Page 121 of Black Reign

“My boy.”

“Stop talking.”

“You like this.”

“No.”

“You fucking love this.”

I look at him.

He laughs.

“See? This is why you like her. Nobody does this to you.”

He’s right.

That makes it worse.

Drew puts both hands on my shoulders.

“Listen. She wants you spinning.”

“I am not spinning.”

“You almost shook Sergei out of his orthopedic shoes.”

“They’re Berluti.”

“That is not the point.”

I take a breath.

Drew continues.

“Pretend you don’t care.”

“I care.”

“I know. Everybody knows. She probably knows too.”

He points toward the wedding lawn.

“Which means she’s probably watching you right now.”

I stop.

There.

That’s it.

Vesper isn't merely inside.

She’s watching.

She knows exactly what I do when information slips beyond my reach.

She wants Ghost searching for her.