Page 84 of Stolen Empire
"What does that mean?"
"It means proving yourself."
He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a small plastic bag.
Inside is a fine white powder.
"This is your test."
I stare at the bag, my pulse spiking.
"You want me to sell that?"
He chuckles darkly and opens the baggie, dipping his finger into it.
White powder sticks to his skin and he brings it to his nose and snorts it, then smiles.
"No, dear. I want you to use it."
My stomach churns and I feel the blood draining from my face.
Dimitri never said a thing about doing drugs.
How far am I supposed to go for him?
This is insane.
I can't do this.
"I want you to prove you're not a cop or an informant. Or someone who'll run back to Vetrov the moment things get uncomfortable."
He sets the bag on the table between us.
"Do this, and we move forward. Refuse, and we part ways. Simple."
I look down at the bag, my mind racing.
Dimitri and I never discussed this.
We never prepared for this.
My hand moves to the burner phone in my pocket, but I stop myself.
If I pull it out now, if I check in, Daniil will see.
He'll know.
"I don’t use drugs," I say, keeping my voice steady.
"I never have."
"Then today is a good day to start." He pushes the bag closer.
"Unless you're scared."
"I am not scared."
I pick up the bag, turning it over in my hands.
