Page 50 of Black Reign

Vale lifts his glass.

“Hundred to one.”

I ignore him.

GHOST: Meet me and we'll find out.

The three dots appear.

Disappear.

Then return.

VESPER: Good night, Ghost.

Her status goes dark.

Drew immediately asks, “What does that mean?”

“It means she went offline.”

“No. What does good night mean?”

“It means good night.”

“Women never mean exactly what they say.”

Vale points his Scotch at him.

“That theory explains several things about your marriage.”

“My wife loves me.”

“Against all available evidence.”

Jalen finally gives up.

He collapses sideways across the bench and pulls the towel over his face.

Drew looks at him.

“Is he alive?”

“He's breathing,” Leo says.

“Good enough.”

I add a second authentication layer to NULL.

Then a third.

Drew watches.

“Rude.”

“You're lucky I don't erase your financial identity.”

His face changes.