Chapter 1
Madeline pulled her hair into a tight ponytail and then laced her shoes.
Every morning was the same. Wake at four thirty, go for a run, then ready herself for the day.
Today was no different. Stepping out into the cool morning air, Madeline’s feet pounded across the pavement as she moved briskly down the cobblestone path.
Living in Washington D.C. had its perks, her favorite being Constitution Park.
The quiet scenery allowed her to clear her mind and just—be free. ***
At thirty-four years old, Madeline was a captain in the Navy.
A position she worked hard for since joining at twenty years old.
Now, fourteen years later, she oversaw an intelligence team at the Pentagon.
Madeline was known for her ability to sniff out the information they needed.
Her track record in finding information that most others missed had earned her the nickname ‘Mad Dog Taylor’.
Today would be no different. She was on the verge of cracking open a case she had been working on for weeks.
Her feet carried her around the winding paths as she let her mind wander.
Madeline came from a long line of hard workers.
Her mother had been a schoolteacher and her father—a Navy man himself.
She stopped running and bent over, pressing her hands to her knees.
Closing her eyes, she conjured up a vision of her father.
His last words echoed in her head. Life will challenge you.
It will make you want to quit. But don’t.
You are as strong as you believe you are.
I’ll see you on the flip side, kiddo. That was the last time she saw him.
He died during a mission in Afghanistan a month later.
The official report said his team had died when a roadside bomb struck their Humvee.
The intelligence had been wrong, costing the lives of seven men that day.
It was at that moment she decided she would join the Navy.
She made a silent promise to her dad as they lowered his casket into the ground.
She swore she would become the best intelligence officer the Navy had ever seen.
Her mother had been furious with her. Losing her father had hit her hard, making Madeline’s decision sort of a betrayal.
Then, five years ago, her mother passed away from cancer, leaving Madeline alone.
She poured herself into work, refusing to become attached to anyone.
It was that drive and commitment that helped her excel in her position today.
Shaking the memories free, Madeline stood and continued her run.
Judging from the sun’s position in the sky, she had about an hour to get ready for work.
She was never late, and she wouldn’t start today.
Madeline hurried up the steps to her house.
She purchased the place when she had been permanently assigned to the Pentagon, deciding that it was time to settle down.
Not that she was looking for a relationship, but eventually, maybe she would find someone and want a place to share with them.
For now, it was just her. Sure. She went out when time permitted, but aside from the occasional hook-up, Madeline had no attachments, and no attachments meant not getting hurt. It was a safeguard for her heart.
Once inside, she hurried to ready herself for the day.
Being permanently assigned to Washington meant she had to wear her Naval uniform every day.
She didn’t mind it. It made her feel… powerful.
Madeline wound her hair into a tight bun before slipping on her shoes.
She promised herself that she would end this case today, even if it meant working late.
Madeline grabbed her backpack and key. She wasn’t your typical woman.
She didn’t drive a four-door sedan or prance around in stilettos.
Instead, she preferred a pair of boots and the feel of an M-4 in her hand.
Madeline smiled as she secured the helmet on her head and straddled the Ducati parked in her small garage.
The rev of the engine made her feel powerful…
as if being a captain in the military wasn't enough.
The ride didn't take her long, as she had chosen a modest subdivision twenty minutes from work to live.
Her mind raced as the wind lashed her flesh on her journey in.
The bite of the air made her feel alive.
Not much else made her feel that way. Nothing other than her career.
She would live and die in the Navy, and that made her feel invincible.
The guards greeted her as they usually did, with a dip of their chin.
She scanned her badge and eased the cycle inside the compound of the Pentagon.
Today was going to be the day something big happened. She could feel it in her bones.
Madeline dropped her bag onto her desk and removed her laptop. Her eagerness to dig into the files she had recovered yesterday had her keyed up beyond words. Not even the day-to-day noises created enough distraction to tear her away from what she had her mind set to do.
"Captain."
Madeline looked up to find Lieutenant Danvil standing in her doorway. His expression was pensive, immediately making Madeline's hackles rise. He was her most trusted team member, and she knew if he was interrupting her—it was serious.
"Lieutenant. What is it?"
"I've found something you need to see. I think you were right. Something big is about to go down."
Madeline stood and followed him down the hall to the intelligence room.
The space was enormous enough to house her and her three team members.
Computers sat atop the desks, while large screens were mounted on the walls.
Two more sets of eyes looked up as she and Danvil stepped inside and shut the door.
"What did you find?"
Danvil motioned to Lieutenant Commander Smiley, who was furiously typing away on her keyboard. With a few flicks of her fingers, the information was displayed on the large TV. Madeline squinted her eyes, slowly deciphering the data showing.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"Yes, Ma'am. We came across the data in a transmission just outside the embassy."
Her entire body tingled with awareness. Everything they had been working on for the last few months had been proven right. She could barely contain her excitement as she pointed to the screen and grinned.
"Holy shit! Do you know what this means?"