Page 126 of Silver Elite

“Roe is the last person who should be speaking on my behalf.”

Cross shuts off the water and steps out of the stall, grabbing a towel to dry himself with. I hear his husky laugh as he walks away, but I refuse to look over my shoulder. I’m breathing hard, shivering despite the warm water rushing over my body.

My heart is still pounding by the time I finish showering and return to the fire. We’re bunking outside tonight. I unfold and lay out a sleeping roll next to Lyddie. Kaine is on my other side.

He gives me a thoughtful look. “Shower games over already?”

I flick him off, but he remains unfazed.

“Didn’t realize the captain and I were in competition.”

“There’s no competition,” I grumble.

“Wait, what?” Lyddie sits upright, her gaze sliding between us. “Is something happening here? Oh my gosh. Are you guys—”

“No,” I interrupt, while Kaine grins at me.

Her forehead wrinkles. “Are you and the captain—”

“No.” My tone is even firmer this time.

From across the fire, I notice a pair of pale eyes affixed on me like a leech. Ivy. I don’t know if she heard any of that, but if Kaine saw me and Cross showering side by side, I’m sure Ivy noticed, too.

“I need some water,” I blurt out.

Breaking eye contact with Ivy, I head toward the mess tent to refill my canteen.

When I emerge, I find Xavier Ford standing outside the canvas flap, smoking a cigarette. He studies me as he takes a drag.

“What?” I mutter.

“It’s rare to see him like that.”

We both know who he’s talking about. “Like what?”

“Out of control.” Ford drops his cigarette on the ground and extinguishes it with his boot. “You know, Darlington, there are very few things I like about you.”

“Gee thanks. I’m touched.”

“But this one…I find this one entertaining.” Laughing, he strides off in the direction of the officers’ tents, while I return to the bonfire and my fellows.

Chapter 29

Thanks to Lyddie’s tutoring sessions, I improve on my next written test, scoring an 85. But I still prefer the mock ops. The drills. The exhilaration of jumping out of an airplane.

Sometime around Section 5, I start to wonder if I’m addicted to adrenaline.

Today we’re running an exercise called Wait for Rescue. Kaine and I play the roles of hostages. We’re being guarded by Roe, who checks on us every twenty minutes like clockwork. Our other fellows either serve as perimeter guards or form the team that’s been tasked with freeing the hostages. Everyone wears sensor jumpsuits on ops now. If we take a fake hit, the sensor relays to our instructors where we’re injured or if we’re killed in action.

“This is boring,” Kaine groans.

I stare at the slit of light peeking through the bottom of the metal door. Kaine lightly thumps his head against the cinder-block wall behind us, running his zip-tied hands through his blond hair. He’s as restless as I am.

At first, we were thrilled to be paired together for this exercise, but as the minutes stretch into hours, impatience gnaws at us both. Each time our rescuers fail to infiltrate the warehouse, they’re forced tostart again. Kaine and I have been sitting in this cold, cramped room for an eternity, and so far, nobody has been able to rescue us.

“I hate placing my fate in other people’s hands,” I mumble. “We’ve been waiting all morning. Why are they so incompetent?”

“I say we just tag-team the little general next time he does his rounds.” Kaine gives me a hopeful look.

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