Natalya's smirk deepened, her eyes gleaming with cruel satisfaction. "Just friends?" she taunted, her voice dripping with disdain. "Or friends with benefits?" She waved a hand dismissively. "Either way, it doesn't matter. He's already dead. Don't waste time talking about dead people."
Claire's breath came in sharp, ragged gasps, her entire body shaking with barely contained rage. "You bitch," she hissed, her voice a blade. "I'll end you."
Natalya just laughed, her voice cold and unfeeling. "Oh, Agent Starling," she said, her tone dripping with mock pity, "you really think you're in any position to make threats?"
The way Claire was reacting—the way her face had crumpled, the way her voice had broken—it felt like she had some feelings for me after all.
Polina didn't look at me, didn't react at all, her expression carefully neutral. But I could see it—the way her fingers twitched, the way her breath hitched just slightly.
