Chapter 1 - THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER
“Look at you. Too weak to stand.”
Staff Sergeant Cole Braddock squeezed the metal handle.
A violent stream of white extinguisher powder exploded into Private First Class Ava Monroe’s face.
The force drove her black military wheelchair backward across the wet dining-hall floor.
Ava squeezed her eyes shut and threw one arm over her face.
Her braced leg shifted dangerously on the support.
Soldiers recoiled from nearby tables.
Someone dropped a cup.
Hot coffee spread across the polished tile.
Jonah Reyes lunged forward and caught one wheel before Ava’s chair could strike the stainless-steel counter.
“Back away from her. Now.”
Braddock stopped spraying.
Powder drifted through the fluorescent light and settled over Ava’s brown hair, muddy uniform, and trembling hands.
She coughed once.
Then she wiped her eyes and forced herself upright.
Braddock leaned over her.
The empty extinguisher hung from one hand.
“You need your boyfriend to save you now?”
Jonah stepped between them, still gripping his metal food tray.
Braddock swung the extinguisher sideways.
The canister slammed into the tray.
Metal cracked against metal.
The tray flew from Jonah’s hands, scattering eggs and coffee across the floor.
Jonah grabbed the canister before Braddock could raise it again.
Their boots slid through the powder.
For one dangerous second, Jonah’s fist tightened.
Ava raised a trembling hand.
“Jonah. Stand down.”
He looked at her.
Her eyes were red and wet, but her voice remained controlled.
Then a violent rotor sound shook the windows.
Napkins lifted from the tables.
Every soldier turned toward the parade field.
A Black Hawk helicopter dropped hard onto the wet grass outside.
The side door opened.
A tall silver-haired officer in a decorated Army dress uniform stepped down with two military police officers and several aides.
Braddock released the extinguisher.
“Why is a general coming here?”
The dining-hall doors opened.
Lieutenant General Daniel Monroe entered.
His focused expression vanished when he saw Ava covered in white powder.
His eyes moved to the brace on her leg.
Then to Braddock.
Ava stared up at him.
“Dad?”
General Monroe’s face hardened into something terrifying.
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