by Angela White
The flow of mud down the hill dissipated quickly after the first huge wall, leaving the refugee camp untouched and the herd decimated. The difference had been one ‘go around’ and one ‘hold on here’–roughly half a mile. She’d known he planned to take them north for a pickup from the mental map.
Adrian’s voice belied the chaos of his thoughts. “Let’s get ready folks. Check your lists. We leave in five.”
All around him, people moved quicker than usual and Adrian allowed himself a brief second of weakness. How many more of those would he face and win before these people were safe? With each one, the odds against survival went up. He had to get them to Little Rock, alive.
Neil, scared of what came next and still upset over being corrected publicly, couldn’t stop his mouth from opening. “Guess you think this proves you were right, but all it shows is how close to death you put Adrian.”
Angela sucked in a wounded breath as Kyle stared at Neil in surprise.
“I don’t agree. At least here, we had a chance to go uphill and get away. If we’d still been on 34, we’d all be gone,” the mobster argued.
Pissed, Angela pulled her iPod from the glove box. “It’s not my fault you were slacking off Neil. Try doing your job and you won’t feel this way.”
She traded the driver’s seat for the gusting wind before he could respond.
Neil stared after her for a moment before unhooking his seat belt. “Guess I’ll drive.”
He got out and found himself alone in the Blazer when he slid into the driver’s seat, Kyle also leaving him to his bitterness.
Parked nearby, Marc rolled the window down and was surprised when Angela opened his door and immediately ducked behind the seats to climb in with Dog and Jeremy.
“You don’t mind an extra passenger, do you?”
Marc ignored the curious witnesses. “Not at all.”
“You can have front.” Seth offered.
“I’d rather be right here,” she stated, putting her earbuds in. “If I’m riding in the rear, I’m welcome.”
Adrian observed it in his mirror, not doubting Neil had said something stupid and he waited for all of them to be settled before pushing the button on the mike. “Count-off as we go. Eagle One, here.”
12
They made camp at the top of the highest hill that Adrian could find, trees and wind-blown greenness their evening view. The signs of a world gone by were three gigantic crosses in the far distance, made to capture the light of the day to make them glow at night. Much dimmer than before the sky had been blanketed with grit, they were still a shining beacon that had people tripping as they stared.
Angela exited the truck, yawning tiredly as Kyle fell in on her right. In time, the crosses would burn or fall like everything else and she had no trouble ignoring the unusual view.
“He didn’t mean it.”
She shrugged, not wanting to talk about Neil’s meanness. “The first of many I’ll have to put up with to be one of you.”
“You’ll never be one of us!”
Kenn’s voice at the edge of the tape drew attention. He flushed as men gaped at him, but didn’t back down. “You’re a female. There’s no place in his army for you.”
“That’s not true.” Kyle’s voice was angry, keeping Marc, who was behind them, from answering. “And get on the right side of the camp before I tell him you broke quarantine.”
“That’s what he wants,” Angela muttered, stepping around them all. “Doesn’t understand he’d be getting himself thrown in quarantine and we’ll be out in a couple hours.”
She entered the cold shadows, feeling the guard on her heels. “Later, Marine, we’ll talk.”
Kenn watched her go, ignoring the hard glares from the Eagles. He knew Angela was responsible for the convoy avoiding the mudslide and he couldn’t help being grateful that she’d saved them, but the anger of her actions afterward wouldn’t leave him alone. She’d broken the driving schedule to ride with Brady. She would pay for that, but right now, there was another moment of vengeance he wanted more.
Kenn lingered around the QZ as Zack got things squared away, needing to be close by when Marc found his surprise.
Angela spotted Charlie on the other side of the tape, glad to discover the wolf by his side. Kenn was in a strange mood and she felt better knowing her son had protection. Dog and Charlie were together more often than not now and she gave them both a warm smile as she stopped a few feet away.
“Hey, boy. You okay?”
“You did it, right? Made him stop?”
“Nope.”
Charlie stared at the lie. “I know you had him turn us around.”
Angela sighed, not sure how much of this side of their gifts he was ready for. “Can we talk about it later? I need to help John get us tested and cleared.”
“You’ll be out tonight?”
“I should be. We have a few results coming and two tests left to do.”
“Yours and John’s?”
“Very good.”
Distracted, Charlie’s face eased at her praise and he turned toward the larger, well-lit camp. “See ya later.”
“Yes, you will.”
“I love it that you taught him that.” Marc’s tone was full of emotion. “I haven’t thanked you for not turning him against me. You could have.”
“Not me. I secretly hoped you’d get to be his dad someday.” She smiled softly. “Still do.”
“Me too.”
Eagles walking by broke the moment and her warmth faded. “We’ll be out tonight. John about has us all cleared.”
Marc wanted to ask her what Neil had said, but knew it was better not to make the anger fresh again. “Great. You need anything?”
Angela swallowed her first response (yeah, you!) and went toward the medical tent. “I’ll be fine after I get some sleep and calm down.”
Marc snickered, but wasn’t fooled. She’d gotten her feelings hurt and it would get worse if she meant to try out for the Eagles. Some of these men were dead set against it.
That thought made him feel worse. It was unfair of them to deny her the chance that Adrian had given them, and Marc suddenly wanted her to succeed as much as he wanted her to forget the idea. He hated her being refused anything she truly wanted, and it was clear that this was top on her list right now, even above his feelings.
“Not fair,” he muttered, ashamed. Their time was in the future if they had one and he had no right to expect her to sit quietly and wait. Being a Marine had been the highlight of his life most years and she wanted the same comforts.
“And strength,” he stated to himself, drawing attention from passing men that he ignored. “In case they come for her and we can’t protect this camp.”
“You think so, too?”
Marc wasn’t surprised to discover Adrian outside the perimeter, behind the QZ. “Yes. She’ll turn herself over to save her son and these people. Never doubt it.”
“I don’t.”
“That’s why she’s agreeing to this.”
Adrian didn’t tell him that wasn’t the only reason. Deep down, Marc already knew it was more. “It won’t come to that. Those are not my reasons.”
“I know yours, too, but I don’t agree with all the secrecy. You’re lying to them too much.”
“I know,” Adrian agreed, surprising Marc.
The leader paused to light a smoke in the thick breeze. “But until they’re stronger, this is the way it has to be. When they’re ready, honesty will come from all of us.”
Adrian slipped back into the shadows with those words and Marc frowned. What did that mean?
Tired and stressed, he went to the only empty tent with his kit. Seth was on Angie’s heels, the wolf was out defending Charlie, and Marc intended to get a couple extra hours of sleep. Hell, maybe he would stay in the QZ until morning and be saved the trouble of putting up his tent.
Trying to let go of his thoughts for a while, Marc tossed his kit into the corner and followed it down. One qu
ick tug had his bedroll open and him laying on it, not bothering with his boots. It felt good to stretch–
Marc’s hand brushed something stiff under the thick padding and he was up an instant later.
He snapped on the penlight around his neck and yanked the top layer up. There was a slip of paper and something dark swaying with the breeze he’d created. Uneasy, he bent down and picked them both up as he holstered.
The wind howled against the tent, pushing the cold draft through and the scent of vanilla teased his nose. He relaxed, thinking Angie had slipped him a note like a school kid. He inhaled deeply of the lock of hair, its softness and ebony color marking who it belonged to, and he flipped the small photo over eagerly, wondering what she’d left for him.
Marc gasped, entire body clenching in hurt.
The photo was one he recognized instantly from his time on base, and fury pounded at the graphic image of Kenn and Angie in bed together. Showing her upper body, it was enough to tell she had ropes around her wrists.
Marc felt the rage filling him, and didn’t try to pull it in. Kenn had flashed this photo around, making cracks and snide remarks about how he owned the woman in the picture. To realize that had been Angie was more than Marc could take.
Kenn will pay for every word! he vowed, storming from the tent with eager feet. Where is that cruel bastard?
Kenn was waiting on the other side of the yellow tape, full of triumph, as their glares met across the distance.
Boo-ya! he celebrated silently as he braced himself to take what Brady was about to dish out. It wasn’t only members who would witness it, but also Adrian, who was talking with the guards on the QZ. Perfect.
Angela stepped from the camper with wet hair and hurriedly thrown on clothes, finding Marc’s furious form already moving toward Kenn. She ran hard, but it wasn’t fast enough to stop the effects of Kenn’s surprise.
Picture now wadded inside his clenched fist, Marc registered his target, and didn’t stop to duck the tape as he swung.
Kenn hit the ground, grunting, and held himself still as Marc swung again. This hit sent blood flying from his mouth and so did the next.
Beyond reason, Marc used his fists steadily on the Marine, fury growing when Kenn didn’t fight back.
That’s how Angie felt! his pride shouted and Marc swung again.
Kenn waited for someone to pull Marc off, allowing himself to be hit repeatedly.
Thud!
His head snapped to the side, blood spraying, and then Marc shoved the photo into his mouth, sitting on his chest to hold him down.
“Eat that you worthless fuck! Isn’t so easy when your victim hits back, is it?!”
Kenn was struggling now, but Marc’s rage made him stronger as he shoved the wadded image deeper.
“Fucking coward!”
Marc was grabbed from behind and torn away, slung into the dirt by Doug’s huge arms.
“Stop it!” Angie’s voice barely registered.
Marc lunged toward Kenn the instant he hit his feet. “I’ll kill you!”
Kenn saw the Eagles were now standing between them and rolled over, coughing.
The photo he’d torn from his mouth drifted in the scuffle and Neil casually put his boot over it. He’d seen everything except the image that set Marc off.
“Stop it!”
Doug’s rough shake had Marc drawing back.
The Irishman gave him another jerk. “Snap out of it, grunt!”
He sounded so much like a superior officer that Marc was able to regain some control–until he noted Kenn’s smirk and then he lunged again.
“What did you do?!” Kyle demanded of Kenn, he and Seth using their bodies to keep Marc away.
“Nothing. I was just standing here and he attacked me!”
“You lying bastard!” Marc exclaimed, struggling harder.
Neil retrieved the photo while everyone was distracted.
“I’ll rip your heart out!”
“That’s enough.” Adrian stepped in front of Marc, words cold. “Stand down!”
Jarred out of his rage at the tone, Marc was startled at the hostility. Why is the boss pissed at me?
“You need to work off some steam. Go help Chris.”
Realizing the mess he’d been provoked into creating, Marc wrenched away from the strong arms holding him and stormed toward the vet area.
Angela let him go with worry lurking in her heart. They were pushing him too hard. If Kenn wasn’t careful, Marc would kill him.
Satisfied he’d done the best he could; Kenn picked himself up, subtly hunting for the photo.
“What did you do to him?” Angela demanded.
“I told you, nothing.” Assuming the wind had blown it away, Kenn turned toward the larger camp, wiping at his bloody face. “He’s not safe to have here if this is how he acts. I didn’t say one word to him today.”
The Eagles sent a disapproving glare after his retreating form.
“He did something,” Kyle insisted.
Neil nodded, the photo tucked safely in his pocket. “Yeah, he set him up to get in trouble and got away with it. We can’t let that happen twice.”
13
Adrian’s last stop of the night was Kyle and Neil, who were monitoring the far corner of the QZ while they waited to be cleared. Adrian approached them from the rear, listening hard.
“That’s the worst thing he could have done, though. Didn’t he know Kenn was trying to get him in trouble?”
“Check this out and tell me you’d have done different.”
Kyle’s quick intake of breath was part lust and part anger. “That son of a bitch! Those are ropes!”
“Exactly, but we can’t show this or it’ll help seal it with the camp, that she’s Kenn’s. Or get him banished and hurt Adrian’s plans.”
“Burn it.”
“I will… Did you hear that?”
“A patrol going by.”
“I’m telling you–”
Kyle waved a hand. “It’s Adrian.”
The blond stepped from the shadows, grinning. “I remember the first time I did that. Both of you nearly shot me.”
Kyle joined in the amusement, but Neil shut his mouth, now feeling on the outside after everything that had happened with Angela.
“One of the rookies still might, Boss,” Kyle joked, doing a fast sweep to ensure everything was okay.
Adrian didn’t say anything about what he’d overheard. “I’d like to talk to you guys.”
Guilty, Neil opened his mouth, “I’m sorry, I am.”
Adrian pinned him with a hard look, while continuing as if he hadn’t been interrupted. “I need honest impressions on what value she might add to my army and that means yours too, Neil.”
The jab hit and Neil was ashamed. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
“Answer my question and we’ll handle the other shit later,” Adrian snapped, tired. “We’re wasting time with your emotions.”
Kyle winced at the slap, but it woke Neil from the self-pity haze he’d been functioning in all evening.
“Her…power speaks for itself. I’d vote for it on that reason alone…” Neil sighed, realizing he believed what he was saying. “And she’s good on some things. She likes it as much as we do–the fighting anyway. She’d probably be easy to teach.”
“No one expects this to be smooth at first. Ease up on her and yourself. If it all falls, I seriously doubt either of you will be the cause of it.” Adrian raised an expectant brow at Kyle.
“She’s got my vote, did after the airport kids, but today seals the deal. We mighta lost half the camp if she hadn’t stopped us.”
“The slide was east of us, not west,” Neil pointed out, not understanding what they meant. Kyle was the only one Adrian had told about the mental map. They’d marked the places together.
Kyle ignored him. “She’s a Level Two fighter right now and a Level Four, or maybe even Five with a gun. That sounds like the start of a good Eagle with the right personal tra
ining.”
Adrian took a sheet of paper from his pocket and gave it to Kyle. “Check those lessons over and tell me what you think.” His voice lowered. “You and Neil only, for a while.”
“You think he’ll come around enough to do it?” The mobster asked, not worried that his friend could hear them.
“Absolutely. Neil is one of the good guys. He needs to accept that he can trust her with our lives. When he does, he’ll be her biggest defender. After the wolf, of course.”
All three men laughed at that, the tension broken, and the light of Safe Haven’s boundaries began to glow with powerful magic.
Their bonds circled the camp and wove a golden net of invisible protection over them. Weakened by anger and strengthened by love, the glimmering strands crisscrossed through the night, creating a bubble few of them could discern, but all of them felt in one way or another. Six of Safe Haven’s guardians had gathered and their power was strong.
14
“The problem is fuel.”
José’s voice was annoyed. “They have to drive the tank in some places, to crush a path through.”
Cesar slammed his scarred fist onto the hood of the muddy gold convertible, knocking his bottle to the dirt. “They must come faster!”
José reluctantly held silent. One day soon, this camp would be his and maybe sooner than Cesar may suspect, if he didn’t find a fresh batch of women to ease the restlessness of their men. “I will tell them.”
Careful not to let the wind rip it from his fingers, the younger Mexican handed Cesar a dirty baggie with slips of paper inside. “Rick’s message.”
Cesar read the sheets quickly, glowering at the warnings he read. The white man was telling him to wait, but Cesar wasn’t going to do that. The tank team was on their way and in a few days, Safe Haven would belong to him!
The slaver scanned the remnants of the refugee camp, despising the signs he saw of rebuilding and strength. These people were organized, powerful. He had to stop them now.
