Page 171 of After the Burn

Her smile widened.

Maybe I wouldn’t have any problem leaving her.

The two men at the gate noticed us almost immediately, and one reached for his rifle.

The other squinted, right before recognition hit. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

Wren waved cheerfully. “Hi, Carl.”

The man’s expression flattened. “My name’s Curtis.”

“That’s what I said, Curtis.” The smile never left her face.

The other man snorted, but Wren ignored him.

His eyes shifted to me, and everything about him changed. His posture stiffened, and his hand settled more firmly on the grip of his rifle. “Well, shit.”

The other man straightened. “That’s the brunette everyone is looking for.”

Wren lifted the chain between us as if she were performing a magic trick. “Ta-da.”

I almost rolled my eyes.

Curtis stepped closer to the fence. “You found her?”

Wren rolled her eyes so hard they almost fell out on the ground. “Obviously.”

“Where?”

“In the woods.” She waved her hand in a giant arc.

“That doesn’t answer the question.”

“I-found-her-in-the-woods.” She emphasized each word.

His jaw tightened.

Wren leaned closer to me and stage-whispered, “He’s not very bright.”

“I can fucking hear you, bitch.” Curtis spit on the ground.

“No shit?” Wren blinked innocently.

The other guard laughed, and Curtis shot him a glare before looking back at Wren. “How the hell did you manage this?”

Wren looked offended. “Whatever do you mean?”

“She’s enhanced.”

“So am I.”

“Yeah, but you’re…” He stopped.

Wren’s eyebrows rose. “What?”

Curtis looked the slightest bit uncomfortable.

Wren leaned toward the fence. “Crazy? Psycho? A few dicks short of a circle jerk?”