Page 119 of Black Reign

“I was paid only for entrance.”

Kane closes his eyes.

“That is remarkably unhelpful.”

Leo shakes his head.

“This whole thing was stupid.”

I look at him.

“I know.”

“No, I mean all of it.” Leo gestures toward Sergei, the device, the estate. “We invited a mystery hacker into Haverhill’s wedding.”

“Yes.”

“I’m finding Jade.”

Drew looks at him. “Why?”

“Because when she realizes this happened, she’ll somehow blame me.”

Fair.

He walks away.

I stare at the photograph.

“I fucked up.”

The admission is quiet.

Drew hears it anyway.

His face changes.

Less clown.

More friend.

“Hey.”

“I gave an unknown person access to a private event.”

“Yeah.”

“I built the credential.”

“Also yeah.”

“I violated my own security architecture.”

Drew tilts his head.

“You want the honest answer?”

“Yes.”