Graduation (Kingmakers, #5)

by Sophie Lark

What should we call it?” Adrik asks. “Molniya. That’s why I shaped it that way—it’s lightning in a pill.” “Which version is this?” “I dunno—6.0, maybe.” I hold up the little yellow bolt to pop in his mouth. “How do I know you’re getting the doses right?” I scowl at him. “I don’t remember you picking me up at the dock at MIT. I’m estimating.” Adrik laughs. “Fair enough. I have one more question, though—what if it makes the customers a little too content? What if they don’t want to pay for lap dances? The strippers won’t sell it if it doesn’t help them make money.” I pretend to pout. “You don’t have faith in me.” “This is business, not religion.” “What about a little wager, then?” Adrik sits up straighter on the bed, a wolf catching scent of its favorite prey. He loves a good bet. “What kind of wager?” “How much cash do you have on you?” He pulls a wad of bills out of his pocket, some rubles, but mostly American Benjamins, the currency no Russian will refuse. “A lot,” he says. “I’m going to charge you a thousand dollars a song,” I tell him. “You try and keep as much as you can.” He smiles. “And what do I get if I can resist you?” “I’ll wear my helmet every time I ride my bike.” “Like a good girl.” “Like the best good girl,” I say, trailing my finger down his chest. “And if you win?” “I want a new gun. An expensive one.” “A John Wick gun?” he teases me. Andrei and Hakim and I have been watching the trilogy, drooling over the endless supply of high-tech hardware John Wick seem...