Page 47 of Black Reign

She's asking whether Ghost wants Vesper on the other side of the screen.

I don't respond.

Haverhill reads my face even though he can't read the Italian.

“What did she say?”

Leo is quiet. His brows lift though.

“Nothing.”

“That's bullshit,” Drew says.

Vale studies me. Fuck, he knows Italian and Latin.

“Answer her.”

I look back at the screen.

Then type:

GHOST: Ignore them.

Her answer appears immediately.

VESPER: Do you want me to?

The boat goes quiet even though none of them can read it.

Maybe they see my face.

Drew slowly puts his hand over his heart.

“Oh, that one hurt, didn't it?”

I glare at him.

Vale says quietly, “Answer the woman.”

I could lie.

I don't.

GHOST: Maybe? Maybe it’s time to team up. And see what else we could be?

“Bold, Blackwell,” Leo claps my shoulder.

Her typing indicator appears.

Then vanishes.

Returns.

VESPER: You're serious.

GHOST: Very. I can’t keep crushing in cyberspace. You. Me. We meet. In person. The groom insists at his wedding.

VESPER: I don't know… this feels sudden even though we’ve been talking for ages.