Hardin’s POV
“Are you out of your damn mind?”
“Come on, man! How long are you going to keep pushing her away?” Carl snapped, bringing his fist down against the mahogany desk to drive the point home. The wood rattled beneath the force of his frustration.
“You don't understand the gravity of this—”
“Save it, Hardin. Forget about the gravity of your little martyr routine. Her life is already on the line the moment she walks through these gates. All you have to do is man up and protect her instead of hiding behind a desk.”
“And what the hell do you think I’m doing?”
“You aren't doing s**t,” Carl shot back, his voice dropping into that dangerously calm register he used when he was done playing nice. “You’re just protecting your own terrified ego. You’re petrified the world is going to see
