Page 123 of Silver Elite

“I’ll try.” The words come out grudgingly, like a rotten tooth being forced out with pliers. But inside, I’m celebrating.

I wait until I leave his quarters—through the front door—before letting my smile surface.

Chapter 28

We’re jumping out of a plane tonight.

This is amazing.

Not that I’m enjoying myself. I’m really, really trying to remember that the Command is an enemy institution and I’m here to destroy it from the inside.

But…this is fucking amazing.

The night stretches out before me as I stand at the open door of the aircraft. The sound of the engines drowns out the rhythmic thudding of my pulse. Below us, the desert lies bathed in the silvery glow of the moon.

“This is fucking amazing,” Kaine shouts over the wind. His excitement matches my own.

My heart pounds in my chest, apprehension swirling inside me. With a deep breath, I steady myself against the rush of wind, the weight of my pack a reassuring presence against my back. We’re doing parachuting drills tonight. In other words, there’s no room for doubt and no space for hesitation.

“All right, listen up!” Ford says, his voice cutting through the roar of the wind. “Trust your equipment and you’ll all make it down safely. Your landing zone is clearly marked. Aim for it and you’ll be fine.”

“I don’t think I can do this,” groans a male recruit from Red Cell. His face is turning green.

Ford rolls his eyes. “This is easy compared with the jumps you might be asked to make. In a real mission, you won’t have the luxury of choosing where you land. You’ll be parachuting directly into the heart of the city, a parking lot, a rooftop. Your life depends on your ability to adapt.”

Lyddie’s hand tightens around mine. She’s been gripping it since we took off.

I see her chewing on her lip as she stares out into the darkness below. I can practically feel the waves of anxiety radiating from her.

“Hey,” I say, placing an encouraging hand on her shoulder. “You’ve got this. You’re stronger than you think.”

“What if something goes wrong?” She releases a very un-Lyddie-like expletive. “Fuck! Why did I think Silver Block would be a good idea?”

“It’s fine. You’ll do fine.”

“What if I miss the landing zone and end up stranded in the middle of nowhere?”

I squeeze her shoulder, my voice firm as I say, “It’s too late to change your mind now. You’re here. We all are. And the only way out is through. You can do this, Lyds. I believe in you.”

For a moment, she wavers, her gaze flickering between me and our impending leap of faith. Then she gives a determined nod and squares her shoulders.

“Let’s move!” Ford shouts, his hair tousled by the wind. He signals for us to line up. “Sutler, go.”

I blink and Kaine is out the door.

Gone.

“De Velde!”

At her signal, I watch with pride as Lyddie steps up to the edge. She takes a deep breath and jumps.

“Darlington!”

Adrenaline sizzles through my veins. Without second-guessing it, I launch myself into the abyss, hurtling through the darkness with reckless abandon.

I. Love. This.

For a fleeting moment, I’m suspended between sky and earth, a gust of air tearing at my clothing and the roar of the engines fading into the distance.

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