Page 64 of The Commander

Stop staring at the door waiting for me.

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Just when I think Quinn is going to ignore me, her message arrives.

You’re so full of yourself.

I grin stupidly.

You want to be full of me.

OMG, Noah, I can’t believe you said that!

Sweetheart, shocking you is going to be a lot of fun.

I slide my phone away before I get myself too excited and march right over to her building without thinking it through.

Tonight was a good distraction. A few of the boys from the office drove over to the BBQ. Ryder and Jayden were heading to NYC with Declan, so they weren’t here, but Jake, Liam and Marshall had shown up.

I start paying a little more attention as Cole whips Hayden’s ass next while Josh and Liam stand behind him watching his cards.

“You’re counting them.” Liam props his hands on his hips.

“Am I?” Cole chuckles.

“We could use this.” Josh glances at Aidan, who purses his lips in contemplation.

“What we need to do is send a message to the cartel that the BHS training facility isn’t going anywhere, and they need to stop fucking with our business.” Aidan leans back in his chair and sips his beer.

“Has something else happened?” I ask.

“They pulled up to the entrance later today and tried to intimidate the guys on security,” Aidan replies.

“Bold.” Hayden shows his hand, and Cole curses.

“Huh.” Josh slaps his shoulder and walks a few feet away, leaning his ass on a table. “Yeah, they’re becoming a problem.”

“You talk to local law enforcement?” I ask the SEAL.

He nods. “There has been a lot of friction recently, so it’s no surprise they’re triggered by us being here.”

All of us have come into contact with different gangs, mafias and cartels in our military careers. They may not be in the news like they were a few decades ago, but they’re still very active across the world. We all stare at one another, different memories resurfacing as the reality of the situation sinks in; they aren’t going to let it go.

“What’s the plan?” Marshall asks. “We go visit one night and surprise them?”

Josh rubs his jaw, glancing at Aidan. “Yeah, something like that. Taking a legal route is unlikely to be very effective, but I never said that.”

Everyone mumbles to say they never heard a thing as I count the days that Quinn will remain inside the compound. I don’t want her here if we are going to have a conflict with the fucking local mob. I don’t care how trained she is.

“Count me in.” I toss back my beer and climb off my chair, stretching my arms and neck. Right now, I’m liquored up, and my bed is calling me.

Nothing is going to happen tonight, but tomorrow I’m sure Josh and Aidan will have a plan ready for us to launch into action. And I’ll be there with bells on.

“I’m heading to—”

An alarm blares, and everyone freezes, looking up. A second later, boots are slamming on the floor, chairs are scraping and a dozen highly trained warriors are racing towards the exit.