Chapter 10 - THREE ROUNDS
Captain Cole replaced the gloves himself.
Then he stationed two witnesses beside the mat.
Rourke hated every second of it.
Maya’s first opponent was Specialist Harris, a wrestler with a thick neck and no interest in politics.
Before the bell he said, “Nothing personal.”
“Good.”
He shot for her legs.
Maya sprawled, turned the corner, and forced a reset. Thirty seconds later she caught an arm and earned a clean submission.
Harris tapped and stood smiling.
“Okay,” he said. “That was personal enough.”
Round two was harder.
Sergeant Mills boxed better than Connor and kept Maya at range. He clipped her cheek once, but she stayed patient, closed distance, and won on control points.
By round three, Maya’s lungs were burning from the ruck, obstacle course, and back-to-back fights.
Her final opponent stepped onto the mat.
Corporal Dean Greer.
Connor’s face changed when he saw him.
He pulled Maya aside.
“Watch yourself.”
“You know him?”
“He trains with Rourke off-post.”
“So?”
Connor lowered his voice.
“He told me this morning he was going to make sure you left in an ambulance.”
Maya looked across the mat.
Greer smiled.
Rourke called, “Positions.”
Captain Cole stepped closer. “Standard rules. Immediate stop on tap or referee command.”
Greer nodded.
The bell sounded.
Greer didn’t touch gloves.
He drove straight at Maya with an elbow that wasn’t part of the agreed drill.
She barely slipped it.
“Watch the elbows!” Cole shouted.
Greer ignored him.
He swung again.
Maya blocked, but pain shot through her forearm.
Greer whispered, “Should’ve transferred somewhere else.”
That told her everything.
He wasn’t angry at her.
He had instructions.
Maya stepped back, controlled her breathing, and waited.
Greer lunged.
May you like
She saw the opening.
And this time, she knew exactly how far Rourke was willing to go.
