Chapter 18

Sure enough, the next morning, just as the first light crept over the horizon, Zoey was yanked roughly to her feet. She had fallen asleep curled up on the floor of Callum's study the night before. "Commander Moreno, is it her?" A few soldiers marched up, each seizing her by the arms. Callum nodded, his expression stoic. Zoey panicked, thrashing against their grip. "What are you doing? Let me go! I said, let me go!" The soldiers only tightened their hold, dragging her across the base housing like a criminal. By now, the families who lived there had already risen for the day. People gathered, staring at them in bewilderment. Callum stepped forward and announced, "This is the woman who framed Chief O'Brien, the ARI representative. Today, she will be punished—100 lashes with the military cane." The color drained from Zoey's face. She remembered how Roxanne had nearly collapsed after just 20 strikes. Yet now, she had to bear 100 of them. Panic gripped her. Her gaze darted aro