Page 221 of Black Reign

“Deeply. I'll send flowers.”

There's my Vesper.

A tiny spark behind the fear.

It almost undoes me again.

Then I see her wrists.

My entire mood turns.

Raw skin.

Blood.

Plastic cuts.

I take one hand carefully.

“What happened?”

“Zip tie.”

“You did this?”

“I needed NULL.”

My throat closes.

She cut herself free trying to reach me.

“Sabine.”

“I didn't have much choice.”

I look toward the men being restrained in the adjacent room.

Every violent instinct I've ever disciplined comes roaring forward.

She sees it happen.

“Xavier.”

“What?”

“That face.”

“What face?”

“The one where you start calculating how many countries have weak extradition treaties.”

One of my security men coughs.

I glance at him.

He becomes fascinated with the floor.

I look back at her.