Chapter 2 - The Interruption
The entire rehearsal dinner was paralyzed.
Admiral Vance stood before me, completely ignoring the sea of stunned civilians in the room.
I returned his salute, my mind instantly shifting from family drama to military protocol.
“Sir, I am currently on leave for my sister’s wedding,” I replied evenly.
The Admiral sighed, his sharp eyes scanning the room with mild distaste.
“I am aware of your schedule, Nora, but the Pentagon does not care about wedding cake,” he said.
My stepfather, Alan, saw an opportunity to insert himself and puffed out his chest.
“Excuse me, Admiral, but I am Alan Brooks of Brooks Defense Contracting, and we are in the middle of a private event,” he announced loudly.
Admiral Vance slowly turned his head to look at Alan.
His gaze was so cold it could have frozen jet fuel.
“Mr. Brooks, I know exactly who you are, and I suggest you remain perfectly silent before I have my security detail remove you from this building,” the Admiral warned.
Alan’s jaw snapped shut, his face turning pale as he shrank back into his chair.
My mother looked like she was on the verge of fainting.
Ryan was still standing at attention, clearly awestruck by the presence of a four-star admiral defending me.
“Admiral, can this wait twenty-four hours?” I asked quietly.
“It cannot wait twenty-four minutes, Commander,” he whispered, leaning in closer.
As he spoke, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.
Lily was standing up from the head table, her face streaked with sudden, unexplainable tears.
She didn't look at Ryan, and she didn't look at me.
Without a word, she turned and sprinted out of the dining room through the side terrace doors.
I excused myself from the Admiral and bolted after her into the damp night air.
I found her hiding behind a stone pillar, shivering in her expensive silk dress.
Before I could ask what was wrong, I heard a heavy set of footsteps approaching from the garden path.
May you like
I pulled Lily into the shadows just as Alan marched past us, speaking furiously into his cell phone.
“I do not care what it takes, you make sure Ryan signs those defense waivers tomorrow, or I will leak the photos and destroy both of them,” Alan hissed into the receiver.
