Page 105 of Black Reign

Fair.

Stella puts down her champagne.

“Leave him alone.”

Hannah starts smiling.

Not a bride smile.

A trouble smile.

I don't trust it.

“Go,” she says.

I look toward the door.

My heart is beating too fast.

Ridiculous.

I’ve walked into rooms with heads of state.

Negotiated with men whose security teams carried automatic weapons.

Built systems capable of seeing things people spend fortunes trying to hide.

This is one woman.

One.

A woman I have spoken to for years.

A woman whose mind I already know.

A woman who once left me standing on London Bridge for ninety-seven minutes.

I crack my neck.

Jade notices.

“Nervous.”

“Not remotely.”

Four women laugh.

I open the door.

My watch vibrates one final time.

GUEST CLEARED TO INNER PERIMETER.

Somewhere downstairs, Vesper is walking into my world.

And for the first time all day, I forget about the wedding.

My pulse kicks.