Page 41 of The Commander

Batman, who we were introduced to earlier, runs alongside us. I’ve worked with military dogs a few times, but this monster is intimidating and distracting. That’s also the point. We are learning to work with dogs around us.

When we reach the tires, the canine comes in with us.

Oof!

I swear Batman is doing better than all of us as Ryder St. James yells orders at him.

“Let’s go!” Noah shouts as my boots pound the grass between the black, thick rubber, my legs burning.

Water is sprayed over us, and I grit my teeth.

Suddenly the dog is in my way, circling back.

“Batman, move!” I haul myself across the grass to the climbing wall, my heart slamming in my chest, sweat rolling down my forehead. I’m fit, as most GIs are, but as I climb up each step, I can feel my muscles burning.

“Keep going, Parker,” Noah calls out, and yet again, I wonder what Tyrell was talking to him about earlier. “Next team is on your rear.”

Shit.

We got a three-minute head start, but that doesn’t mean we will stay ahead. One glance to my left and I see Marlene just below me. She’s groaning and straining just as I am.

At the top, I attempt to throw my leg over and fail due to the gap. My second attempt fails.

Fuck.

“You got this, Quinn. Come on,” Noah calls out.

“Marlene! On your tail!” Ryder yells and Batman barks.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

Pushing with every ounce of effort I can, I get my leg over, finally, and pull my body up, then drop down using the rope.

My lungs burn as I suck in vast amounts of oxygen.

“Keep going,” Noah barks.

Batman takes off, and I run beside him, glancing back to see where Marlene and Jack, another XO who was added to our team of three, are. We need to arrive as a team prior to the guys behind us.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Noah running parallel, and Jack speeds ahead of me. He’s fast, but I hope he remembers we have to work together here.

“Marlene,” I shout back. “Come on, girl.”

“Damn wine, I need to quit drinking,” she groans, and I laugh despite my lungs killing me.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,” Noah yells and shoots me a grin.

God, he’s so handsome.

I try to ignore how good he looks in his black shorts and running shoes, the way his white T-shirt hangs off his broad shoulders and his hair is spiky in places. He’s always playing with his hair, and the temptation to do the same has caused me a lot of anguish over the years.

“Last obstacle. Work with him,” Ryder calls, referring to the dog.

“Up, Batman,” Jack instructs as we each grab the rope and start climbing.

My arms burn, and as I move one hand over the other, something sharp has me crying out, and I fall to the ground with a crash.

I’ve been cut, and it’s stinging painfully.