Chapter 19 - A FAIR FIGHT
The investigation moved fast after Eli produced the messages.
Vance had offered him a “settlement” through a private foundation if he signed a statement clearing Rourke and calling his injury accidental.
Eli refused.
Rourke and Vance were removed from duty while the case moved forward. Pike received separate discipline for breaking into Maya’s spaces. Cole voluntarily stepped aside from command pending review of his old false statement.
The Rapid Response selection was canceled.
Every score was thrown out.
Two weeks later, the battalion commander called Maya into his office.
“We’re rerunning the entire selection with outside evaluators.”
“Good.”
“I can place you directly into the course based on what happened.”
Maya shook her head.
“No.”
He looked surprised.
“You earned it.”
“Then let me earn it where everybody can see the same rules.”
Connor heard about her decision and found her outside the gym.
“You’re really retesting?”
“So are you.”
He gave a nervous laugh. “You planning to throw me around again?”
“If you make the first move.”
For the first time, they both smiled.
The new evaluation happened on a Saturday.
Independent instructors ran the clock.
Every score was visible.
Every match was recorded.
Maya and Connor both reached the final six.
Then the bracket put them against each other one last time.
The room filled.
Not because anyone expected humiliation now.
Because they wanted to see a real match.
Connor met Maya in the center.
“No deals,” he said.
“No favors.”
“No cheap shots.”
Maya raised an eyebrow. “That one should’ve been obvious.”
The whistle blew.
Connor attacked.
Fast.
Clean.
Maya slipped the first strike.
Just like before.
But this time, when Connor turned, he was smiling.
He finally understood what competition was supposed to feel like.
May you like
Then Maya saw his next move coming.
And Connor saw that she saw it.
