hair. Sweat glistened on his forearms. Training day was never a walk in the park. To be the best, every practice, they went hard. In order to be prepared for the unexpected in real-life situations, they had to train as if they were in one.
This belief had saved the lives of each member of SWAT at least once.
Brodie followed Iker and Zain over to where Mac stood, poised, with his arms folded against his chest. The SWAT sergeant’s mouth was drawn in a firm line. Mac was difficult to read at times.
The former Navy SEAL led their team with a firm grip along with their co-sergeant, Declan.
Brodie came to stand with Iker and Zain. He glanced around and took in all of his teammates. Each of them were dressed in their full black tactical gear, covered in sweat and grime. His gaze landed on Jordan Knight, the new member of the team.
Adding a woman police officer to the team was like giving the guys a little sister. She fit right in from the first day. Each of the guys were protective of her as if she were blood.
After all, she bled blue just as they did.
“So, Jordan.” Myles nudged her with his elbow.
The big man dwarfed her, and the slight motion caused her to lose balance and stumble into Declan. She grinned and pushed him back. Myles was like a brick wall and didn’t move under her shove.
“Go for the knees.” Iker chuckled.
“Damn, what did your momma feed you?” Jordan grumbled, feigning as if she were the one hurt. Her nervousness was fading.
Brodie knew exactly what she felt like. It wasn’t that long ago that he was the new man on the block. Myles had taken him under his wing, and Brodie already knew he was going to help Jordan out as much as he could.
“Just good ol’ home-cooked meals,” Myles teased. “What I was about to say, is that there’s a little wager going on.”
This was news to Brodie. He wanted to hear this. Normally when the guys were tossing out bets, he was in on it.
What the hell?
“What kind of wager?” Jordan’s eyebrows rose.
“Since you are the newest member, you have to challenge the last new member.” Myles grinned and glanced over at Brodie.
Brodie released a groan. He had hoped the guys would have forgotten about their new recruit challenge. They had been so busy with calls and training Jordan that Brodie had hoped their little games would be overlooked.
“Are you shitting me? We’re still doing that?” Brodie ran a hand along his jaw. He was met with the prickly stubble of unshaven skin.
Iker slapped him on the shoulder and grinned. “Oh, don’t think it slipped our minds.”
Even Mac was smiling.
He was in trouble.
“What am I missing?” Jordan asked.
“Each time we get a new member on the team, the newbie has to go against the former newbie in a challenge,” Declan explained, trying to hold back a laugh. He cleared his throat and nodded to Myles.
Brodie stepped forward in the circle of their team. Jordan shrugged and came to stand before him.
It was always a friendly challenge, but the loser paid a hefty fine.
“So what’s the challenge?” Brodie smirked. He looked her up and down playfully. She was about five and a half feet tall. He could take her.
Jordan narrowed her eyes on him.
“And don’t go easy on me because I’m a girl,” Jordan warned.
Snickers went around.
“We wouldn’t dream of that.” Zain snorted.
“Hell, naw. You run with the big dogs, you’re going to be treated like one,” Iker said.
He and Zain shared a fist bump.
“Challenge will be held two Saturdays from today, as long as there are no calls,” Declan said.
“The two officers will don their full gear and will run the gauntlet,” Myles said. He walked slowly around Brodie and Jordan who were in a stare-off.
Brodie had to hand it to Jordan, she was one tough woman and a hell of a policewoman. He knew her background and respected her.
But Brodie was an Army man, and six years of his life was given to serving Uncle Sam. The Army had ingrained hard work and perseverance in him. Once his time was complete with the Army, Brodie had joined the Columbia Police Department. It was at the suggestion of the captain that he joined SWAT in his first year. A position had become available due to an officer retiring.
The gauntlet, he could do it with his eyes closed.