Alex's POV:
The door closes behind her and the silence that follows is wrong.
I stare at it for a second longer than I should, jaw tight, something low and irritated sitting in my chest.
She didn’t say anything.
Didn’t even look at them.
That’s what does it.
I drag a slow breath in, then turn to Max.
“Max.”
He looks at me.
“What did you do?” I ask.
“She disobeyed.”
“I heard that,” I reply, my tone sharpening just slightly. “That’s not what I asked.”
Francesco quiets. Enzo watches. Cassian steps closer to my side.
“I handled it.” He sighs.
I hold his gaze.
“She walked out of here frustrated.”
Now there’s no mistaking it.
That edge is there.
Max doesn’t move.
“That was part of it.”
And that?
That’s where I lose patience.
My head tilts slightly.
“You thought leaving her
