Page 61 of Silver Elite

“Yes, I’m already aware of how much you want that.”

The arrogance dripping from his words grates on my nerves. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

His perfect face creases with amusement. “You’re usually a better liar than this. I see the way you look at me.”

A rush of shame floods my belly. The unwanted sensation combines with the fury twisting my insides. I hate that he’s right. There’s an awareness here. Of the sexual variety.

I…might be attracted to him.

So maybe it’s myself that I hate. I’ve slept with soldiers before, but an attraction to Cross is a betrayal like none other. It’s like spitting in the face of every Mod on the Continent.

His last name is Redden. There’s no justification for falling into bed with him. I’d never be able to explain it to Tana, or Wolf, or all the other innocents who have suffered because of the Redden family.

Cross’s lips curl at my silence. “My suggestion? Get that idea out of your head, Darlington. I’m your CO. I don’t screw recruits.” He stalks toward the bike. “Now move your ass. It’s time to go.”

“I’ll stay in the Program.” It takes some effort to grind out the words.

He stops, glancing over at me. “Is that so?”

“Yes. If my choice is between the Program or the stockade, I choose the Program.”

“How magnanimous of you. Now get on the fucking bike.”

—

I wake several hours later to the blinding glare of fluorescent lights. A chorus of groans echoes through the barracks as we all blink against the harsh brightness. I instinctively reach for a rifle that isn’t there.

“Everyone up! Now!” barks Xavier Ford. His voice is a gravelly snarl, slicing through the fog of sleep.

I scramble out of bed, joining my fellows as we stand to attention at the foot of our bunks. My body is still sore from the fall I took earlier, the road burn on my arm stinging when I accidentally run my hand over it.

Ford isn’t alone. Cross strides inside and stops beside his lieutenant. Both men wear black from head to toe. My stomach churns with dread as Cross’s eyes scan the room, finally settling on me with a look that could melt steel.

“Sorry to interrupt everyone’s beauty sleep,” he says, his voice thick with sarcasm. “You can all thank Darlington here for this wake-up call.”

I feel every head in the room swivel toward me. I clench my fists, wishing I could disappear.

“Darlington decided she wanted to feel the wind on her face tonight,” Cross continues. “Stole a Command vehicle and went for a little joyride.”

I don’t need empath powers to sense what everyone is feeling. Their expressions vary from shock to fury and disgust.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” I hear Kess mutter.

“So now you’reallgoing to feel the wind on your faces,” Cross finishes. “Get your gear. You’re running laps until sunrise.”

A collective groan reverberates through the air. Waves of outrage are directed at me, but there’s nothing I can say to make it better. I grab my boots and quickly lace them up.

“Joyride, huh?” murmurs Kaine from the bed next to mine. “Looked like a lot more than that to me.”

“It wasn’t,” I mutter back, avoiding his prying eyes. “I just…I needed to get out.”

From the bunk across from us, Bryce Granger overhears my statement. “Well, now we’re all paying for it,” she snaps. “Thanks a lot.”

“Enough chatter,” Ford says. “Move it.”

As we file out of the barracks, the cold night air hits me like a slap in the face. The base is quiet save for the sound of our boots on the pavement. Ford and Cross lead us to the track that winds around the perimeter of the compound. An open-top truck waits there. Ford slides behind the wheel while Cross settles in the passenger side. Ford lights a joint, looking bored.

“All right, start running,” Cross drawls. “And keep running. You stop, you’re cut from the Program.”

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