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Dedication

To the beauty of second chances and the healing power of forgiveness

CHAPTER ONE

As Kenna Sloane stood on the stage in front of the applauding audience, one word kept echoing through her brain

Fraud

Fraudfraudfraud

Keeping the smile plastered on her face, she looked out over the ballrooanization

Since being ed from the United States Marine Corps two years before, Kenna had beco of a motivational speaker She didn’t feel particularly motivational or inspirational, for that

It had started when her physical therapist at Walter Reed asked her to speak a few times to the new amputees And then her nephew’s teacher invited her to speak to his school assembly around Veteran’s Day One of the kid’s fathers turned out to be a reporter for the local paper who pushed her to do a story until she finally agreed Though the Balti And so was the story After it ran, the invitations cah so, another part wondered how she could consider turning them down

Because she was alive when others weren’t She could share their stories when they couldn’t tell them themselves She could perhaps offer other veterans and their farasp onto in those early months after a serious injury

It was her duty One way she could continue to serve The only way she could continue to serve

The long ratulations on her talk and introductions to dignitaries in the audience

“Thank you for your service, Miss Sloane”

“Fantastic speech, Kenna Truly inspirational”