Page 134 of Black Reign

Blackwell.

The man behind the surveillance.

The hunter behind the screen.

The one guarding the empire that may have swallowed my father.

We haven't been moving toward each other.

We've been circling.

Years.

Both blind.

Both armed.

Both falling.

I open my eyes.

No tears.

Not here.

Never here.

From outside, the ceremony music begins.

Kane Haverhill is about to get married.

Xavier will be seated somewhere near the front, pretending he isn't scanning every reflection for me.

And I have a choice.

Run.

Take the cove.

Reach the dive gear.

Disappear into the Pacific before he ever knows how close he came.

That's the intelligent move.

It's also the move I've made my entire life.

Disappear first.

Feel later.

But I didn't cross an ocean to hide behind a catering door.

I came to see Ghost.

Now I have.

And I need to know what happens when I get closer.