Page 265 of Red Marked

“It most definitely is.” I put my arm around Star and pull her in against my side. I look down at her when I say it. “Very serious.”

“We’ll see you later,” Robyn says.

“Yes, you will.”

We head out. I’m so excited to introduce Star to my father. He’s going to love her.

73

Star

Three months later…

The doors of Draig Hospital slide open too slowly, and Flint turns sideways to get through them. I giggle because the bouquet is wider than he is. I follow with the teddy bear under one arm and the gift basket hooked over the other. The bear’s head keeps bumping my chin.

We stop at the front desk. The female behind it looks at the flowers, then at the bear, then at us.

“Maternity?” she asks.

“Please,” I say. “We’re here for Koa. She just had a baby.”

“Second floor. Follow the yellow line all the way down and turn left. Room eight.”

“Thank you.”

Flint is already moving.

We got the call this morning. We’re both working at the second facility now. There are two teams running, and we’re on separate ones. That way, I don’t have to report to my fiancé, and no one can accuse him of playing favorites. It’s also the only reason we’re both here on zero notice. Each team can afford to lose one body for a couple of days without falling apart. Forge took my place on Atlas’s team. It all worked out perfectly.

We take the stairs because the elevator is too cramped. Room eight has the door propped open.

Koa is in the bed nearest the window.

She’s propped up on a stack of pillows with her hair pulled back off her face. She looks tired, but there’s color in her cheeks, and when she sees me, her whole face lights up.

“Star! You came.”

“Of course I did.”

I drop the bear and the basket on the visitor’s chair and go to her. I’m careful about it since she only just gave birth. She grabs me with both arms and holds on, and I hold her right back.

“It’s so good to see you,” she says into my shoulder. She makes it sound like I wasn’t here less than a month ago.

“You too.”

When she lets go, Flint leans in and hugs her one-armed around the flowers.

“Hi, kid,” he says.

“Hi, Flint.”

He looks for somewhere to put the bouquet and decides on the table under the window.

“Those are beautiful,” Koa says. “Thank you.”

A female gets up from the chair on the far side of the bed. She has Koa’s eyes. I would have known her anywhere.

“Mom, this is Star,” Koa says. “And Flint.”