I blink at him once, like maybe I heard it wrong.
“Excuse me?” I ask, my voice dropping lower instead of rising.
“You already got hurt once,” he continues, his tone steady like he thinks that makes it better.
“Try that again,” I say, taking another step closer. “But this time make it make sense.”
“It makes perfect sense,” he replies. “You’re running on adrenaline and stubbornness, and that’s not going to carry you through what’s inside that facility.”
“Neither is you going in alone,” I snap.
“I don’t need backup for this,” he says.
I laugh, short and sharp, the sound echoing faintly off the stone around us.
“Wow,” I mutter. “That’s actually impressive, even for you.”
“Jolie—”
“No, don’t,” I cut in again, my hands coming up as I gesture sharply. “Don’t stand there and tell me I’ve come this far just to sit in a hole while you go play hero.”
“That’s not what this is,” he says, his voice tightening slightly.
“That’s exactly what this is,” I fire back. “You’re making the call for both of us again.”
His expression hardens.
“I’m making the call that keeps you alive,” he says.
“I was alive before you showed up,” I shoot back.
“Barely,” he counters.
“Still counts,” I snap, stepping closer until there’s barely any space between us. “You don’t get to decide I’m done just because it makes your plan easier.”
“This isn’t about easy,” he says, his voice dropping. “This is about finishing it.”
“And I’m part of that,” I reply, my gaze locking onto his. “Whether you like it or not.”
He exhales, dragging a hand back through his hair, and for a second, something cracks through the control he’s been holding onto.
“I’m not risking you in there,” he says.
“You’re not risking me?” I repeat, my voice flattening. “Or you’re not risking yourself?”
His eyes snap back to mine.
“That’s not fair,” he says.
“Neither is this,” I reply immediately. “You don’t get to walk in here, tell me we’re doing this together, and then pull this at the last second.”
“I’m adjusting the plan,” he says.
“No,” I shake my head, stepping back just enough to put space between us again. “You’re repeating it.”
He stills.
“Repeating what?” he asks.
