Page 17 of Black Reign

I look toward the stars because friendship has limits.

“Travers,” Vale says with the exhausted patience of a man who has apparently endured this before, “I have seen your bare ass more times than Stella's, and I am married to Stella.”

Drew spreads both arms.

“That sounds like a marital issue.”

Then he cannonballs naked into the Mediterranean.

The splash hits Tristan directly in the face.

Vale barely reacts.

His Scotch, however, tilts dangerously inside the drink caddy.

Every survival instinct he possesses activates at once.

He grabs the glass.

“Watch the Scotch!”

Drew surfaces laughing.

“Priorities, Prince.”

“This comes from a bottle is older than your gran daddy’s daddy.”

“So is Blackwell's personality.”

I raise my glass.

“Still heard you.”

Before Drew can answer, Jalen disappears.

I don't even see him go in.

One second he's beside Leo. The next he's chest-deep in the Mediterranean with a brunette wrapped around his shoulders while a blonde tries to steal the cigar he somehow brought into the water.

Drew points at him.

“Finally. A single man behaving responsibly.”

Jalen tongue kisses the brunette.

Vale lifts his rescued Scotch from the safety of his pool noodle.

“I don't think that word means what you think it means.”

“He's a pro baller and unmarried,” Drew drawls. “Tonight, that is responsible.”

Jalen stops sucking face just long enough to point at him.

“Exactly.”

Then the blonde grabs him and drags him beneath the water.

The rest of the women start jumping in.