Page 176 of Black Reign

The kid stares at the money.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

He pockets it.

“Cool.”

Then he leaves.

My attention drops to the book.

Old paperback.

Worn spine.

Bent corners.

A copy of Romeo and Juliet old enough that somebody has written a school assignment inside the front cover in blue ink.

No wrapping.

No note.

I turn it over.

Nothing.

Flip through the pages.

Nothing for thirty seconds.

Then I find it.

One passage underlined in black ink.

Juliet.

My only love sprung from my only hate!

I stare.

The sounds of the hotel bar recede.

My thumb moves over the edge of the page without touching the ink.

Well.

That escalated.

I read it again.

Love.

Hate.

Not like.