Page 44 of Black Reign

Haverhill's expression changes.

“Why not?”

“Because we do not know who she is.”

Drew points at me.

“THAT IS WHY WE'RE INVITING HER.”

Leo starts laughing again.

Vale considers it. “Private event. Your security.”

“Absolutely not.”

Kane looks at me. “Do you want to meet her?”

I don't answer quickly enough.

That's apparently answer enough.

Drew points. “Do it.”

I take the device firmly.

“No one touches this again.”

Then I look at Vesper's waiting message.

Against every intelligent instinct I possess, I type.

GHOST: My friends have hijacked the evening.

Leo, of course, reads my typing and translates everything in real time for the group.

Her response comes immediately.

VESPER: I gathered.

GHOST: One of them is getting married soon.

Drew whispers, “Tell her she's invited.”

“Stop narrating.”

I type.

GHOST: They want me to invite you as my plus-one.

The response takes longer.

VESPER: Your drunk friends want an anonymous woman from a dark-network chat room at a wedding?

Drew watches my face.

“What'd she say?”

“That all of you are idiots.”