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Smoke steps toward me. I step toward him.

Callie wedges herself between us. “No.”

“Move, Chaos.”

“No.”

“Callie,” Smoke warns.

She spins toward him. “And you stop it, too.”

Smoke blinks.

She points between us. “I am not spending the next however many days listening to two overprotective assholes bark orders at everyone.”

“This isn't a joke,” I say.

“I know.”

Her serious expression makes me pause.

“I know exactly what this is, Roman.” Her voice is quieter now. “I saw Mercer. I know what you do. I know Evan is dead. I know Smoke may be in danger.”

“Then you understand why⁠—”

“I understand why you're scared.”

My jaw tightens.

Smoke's eyes move to me.

I don't fucking care.

“I also understand that being scared doesn't mean you get to decide everything for everyone else.”

“I'm trying to keep you alive.”

“And I'm trying to help you do that.”

“You're not trained for this.”

Something flashes across Smoke's face.

I catch it. “What?”

Neither answers.

I look at Callie. “What?”

She crosses her arms.

Smoke mutters, “Good luck.”

“Shut up.”

His mouth twitches.

My eyes stay on Callie. “What aren't you telling me?”