Because the problem is—
He isn’t wrong.
And judging by the way Clay’s eyes keep finding mine now?
We both know it.
The commander steps slightly closer through the smoke.
“Unfortunately,” he says calmly, “that creates weakness.”
Clay rises instantly.
Fast enough that I barely catch the movement before he’s standing between me and the commander.
Protective.
Aggressive.
Absolutely furious.
“No,” Clay says quietly.
The commander’s eyebrow lifts slightly.
“No?”
The air changes.
I feel it immediately.
Everyone does.
Because Clay’s voice no longer sounds angry.
It sounds lethal.
The kind of calm that comes right before violence.
“You made a mistake,” Clay says.
The commander actually looks amused.
“And what mistake was that?”
Clay’s fingers tighten around his rifle.
“You threatened her in front of me.”
Oh boy.
Even Russ goes still beside us.
Because every single person here understands the same thing at once.
This man has finally pushed Clay too far.
The commander studies him carefully now.
