by Angela White
Jeff hurried out and to the doors, holding it open for Kevin to rush inside with his headlamp on.
The hospital was empty. It took them an hour to walk the main floors, carefully pushing open squeaking, dusty doors to sometimes reveal a body. There were no prints in the dust and no evidence that anyone had come through. The supplies they needed were here, along with enough to outfit Safe Haven for months.
The two men paused down on the first floor after clearing the hospital, enjoying a drink and a bite. Neither of them said it, but both men knew they’d call this in. Safe Haven had wounded members and this was a goldmine, only three hours away.
“Look.”
Jeff turned to behold rain beating on the front doors, but frowned as he realized he couldn’t hear it. He narrowed in on the dark flakes. “Ashes. Something blew.”
Kevin didn’t understand and Jeff spent their break explaining about the ash from a volcano and the tiny bits of glass were deadly when inhaled.
“How do you know this stuff?” Kevin asked, watching the flakes cover their truck. That would be a good thing if anyone came by.
“Loved the history channel, and any other channel that gave me information on the world’s mysteries. Used to drive the wife nuts. She liked Survivor.”
Kevin chuckled. “That’s ironic.”
“I know, right?” Jeff quipped, trying to feel normal around the gaping hole in his heart. He’d now lost two women who meant the world to him. Knowing for sure that you were meant to be alone was a heavy burden.
Kevin slapped him on the shoulder. “Sorry, man.”
Jeff nodded, glad of the friend. “Me too. For you, I mean.”
Kevin shrugged, voice twisted. “Not so sure I didn’t get the better end of that deal. Those kids are rough now. What will the toddlers be like? I’m not a fan of buggers and Barney.”
Jeff laughed, not expecting the picture, and felt some of his loneliness ease. This is what he needed. In time, he might want to be a part of a group again, but for now, the two of them would work just fine.
“I’ll call in the morning,” Kevin offered, aware of the small part of him that hoped Cynthia would be there to hear it and feel shame. “They can’t come through this anyway.”
“Okay. You done?”
Kevin was. They cleaned up their mess automatically, following what they’d learned from Adrian. Kevin noticed it this time and met Jeff’s eye. “I know I should hate him, but I don’t. I still miss the way it was.”
“Same here on the way it was,” Jeff admitted. “But I’m on Team Marc.”
Kevin snickered. “Nice. That was a great story, wasn’t it?”
The two males fell into a discussion of fictional characters as they set up a minicamp in the lounge where they could reach the truck in a few steps and view anything coming toward them. As for the lights they used and they noises they made, neither of them worried about drawing attention to themselves. In fact, it might be that Jeff had put them in the sheltered open intentionally, hoping for something to take his grief out on. Instead, shiny vampires filled their dreams with the first true peace either of them had felt since Adrian had gone into Little Rock for his son.
3
“Angie?”
She knew that tone. Brace for it, Angela thought. “Yes?”
“Did you know all of this would happen?”
Angela was in the middle of rubbing lotion over her cracked hands. She’d been refusing to think about anything. She finished rubbing the lotion in before she answered, needing time to find the right wording. It wasn’t a simple yes or no.
Marc was in the chair, looking much like he had in Nebraska. He pushed his boots off, waiting patiently for her decide if telling him the truth was a bad idea. Marc was glad when she chose to have nothing between them anymore.
“Almost all of it. Until I made contact with Donner the first time, I didn’t know about his obsession.”
“And when you realized what he wanted you to do, you chose to take advantage of it?”
This was the part she hadn’t wanted to face yet. “Yes. It allowed me to get to the man in charge of the bunker without having to set foot in that place. It was the only scenario that still gave me and my children our freedom.”
“And in exchange, what did you do?”
“I bonded myself to another man, one you failed to kill, by the way. Don’t think I didn’t notice that.”
Marc was surprised at how fast she’d turned the tables on him, and thought before he spoke. Did he want to do the same and give true honesty?
“I would have done the same even if Kendle hadn’t been there.”
Angela was glad he’d chosen to be honest, as well. It meant everything to her. “I know. I made sure she would be.”
“Why do you keep stopping him from dying?” Marc demanded. “I have to know!”
“I love him, Marc. I’m sorry. I won’t ever kill him. He’ll be banished from the camp, though he’ll be around and you’ll have to live with that.”
“And why should I?” he argued, already sure that he would. He might not be able to kill the man now, but chances would come in the future when there weren’t any healers nearby.
“Because nothing changed.”
Marc’s mouth opened… “What?”
“Name something that changed between us because of what I did.”
Marc took a quick second to think, sure there was a huge list.
Angela smiled as the silence dragged out. She’d estimated it would take him two full minutes. She lit a smoke, thinking she would stop soon. Stale cigarettes tasted like ass.
“You never intended to live up to it!”
“Give that man a cigar,” Angela joked, impressed with the ten-second answer. He was so smart! “This is war. Just because I made a deal, that didn’t mean I had to honor it.”
“But he thought…thinks?”
Her happiness faded. “He thought it would change everything. He didn’t realize I’d gone by corrupt and sank head first into cruel.”
“You sacrificed him?” Marc asked, trying to figure out the small parts that he didn’t know.
“And then some,” Angela confirmed, flipping her ash into the pot with the dead plant. “He planned to die in Little Rock and then he hoped to turn himself in to avoid them coming for me. Once it was too late for that, he had no choice but to trust that my plan would save us all.”
“It did.”
“Yes. And at a cost.”
“Because he’ll be banished?”
Angela shrugged, not sure if that was part of it. “I’m still working through some of it too, Marc. I didn’t foresee having to actually make the call. The bunker contacted Donner the first time while I was under the drugs and it took a bit to wear off.” She stared at him in regret. “I didn’t plan to make that bond with him. I hope you can believe that.”
Marc wouldn’t have from nearly anyone else, but he honestly had no reason to feel that way about her. She’d remained strong time after time when tempted by Adrian.
“And I will at any point in the future when he slips close enough to try,” she vowed. “The bond isn’t what you might think,” she stated, standing, going to him on shaky legs that felt foreign and hurt. “It means we can’t refuse to help the other person if they call for us. That’s it. No love involved. Two matched male alphas can do it in friendship.”
Marc was suddenly relieved and dazed, and very tired. He leaned his head back and shut his lids as she slid by him to go into the bathroom. Knowing that let the hard cover over his heart fade and Marc realized he’d once again been braced for her to leave him for Adrian.
Why am I so insecure? he wondered. Did I drive her away with that in each lifetime? It was something he would spend endless hours considering over the next months, he was sure.
Angela leaned on the dusty sink, not glancing in the mirror. She had noticed Marc’s eyes on her hair. She hoped it wasn’t as bad as she expected it to be. Holding her breath, she looked up.
It was worse.
Angela ran a hand over the snowy, brittle strands. The ash had been starting as they came in. Marc had probably assumed that was the discoloration. If he’d known it was her hair, he would have been panicking by now.
What should I do?
“Hey, Angie?”
“Uh, yeah?” she answered, gently pushing the door to block his view.
“I know what to do now.”
“For what?” she asked, stalling. She knew by the tone he’d figured it out.
“To fill you up.”
His chuckle said he knew she was blushing. Angela shook her head. “We’re too tired right–”
“I’m never too tired,” he boasted.
She could hear him moving around and groaned, “You’re kidding, right?”
“Yes, actually, I am. Come get some sleep. We can cover that in the morning.”
Angela was both relieved and disappointed. She stood in the doorway, frowning.
Marc laughed. “Come on, baby-cakes. I want to hold you.”
Angela hurried. That sounded perfect.
4
“They’re here.”
“Good.” Samantha didn’t rush to find them, sure both of her men would come to her as soon as they could. Again, they’d only been apart for a few days, but it had felt like much longer.
“The ash is still falling.”
Samantha didn’t expect it to stop for a while. If Yellowstone had blown, the lightest prediction for this far away had still been at least an inch of the volcanic ash. The heaviest had put it at nearly three inches and Sam was in the middle of finding a better location for them to shelter for the winter. She had maps around her, stuck with the mountain areas for her decision, thanks to the camp voting for these stone cliffs.
Sam heard people go by her room and put the pencil and notepad down, knowing she would be too distracted to concentrate on it. She’d been planning for their return. Now that the moment was here, she was extremely nervous.
Sam listened to the familiar steps of two tired, victorious Eagles moving her way and stood up, taking a calming breath. “Hey!”
Jeremy came in first.
Sam lingered in the hug and the kiss, body lighting up.
Jeremy looked around as she stepped back. He saw two beds and went to the one that was untouched.
Neil swept Sam into his arms when he entered, lifting her to get a giggle and to grope her ass as she held onto him.
He then went to the bed where she’d been sitting.
Sam cleared her throat and both men looked up.
“I need a shower. Go with me?”
She looked back and forth hopefully, doubting they would take the hint so easily.
“Uh, which one?” Jeremy asked, pausing in removing his jacket.
“Do I have to pick just one?”
Neither man spoke as they exchanged glances.
Sam bent down to pick up the bag she had ready. The front of her shirt gaped open, revealing no bra and all of her skin.
“I booked the shower and there’s a discrete guard on it. That’s where I’ll be.”
She left the room quickly, not sure if either of them would show. It was something she’d always wanted to try and there was only one way to find out if they were willing. She had asked.
Neil and Jeremy were still staring at each other. Jeremy hadn’t moved, jacket still half off. Neil’s mouth was on the floor.
“Did you see this coming?” Jeremy asked quietly.
Neil shook his head. “No. Guess we should have?”
“Yeah, probably.”
Neil sat on the bed to remove his boots, trying to figure out what would happen if they said yes.
Jeremy hung his jacket up next to Sam’s, wondering what would happen if they said no.
After a minute of quiet, Neil stood up to pace. “Does the idea gross you out?”
Jeremy shrugged. “I assume we only touch her.”
“Right. And it’s not like we’ll be staring at each other, right?”
“Right.”
Samantha had lingered outside the door, needing to know how against it they were. It was something of a surprise to hear them working it out. Did that mean they were giving in to please her or that they liked the idea of trying something new? The next words cleared that up for her.
“She won’t be mad, you know. We can say we’d rather not.”
“I know,” Jeremy agreed. “But I hate to tell her no unless it’s something I honestly can’t give her.”
“So you can do this?’
“Yes. You?”
“Yes.”
“Are we?”
“Do you want to?”
Jeremy shrugged, embarrassed. “I’ve already thought about it once or twice.”
Neil grinned. “Me too.”
Sam had heard enough and headed for the shower that she’d reserved in case they agreed. Jeremy thought he was an unneeded third wheel. Neil used to wonder if she only wanted him for his by-the-book nature. She’d already proven Neil wrong and now it was Jeremy’s turn. There were just some things two people couldn’t do.
“Where do you want us?”
Samantha turned around, already in the center stall. “One in front, one in rear,” she answered, grinning.
Her words were pornographic, sending blood rushing downward for both men.
Aware that they would need encouragement for a situation like this, Samantha rotated again and began rubbing herself while they watched. She heard the sound of clothes being removed after that and relaxed, knowing she’d won. This would be the most erotic experience of her life. She wanted it now, before her body swelled up with the twins and long before she couldn’t sleep this off for a full day. She expected to be sore.
Neil was naked first. He took the rear of the stall, gently turning Samantha when she would have put her arms around his neck. He’d dreamed about having her like this for a while now, though Jeremy hadn’t been in those hot images.
Samantha put her arms around Jeremy’s neck instead and he kissed her hard, putting his final inhibitions aside. Every time he crossed a line, he felt more alive than ever. He suddenly couldn’t wait to share this with her. “I love you, Sam.”
She smiled happily. He didn’t usually say it. “I adore you,” she said, leaning into his embrace. “I always will.”
Jeremy kept his hands in front of her, but that was the only rule he gave himself–to stay on his side.
Behind them, Neil was stoking and already close to the edge. He planned to go ahead and then slowly join in for a second round. He’d never done anything like this before. He wanted to enjoy it.
Neil watched Sam arch as Jeremy did something to her that he couldn’t see and the trooper surprised them all with his lowly spoken request, “Turn a little, so I can see?”
Samantha shifted eagerly.
Jeremy’s hands were both busy, thumbs stroking hard nipples. Neil felt his need reach the peak. He grunted as he came, aiming for her hip.
“Damn,” Jeremy complained. “Too hot, Neil.” He grabbed his own jerking flesh and aimed for her thigh.
Sam understood. She had a hand between her legs, leaned on Neil as she exploded. “Too soon!” she groaned.
The three of them broke into chuckles and gasping laughter, relieving the normal tension that could have come.
Jeremy used the sprayer to clean her hip and leg, while Neil soaped up a washcloth and then got on her cheeks. None of them mentioned leaving yet. They weren’t finished.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Riding the Waves
1
“Are you about done?” a tired rookie asked. “We want to get this over with.”
Zack tossed the shovel out of the grave and climbed onto solid ground. He didn’t answer the insensitive man. If he opened his mouth, violence would emerge.
Zack left the others to prep the site, too tired to help with the next mass grave. Putting ten to a site, they had about hal
f the needed holes dug, and the rest of the night’s work would be the same–opening the earth to swallow the corpses of their loved ones.
Zack went to the huge tent they were using for storage, moving through small clusters of grieving people and medical students. He joined the doctor, who was in a partitioned area, getting each body ready. They would all be cleaned and wrapped before being laid to rest.
“You don’t look good,” the doctor commented, carefully affixing the last piece of gauze around Crista’s forever-pale face. “Guess none of us do.”
The doctor had lost much of his bad attitude while treating the wounded. He was beyond arguing.
“I’ll carry her out,” Zack stated gruffly. He’d had two fake dates with Crista when she was trying to gain Jeff’s attention. He hadn’t thought of her in that way until this week, this run, and then it had hit him that he cared for her. Now she was gone.
“Are you okay?”
Zack shook his head. “No, not really. When will you be ready?”
The doctor sighed. “She can go now if you like, or I’ll keep her here until morning. Your choice.”
Zack drew in a breath and stepped forward to lift the cold, stiff body into his arms. Crista had once told him she’d feared being left on the battlefield to rot. Zack was ensuring what she had feared wouldn’t happen even here or on a slab. She was going in the ground that he’d just lovingly turned for her.
The Eagles nearby stared in pain for a moment and then rushed to hold doors and clear a path. They’d expected Jeff to be carrying her out, but no one asked if they should wait. Everyone wanted this awful part finished. The horrors they’d suffered rang in their memories as Zack stiffly walked by them. The loss of any fighter was hard, but this was a woman they’d all known and admired. Crista hadn’t had an enemy in their camp.
Zack took her straight to the torch-lit gravesite, cursing the war, Angela, and even the fact that they didn’t have real coffins to use. Crista deserved better. All of their fallen heroes did.
