Page 403 of Black Reign

“Mrs. Blackwell.”

I almost look over my shoulder.

Still not used to it.

Xavier notices.

Naturally.

His thumb brushes once against my back.

I give the guard a polite smile.

“Sabine is fine.”

Xavier says nothing until the doors close behind us.

Then:

“Mrs. Blackwell suits you.”

I glance at him.

“You enjoy that far too much.”

“Yes.”

At least he's honest.

The next door opens.

And there he is.

Blackwell Senior.

My father-in-law.

A phrase I refuse to examine too deeply.

He stands at the center of a room that looks like a command center designed by someone allergic to clutter.

A curved wall of screens stretches across one side.

Three workstations.

One central console.

No exposed cables.

No blinking equipment.

Everything hidden.

Cold.

Controlled.

Very Blackwell.