Edmund closed his eyes, his forehead resting against hers. "Your mother isn't just a criminal, Angela. She's a queenpin. And I'm… I'm the one who makes sure her empire stays intact."
Angela's breath hitched, her mind reeling. She had suspected her mother was involved in illegal activities, but hearing Edmund confirm it was a blow she wasn't prepared for.
"And me?" she asked, her voice barely audible. "Where do I fit into all of this?"
Edmund's grip on her tightened, his expression pained. "You're her most valuable asset. The one thing she's willing to destroy anyone for."
Angela felt like the ground had been ripped out from under her. The words on Michael's paper flashed in her mind, their meaning now painfully clear.
"Please, leave, Edmund," she said suddenly, pushing against Edmund's chest.
"Angela…" he began, but she cut him off.
"I can't do this," she said, her voice shaking. "I need time to think."