Page 61 of Stolen Empire

"Four players—two of them are Radich soldiers. One's a courier who works for both sides—basically, anyone who needs a job done in this world. The fourth is a neutral party, a gambler who has no loyalty to anyone."

I move to the first camera, checking the angle.

"You'll sit between the courier and the neutral. That puts you in view of the Radich men without making it obvious that you want their attention."

She looks up at the cameras.

"They will be watching."

"Yes."

I move to the second camera, adjusting it slightly.

"But not in the way you think. The cameras are for the house, not for the Radiches. They want to make sure no one's cheating. The Radich men will be watching you directly. That's what matters."

She circles the table, studying the layout.

"How did you get me in?" Her eyebrows rise as she asks, and I feel my patience being tested.

"Does it matter? You have a job to do. Let's just say I'm willing to pay any price to ensure I get what I want."

I feel my pulse quicken as I think of other things I want besides the person who put the hit on me served up on a platter.

Like Katya in my bed again.

She scowls and asks, "What do I do when they start talking to me?"

"You listen more than you speak. You do not volunteer information. You wait for them to ask, and then you answer truthfully. Your debts… Your frustrations… Your fear of me."

I walk to the door, checking the lock.

"If they offer you a drink, you accept but don't drink. If they offer you a seat in their circle, you hesitate before agreeing. You make them work for your trust."

She stops at the table, her hands resting on the back of a chair.

"What if they want me to do a job for them to prove my loyalty?"

"You tell them you're not opposed to it, but you need to know what they're offering in return."

I move back to the table, standing across from her.

"Don't say yes immediately. Negotiate. Make them think you have standards, even if those standards are low."

She nods as if she's soaking it all in.

If she's worth her weight in horse shit, then she's a good study and this will be simple.

It's really just playing a role, and I'm sure she's played this before, a beguiling yet desperate young woman who can twist a man any direction she pleases.

It makes me skeptical as I wonder if she's done that to me in any way.

"Good."

I pull out a chair and sit.

"Now we practice."

For the next hour, I drill her on responses.