Chapter 4
“Well,” Ramsey said. “What do we have here?”
Natalie’s jaw tightened.
It was a photo of her father in uniform, standing with his arm around her shoulders at her high school graduation.
She had carried it through every hard day of training.
Ramsey turned the photo toward the formation.
“Daddy’s little soldier,” he said.
Something cold moved through Natalie’s chest.
“Give it back,” she said.
The formation stiffened.
Ramsey stepped closer.
His voice grew loud and mocking.
“Look at you. You think you’re strong enough to be a soldier?”
Then he slapped her.
Fast.
Sharp.
One open-handed strike across her cheek.
No warning.
No hesitation.
No excuse.
The sound cracked across the yard.
Natalie’s head turned.
Her hand rose to her cheek.
But she stayed standing.
Ramsey leaned in, satisfied.
The whole formation watched Natalie breathe once.
Then twice.
Her eyes were red, but she did not cry.
Her voice came out low and steady.
“You can hit me, but you can’t make me kneel.”
Ramsey’s face changed.
May you like
The words had landed somewhere he did not like.
Read Part 5 to find out why Natalie looked past Ramsey instead of backing down.
