We both look straight ahead as we conduct a whispered conversation. “You’re an Arrow.” I state the obvious.
“Not anymore.”
“Why?”
Bry glances sideways at the instructor. “I’ll tell you later. Best not to get on that asshole’s bad side.”
I harrumph. “Since when do you care about shit like that?”
“Initiate Westbrook,” the instructor barks. “Care to share with the group?”
“I was just telling Initiate Eccleston how excited I am for the training.” I plaster a fake smile on my lips.
The instructor walks up to me, putting his face all up in mine. “There’s a reason women don’t belong in The Sainthood. Five seconds in your company isn’t convincing me I’m wrong.”
“You’ll be eating your words by the end of the week, sir.” I smile sweetly at him.
He laughs. “I highly doubt it.”
I’ll happily prove him wrong.
Tossing one last glance my way, he folds his hands behind his back and paces the ground by our small line.
The first group has already entered the assault course and begun their test.
“Your time will start in ten minutes, and every second counts. The course has several obstacles to test various skills. The average completion time is thirty minutes. Once you cross the finish line, there will be a short instructional before you enter the maze—our simulated war zone. We’ll be using paintball guns for that exercise.” He drills a look at me. “What a shame.”
Yeah, yeah. I get it. You hate women, and I’m already an annoying pain in your ass.I’ll enjoy ripping his sexist manifesto to pieces this week.
I glance up at the guys, scowling at them. “Must we have an audience?”
Instructor Corr steps up to me, sneering. “Shut your goddamned mouth, or I’ll shut it for you. You speak only when spoken to.”
“It’s a valid question,” Bry says, coming to my defense.
Instructor Corr snorts. “Butt out of shit that doesn’t concern you, and I suggest you quit trying to get in her panties because that one’s nothing but trouble.”
“That might be true,” I agree, smiling at Bry. “But I’m the right kind of trouble.”
“Don’t I know it.” Bry grins, and there’s another loud throat clearing from above. I ignore Saint this time, slapping an amicable smile on my face as I address the instructor. “Permission to warm up, sir.”
“Permission denied.” His smile is tight.
“I might get injured if I don’t warm up first.”
“What a shame it’d be if we had to send you home early.”
I take a step forward, eyeballing him. “I don’t think you quite understand the situation,sir. Neo Lennox is soon to be my stepfather, and he chose me to be the first female member for a reason. Those assholes up there”—I point at the guys—“are the junior chapter in Prestwick and Lowell, and they are very protective of me. Especially Saint Lennox. I really don’t think you want to cross them.”
Or me, but I keep that thought to myself because the jerk has already proven he has little regard for women and I’m as insignificant as the dirt under his boot.
“Unless you have a death wish.” I shrug. “And it’s not like I’m asking for much.”
He grabs me by the neck. “Listen here, you little cunt.” He squeezes my throat harder. I could extract myself, but I’d rather let Saint prove my point and reserve showing my hand.
In my peripheral, I watch Saint jump off the walkway without fear or any regard for his safety, and fuck, if that doesn’t seriously turn me on. He stalks toward us with his nostrils flaring and murder in his eyes. Instructor Corr’s eyes widen in alarm when he hears the approaching footfall, and he twists his head around in time for Saint’s punch to land on the side of his face.
His arms drop from my neck, and he staggers back as Saint hits him again, landing a powerful punch on his nose this time. Saint grabs him by the shirt, slamming him into the wooden post behind us. “Touch her again, and I’ll fucking bury you alive in a cesspit of poisonous snakes.” He slams him against the post once more. “Is that clear?”
