Page 31 of Black Reign

“Usually?”

He looks around the boat.

“Did everybody hear that? Blackwell just said usually.”

“No phones,” I remind him.

“Cruel.”

Vale is smiling now.

Not mocking.

Intrigued.

“She good?”

“Very.”

“Better than you?”

“No.”

I pause.

“Close.”

Silence.

Jalen whistles.

Drew looks like he's witnessed a supernatural event.

Kane says, “You've never met?”

“We tried once.”

Every man leans closer.

Even Vale.

“London,” I say. “Bridge. We agreed on a place and time.”

“And?” Leo asks.

“I went.”

Drew whispers, “She didn't.”

“No.”

His hand lands over his heart again.

“Oh, that burns.”

“Stop doing that.”

“I feel your pain… like a dagger in the heart like what Isa did to me every time she looked at Vale while he looked at Stella.” He throws a pillow at Vale’s head.