Page 433 of Black Reign

“I'm not working for you either.”

“I didn't ask.”

“You were going to.”

“No.”

“You were thinking it.”

He comes to stand beside me.

“Maybe.”

“And I'm not going back to black-market contracts.”

His head turns.

That surprises him.

Good.

“Why?”

“Because getting kidnapped once was enough.”

“Agreed.”

“But I am also not staying home painting my toenails.”

“I've never seen you paint your toenails.”

“Exactly.”

I turn toward him.

“What if we start our own company?”

Xavier goes very still.

There.

Got him.

“Our own what?”

“Cyber intelligence.”

He continues staring.

I start pacing because now that I've said it, everything arrives at once.

“Not Blackwell. Not government intelligence. Not criminals. We choose the work.”

“Sabine.”

“Listen.”

“I am.”