She held my gaze for a long moment, the conflict playing out behind her eyes. Finally, she exhaled sharply, her shoulders sagging just a fraction. "Fine," she said, her voice gruff. "But if I see an opening, I'm taking it. No hesitation."
I nodded, accepting her terms. "Fair enough," I said, grabbing my coat and slipping it on. "But we stick together. No splitting up, no disappearing acts. Deal?"
Claire's eyes flicked to the door, then back to me. "Deal," she said, though there was a hint of reluctance in her voice. "But if things go south, I'm not waiting around for you to catch up."
I smirked, despite the gravity of the situation. "Wouldn't dream of it, Agent Starling," I said, gesturing toward the door. "After you."
Claire grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder with a practiced ease. "Stay close," she said, unlocking the door and stepping out into the dimly lit hallway. "And for God's sake, try not to look so much like a billionaire. We're supposed to be hiding."
