"Oh," I say.
"And we're leaving in the next half hour," Silver tells Cora.
"I'm going," she blurts out.
"No, you're not," Miller says without allowing a second to go by.
"Well, can I go?" I throw out to test the waters.
"No," Miller and Silver say at the exact same time.
I throw my hands up, my chopsticks still in my grasp. "Damn guys, tell me how you really feel."
Silver runs his hand through his beard. "This is a sensitive matter."
"I'm going and you can't stop me." Cora crosses her arms over her chest.
"Angel..." Silver reaches out to touch Cora but she jerks back, nearly falling off her stool.
I catch her just in time.
"Listen," Cora says. "There is no way out of this. Either you take me willingly, or I wait until you leave and Alec and I will follow you wherever you're going. Not only will that complicate matters, but it will put both of us at risk. Are you telling me you're okay with that?"
I don't utter a damn word even though this is her plan and not mine because Cora is hellbent on getting her way and there's nothing I can do to change her mind.
The sooner the guys realize this, the better.
"You're injured," Miller adds, no doubt tossing fuel on Cora's internal fire.
"You're benching me because of a couple bumps and bruises?"
"Your ribs are broken, Cora, that's no?—"
Cora cuts Miller off. "You're failing to realize this isn't a negotiation. I'm going. End of discussion."
Miller glances at Silver in what I assume is a cry for help.
Silver averts his stare and reaches for a piece of sushi, popping it into his mouth and chewing to avoid having to make Cora angry any more than they already have.
"How about this?" Cora's tone shifts a bit softer as she focuses on Miller. "You agree to let us go, without resistance, and I won't go into the office the rest of the week."
I chew my food and watch Miller's jaw tense as he considers her offer. It's more than I thought she would give him, and honestly, he'd be an idiot for not accepting. He's been begging her to exclusively work at The Wellerton this week, why wouldn't he see this as a giant win. She continues to work from the safety of this massive home, and he keeps an eye on her during this interrogation thing.
"Fine," Miller huffs. "But the both of you will not get involved. Spectating only."
I shrug because I really have no idea what's going on, I'm just here for the ride. Sure, I'd love to check out what a day in the life of a criminal looks like, but I don't think I'm ready to get my hands dirty. I'm guessing the same goes for Cora, too, even though she's already had her hands covered in blood before.
Cora grins triumphantly and hops off her chair. "What should I wear?" She leaves a second later, not waiting for an answer and disappearing in the direction of her bedroom.
Miller glares at Silver. "What the fuck, dude?"
Silver shrugs and reaches for another piece of sushi. "You saw her, there was no winning that battle."
"The battle you didn't even fight?" Miller places his hands along the edge of the counter and exhales way too fucking dramatically. "She shouldn't be there. She shouldn't see that."
"What are you so afraid of?" I ask Miller. "You do remember her killing her boss, right?"
Miller shoots me a look that borderline sends a chill down my spine, but I remain firmly rooted in place because I won't allow him to try to intimidate me. "She's already lost so much of her innocence, do neither of you care about the rest of it?"
