Page 29 of How to Steal a Galaxy

On the one hand, that’s a distraction. I can already hear the ambient noise of all the guests trickling from the auction rooms into the main gallery, where the chairs are lined in perfectly spaced rows and a hover stage has been set up, waiting for Fetor.

On the other hand, that’s only fifteen minutes before this kid wants to do an entirely different show.

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His fingers itch to get out the transponder he thinks he’s cleverly hidden in his pocket. He still thinks there’s a chance I’ll just walk away and let him play the big-boygames.

“Hey, kid, do you know Jane—” I start.

“Don’t fucking try to recruit me to some weak-ass group not willing to do what it really takes to make change,” he snarls.

Okay, touched a sore spot there. I level him with a look. “Nothing I can do to stop you, huh?”

His grin is smug. That’s ano, then.

I tap the stone step with my fingernail, thinking. “Let me tell you how to run a con.”

He stares at me as if I’ve lost my mind, the smirk melting away in his confusion at my non sequitur.

“You want to steal something? You could be a ghost, but that’ll only work for so long. Eventually, you’re going to find someone who sees you.”

Someone with razor eyes.

“And when you’re seen,” I continue, “you have to change tactics. You have to do it all in front of everyone.”

The kid’s smirk twitches up again. I was right. He’s desperate to not be invisible. But he doesn’t get it, not yet.

I lean in closer. “Part one. Distract.” I waggle my fingers in front of his face with my left hand, reach for his pocket with my right.

He grabs my wrist, fingers hard, digging into the soft space over my veins, pressing into the tiny, thin bones. “I’m not that dumb.”

“Doubt that,” I say, yanking my hand free. “Besides, part two. You can steal anything in the galaxy if you make people think it’s their idea to give it to you in the first place.”

He rakes his eyes over me, not trying to hide his disgust. “You don’t talk like one of them.”

One of the elite, he means.

“Because I’m not, moron.” But he’s wrong. I may not be used to wearing silk and gems, but I learned how to steal from people like those in the crowd below. This kid just doesn’t realize that people like Fetor get what they want because they’ve convinced people like him it’s their right. “I’m from Earth,” I say. “Like you.”

“Why do you even care what I’m doing, then?” Sullen and petulant; what a charmer.

I shrug. “Not a big fan of things going boom.” At least, not when I’m not the one holding the detonator.

“I’m not doing anything like that,” he says, shaking his head so much, his hair flops around.

I lift an eyebrow so high, Rian would be proud.

That thought sends a chill down my spine. If Rian strolls up these steps, he’s going to think I’m working with the kid.

“Wait,” I say, shaking my head and refocusing. If the transponder’s not linked to explosives—the usual Jarra MO...“What’s the transponder for?”

He finally pulls it out, done pretending. “I’m just messing with the holo display.”

Aw, that’s cute. I got started the same way, hacking digi screens to send a message.

The chimes clang again, a little louder.Time to take your seats,they say.The show is starting soon.

It’s just . . .

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