Chapter 2 - The Mother's Arrival
The cruel sound of Lieutenant Wyler’s laughter echoed off the large blue Navy-themed banners hanging from the gymnasium ceiling.
Encouraged by the arrogant officer, hundreds of middle-school students began to point and laugh at the boy on the floor. Matty completely collapsed inward. He lowered his head, burying his tear-streaked face in both hands, his small shoulders shaking violently from the profound public humiliation.
At the neighboring military demonstration table, Chief Daniel Hayes watched the scene unfold. Hayes was a forty-five-year-old, highly decorated U.S. Navy SEAL. Heavily muscular, with a thick salt-and-pepper beard and a fitted tan military polo shirt, Hayes gripped the edge of his table, his piercing blue-gray eyes narrowing with intense, growing disapproval at the junior officer's toxic conduct.
Suddenly, the heavy metal side doors of the gymnasium violently swung open.
Striding into the brightly lit room was thirty-nine-year-old Commander Sarah Merrick. She was tall, athletic, and fiercely beautiful, her golden-blonde hair pulled back into a messy military bun. She wasn't wearing a pristine, ironed dress uniform like Wyler. She was wearing authentic U.S. Navy camouflage combat gear, a heavy tactical vest loaded with equipment pouches, and an American flag shoulder patch.
Her tan combat boots were heavily covered in pale beach sand.
Flanking her were two professional U.S. Navy security sailors in dark tactical uniforms, firmly holding the leashes of two highly trained military detection dogs, including a massive German shepherd in a dark tactical working harness.
May you like
Lieutenant Wyler turned around and immediately spotted her walking down the aisle.
👉 Wyler noticed her dirty combat boots and smiled arrogantly, completely misjudging the lethal apex predator walking toward him.
