Page 491 of Black Reign

I stare at my son.

Xavier takes the phone off speaker for approximately three seconds, apparently realizes that won't solve anything, and puts it back.

“No equity. No hacking Lakeview. No student records.”

Preston says, “You're no fun.”

“I'm preventing several felonies.”

I look at Xavier.

“Were you this boring at his age?”

“No.”

“Thought so.”

“Sabine.”

Preston laughs.

Then I hear voices somewhere behind him.

A door.

Someone calling his name.

He responds away from the phone, then comes back.

“I gotta go.”

Xavier isn't finished.

“Pres.”

“What?”

“Stay out of the school network.”

“Tell Pierre.”

“I just did.”

“Good luck with that.”

The call ends.

Xavier stares at his phone.

Pierre quietly begins typing again.

Both of us look at him.

He stops.

“What?”

“Out,” Xavier says.