Page 303 of Black Reign

“You cannot marry a woman to solve a compliance problem.”

“People marry for worse reasons.”

“You have known her in person for less than twenty-four hours.”

“I've known her for years.”

“You've known messages.”

“I've known her longer than any woman I've ever dated.”

“You haven't dated her.”

“Semantics.”

My father looks like he wants to climb through the encrypted wall and strangle me.

“You don't know whether she'd agree.”

I almost smile.

“That is admittedly a flaw in the plan.”

“This is not a plan.”

“Still developing.”

“This is insanity.”

“Maybe.”

“You are talking about marriage as though you're moving an asset between subsidiaries.”

“That seems like a complaint about presentation rather than substance.”

“Do you hear yourself?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

I think about Sabine asleep in my bed.

Her hand catching my wrist when I tried to leave.

Stay.

Her mouth against mine.

The battered Shakespeare book in my briefcase.

The fact that the thought of handing her over to anyone makes every instinct I possess turn violent.

“I’ve made worse decisions.”

“When?”

I consider.