Page 65 of The Commander

“It’s the perimeter,” someone yells.

“Grab two vehicles,” Josh instructs, running down the hall. “Aidan, Noah and Cole go in one. Hayden, Marshall and Jake with me. Liam and the rest of you, grab the guys on duty and secure the entrance and buildings.”

“Got it!” Liam disappears.

“Grab some weapons.” Aidan rips open a cupboard after punching in a code and tosses a Glock my way. “Josh!”

“I have one on me.” The SEAL is through the door and crunching on the gravel, and I’m right on his tail. “Fucking cartels. Looks like they’re getting that message tonight.”

Hoorah!

Being a little more sober would be good, but here we are.

Two Humvees sit in the parking lot. We all leap into the allocated vehicles as Aidan and Josh fire them up with a loud roar. Rubber burns, stones go flying and in seconds the two Hummers are headed in different directions.

I hang on to the frame, my gun tightly gripped in my hand as the trainees run out of their rooms. Quinn’s face is the last one I see and lock on to, as we drive out of sight.

Go back inside, sweetheart. Please.

I know she won’t.

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QUINN

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“WHAT’S HAPPENING?” I yell out to a few of the guys as Marlene joins me in her pajamas and a sweatshirt.

I’m dressed much the same way, except my sleep shorts are pink, and my feet are stuffed into a pair of Nikes. Thankfully, I have a black sweatshirt on.

A couple of guys check out my legs, but I glare pointedly at them, and they clear their throats, looking away.

Idiots.

Liam and another BHS guy jog over. “Everyone should head back inside. We’ve had a perimeter breach.”

Is it the cartel?

No one is going to tell us, and I shouldn’t even know, so I keep my question to myself.

“Who’s trying to break in here?” Marlene asks, frowning.

“Someone who’ll regret it.” Liam chuckles, but nods to the building. “See you all in the morning.”

We walk back inside, but I don’t buy that it will be that easy to deter them if they are trying to get into the compound again. It sounds like they are trying to intimidate BHS. After the razor incident and now this, clearly the cartel has an axe to grind and doesn’t want them here.

Watching Noah standing on the back of the Jeep was nothing I hadn’t seen before over the years, but never when engaging with a real enemy. Even if that enemy is American.

Not going to lie, he looked sexy as hell, but as I say goodnight to Marlene and stand in the open doorway of my room, I’m worried. Which is ridiculous; he survived the Middle East. He’s a captain, highly trained in combat and more than capable of defending himself.

I should go to bed.

Closing the door, I walk inside, spot my tactical pants lying on top of the chair and then tell myself this is a bad idea.

Or...

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN