“Yeah, well.Lucky for me, I don’t lie often.”
She studied him for a long moment, then shook her head.“You didn’t have to do this for me.”
“Already told you.I don’t like bullies,” Viper reminded her.
“That excuse’s getting old.”
Viper’s mouth twitched.“Then maybe stop giving me reasons to use it.”
Her eyes softened a little at that, but she didn’t smile.“You think King’s right?That I’m not worth it?”Mara asked.
“Don’t put words in my mouth.”
“I’m serious, Viper.”
He dragged a hand over his jaw, exhaling.“You didn’t ask for any of this.You got dealt a bad hand.That’s not on you,” he told her.
“That’s not an answer.”
“No,” he said quietly.“It’s not.”
Silence stretched between them again.The noise of the shop filled it, but it didn’t drown out the pulse in his ears.
Mara took a small step closer.“I don’t want to cause trouble for you,” she finally said.
“Bit late for that,” Viper said before he could stop himself.
“Then maybe I should leave.”
He looked at her sharply.“You’re not going anywhere.”
Her chin lifted.“You can’t keep me—” Mara started.
“Not keeping you,” he cut in, voice harder than he meant.“Just saying it’s not safe out there.You know that.”
Something in his tone must’ve gotten through, because she stopped arguing.
Viper sighed, running a hand through his hair.“Look, I’ll talk to King.He’ll calm down.Just keep your head down, do your job, and don’t worry about it,” he said, trying to reassure her.
Mara nodded, though the worry in her eyes didn’t fade.“I’ll try.”
He gave her a small nod and turned back toward the shop floor, but he didn’t make it far.The sound of her voice stopped him.
“Viper?”
He looked over his shoulder.
“Thank you,” she said softly.“For sticking up for me.”
For a second, he couldn’t think of what to say.He wanted to tell her it wasn’t a big deal.That he’d do it for anyone.But the lie stuck in his throat.
Instead, he just nodded once.“Get back to work, Mara.”
She smiled faintly.“Yes, boss.”
He grunted.“Don’t call me that.”
But she was already turning back toward her desk, and he caught the curve of her smile as she walked away.
