“My God — enough!”

The words exploded out of Dutch — sharp, raw. His voice echoed off the canvas of his tent, lightly rattling the lantern hanging behind him. It swayed, casting wild, flickering shadows across his face.

He paced like a caged wolf, boots heavy against the floor, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His coat had been thrown over the chair hours ago, sleeves rolled up, collar open but the sweat on his brow wasn’t from the heat.

It was you.

It was always you, lately.

“Every goddamn time I bring something to this camp, something real, something that could change everything — we end up here. With you lookin’ at me like I’ve lost my goddamn mind!”

His voice didn’t raise again — it dropped, which was somehow worse. Lower, colder.

All you’d said was maybe this time, we think it through but Dutch didn’t hear caution. He heard betrayal.

He took a step toward you, boots heavy on the wooden planks beneath him.

“Do you even realize what it costs to lead?” His arm swept wide like he was gesturing to some invisible empire but all you saw was a tent and the madness flickering in his eyes. “What it takes to keep this family together?”

You held your ground. But your jaw tightened and that was enough to set him off again.

“You don’t trust me.” The accusation left his mouth like a curse. “That’s what this is. You smile in front of me, warm my bed, whisper sweet things when it’s convenient but when it counts?”

He pointed at you, jabbing the air between you both like a blade.

“You think you know better. You think you see more clearly. You don’t.”

You opened your mouth to reason with the man you’d once followed without question but he cut you off again.

“No — don’t. Don’t give me that look.” His voice cracked, frustration bleeding into bitterness. “I have carried this gang, this dream, you, on my back through betrayal and blood. And now you stand there, doubt in your eyes, like I’m the villain.”

“You’re either with me,” he growled, stepping in close now, so close you could see the tiredness lining his face beneath the anger, “or you’re against me.”