They Mocked Her At The Firing Range, Unaware Of Her Secret Identity — Part 2

Previously: When Megan walked onto the dusty desert shooting range, the instructors laughed at her. But as she picked up the rifle, they realized they had underestimated the wrong woman.

The Corrupt Deputy's Threat

A heavy, stunned silence hung over the firing line. The spinning metal targets downrange were completely destroyed, their centers obliterated by seven perfect shots. Steve slowly pulled off his sunglasses, his hands slightly trembling. As an experienced instructor, he knew that kind of shooting didn't come from casual practice. It was the result of years of elite military training. His eyes drifted down to the custom-built rifle in Megan's hands, locking onto a small, laser-etched emblem of a winged dagger on the receiver.

Steve’s face drained of color. He knew that emblem. It belonged to the Ghost Battalion, an elite, classified sniper unit. And more importantly, he knew who owned that specific rifle.

They Mocked Her At The Firing Range, Unaware Of Her Secret Identity

"You're General Vance's daughter,"

Steve whispered, his voice suddenly stripped of all its previous arrogance. Before Megan could answer, the roar of a powerful engine broke the silence. A black county sheriff's SUV tore onto the range, kicking up a massive cloud of dust before screeching to a halt right behind the firing line.

The door swung open, and out stepped Deputy Marcus Vance—Megan’s corrupt ex-husband. He adjusted his duty belt, a cruel, confident smirk plastered across his face. Marcus had used his power, his badge, and his local connections to systematically strip Megan of everything, including custody of their seven-year-old daughter, Lily. He had tipped off the range to ensure she wouldn't get the high-paying security job she needed to fight him in court.

Marcus walked straight up to Megan, completely ignoring the shattered targets and the stunned crowd.

"Nice shooting, Megan,"

Marcus sneered, his eyes cold.

"But it doesn't matter. I just filed the final emergency custody paperwork. Tomorrow morning, Lily is being boarded on a flight to a private boarding school out of state. You'll never see her again, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it."

Megan felt the world spin. She gripped the warm barrel of her rifle, her knuckles turning white. Steve stepped back, terrified of being caught in the crossfire of a corrupt lawman's wrath. But then, the passenger door of the black SUV opened, and a tall, older man in a tailored grey suit stepped out, holding a thick manila folder.