Chapter 2 - The Ambush at the Door
The arrogance radiating from the Ferguson family was suffocating, but to a woman who had commanded battalions in active combat zones, their posturing was nothing more than a poorly executed bluff.
"You should listen to my mother, Colonel," Nicholas said, adjusting the cuffs of his bespoke suit jacket. "We’ve already drafted a non-disclosure agreement. Abigail signs it, we quietly file for divorce, and we don't drag your little military career through the mud."
I didn't answer him. I reached down, gently smoothed a stray lock of hair away from Abigail’s swollen eye, and kissed her forehead.
"I'm right here, sweetheart," I whispered. "The deployment is over. I'm taking the watch now."
I stood up, turning to face the three of them. I didn't raise my voice. I didn't reach for a weapon. I simply reached into my pocket, tapped the screen of my phone to save the audio file directly to a secure military server, and looked at Gregory, who was still smirking.
"You have very expensive watches," I observed, my voice dead flat. "But you've lost track of the time. It’s currently 1942 hours."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Gregory sneered.
The heavy double doors of the pediatric wing didn't just open; they were pushed aside with administrative authority.
Dr. Angela Vance, the chief resident of the emergency department, walked in first, holding a medical clipboard like a shield. Beside her was Detective Marcus Miller of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, flanked by two armed military police officers from Fort Liberty's criminal investigation division.
May you like
"Detective," Patricia Ferguson gasped, her cold smile faltering for a fraction of a second before her wealthy matriarch persona took over. "Thank goodness you're here. This woman—this soldier—is trespassing in our family's private room. She’s threatening us."
"Actually, Mrs. Ferguson," Detective Miller said, pulling a digital recorder from his pocket. "We’ve been standing in the corridor for the last three minutes. We heard every word. And more importantly, we’ve just received the preliminary medical rape-kit and forensic trauma report from Dr. Vance."
