Page 10 of Silver Elite

I’m in a cocoon. It’s rather pleasant. I burrow deeper and deeper into it, basking in its warmth and the sense of safety it provides. Until the cobwebs in my mind begin to clear and I’m alert enough to comprehend that the cocoon is actually a male body curled around me, and that I’m burrowing my backside against a groin that’s awakening faster than its owner.

What in the hellfuck!

Before I can jump out of bed, a sharp voice slices through the silence.

“Darlington! Sutler! On your damn feet.”

Hadley. He looms over us, disapproval digging harsh lines into his features.

I scramble up. Kaine, who’s still half asleep, lopes off the mattress like a fawn taking its first steps. He shoves a hand through his messy blond hair and gives me a drowsy grin.

“You were all over me in your sleep,” he says.

“Shut up,” Hadley orders.

His eyes travel down the row of beds. A murmur of confusion ripples through the room at the commanding officer’s sudden presence. Recruits start sitting up or getting to their feet.

Hadley shifts his gaze between me and my bedmate. “Was Soldier Struck not clear last night when she explained the rules to you? One to a bed. No exceptions.”

Kaine and I remain silent.

He scrutinizes me for far too long, but not in a way most males would look at a woman in her sleepwear and no bra. Then he gives a deep frown.

“Get dressed and come with me.”

Kaine takes a step.

“Not you,” snaps Hadley. “Just her.”

Apprehension prickles my belly. Why does he want me alone?

What does he know?

My pulse quickens as another question surfaces.

Does he recognize me?

His face reveals absolutely nothing.

“I said get dressed,” he commands, sharper this time. “Or I’ll do it for you.”

I hear some chuckles from the other end of the room. Kess and Anson. Lyddie gives me a worried look.

“Do I have time to freshen up before we embark on our morning adventure?” I ask Hadley.

His jaw tightens. “You have three minutes.”

“Thank you. Sir. ” I turn my face away before he can see the derision on it.

Precisely three minutes later, Hadley collects me from the lavatories and makes a terse gesture for me to follow. I didn’t have time to brush my hair, so I finger-comb it as I walk.

“Where are we going?”

He doesn’t answer.

I sneak him a sidelong look. He would probably be attractive if it weren’t for the way he presses his lips into a thin line, devoid of any trace of a smile or even a frown. There’s an air of detachment about him. Something clinical and cold. His face betrays not even a hint of emotion.

I wonder if he felt anything when he reported Morlee. I wonder if he feels anything now when he thinks about her hands, which are probably raw and brittle after shoveling salt from dawn till dusk for the last eight years.

We walk down the corridors of the maze that makes up the base. Hadley scans his thumb at a pair of large doors that slide open to allow us entrance, and then it’s steel door after steel door, each one numbered rather than offering any distinguishing clues like a name or department. At least until we turn the corner into a shorter hall and arrive at a door with a silver plate on it.

Captain of Operations.

Damn it.

The door buzzes at our arrival. He’s expecting us. Hadley gestures at the open doorway and grunts something before turning on his heel.

“So sorry to inconvenience you,” I call after his retreating form.

His shoulders stiffen, but he keeps marching.

I enter an office so enormous you could fit several smaller offices inside it. The ceiling is a snakelike expanse of pipework. A commanding desk takes up one side of the room, while a long conference table surrounded by black padded chairs takes up the other. Maps and paperwork are strewn on the table, and I resist the urge to walk over and snoop.

Of course, there isn’t a single window. It’s all artificial lighting, lending the space a forbidding atmosphere.

I find Captain Cross leaning against his desk. He’s in all-black, his short sleeves revealing the swirl of ink on his arms.

“What does the base have against windows?” I ask him.

He folds his arms on his chest. “What do you have against rules?”

“I find them limiting.”

He sighs and picks up a tablet. Then he starts to read. “?‘Recruit 56 found in compromising position with Recruit 42. Sharing the same bed.’?” He brings his gaze back to me, a cynical glint in it. “Man of few words, that Hadley. You care to fill in the details?”

I shrug. “I didn’t want to sleep on the floor.”

“It’s one to a bed in the bunks.”

“There weren’t enough beds.” I give him a knowing look. “Oh no. I failed your little test.”

He watches me, unimpressed.

“I gave up my bed for another recruit. I’m the bleeding heart.” I tip my head in defiance. “Aren’t you going to cut me?”

“No.”

“But I broke the rules.”

“You did,” he agrees.

There’s something very aggravating about his face. It’s just so…symmetrical. And that dimple is always on the brink of appearing, as if he wants to smile but can’t quite let it happen.

“I heard the bleeding heart gets cut,” I say through my rising frustration.

“Usually. But I’ll make an exception for you, Dove.” He sets his tablet on the desktop, drawing my gaze to his defined biceps and golden, tattooed flesh. “With that said, it hasn’t been twenty-four hours and you’ve already been written up. This doesn’t bode well.”

“You should cut me,” I say hopefully.

“No.” The dimple threatens to appear again.

I grit my teeth. “Does it get you off, the idea of forcing women to do things they don’t want to do?”

“I didn’t realize you were so interested in what gets me off.”

I recoil. “I’m not.”

His gaze locks with mine. “Are you sure?”

“Fucking positive.”

“That’s a shame. I’d be happy to satisfy your curiosity.”

He closes the distance between us, and a shiver runs through me when he dips his head close to whisper in my ear.

“I like it rough.”

I clench my teeth harder and try to ignore the ripples of heat that travel through my body.

No. I’m not allowed to feel even a flicker of warmth toward this man. He leads the block that’s responsible for hunting down people like me. I ought to be a wall of ice. I ought to kill him the first chance I get.

He watches me again, silent and pensive. Then he asks, “Are you going to be a problem for me?”

“Probably.”

“Don’t test my patience, Dove. I’m not someone you want as an enemy.”

His lethal tone doesn’t faze me.

He already is the enemy.

“May I go now?”

He nods. “You’re dismissed.”

“Thank you, sir,” I mock.

To my dismay, he grabs his tablet and follows me to the door, where his voice stops me before I can exit.

“Darlington.”

He’s so much taller than me, my chin instinctively tilts up for me to meet his eyes. They’re so stupidly blue. “What?”

“You’d be better off keeping a lower profile. The instructors enjoy making life more difficult for the troublemakers.”

“Well, I plan on making life difficult for them, so it’s only fair they fight back.”

He shakes his head. “Let’s go.”

“Aw, are you accompanying me to morning meal?” As we fall into step with each other, I’m forced to quicken my pace to match his longer strides.

“No. Morning meal is delayed. I’m addressing the recruit class first. I wasn’t able to do it yesterday because I was called off base at the last minute.”

“Doing more dirty things at village inns?”

That gets me another smoldering look. Damn it, I need to stop provoking him.

“Something like that.”

We navigate several corridors until we reach a large training gym with gray walls and black mats spanning the floor. I don’t want to be seen entering with the captain, but I don’t have much of a choice. Heads swivel at our entrance.

I spot Lyddie in the sea of navy blue and make my way to her. Kaine is there, too. He glances past my shoulder at Captain Cross, who’s approaching his instructors.

“Never had a woman risk the wrath of a Command captain to share a bed with me,” Kaine says with a wink.

I ignore him and turn to Lyddie. “Did I miss anything important?”

“No. Did you get in trouble?”

“Just a warning,” I lie.

I’m starting to realize it might be impossible for me to get in trouble. I’m not going anywhere unless Cross wants me to. And yet, what message does it send to his instructors if he allows an incompetent recruit to continue training for his precious Silver Block? He’d look weak. Incompetent himself. Which means I need to stay the course. The worse I perform, the quicker I’ll wake up from this nightmare.

My attention shifts to the captain. As much as I hate myself for it, I can’t help but admire the way his shirt hugs his broad shoulders, and how his dark hair falls in perfect disarray across his forehead.

I’m not the only one staring. Beside me, Lyddie wears a dreamy expression.

Trying not to laugh, I lean closer and say, “Please don’t tell me you’re locked on the captain.”

“Of course not.” Her cheeks turn red. “But…I mean…don’t tell me you don’t see it, too.”

“See what?”

“His face. His body.”

“Both of mine are better,” Kaine says, and I roll my eyes at him.

“He’s not unattractive,” I say in concession, maintaining a casual tone even as my heartbeat accelerates at the memory of that velvety whisper in my ear.

I like it rough.

He was trying to get under my skin. I know that. I just wish it hadn’t worked.

As if sensing my gaze on him, he swings his head in my direction. When he spots me, I raise one hand in a sweet fluttery wave and flash him a big fake smile. There’s a hint of a dimple before he turns back to the older man he’s speaking to. The uniformed man has dark hair streaked with gray and boasts four silver stars on his sleeve. Another captain from this block.

That’s when I notice Ivy frowning at me. I’m not the only one to pick up on it, as Lyddie murmurs, “Oh, someone doesn’t like that.”

“Who? Ivy?”

Lyddie nods. “They used to be together.”

I manage to mask my surprise in time. I can’t appear overly interested in anyone here, even our esteemed captain.

“Really. How do you know that?” Lyddie’s proving to be a wealth of information, which makes her an unexpected asset to me.

“She was a couple of levels ahead of me in upper school, but her sister was in my level. Mira talked about them a lot. I think it lasted about a year. Ended when he joined the Command.”

Interesting.

I shoot another discreet look Ivy’s way. Not discreet enough, though. She’s still watching me. Still frowning. “Is that why she’s here now? Trying to get close to him again?”

“Wouldn’t shock me. It’s her second go-around, after all. But if she’s retaking the Program hoping to get his attention, that’s incredibly pathetic. He doesn’t want you. Move on.”

I don’t entirely hate this petty side to Lyddie.

“Damn, Lydia. Behind those freckles you’re a real bitch,” Kaine says, grinning.

“I’m not a bitch,” she protests. “All I’m saying is, you only get two shots at Silver Block, and she already failed once. At this point, just accept it—you belong in Copper. Go guard a gate or something.”

I smother a laugh while Kaine chuckles. Yes. Spiteful Lyddie is a delight.

“Why aren’t they together anymore?” I ask.

“I don’t know. Maybe Daddy didn’t approve.”

“Her daddy?”

“No, his.” Lyddie shrugs. “The General’s not known to welcome strangers into his midst with open arms.”

“The General? What does he have to do with this?”

She gives me a bemused look. “It’s his father.”

“Whose father?” I feel like we’re having two different conversations now.

“Cross.” Lyddie can tell I’m not following, so she gestures toward the tall, tattooed man across the room. “That’s Cross Redden, Wren. The General’s son.”