Code of Silence

Untitled Part 18

PRESENT DAY

Noah Cutler paced behind his desk, his hands fidgeting at his sides and his nerves on edge. Laurel had called and asked to see him and the fact that she had contacted him out of the blue and sounded worried had him concerned. He knew his daughter and Oliver Queen had returned alive and safe, and he cursed his luck. Queen was suppose to have died on that boat. So why was he not dead? At the time, Noah had not cared that his daughter had been on the boat. She had chosen Queen over him and so she had died the day she had made the decision. He heard a knock at the door and when he called out for the person to come in, Laurel walked in looking frazzled. She shut the door behind her.

"We need to talk." She was twisting her hands, and he invited her to take a seat. He sat in his chair behind his huge mahogany desk, and gave her a cold stare. He was busy running the Civello shipping and did not have a lot of time for her today.

"Talk!", he said.

"Joe came to see me today and do you know what he told me?" she quirked her eyebrow at him.

"I don't have time for games Laurel. Just spit it out!!" he was growing frustrated.

"Oliver is back in town and he is asking questions about Donna's death." Noah looked at her in surprise but he was not too bothered. They had hidden their tracks quite well and Joe had paid good money for her death to appear to be caused by the accident.

"So?" Noah said, keeping an icy non-chalance.

"Did you know that Donna was Bratva?" Laurel was curious to know. Noah had been married to the woman for years. Surely he had known.

"I did. So?" She grew frustrated. Noah was way too calm and way too relaxed about the whole situation.

"Well Oliver is now a Bratva Captain and he has brought them to Star City. They are determined to find out what really happened to Donna and Joe is freaking out."

Noah tensed. Damn! How did Oliver Queen become a Captain in the Bratva. That was not something he was expecting. Noah had not been worried about them when Donna died because of the fact her death was classified as an accident. But if Oliver and particularly his computer savvy daughter Felicity were digging into her death that could mean trouble for them.

Noah stood and walked around the desk and bent down into Laurel's face. His eyes were dull and cold. "I want you to listen to me very carefully Laurel. You are going to leave this house and act like everything is fine. I want you to talk to Queen. See if you can find out exactly what he knows." He knew she was smitten with Queen and maybe they could use that to their advantage. "But Laurel, if you bring my name into this or if you tell Queen the truth, so help me God they will find pieces of your body strewn from here to Central City. You got it?"

Laurel's eyes were wide as she nodded, "Of course Noah. I wouldn't dare betray the family."

Noah backed up and Laurel quickly stood to her feet. "I will talk to Queen." She walked to the door and gave him one last worried look before she left. Not only did she have Joe upset with her, now Noah was threatening her too. She needed to tread very carefully and make sure that Oliver did not find out the truth.

PRESENT DAY - QUEEN MANSION

Oliver and Anatoli walked back into the house, both feeling pretty good about the message they had sent to Joe and the Civello family. They also knew the message would be getting back to Laurel and Noah and they were prepared for what was to come. Oliver excused himself to check on Felicity while Anatoli made his way to the sitting room. He smiled as he saw Moira sitting on the couch reading the newspaper.

"Ah, you are a sight for these sore eyes красивая женщина (beautiful lady)!"

Moira felt a flush cross her cheeks and she smiled, with just a hint of shyness. "You are a sweet talker Anatoli."

"I only speak the truth my sweet. A beautiful woman should be appreciated and told she is beautiful." Moira looked at him in surprise. He thought she was beautiful. She fidgeted, feeling a little nervous.

"So how did your meeting with Joe go today?" Anatoli took a seat by her on the couch and Moira smoothed her skirt nervously and looked at him curiously.

Anatoli leaned closer and winked at her, "I believe you Americans would say that the ball is in their court?!"

"So I take that to mean it went well.", she said and smiled.

"Ваша улыбка освещает комнату с ее красотой (Your smile lights up the room with its beauty)." Anatoli's gaze turned serious and Moira caught her breath. She felt a little thrill when he spoke Russian to her. She liked it a lot.

Moira stood to leave feeling a giddy nervousness, and Anatoli stood quickly stopping her with a hand on her elbow. He let go when she looked at him. "Would you like to join me for dinner tonight?" His eyes were smiling, his voice serious.

Moira looked at him in surprise. "Are you asking me out Anatoli?" Her voice sounded a little flustered.

" Это была бы моя привилегия взять такую прекрасную женщину на (It would be my privilege to take such a beautiful woman to dinner)." Moira looked at him unsure, and he smiled.

"Yes, I am asking you to dinner Moira."

She smiled at him. She liked the way he said her name, and it had been so very long since she had been to dinner with a handsome gentleman that was not her son. She decided to take a chance.

"I would love to have dinner with you Anatoli."

They smiled at each other and he clapped his hands in delight. "Then I shall see you here, in this room at 6:30."

He took her hand and kissed the back before he winked and headed to his room.

Moira gently touched her hand where his lips had lingered and she smiled. She was looking forward to tonight.