserve to die,” she says.

“What? Why?”

Her hand slides down to my wrist and holds on. “That would be too good for him.”

I nod.

“I know something that would be better. I can’t believe he did this.” Her face crumples.

I pull her into a hug, and she lets me.

“You came,” she whispers into my chest.

“I almost didn’t. But in the end, I had to be sure. It didn’t add up. It wasn’t you. I had this feeling.”

“I’m glad you did.” She sniffs.

“Me too.” We pull apart. “Are you okay?” I look her over. Aside from the nick on her neck, she looks fine.

Star nods.

“He was responsible for you being sent away?”

Star nods. “Yes. He worked for the Mainland as some sort of an operative. He blamed me for the email. Can you believe that?”

“I can, actually. Narcissistic prick!”

There is a shadow of a dragon landing on the front lawn.

“Who is that?” Star’s eyes go wide.

“Relax, it’s Rift. I messaged her. If I’d known what he was about to do, I would never have stepped away to contact her. I thought I might need backup. I messaged Magma as well. Then I heard you scream, and I came running. I’m going to let Rift in, and then we’re going to talk about what you had in mind for this asshole.”

It’s Star’s decision.

I look down at the bleeding male. I’m not sure his face will fully recover. I hope it doesn’t.

Prick!

65

Star

The SUV bumps along the dirt road. Up ahead, the border control building sits in its patch of cleared ground with the boom across the gate.

I have my hands squeezed between my thighs. I’m sweating despite the air-conditioning in the car.

“Razor just messaged to say he’s back at the clinic.” Rift puts her phone away.