Page 157 of Dark Night of the Soul

She frowned. Not arguing, but not happy about being sidelined.

“Well, I’m excellent at diversions,” Ludwig said. “You’ll be perfectly safe with him. He’s protective.”

The last word carried enough emphasis to be deliberate.

She gave him a flat look. “This isn’t my first day with him. I noticed.”

“Hard not to.” His smile widened fractionally. “The man practically growls.”

I stared. He saw.

He held up his hands again. “Just making an observation.”

“Make it elsewhere.”

“Noted.” But he was still smiling.

She shook her head. Amused despite herself.

Ulrich cleared his throat. “Equipment. We’ll need comms, breaching tools, thermite charges—”

“I’ll handle the charges,” Ludwig said. “Ulrich, you’ve got the technical gear?”

“Already packed.”

“Weapons?” he asked.

“In the van,” Ulrich confirmed.

She was quiet now, studying the blueprints with an intensity that said she was memorizing every line. Every exit. Every potential complication.

Planning her own contingencies.

She traced the route from entrance to server room with one finger. “What happens if the elevator is disabled?”

“Stairs. Here and here.” I showed her the backup routes. “Adds three minutes.”

“And if both are blocked?”

“We make our own exit.”

Her eyes met mine. A hint of a smile. “You mean we get those RPGs?”

“If you want RPGs, then, yes.”

“You spoil me,” she said. “Don’t disappoint me.”

Ludwig chuckled. “Oh, I really like her.”

I looked at him. “Make it happen. And knock it off.”

“I’m just saying—”

“I have RPGs on the list,” Ulrich said, interjecting.

He spread his hands, still grinning. “Can’t help myself. She’s got that whole competent and dangerous thing going. It’s attractive.”

She looked at him. “You’re flirting with disaster, aren’t you?”