Page 55 of Stolen Empire
Now I'm helping a criminal organization root out its enemies and risking my life.
It doesn’t seem right, but I have no choice.
By the time we reach Dimitri's apartment, it's late afternoon.
The tech drops me off and drives away, leaving me standing on the street corner.
I could try to run off, but I know they'd just track me down.
This won't be over until I finish what I promised to do, and after that, I may still have to fight my way out.
Dimitri is waiting inside, leaning against the kitchen counter with his arms crossed.
He looks up when I enter and his gaze looks me over from head to toe.
"Any trouble?" he asks.
"None," I mutter, and I don’t mention how anxious I got this time.
It wouldn't matter to him if my heart physically exploded during a job and I died.
I'm nothing more than an asset to him.
This world is a cruel place, and he’s a cruel taskmaster.
He nods and gestures for me to sit.
I drop into one of the kitchen chairs, and he moves to the counter, pouring two mugs of coffee.
He sets one in front of me and leans back, watching me.
"Did they copy the phone?" I ask.
"They did. Call patterns, contacts, text logs. Everything."
He pulls out his own phone and scrolls through it, then turns the screen toward me.
"Most of the calls are to known Radich crew members. A lot of them cluster around a gambling operation on the east side. It's a small card room, private games, high stakes."
I study the screen, noting the frequency and timing.
"They're using it as a front?"
"Maybe. Or they're running money through it. Either way, it's where their people spend time. Which means it's where you're going next."
I set the mug down after a long drink and lean back in my chair.
"What's the play?"
I ask him, because that's what he's about to tell me.
His orders for me will be handed over and I'll be expected to comply and perform like a marionette.
I may as well know now what I'll have to do.
The sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can get out of Moscow and make my way home to try to repair my broken relationship with my mother.
"You go in as a gambler. Remember, you need fast cash to cover your debts to me—that's your cover. You lose a few hands, make yourself visible, and let their scouts approach you. They're always watching for people who owe money, people they can use."
