Page 18 of Black Reign

One.

Two.

Three.

Within thirty seconds, the Mediterranean looks like somebody staged a luxury-fragrance commercial after giving the entire cast access to an open bar.

Vale remains exactly where he is.

Floating.

Scotch beside him.

He looks like a very wealthy shipwreck survivor.

Leo leans over the rail. “You getting in?”

Vale stares up at him.

“I'm already in.”

“You're floating.”

“Different activity.”

One of the women swims over.

“Come dance with us.”

Tristan looks around.

“In the water?”

“Yes.”

She splashes him.

He stares at her.

She splashes him again.

Vale turns his head toward me.

“If I drown her, does that create paperwork?”

“Yes.”

“A lot?”

“International.”

He sighs.

“Fine.”

Haverhill is still standing beside me, beer in hand, watching the disaster unfold.

His best man is swimming naked around a seventy-two-foot yacht. His best friend is floating with Scotch. Jalen appears to be kissing one model while negotiating with another. Leo is currently explaining to a woman that he will not remove his wedding ring before swimming because Jade would somehow know.