Chapter 4
The words landed harder than they should have.
Maddox’s jaw tightened.
Behind him, a young soldier named Private Miles Harper sat frozen with both hands around a paper cup.
Rachel had met Miles two days earlier.
He had been standing outside the barracks at midnight, shaking in the cold, because Maddox had ordered him not to come inside until he “learned discipline.”
Miles had told Rachel almost nothing.
But his eyes had told her everything.
Now he stared at her like he wanted to warn her.
Run.
Don’t push him.
Maddox followed her gaze to the private.
“What are you looking at, Harper?”
Miles dropped his eyes.
“Nothing, Sergeant.”
“Good.”
That single word carried months of fear.
Rachel heard it.
So did everyone else.
Maddox turned back to her.
“You come in here dressed like some lost office temp, ask stupid questions all week, and now you think you’re going to run your mouth in my dining hall?”
Rachel’s face did not change.
“All week?”
Maddox realized too late he had said too much.
Rachel’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“So you did notice me.”
His nostrils flared.
“I notice problems.”
“And you remove them?”
Maddox stepped forward so fast that two soldiers at the nearest table stood halfway from their seats.
He jabbed a finger toward the exit.
“Last chance. Walk out now.”
Rachel did not move.
May you like
The cafeteria doors behind them suddenly slammed open.
Read Part 5 to see who walked in — and why Maddox thought they were there to save him.
