“That doesn’t excuse cutting me out,” he roars, taking another step toward me, “I am not some outsider you protect from the truth.”
Axel moves fully between us then, his body a solid barrier as he plants his feet and raises his voice.
“Both of you shut up,” he snaps, and the authority in his tone cuts through the room like a blade.
Atticus rounds on him. “Don’t take her side on this.”
“I’m not taking sides,” Axel replies, jaw tight, “I’m stopping this before it turns into something we can’t undo.”
I laugh sharply, the sound brittle. “That ship sailed a while ago.”
“You don’t get to decide that alone,” Atticus throws back, and his voice cracks just enough to make my chest ache even through the anger.
“And you don’t get to act like you’re the only one carrying weight,” I fire back, “y
