Page 171 of Silver Elite

That makes the colonel chuckle. “You’re cold as ice, brother.”

They seem unbothered that I’m standing there, but I still begin to edge away. “May I be dismissed, sir?” When Cross nods, I direct a polite smile at Travis. “Nice to meet you, Colonel.”

“Likewise, soldier.”

The first thing I do when I return to my quarters to pack is report to Declan.

“They’ve assigned me to a smuggler named Jasper Reed. I’m supposed to go to Ward C and track down where Reed stashes the stolen medical supplies he gives to the Faithful.”

“Have fun. Reed is a pain in the ass.”

“You guys don’t like him, either?”Look at that, the Uprising and the Command have something in common.

“We would like nothing more than to tie him to a rocket ship and launch him into the sun. Or recruit him. But he’s not amenable to the latter.”

“Elite is also running another mission in Hamlett. You need to warn Griff and Tana.”

“They’re already aware.”

As disconnected as I’ve been from Tana lately, I’m fairly certain my friendisn’taware of this new threat. Yes, she’s noticed the increased soldier presence and senses she’s being watched, but I don’t think either she or Griff recognize the extent of the Command’s efforts.

“This is more than extra surveillance. Cross has people—”

“Cross?”

“Captain Redden,”I make the hasty correction.“He just assigned two Elites to join him on a mission there. He wouldn’t give me the details.”

“Do you know when it’s happening?”

“No. I’m assuming sometime soon. Please, just tell Griff to be on guard. I’ll warn Tana myself.”

“No. You will not.”

Indignation rises inside me.“She’s my best friend.”

“You no longer owe loyalty to anyone but the Uprising.”

I bristle.

“You answer to Adrienne,”Declan continues.“You answer to the network. Everything you learn in Elite is relayed to us, and if we decide the information needs to go elsewhere, then we will be the ones to provide it. You keep everything to yourself, understood?”

I bite my lip.“Understood.”

But when he severs the link, I decide I don’t understand. What would it hurt to warn Tana and Griff to be more careful? To alert them that Silver Block is running an op in Hamlett?

I’d never forgive myself if something happened to them and I could’ve prevented it.

It’s not even a question in my mind as I open another path.

—

“This assignment blows,” Kaine says a few days later.

I glance at him, grinning at his glum expression. We’re in our lodgings in C, sharing a room with two single beds. We’ve been here for three days already, and I can’t disagree with Kaine’s assessment: This blows.

So far, Silver Elite is a massive letdown.

All we’ve done since we arrived in this ward is visit seedy establishments to dig for intel or wait around while Ford speaks to his various informants. Or rather, Xavier. We’re allowed to call our former instructors by their first names now, which I’m still not used to.

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