Page 373 of Black Reign

“Who is she?”

“Where?”

Jalen shouts over everyone. “Is she hot?”

I look directly into the camera and roll my eyes.

Silence.

Absolute.

Then Drew slaps both hands against the island.

“OH, THIS IS BAD.”

“What?”

“He’s refusing to speak.”

Isa laughs.

Kane points at me through the screen. “He's right.”

Vale takes a drink. “Immediate.”

Leo's eyebrows lift. “No qualifiers.”

Jalen grins. “Blackwell is gone…cooked.”

“I am not gone.”

“You didn't say she's attractive,” Drew says. “You didn't say objectively, yes. You said yes like somebody put a gun to your head.”

“The metaphor is unnecessary.”

Hannah appears beside Kane.

“Xavier, where is she?”

“In France.”

The women react differently than the men.

Hannah smiles.

Stella immediately looks delighted.

Isa says, “Oh my gosh.”

Jade's eyes narrow.

I recognize danger when I see it.

Before I can redirect the conversation, Drew notices my hand.

It happens because I reach for my glass.

His face changes.