The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  Adrian had been working on that since Angela joined, Marc assumed, but if the timing were wrong, the herd would run. Marc wasn’t sure that was such a bad thing anymore. He didn’t like the idea of losing camp members, but those he was serving with now had accepted the differences and understood the advantages. If Safe Haven’s members couldn’t do that, Angela would always be in danger. Charlie would also and Marc would force a choice on it when he returned.

  “A lot of things there have to change,” he muttered, observing the base flank through his glasses.

  Considering they’d been attacked two hours ago, Marc expected the troops to be getting sleepy again about now. The rebels had the soldiers at a disadvantage. They needed to keep the base intact, so many of their usual tactics were off limits. There were no incoming rockets up here, only sharp cracks of snipers picking men off by their shadows. There was some heavier caliber weapons being used, but they were aimed at the battalion’s flank and sides to keep the Indians, Mexicans, and Shadow Riders at bay.

  “Break time?”

  “As soon as I finish my sweep,” Marc stated.

  He turned the glasses toward Kendle’s post on the other side of the base and scowled. Where was she?

  Kendle lunged from her hiding place, knives and teeth raking the man’s neck together. He jerked away, spewing blood as she cackled in glee at the sight. “More!”

  She slashed at his stunned partner and then plunged her teeth into his throat.

  “Ugg…”

  Marc ran through the base, staying low, but not enough to avoid drawing fire. Slugs peppered the wall above him as he flew through the halls and his fighters ducked.

  Marc emerged in the small courtyard behind the water tankers and found her sitting between two bodies. Blood dripped from her chin and hands.

  Marc stared in horror as she tried to smile at him.

  “I’m getting worse.”

  Marc heard the witnesses, but didn’t let them instill their fear or approval in her mind. He scooped her into his arms and went to the shower.

  “I’ll find a way.”

  He’d already tried to heal her, with no luck. Adrian was the only one of their kind who had the skill to bring someone back from insanity or desolation. The man was good at putting people together, but Marc wasn’t sure he would be able to get her to Safe Haven’s light before she flipped completely.

  “They call me zombie…the Indians and the Mexicans.”

  Marc felt her shudder and let her hide against his chest. “You are a killer, Kendle, one who knows right from wrong. Hold onto that part of you.”

  Kendle wasn’t sure she could. Right and wrong were secondary to spilling the blood, and she wasn’t sure now that she could live among normal, peaceful people again without becoming the threat.

  Marc helped her change her clothes, gaze never straying anywhere it shouldn’t.

  For Kendle, it wasn’t as if he was revolted by her and couldn’t stand the thought. It was as if she was just any other body to be taken care of. He had no attraction for her.

  Marc cleaned her up and helped her dress, aware of her distracted, slightly disoriented thoughts. What could he do that would help?

  “LJ…” Kendle forced it out. “He rocked me, at night.”

  Marc changed his shirt for a dry one from the stack. “I already do that.”

  “While he kissed me.”

  Marc forgot to breathe. If Kendle wanted a physical relationship now, was he ready for that?

  No.

  “I’m not him. I won’t give you that comfort, not now.”

  Kendle didn’t stifle the tears, but she did turn away from him. “What can you give me?”

  Marc heard the rest of the plea.

  Why am I wasting what little time I have left?

  “I can help you get where you need to be.”

  “You honestly think your Adrian can help me?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  Marc had confided in her upon waking. She’d been asleep outside the door, guarding him.

  “And you don’t want me unless…things are bad with her.”

  “Yes, that’s right.”

  His tone wasn’t insulting, but it still hurt. Kendle inhaled, struggling to hide it. “Then I’ll find my comfort somewhere else until I’m called.”

  Marc didn’t feel even a tiny urge to protest. “You can. I won’t interfere.”

  “And if I find a mate instead of a friend?” she challenged.

  “Then I will have lost.”

  Kendle was angered by his answer and moved by him to resume her post without being told. They were clear now on where things stood. She would adjust.

  7

  “What’s the deal with you and Marc?”

  Quinn hadn’t meant to ask, but now, while they were alone in the tower, he couldn’t stop himself.

  “He’s a good friend,” Kendle responded.

  Those words mirrored Angela’s when she’d first joined Safe Haven. Quinn wasn’t sure what to make of them.

  “Meaning?”

  “Why do you want to know?” Kendle asked defensively.

  “Are you’re a threat to Marc and Angie?”

  “No.”

  “We’d like to believe that. You’ll make a great Eagle.”

  “You think so?”

  “Sure.” Quinn surprised her by grinning. “Good mate, too, probably. Kinda cute under all those scars. What happened to you?”

  Kendle drew back and punched him in the mouth for an answer.

  Quinn stumbled and tripped over the chair. He went sprawling at her feet.

  “What? What did I do?” he asked in confusion.

  “Never ask about my scars!” Kendle growled.

  Quinn slowly stood up. “You hit me for that?”

  Kendle swallowed as he towered over her. “Screw you.”

  Quinn laughed, impressed. “Marc always goes for the best!”

  Kendle moaned at the thoughtless words.

  Quinn’s cheer vanished. “You’ll never make him happy, not with her around.”

  “I’ve already figured that out for myself!” she sent back.

  Quinn leaned closer. “Does that mean you’ll consider other offers?”

  Kendle hated the blush on her cheeks. “No.”

  “Okay. Thank you for not hitting me again.”

  Kendle snickered, drawn against her will. “Damn arrogant of you to assume that if I can’t have him, I’d want you in his place.” She glared with a challenging sneer. “Are you that good?”

  Quinn’s heartbeat tripled in the space of a second. He slowly nodded, drowning in her light. “Yes, I am. Would you like a demonstration?”

  Kendle was painfully aware of the heat between them. “Some other time, maybe.”

  Quinn took that and carefully stored it. “Works for me. You eat yet?”

  “Later,” she said distractedly.

  “I’m going there now. I’ll bring something for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Quinn left the door open, not sure if he trusted her.

  Kendle sank into the office chair with a groan of depression and frustration. She didn’t really want any of them, but at least Quinn held a spark of fight. The others would only be her willing minions and she already knew that wouldn’t work. She would walk all over a weak-willed person. She was too strong now.

  Kendle read the paper on top of the notebook absently, lost in her own thoughts. It was a note on their plans, added after Marc left the briefing.

  Safe Haven called. There was another attempt on Angela’s life. Adrian says it’s time to come home.

  Quinn returned with the plates to find Kendle gone. He didn’t notice the missing paper.

  8

  “Thank you.”

  Kendle left the bunkroom. She felt no guilt about making sure that Marc got the message. If Angela needed him, he should be there. These men had no right to keep it from him.

  Marc knew Quinn and the others had been w
aiting for the right time, but he was glad Kendle had told him before they could. It would keep him from reacting wrong. If he showed too much concern, his men would realize it had all been an act, that he had longed to be in Safe Haven’s safety the whole time. He would lose them.

  Marc could almost hear the reluctance in Adrian’s voice as he delivered the message Marc was sure Angela didn’t know about. She hadn’t called out to him in a while, determined not to come between him and the duty he’d accepted. He also knew it was a struggle for her, that she wanted him there more than anything. He didn’t have to connect to her to know how she felt. He’d been carrying it since he left the camp gate and the weight had only grown in the time they’d been apart. She hadn’t wanted to send him, but there hadn’t been anyone else who could handle a job like this.

  Marc was still holding the paper when Quinn came to wake him. The Eagle’s face tightened as he realized how Marc had gotten it.

  Marc crumbled it up and set it next to him. “We’ll talk about that later.”

  Quinn swallowed. “Updates?

  “No,” Marc refused.

  “Pack it up and head for home?”

  “No.”

  “You aren’t going to Safe Haven now?” Quinn asked hesitantly.

  “Not until this job is done.”

  Quinn understood he had underestimated. “I’m sorry.”

  Marc shrugged. “Maybe you are and maybe you aren’t. What matters, is truth. We don’t have that anymore.”

  “Why?” Quinn protested. “Because you want them both? I only pushed to find out what her lines were.”

  “Because you don’t trust me, Quinn, not the other way around. As soon as we rode in here, you assumed the worst.”

  Quinn couldn’t deny it. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

  “I’ll tell you that you don’t know the full story on either end. Until you do, you should butt out.”

  Quinn flushed angrily, but wisely shut up as Marc stood.

  “I have plans based around her, Eagle. Don’t get in the way of them. Get on board.”

  “I want to,” Quinn confessed. “But I have to know what those plans will lead to.”

  “I’m getting her ready,” Marc confessed. “For someone else.”

  Enlightenment came and the Eagle scowled. “You’ve changed.”

  Marc grunted, lying back down for his last hour. “I’ll be your boss at some point. Make your choice now, Quinn, and save me the time of coming to you when that happens. You’re either mine or his. It can’t be both.”

  Paul and Jax gave Quinn pointed looks indicating they agreed with Marc.

  “How can you support him?” Quinn demanded.

  Both men spoke together, “He’s the Ghost.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  Marc’s voice came from behind him. “They’ve made the choice that you’ll struggle with over the next few days or weeks.”

  Quinn turned around “You’re gonna challenge Adrian for leadership!”

  Marc looked up with glowing red orbs. “Can you think of a single reason why I shouldn’t?”

  Quinn wanted to. The desire to serve Adrian hadn’t gone away, but it had faded a lot more than he’d thought it would. In its place was a new light of leadership that glowed too brightly from the man in front of him to be ignored.

  “No.”

  Marc closed his lids, satisfied. “When the time comes, take my left. You’ve earned it for your service here. And her, if she wants you. I’ll find someone else for him.”

  Hearing Marc openly planning their lives the same way Adrian had was proof for Quinn. Adrian had been sent to lead them through the aftermath. Marc would carry them into the future. He was more open, more honorable, than Adrian ever had been.

  “I’ll be there when you need me.”

  Paul and Jax clapped him on the shoulder, bringing him into the light, and Quinn went gratefully. Marc was stronger than Adrian. They could put their faith in him and it wouldn’t be abused. Adrian was still important, but Marc would lead them. If Adrian refused to step down, Marc’s Eagles would remove him.

  9

  “The Mexicans have left.”

  Marc glanced over from his post at the dusty window as Paul went on with the report.

  “Red Stone said he can’t be away from his people anymore with the soldiers so close. He’s worried they may have sent another force south.”

  “Tell him it was our honor to fight alongside him,” Marc ordered.

  Paul relayed the message.

  Marc sighed in resignation. With the Mexicans leaving, it was likely that the Indian groups would, as well. Which meant the fighters inside this base were on their own.

  Marc spotted several soldiers doing recon on the base, and waved at one of them as he disappeared from the window. It was time to get ugly and there were few men better at it than him.

  As the sounds of fighting outside grew louder, Marc went to their command room. “It’s time. Get them ready.”

  Jax went to the radio to make the announcement.

  Kendle fell in behind Marc as he went to notify other parts of the base. This was the inside of Marc’s plan and it was complicated. Kendle was worried about it, too. She had little faith in these men keeping him safe and she stayed close as the preparations began.

  “Wider,” Marc instructed to those working on the sealed doors of the mini-bunker. “We have to be able to get in there on the run. Prop it open.”

  Marc waved at the stacks of supplies. “Get those inside, along with radio. When we start making calls from down here, the static will make it hard to decipher. Don’t forget the antenna.”

  The men began working on the last levels of Marc’s plans and he stayed close, being sure it was right. Making a mistake now was likely to get them all killed.

  “Are you sure?”

  “They’ll think we’re trapped,” Marc answered. “Make it look that way.”

  Outside the base, the enemy was moving into position. No longer forced to defend their flank from the Indians and Mexicans, the soldiers could now concentrate on a frontal assault. These troops were tired, cold, and bloody. They wanted to be in the base. Little would stop them.

  Marc was counting on it. “Now!”

  The ground in front of the base shook as the charges went off, rattling items and knocking over haphazardly stacked boxes.

  Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

  The horrific sound continued until all the explosives around the base had been blown.

  Through their windows and peepholes, there was only dust and dirt flying through the air. Everyone waited for it to settle down to determine how much protective damage they’d done. In the uneasy silence, they could hear the soldiers outside.

  “Move in! Move in!”

  “Hit the deck!” Marc ordered.

  The building rumbled as the tank came closer.

  Marc waved Paul and Jax to the other window. “Just like we practiced.”

  Paul handed Jax the box, gaze glued to the tank. “Ten.”

  Jax took his place proudly. “Copy, ten.”

  The Eagles adjusted the aim as Marc and the others drew fire away from them with peppering shots that pissed men off with nicks and cuts. Their body amour was hard to get through, but Marc’s rifle did damage and kept the men on Paul’s side pinned down.

  Pop! Pop! pop!

  Grinnddd!

  The tank rolled over a concreted truck meant to slow it down and Marc made the call. “Now.”

  Jax hit the button and the magnet descended on the tank.

  “It’s got them!” Paul shouted. “We’ve got...”

  Paul slid to the floor, caught by sniper’s luck.

  Jax caught him in shock.

  Marc shoved them both under the window line as that side of the wall exploded.

  “Get the other one!” Marc ordered, yanking Jax away from the incoming fire.

  He shoved the stunned Eagle toward Kendle’s flank and went back to firin
g. Paul’s body would have to stay where it was.

  “We have a breach! Breach in command!”

  Marc grabbed the radio from Quinn. “Stand your posts! That’s an order!” Marc pointed at the last stick of dynamite. “Close the gap.”

  Quinn wasn’t sure where to aim.

  Marc pointed to where ropes were being shot for the invasion. “Bring it down on them.”

  Quinn saw what he meant and tossed the lit stick with a harsh sneer. “Get out of our base!”

  Kablammm!

  Marc was thrown to the floor and showered with sharp, hot debris. Behind him, the wall began to collapse.

  “That’s it! Get out!” Marc shouted, shoving himself and Kendle toward the door. As they fled, he hit the switch taped to the wall and took off running.

  Boom!

  The concussion from the blast knocked Marc down the hall and sent him into the other bodies that had dropped at the sound, not sure where to go.

  “Get in the stairwell!”

  Marc kept them moving, only glancing back to confirm that their command center was now a pile of smoldering rubble.

  He’d expected them to try punching through wherever the command room was and he’d prepared for it, but now, they were down to the last tricks that Marc had up his sleeve. They would hold out in the bottom floors for a few days more if luck was with them, but after that, this base would once again become government property.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Crossed Lines

  August 11th

  Near Borden Springs, Alabama

  1

  “Please…”

  Tracy closed her eyes as Charlie’s lips brushed her ear. Flames scorched her skin.

  “Please.”

  Charlie paused, not sure what she meant. “Should I stop?”

  A deep, painful sigh. “No.”

  Charlie went back to the massage. She’d made herself sore again and he’d offered a massage before she hit the showers. Fully clothed, but protected by the camper door, they were both enjoying the contact.