“What do you want?” Tom’s voice was hard. “I know you didn’t come here to use my processor to win a million big ones. What was the point of that thing you did tonight? You were trying to make some point . . . or did you want my dad to realize I’ve got this computer in my brain?”

Vengerov arched his eyebrows, and Tom got the impression he was surprised. “Mr. Raines, I was trying to buy your goodwill.”

Tom was caught off guard. He felt confined, despite the spacious cabin of the limo.

“I gifted you with temporary access to a prestigious gambling parlor,” Vengerov explained, “and the opportunity to enrich your family. Your father is wealthier today because of me. I thought you’d be pleased. And more open to hearing my proposal.”

Vengerov had meant it as a friendly gesture?

That threw him. A lot. “What do you want from me?”

“I think you and I can come to an arrangement. I’ve taken a personal interest in a certain Combatant on the Russo-Chinese side, Mr. Raines. She’s a very deadly, remarkably skilled fighter with whom you happen to be personally acquainted.”

Tom felt a jolt inside him. Medusa.

“You must be aware there are many prominent men and women substantially invested in this war.”

“Yeah, I know the Coalition of Multinationals is milking it for all it’s worth. So what does that have to do with Medusa?”

“Quite simply, she’s very effective. Too effective. It’s getting rather inconvenient for those of us with a financial stake in this situation. Some of us are starting to suspect she is threatening the balance of power.”

Tom felt a warm rush of admiration for her. He had to fight to keep himself from grinning. Yeah, Medusa was doing some heavy damage single-handedly. “What, you’re upset she might actually cause one side to win?”

“The wrong side. That’s why we need her out of the conflict.”

Tom’s urge to grin died at once.

“It would be simple,” Vengerov said idly, “if someone she trusted lured her to an internet rendezvous . . .”

“No,” Tom said at once, seeing where this was going.

“. . . and then he deployed an executable program to incapacitate her. That person would be doing quite a service for his country, and he’d be amply rewarded for it.”

“Did you hear me? I said no!”

“Surely you don’t want your side to lose, Mr. Raines. Have you no patriotism?”

Tom thought it was rich hearing about love of country from a globalist who despised the very idea of countries, but he said, “If this is so strategically important, then someone in the military would’ve ordered me to do it already. You’re a private contractor.”