Page 38 of The Commander

Plus, she’s one of the biggest stars in the world, and with that comes a whole lot of things. Including a lack of anonymity.

I’d love that problem.

Not the fame.

Being a dad and husband. I never felt like this until I met Quinn, and it’s weird to say it, given we’ve never dated, but sometimes you know. I’ve heard other guys say it. She walked into my platoon, and I wanted her in my bed and on my arm from that moment on.

I just took a while to admit it.

Then her father essentially told me to keep away from her, and when he’s the colonel, you can’t argue.

Quinn was the reason I left, but so was Colonel Parker. He never did anything, so to speak, but a promotion should have been mine, and it never manifested.

I know why.

So does he.

I considered what I’d do about it for a few weeks and then realized I didn’t give a fuck. Fighting him would ruin ever being with Quinn, so I let it go.

She is far more important.

Now here she is inside the first BHS training camp. Dropped in my lap, until Tyrell turned up. He’s a curveball for sure, but this boyfriend is the biggest challenge.

Are they serious?

Telling her to dump Mike probably wasn’t my finest moment, but neither did she swoon when I asked if she was in love with him.

She’s not.

A fucking accountant. What the hell is she thinking? I guess I should be grateful. It won’t last. A woman like Quinn needs a man. An alpha.

She needs me.

She belongs to me, and over the next two weeks I’ll prove it to her.

“Aidan, my co-founder, also a US Marine. Marshall, former Green Beret. Cole Zimbardo, fellow soldier. Noah Jenkins, former captain that some of you know and have previously trained under. Ryder, former Special Forces, and me.” Josh props a foot on the step in front of him and turns to a mobile whiteboard.

“Commander Hawke, Navy SEAL veteran,” Aidan shared, knowing Josh wouldn’t do it. SEALs are renowned for being humble, and while not always, Josh leans heavily into it most of the time. Unless he wants to intimidate. Honestly, his size and the way he carries himself does the job, regardless.

“Retired SEAL is fine; I’m not seventy.” Josh rolls his eyes, and a bunch of us snigger. “Okay, let’s get stuck in here.”

For the next thirty minutes, he takes the trainees through the plan and who will be leading which course.

“Fuck. I’m looking forward to this.” Marshall crosses his arms, grinning.

“Ditto,” Cole swigs from his water bottle. “You led a bunch of training, right, Noah?”

“Yup,” I nod, keeping Quinn in my one-eighty vision as they all break up and step into their assigned groups. “With the right GI’s, it’s really fulfilling. My advice is keep an eye on anyone not being a team player.”

“Always. That shit shouldn’t happen.” Marshall shakes his head.

“It does; that’s my point. You know the drill: someone wants the promotion, they’ll step on top of others to get it.” I glance around at the soldiers, taking measure of each and every one of them. “It can get dirty.”

I was preempting Tyrell trying to pull some shit over the next two weeks. I had no doubt he would.

“Yeah, the bullets might be rubber, but the bodies are real.” Cole nods. “I get it. Hey, did you hear about the breach over in the far boundary overnight?”

My brows lift. “No?”