Page 484 of Black Reign

“Compelling legal argument. Open it.”

He sighs dramatically and taps the keyboard.

An encrypted chat appears.

My stomach sinks.

Not NULL.

Something Pierre built himself.

Naturally.

I move closer.

“Who are you talking to?”

“Preston.”

I pause.

“Preston?”

He nods.

“Your cousin Preston?”

Another nod.

I stare at the screen.

“What does Preston want?”

Pierre's attention returns to the keyboard.

“Intel.”

Oh no.

I know that word.

Nothing good in this family has ever followed it.

“Intel on what?”

“A girl.”

I close my eyes.

Absolutely not.

From behind me, Xavier says, “Why did you just make that face?”

I turn.

My husband stands in the doorway wearing black trousers, white shirt, sleeves rolled to his forearms.

He looks from me to our son.