The door to my room opened again, and Lieutenant General Marcus Vale walked in.

His Class A uniform was immaculate, the medals on his chest catching the dim light of the recovery room.

“Colonel Langley,” Vale said, his voice deep and commanding.

“General,” I said, trying to sit up, but he raised a hand to stop me.

“At ease, Tessa,” he said. “Congratulations on the birth of your daughter.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I’ve just spoken with the hospital administrator,” Vale said, his face hardening. “Your husband’s attorney is downstairs making a scene. They are claiming that we are unlawfully using military personnel to keep a father from his newborn child.”

“He’s a criminal, General,” I said. “He forged my name to steal my mother’s home.”

“I am well aware,” Vale said. “But until the civilian police process the warrant for the forgery, the hospital is in a difficult legal position. They cannot physically bar him from the public areas without a court order.”

“Then I’ll get the order,” Naomi said, reaching for her briefcase.

“It will take hours to get a judge to sign it,” Vale noted. “And your husband is not waiting.”