Page 68 of Silver Elite

“Heard the ’fect adopted you when you were six or something. Seems a bit young…But I suppose the silverbloods aren’t known for their morality, are they? And maybe you liked it when his hands were all over you—”

I spin around and strike, my fist connecting with Kess’s jaw. She stumbles backward, caught off guard by the sudden attack. But she recovers quickly, launching herself at me with a snarl of rage.

“Wren!” I hear Lyddie shout, but I’m beyond listening. To Lyddie. To Kess. To anyone.

Screw these people. These smug Primes who think they own the world.

The mess hall erupts into chaos. Cheers and catcalls break out, and chairs scrape the floor as recruits scramble to their feet. I pay them no mind as I unleash all my pent-up grief and anger on Kess, defending Jim’s honor with every blow.

My next punch sends her crashing into the neighboring table, but she pulls me with her. We collide into the chairs then go hurtling to the ground.

“Bitch,” she growls.

Blood pulses in my ears. Each strike of my fists is fueled by the burning desire to shut this woman’s obnoxious mouth. I roll on top of her and slam my knuckles into her jaw, sending her head thumping against the floor. She hisses with fury and uses her right forearm to block, while her left fist swings upward and connects with my mouth. My lip catches on a tooth, and I feel moisture dripping down my chin. Before Kess can hit me again, I knock her hand away and drive my elbow into her face.

There’s no more satisfying sound than the crunch of her nose as it breaks. No more satisfying sight than the two red streams that pour out of her nostrils.

Suddenly I’m hauled to my feet. Strong arms wrap around my waist, pulling me away from Kess. I thrash against my captor, my vision blurred with rage as I watch Kess being helped up by Roe and Anson.

“Easy, cowgirl.” Kaine’s voice. A warning in my ear.

“Let me go,” I snarl.

“No.” His arm is an iron band. My chest is heaving. I taste blood in my mouth.

Hadley and Struck run over, thrusting themselves between our two groups.

“Enough!” Hadley’s voice roars over the din. “Break it up, both of you!”

Kess tries to lunge again. Hadley shoves her back with a firm hand.

“Save it for a pit night,” he snaps.

As the adrenaline ebbs, I find myself panting for breath, my knuckles bruised and bloodied from the fight.

“Goddamn it, Darlington,” Struck mutters, prying me out of Kaine’s restraining arms. “Get over here.”

She drags me away from the crowd, her face red with frustration. I hear Hadley addressing someone behind me. “Take her to Medical,” he says, and I realize he’s talking about Kess. Good. As I’m being led off, a sense of grim satisfaction settles over me. Fuck that bitch.

Chapter 16

Captain of operations.

For the second time in a week, I’m escorted to that dreaded door.

The sound of my boots on the polished floor seems louder than usual, each step bringing me closer to impending confrontation. This time, I won’t let his chiseled face have an effect on me. Now that I know who his father is, now that he sold me out to my cell and made us run laps in the middle of the night, the attraction is gone anyway. There’s nothing appealing about—

A bare chest assaults my vision when I step into the cavernous office.

He’s in the process of taking off his long-sleeved shirt. The black fabric falls away to reveal a sculpted chest adorned with scars and weapons. Taut muscles. The faintest sheen of sweat glistening on his skin.

My cheeks flush as a wave of heat washes over me. There’s sand in my mouth. I swallow, but it just scrapes its way down my throat. His chest is magnificent.

He eyes me without a word. Biceps flex as he tosses the shirt on the conference table.

It’s still there. The undeniable attraction that bubbles beneath the surface. The attraction he mocked me about the night of my failed escape. I want to drown it out of existence.

Redden, I remind myself. CrossRedden.

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