Page 104 of Walking Red Flag

The place was trashed.

“What the hell?” I asked.

That’s when a car pulled up behind us.

I looked out the still open door and saw Hazel’s car slide to a stop.

But it wasn’t Hazel driving.

No, it was Hazel’s boyfriend, Mark.

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared at Hazel and Mark as they got out of the car.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him.

He appeared sober, but I wasn’t sure due to his horrible park job.

“I came with Hazel.” He frowned. “Why?”

“It was only supposed to be Hazel and me,” I pointed out.

“You have someone with you.” He pointed behind me at who I assumed was Artur.

“Artur is my bodyguard, bozo,” I said. “Which you all know.”

“Yeah, but Hazel wasn’t comfortable staying in a house with another man so close without me,” he pointed out.

What was more likely the problem was that Mark wasn’t interested in Hazel staying in a house with another man without him.

“Well, as you know,” I said, “Hazel has spent plenty of time with Artur…and she can speak for herself, can’t she?”

Except Hazel was on the phone, giving directions to our cabin and not paying attention.

“Oh, there you are!” Hazel cried. “Hi!”

Another car pulled up, and two people spilled out of the car.

Rayann and Gibson, as well as their friend, Jacinda.

What. The. Fuck.

“Oh, you’ll just love the view!” Hazel chirped at them. “Come in! You can put your bags down in one of the upstairs…”

I was already shaking my head. “Artur, go get them their things. They won’t be staying here.”

Mark frowned. “What do you mean, we won’t be staying here?”

“I mean, I’m not allowing y’all to stay here anymore. The only person whose name is on the list to rent this house is me. So, sadly, y’all are on your own for accommodations.”

That’s when Rayann turned to me with a sneer. “What are you talking about, bitch?”

I waited for Hazel to say something, anything, and she didn’t.

“Hazel,” I said carefully. “What is going on here?”

Hazel swept her arm wide. “Well, I was looking at the cabin since you sent it to me in a message, and I know we have more than enough room to fit everyone comfortably. So I invited them to stay here.”

I was already shaking my head. “I’m not comfortable with that. So they’ll have to stay somewhere else. Even Mark.”

---