My mother-in-law set my wedding dress on fire right in front of me, just before the ceremony, laughing and saying: ‘You will never be part of this family!’ She mocked my Bronze Star, calling it a cheap medal. I calmly said: ‘You have no idea what you just did,’ and she panicked when I...

By the time Jessica and I reached the parking lot of the Wilson estate, my phone was ringing incessantly.

Incoming Call: General Thomas Vance.

General Vance was not just any general; he was the Commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps and a fierce advocate for service members facing institutional discrimination or civilian harassment. He had been watching the livestream from Fort Bragg.

I swiped to answer, pressing the phone to my ear as I slid into the passenger seat of Jessica’s Ford SUV.

"Captain Harvey," General Vance's deep, gravelly voice boomed through the speaker. "Are you and Sergeant Reyes safe?"

"We're off the property, General," I reported steadily, staring out the window at the endless rows of luxury cars parked outside the ballroom. "Wedding is officially canceled."

A low, approving chuckle came through the line. "Good work, Captain. Frankly, that civilian family didn't deserve an officer of your caliber anyway. But more importantly... do you know who was watching that livestream with me?"

I frowned slightly. "Sir?"

"The Secretary of the Army," General Vance said. "And the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. They saw the way that woman treated your Bronze Star. They also happen to be reviewing candidates for the upcoming Defense Innovation Task Force in Washington, D.C.—a position that requires absolute fearlessness, tactical brilliance, and zero tolerance for bureaucratic nonsense."

My breath caught. The Task Force was the highest-level strategic advisory board in the Pentagon, traditionally reserved for senior colonels and generals.

"General... I'm a captain," I reminded him.

"You're an officer who just dismantled a corporate dynasty with a smartphone and a live stream," Vance laughed. "Pack your bags, Katie. Your transfer orders to the Pentagon are already being drawn up. You start on Monday."

Before I could even process the magnitude of what he was saying, my phone buzzed with an incoming text message.

It was from an unknown number, but the prefix was local. I opened it.

UNKNOWN: Captain Harvey. This is Arthur Pendelton, senior partner at Pendelton & Associates Civil Litigation. I watched the livestream of your wedding from table two. I am appalled by the criminal destruction of your property and the public defamation directed at your military service. My firm would be honored to represent you pro bono in a civil lawsuit against Margaret and Jason Wilson for property damage, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and defamation of character. Let me know when you're ready to crush them.

I looked at the text message, then looked at Jessica, who was watching me with a wide, wicked grin.

"Looks like the battle isn't over yet, Captain," Jessica noted, shifting the SUV into drive. "What are your orders?"