Diesel spat on the floor and flexed his arms. “We’re talking about grit. Being willing to go the distance when things get ugly.” “Going the distance,” Bennett repeated. “I like that. I really do.”
She looked at all five of them, and for a split second, something flashed in her eyes—something ancient and dangerous. “Hypothetically,” she continued, “if someone were to challenge you… someone you thought was ‘weak’… you wouldn’t back down, right?”
The recruits looked at each other, confused. They knew they were being baited, but they weren’t smart enough to see the trap. Snake narrowed his eyes. “What are you getting at?” he asked. Victoria’s smile widened, but it didn’t reach her eyes anymore. “Oh, nothing,” she purred. “I just wonder how you’d feel if someone half your size called you a bunch of insecure cowards. Just bullies who hide behind their muscles because they’re terrified of a real opponent.” The silence that followed was heavy.
It took a few seconds for the insult to sink in. Tank’s face turned a deep shade of red. “What did you just say to me?!” he roared. Victoria tilted her head. “I was just proposing a theory. For the sake of discussion.” Spider’s smirk was gone, replaced by pure venom.
“You just made a huge mistake, lady.” “Did I?” Victoria asked. “And what are you going to do about it?” Diesel stepped forward until he was inches from her, trying to drown her in his shadow. He outweighed her by a hundred pounds and was certain he was untouchable. “You just insulted us in front of the whole base. You called us cowards.”
“Technically,” she countered softly, “it was a hypothesis. But your reaction is proving it’s a fact.” Rock clenched his fists. “You have no idea who you’re messing with. We could snap you in half.” “Snap me in half,” Victoria repeated thoughtfully. “That sounds like a threat of physical violence. Are you planning to attack a superior officer?”
