Page 18 of Stolen Empire

"Unless you already know what a trifecta is, or how odds are calculated, or what the hell a furlong means, then yes. I'm going to teach you."

I walk to the desk and pull out a stack of papers—charts, betting slips, race schedules—and spread them across the surface.

Katya watches me with an annoyed glare on her face, and I gesture for her to stand.

She does, moving to the desk, and I stop beside her, close enough that I can see the tension in her shoulders.

"Start here," I say, pointing to a chart that shows the odds for a recent race.

"This is how betting works. The numbers represent the payout ratio. If a horse is listed at five to one, that means for every ruble you bet, you get five back if it wins. The lower the number, the more favored the horse is."

She leans over the chart, her eyes scanning the rows of numbers, and I can see her mind working.

She's quick, absorbing the information faster than I expected.

"What's a trifecta?" she asks.

"It's a bet where you pick the first three horses in exact order. High risk, high reward. Most people don't bother with it unless they've got inside information."

"And that's what you think Rodion is selling? Information about which horses are favored?"

Her arms cross over her chest, pushing her tits out, and I notice.

Fuck, do I notice.

I tear my eyes away to focus on the papers, but it's making my dick swell.

"Not favored. Fixed. There are ways to manipulate a race if you know what you're doing. Drug a horse, bribe a jockey, interfere with training schedules. If Rodion is leaking details about those fixes, then people can bet accordingly and make a fortune."

She straightens up, uncrossing her arms to shove her hands in her pockets.

"And you think he's stupid enough to admit that to a stranger?"

"I think he's desperate enough. He's in debt, and he's scared. If you approach him the right way, he'll bite."

"What's the right way?"

I move to stand behind her, reaching past her shoulder to point at another section of the chart.

My arm brushes against hers, and I feel her stiffen.

I don't pull back.

"You tell him you've got money to spend, but you're new to the game and you need an edge. You play dumb at first, make him think you're easy to manipulate. Then you drop hints that you're willing to pay for reliable information. You let him think it's his idea to offer you a deal."

"And if he doesn't take the bait?"

"Then you push harder. Flatter him. Make him feel important. Appeal to his greed."

I lean closer, my voice dropping.

"You've done this before. I know you have. You didn't get this far as a thief without knowing how to read people."

She turns her head slightly, and our faces are inches apart.

Her eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, neither of us moves.

The air between us feels charged, too close, and I'm aware of the heat radiating from her body.