Chapter 10 - The Long-Awaited Peace
Spring arrived in Washington, D.C., washing away the bitter winter chill and bathing the cherry blossoms in warm, golden sunlight.
I stood on the parade grounds of Fort Myer in my dress blues. The purple bruise on my cheek had long since faded, leaving behind only the quiet, hardened strength of a survivor who had reclaimed her life.
Captain Griffin and Colonel Vance stood before the formation. In front of hundreds of fellow soldiers, Colonel Vance stepped forward, pinning a Meritorious Service Medal to my chest for exceptional bravery and integrity under hostile conditions—both overseas and at home.
When the ceremony concluded, I walked off the parade field and headed toward the parking lot where my old, dented Ford truck was waiting. Ariana was leaning against the passenger door, holding two cups of black coffee.
"Not a bad deployment, Sergeant," Ariana grinned, handing me a cup.
"Mission accomplished," I replied, taking a sip of the hot, bitter coffee.
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My bank accounts were fully unfrozen and restored with interest seized from Rhys’s forfeited assets. The mansion was gone, auctioned off by the government, but I didn't care about bricks and mortar. I had my honor, my independence, and my absolute freedom.
I opened the truck door, climbed into the driver's seat, and turned the key. The engine roared to life with a steady, powerful purr. I put it in gear, drove past the gates of the base, and headed out toward an open highway where the horizon stretched out endlessly before me, entirely unmarred and completely secure.
