Chapter 1 - Last Chance
Staff Sergeant Nolan Briggs shoved Major Erin Shaw hard enough to send coffee across the chow hall floor.
Her black cafeteria tray jolted in both hands. A spoon spun through the air and struck the tile with a metallic snap.
Every conversation stopped.
Erin slid half a step across the wet floor, catching the stainless-steel rail beside the serving line before her knee could hit the ground.
Nolan leaned over her.
“Get out of line, sweetheart.”
Erin steadied the tray.
Coffee dripped slowly from one corner.
Nolan moved closer, encouraged by her silence.
“This hall is for Marines.”
Erin’s fingers tightened around the tray.
Only then did she lift her eyes.
“Say that again.”
The words were quiet.
They landed harder than a shout.
Nolan reached toward her shoulder once more.
Erin pivoted before he could touch her, placing the tray on the counter with one decisive motion.
Metal struck metal.
The sharp clang echoed through the room.
She stepped into the space he had been using to intimidate her, boots passing through the spilled coffee.
“Touch me again, and this room remembers your name.”
Nolan’s smirk disappeared.
Around them, forks lowered.
Marines who had avoided looking at him moments earlier were now staring openly.
At a table near the back wall, Master Gunnery Sergeant Daniel Mercer slowly rose.
He did not intervene.
Not yet.
Erin glanced at Nolan’s lowered hand.
Then back into his eyes.
May you like
“Last chance.”
For the first time, Nolan Briggs looked around the chow hall and realized the silence no longer belonged to him.
