Free The Emperor's Conspiracy by Michelle Diener Page A

by anything I had to do on my back.” She did not look at Gary but could sense his disapproval at her openness. “I was saved from the street by kindness and have had to do nothing to keep it but be myself.”
    He looked at her, as if trying to detect some joke or a lie. And when he looked away, she had the feeling he was angry with her. “Then I take it back. You’re a hope-killer. ’Cause at least if you’d done it on your back, that’s something we c’n understand. Something we c’n do ourselves. But kindness? Luck like that—it’s a million-to-one chance, and you already took the one chance going.”
    She did not dispute it. She agreed.
    Gary opened the door and hopped out, and Charlotte saw him look to the right and gawp, his eyes wide.
    She held out a hand to stop Peter clambering after him and he froze as she touched his shoulder.
    A figure stepped into the doorway, crowding Gary, who had not moved away, but hadn’t said a word, either.
    It was Luke.
    “Peter, me lad.” He looked between them, and Charlotte felt Peter tense.
    “What are you doing here?” She hadn’t realized how angry she was until she spoke. Her hand trembled as she pulled it back. This was too many betrayals. Kit must have told him where they’d be, Smithy had let him come up on them without warning, and Gary … So far, Gary had been nothing but loyal, but the way Luke approached, it was clear he had no fear Gary would stop him.
    Luke must have heard the deep hurt, because he stepped back. As he did, Peter leaped out, eel-quick, but just as fast Luke clamped a hand on his arm, jerked him close, so his mouth was right beside Peter’s ear.
    “Mum’s the word, eh?” Luke’s voice was pleasant enough, but Peter did not turn his head, or even nod in agreement. “The lady isn’t looking for Cherub no more. You can take the money, but nothing’ll come of it. And if I hear even a peep …” He didn’t continue, let the silence stretch out, and finally released his hold. Peter jerked away and began to walk into the darkness, eyes down, hand clasping the money bag in his hand. He did not say goodbye.
    “What was that?” Charlotte leaned out of the door, into Luke’s face. “What are you doing, interfering in my business? And why do you keep asking my friends to betray me?”
    “They ain’t your friends no more, Charlie.” Luke flicked alook up at Smithy, across to Gary, and finally back to her. “They’re your employees, and as such, subject to bribes and offers, just like any others.”
    “Fine.” She felt frozen, the cold reaching its hoary hand deep into her core. “How would you like it if I approached your employees, got them to act against you or spy on you for money or for favors owed?”
    He cocked his head, considering. Said nothing.
    “You wouldn’t stand for it. And even though I could do it, I have never stooped that low.”
    “Well, there you have the difference between us.” Luke smiled. “When it comes to you, there are no depths to which I wouldn’t stoop.”
    There was nothing to say to that. Nowhere to go from this conversation. She felt the rift between them rip a little more. Soon only a thread or two would remain.
    She sank back into her seat, drained and tired. “And warning Peter off? Saying I’ll do nothing against Frethers? What’s that about?”
    “I’m afraid I didn’t realize it were Frethers you were talking about, t’other night. You can’t go after him. ’Twould mess up my plans.”
    She frowned, and he swung into the carriage with her, and after a moment’s hesitation, Gary closed the doors on them.
    “What plans?” She curled tighter into her corner, away from him. Felt him reach out and take hold of her cloak. Tug it a little as he fingered the corner.
    “I have a little deal going with Frethers and his lot. Anything you’ve got in mind, love, will have to be put aside.”
    Charlotte jerked her cloak from his grasp and glared at him in the darkness of the carriage as