Page 25 of Viper

CHAPTER SIX

“I didn’t do it,” Dionne insisted, stood in front of the office desk with her head held high. “I wouldneverdo something like that.”

“Huh.” Sinking further into the leather chair, Ella licked her front teeth. “Can’t say I believe you.”

She’d arrived at work that morning resolved that she’d fire Dionne first thing, just as she’d told her family she would. But the hellcat hadn’t arrived until after noon, while Ella was busy with a customer. It was afterward, when she and Mia had peeked over at where Dionne stood at the register, that the sisters had discovered awholenew reason why the woman needed to be fired.

Dionne’s lips thinned. “I’m not the only person who works here. Any number of people could have stolen money from the till. Just because the others are related to you doesn’t mean it wasn’t them.”

“True. But I know for a fact that it was you, so … ”

Dionne folded her arms. “Oh, I see. Because you don’t like me, you’re going to claim I stole the money.”

“I’m claiming you stole it because Isawyou do it.” Ella leaned forward in her seat. “Now, here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to give me back the cash you stole. And then you’re going to grab your shit and go.”

Dionne gaped. “You’re firing me?”

“This truly surprises you?” Unreal. “You’re never on-time. You call in sick at least once a week. You keep claiming you need a bathroom break when, really, you’re going to your locker to check your cell phone. I already warned you that all that shit needed to stop. Mia warned you. My mom and Jocelyn warned you. But you didn’t listen to us, andnowyou’re stealing from the till. What did you think would happen?”

The hellcat’s nostrils flared. “Like I really wanted to work here anyway.” She fished the wad of cash from her pocket, slapped it on the desk, and then stormed out.

God, the woman was a pain in the ass.

Ella snatched the money from the desk and left the office. Since she needed to leave work early to check out a situation for Neve, she retrieved her purse from her locker and kept a close eye on Dionne as the hellcat grabbed her stuff from her own locker.

Once they were both done, Ella followed her to the shop floor and then slipped behind the counter. Dionne stormed out of the place, almost crashing into someone who’d been trying to enter.

Joe.

Ella sensed her sister tense beside her.

Looking sheepish as he crossed to the counter, he tipped his chin at Mia, an awkwardness in his manner. “Hi.”

His blue eyes met Ella’s for the briefest moment as he nodded in greeting. They were civil toward each other, but they’d never been anything close to friends. Whereas Luka was protective of Ella’s family purely because of who they were to her, Joe didn’t extend his protectiveness beyond Mia. Which had been fine with Ella right up until hestoppedbeing considerate of her sister’s feelings.

Mia stared at him, her expression wary. “What brings you here?” she bluntly asked him.

He drifted his fingers through his scruffy ash-blond hair. “I figure we should talk.”

Mia inhaled deeply. “Okay.” She walked out from behind the counter and headed to the nearest corner, gesturing for him to follow.

Ella stuffed the cash in the till,totallyintending to eavesdrop.

He cleared his throat. “Thanks for speaking with me,” he said to Mia. “I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d flipped me off.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Listen, I … Can we just forget all that happened between us recently?”

“Forget?” Mia’s eyes went squinty. “Forget you’ve been an ass to me, or forget stuff from before that?”

He grimaced. “We should have kept things platonic, but we didn’t. I don’t want it to ruin our friendship. Can we just pretend it never happened?”

Ella couldn’t help but wince. If Luka had told her he’d regretted that they slept together and wanted them to act as though it had never occurred, it would have stung big time. Your anchor was supposed to be a person you’d always feel safe with, emotionally and physically. They weren’t supposed to hurt you.

Mia folded her arms, her posture defensive. “So you’ve been acting weird and distant because you regret that we slept together but didn’t wanna say so?”

He averted his gaze. “Yes.”

Ella tensed, telepathically reaching out to her sister.That was a lie.

Mia’s mind stroked hers as she telepathically replied,It was. There’s more to this.She gave him a brittle smile. “Sure. Why not?”

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