Page 292 of Black Reign

Something shifts in his expression.

Small.

I see it.

“You knew her then?”

“I knew Vesper.”

“And she never told you she was Beaumont.”

“She never told me anything identifying.”

“Convenient.”

“No. Smart.”

He laughs in disbelief.

“Listen to yourself defending her.”

“I don't need to defend her. The data does.”

“What data?”

“She breached Blackwell before she knew who I was.”

“That proves nothing except that she was already hostile.”

“She didn't cultivate Xavier Blackwell.”

My father leans closer to the camera.

“You are the son of one of the most powerful intelligence contractors in the world. Do you honestly believe an operative couldn't spend years building access to an anonymous target?”

“She didn't know the target.”

“You don't know that.”

“Yes, I do.”

“How?”

Because I know her.

The words are already there.

My father sees them before I say them.

His mouth twists.

And then he gives me the expression I have seen him give executives whose careers are about to end.

Pity.

That irritates me more than anger.

“You fell for it.”