by Angela White
Charlie still found enjoyment from Kenn’s distress, but he had a job to do. Tracy had insisted. He held out an envelope.
Kenn stared at it in hatred. Small and torn in places, the message had obviously survived more than one battlefield.
Kenn opened it with nervous anger, aware that there were hundreds of witnesses.
Marc is the only one who can get him through. Use what you have to.
And below that, in a quick script that Kenn was sure she had added reluctantly:
Ask Kendle to help.
She didn’t want Kendle and Adrian together, but she’d added that note and that meant he would need the assistance. “I have to see Marc.”
Daryl couldn’t find a reason to say no. He led Kenn into the warehouse, immediately relaxing once they were out of sight of the other camps.
“I hope Adrian has a good plan, or we’ll be burying him with the other bodies tonight,” Daryl said, moving fast and spitting out information.
“That crowd is angry and they outnumber us if the soldiers and Mexicans make a deal. We’ve got them separated and under watch.”
Daryl opened a door and took them down a long, dusty hall covered in prints. “If he just walks in here, they’ll riot. Some of our people will join them too. They’re all pissed.”
“They have a right to be,” Marc said from the doorway in front of them.
The guard on the room, Greg, nodded to Daryl and headed down a different hallway.
Kenn didn’t get close enough to be easily reached as he tried to convince Marc to save his rival. “Think of it–”
“I won’t.”
Kenn held out the last envelope from Angie. “Then just follow orders!”
Kendle had trailed them, hating Angela for her new chore. She was ruthless.
Yes, I am. Now do your duty and then go be rewarded with the reception from Safe Haven that you’ve longed for.
Angela’s voice was a deep command of the alpha, but it wasn’t needed. Kendle didn’t want Adrian killed. With him around, there was always the chance that Angela would go to him and Marc would be free.
That will never happen! He has always been MY Brady!
Marc smirked, aware that Kenn knew the females were talking, but wasn’t picking it up. Being out of the loop drove all Marines crazy.
“You can’t let him be lynched,” Kendle added. “Adrian and I are a couple.”
Marc, furious at being set up, blasted into Kendle’s mind and found each lie she had told.
Kendle shuddered as Marc dug through all the layers of her torment and then went deeper. Nothing escaped his attention.
Kenn, worried for Adrian’s new relief source, put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
Just as Tonya walked in.
“You skank!”
Tonya ran straight towards the cringing castaway.
Marc barely caught her around the waist, swinging her around.
“Take this!” he shouted, shoving Tonya at Kenn.
Kenn caught her and held on, dragging her towards the door as he tried to explain. “Stop! It’s not what–”
“I’ll rip your eyes out!” Tonya screamed, swinging on Kenn. “And hers!”
Kenn grunted at a well-aimed blow to his jaw from a pissed elbow. Tiring of it, he pinned her against the wall with his body, straining to be careful but not get hurt.
Listening from her bed, Angela reluctantly put a stop to it. She was enjoying the show. “He’s not lying. Be quiet.”
It took Tonya a full minute of listening to Angela’s explanations before she would calm down. She kept kicking and delivering death threats until Angela finally tired of it and opened the door.
Tonya froze at the wave of menace that ran over her. She stared at Angela in concern and distrust. “Kendle and Adrian?”
Angela nodded and it was easy to see from the pain on her face that it was true. “Marc was scanning her lies. She was scared. Your man showed compassion to her. Real progress for him, wouldn’t you say?”
“If it’s true,” Tonya tried to keep it going.
Angela went back to her bed. As she sank down, she waved a hand and to slam the door shut.
Kenn moved back as Tonya shivered. “She has no reason to lie for me. I don’t even like Kendle.”
Kendle stiffened. “You’re no picnic either, Smurf Balls!” She turned to Marc. “You’ve seen my secrets. How about we see yours? Are you really a good guy or are you hiding scum, like the rest of us?”
Marc was taken aback, despite feeling covered for this moment. “Yes, I am.”
Kendle seized onto the short list that Adrian had given her. “What about all those snake women? What about your decades old lie of not being a descendant? Or the way you left Angie to raise a baby when she was just a teenager? When were you forgiven for all of your mistakes?”
“This isn’t about me,” he refuted.
“Yes, it is. You can stop them from lynching someone on their way to stand trial.”
“And when we vote to hang him?” Marc asked. “What then?”
Kendle’s anger faded. “Then it’s what he deserves. It just has to be a fair trial. If it isn’t, everything you’re building here will collapse. You know that.”
“You’re only doing this for personal gains,” Marc pointed out, once again trapped.
“Yes, but does that change the truth?”
“No.” He let out an ugly sound and hit the button on his radio. “I want all Level Six Eagles at the front door. Now.”
Marc strode that way, hating it that he had to keep playing this awful role. He longed for Adrian’s blood and here he was, forced to save the piece of trash yet again. The camp would think any form of punishment was okay if he allowed a lynching. It would undermine all the effort they’d made to be civilized. Angela had known exactly what to use.
Angela shut her lids. You can come in now.
Have you looked?
There’s only darkness.
You don’t have to do this. Let me die.
Not even if I have to destroy all we’ve built, Angela denied. Your life belongs to me.
4
Jennifer had to stop at the bathroom campers before she could go to her daughter and she hurried, not sure where Kyle had gone. He’d been by her side until she reached the restroom. Upon exiting, Jennifer rushed through the lantern-lit halls, waving and calling greetings that were returned. She entered the area where the younger children were sequestered, and stopped in amusement at the site of Kyle already holding Autumn.
The pair wasn’t facing the door and hadn’t noticed her yet. Jennifer stayed still, observing. She usually left them alone when Kyle spent time with the baby, trying not to push him into being closer with Autumn than he was ready for. Even at her age, she knew kids were a rough adjustment.
Jennifer pushed in gently and was shocked by the levels of communication.
She’s okay?
Yes, darlin’. She had to pee.
She should get a diaper.
Kyle chuckled. I’ll tell her that.
Kyle leaned down and kissed Autumn’s soft cheek, nuzzling her like he sometimes wanted to do with her mother. Were you okay while we were gone this time?
Yes. They stayed closer. It was fun.
Kyle marveled at the fast adjustment that kids could make to danger. Are you hungry or wet or anything?
No. They’re afraid of mommy. They keep changing me when I don’t need it.
Kyle laughed again, feeling the Safe Haven comfort settle onto his shoulders. It was good to be home.
Autumn’s hand was busy exploring Kyle’s hair and face, as she did with everyone who held her. The mobster kept still, so that she could get her fill of it. Autumn gifts still required physical contact to be effective.
“That won’t last long,” Jennifer said from the doorway. “We’ll have to teach her to control herself when she gets upset.”
Kyle smiled at the infant. “We will. Together.”
Jenni
fer had slipped from their minds when she revealed her presence, but she stepped closer as the baby let out a giggle of delight. “What did I miss?”
Kyle was grinning from ear to ear. “She’s happy we’re staying.”
“So am I,” Jennifer lied. She’d much rather be alone in the lodge with her baby and Kyle.
Kyle turned to look at her. “So would I.”
Jennifer’s eyes narrowed. “Autumn, what did I tell you about that?”
Kyle shielded the baby, snickering. “Here in a few days, why don’t we go spend a week at the lodge? You, me and little cute cheeks here?”
“Really?”
“Sure. If things go the way Angela planned, we’ll be headed for our settlement next. They can start putting up boards and bags without us for the first week, can’t they?”
Jennifer nodded right away. “That sounds wonderful.”
Kyle listened to the drowsy baby in his arms, happiness fading. “She said there’s trouble coming.”
“Adrian,” Jennifer guessed.
“Yeah, he’s here.”
An instant later, his radio lit up.
“I want all Level Six Eagles at the front door. Now.”
Kyle answered the call with a short click and kept ahold of the baby as he and Jennifer went to the door. He’d missed her.
It didn’t escape Jennifer’s attention, but it actually drew gawkers among the camp members and the Eagles. Seeing a dangerous man like Kyle cradling a baby and cooing to her wasn’t expected. It showed a side to his obsession that few people had thought of. By claiming Jennifer, Kyle also got to be Autumn’s dad.
Kyle met his team at the door and the men surprised everyone by doing the same thing he was.
“How are you today, Autumn?” Daryl asked in a high pitch voice that drew grins.
He nodded at her answer. “Same here, sweetie.”
Autumn’s face glowed as the group of men turned into babbling fools competing for the best impression. Even Shawn had a moment where he was unable to resist holding his arms out for a quick hug. In just months, Autumn had worked her way into the hearts of all her protectors.
Her life mate will probably come from that group, Jennifer sent to Kyle. Encourage it. They already love her.
That stunned Kyle, but before he could respond, the hall went cold and quiet.
Marc was here.
Kyle took the baby and handed her to Jennifer, then assumed his place behind Marc as they headed for the door. He didn’t want to do this. None of his team did, but if Angela had thought this far ahead, then they still needed Adrian for something.
Marc wasn’t so sure, but he wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he didn’t bring Adrian in and then Safe Haven fell apart because of it. Society had to have rules and people had to stick to them, even when it went against everything they stood for.
Hopefully, he’ll put up a fight, his demon suggested. You can’t be blamed for that.
Marc grinned coldly.
5
Kendle came into the huge room that had been designated as their mess. She froze as the crowd rushed forward.
“It’s her!”
“Kendle!
“Ms. Roberts!”
Quinn reached her first, but Kendle was aware that his expression wasn’t that of an adoring fan. He was upset. She knew it because he only stared at her.
Kendle tolerated the well-wishers and welcomes as best she could, thinking she would need a lot of sessions with Adrian to get over this instant flinch from being touched. It was so bad that she didn’t think it could be fixed.
Kendle was ushered to the buffet tables, where Li Sing had outdone himself to welcome Angela home. The pig looked like it had been roasted perfectly. Kendle wondered when there had been time for cooking, and then remembered that the main camp had been sequestered with nothing to do except wait and see if the enemy would reach them.
Kendle took her generous tray to the table in the corner, still surrounded by people who wanted to hear every detail of her life before the war. They knew she’d been fighting in this battle, but the old lure of wealth and power was what still held their interest.
Kendle answered vaguely and downplayed her fame, sensing it might come back to haunt her later. People like the stars up close, but from a distance, jealousy caused a distorted view that sometimes ended in violence. When she could, she took a table alone to eat.
Quinn dropped down across from her without a tray.
Kendle glowered at him. “I didn’t even tell your boss bitch about me and Adrian, okay? Get off it.”
That was enough for Quinn. He didn’t have time for someone who couldn’t even be polite.
Kendle let him go. She’d chosen Adrian and it was easy to break these ties. Adrian was as close to Marc as it would get. He was the only one who might be able to help her achieve what she wanted.
Kendle glanced around as the last of the fans faded with the sharp remark she’d made to Quinn. Her reputation for being unstable had also spread through the camp and that was good. It would save her some of the drama when everyone found out whom she had chosen to partner with.
Curious as to the mood of the large group here, Kendle dropped the mental barrier to allow the chaos of dozens of thoughts flying around at the same time to enter her mind.
It’s so great to be back indoors! And also creepy.
When are we leaving? It feels wrong in here.
We won! We can have peace now.
We owe her everything.
There shouldn’t be a trial. She saved us.
Adrian should be hung. How could he betray us? We loved him.
When is Angela taking over?
I want Adrian back in charge.
Kendle looked at the owner of that last thought, shutting out all but that single thread. Why would the vet want Adrian in charge again?
Taking a chance, Kendle tapped lightly on his mental wall. How did it go?
The vet, aware of Kendle the instant her glance turned his way, kept eating and pretending to listen to Ray and Dale gush over the meal and the work they’d been doing. He normally enjoyed their drama-free conversations, but today, it was causing him to consider spending time in the livestock trucks.
Kendle sighed. She hadn’t been trying to pry. She just needed the contact of her own kind.
I’m not your kind, the vet whispered, already deep into her mind. I hate them both.
You’re keeping secrets, Kendle responded dejectedly. That’s all I meant.
The vet didn’t want this bond and he certainly didn’t want to feel the similarities between Kendle and Angela. It would be too easy to settle for second best.
Kendle blanched, stomach twisting.
She shoved away from the table. She could be accepted now if she could finish conforming. It should have been easy since the right side of the line was with Marc and Angela. She wasn’t so far gone that she didn’t know the choice she was making was wrong. But she was too far gone to change it now.
Kendle left the mess, headed for the front door.
Chapter Thirty-One
My Way or the Highway
1
Marc didn’t hurry to the end of the camp-lined street, where Adrian was waiting. There was still part of him hoping the crowd would become a mob and handle it before he got there.
Adrian was sitting on the hood of a green truck, surrounded by a group of men and women who looked as hard as any of Safe Haven’s fighters. They wore long, thick coats made from animal hides and around their lean hips were pouches that bulged with rocks. The shapes were too distinctive to be anything else.
Adrian stared at Marc with open hatred, letting his eyes glow. He’d always controlled his emotions while in Safe Haven. It was a wonderful freedom to stop hiding. Kenn’s words had helped more than he knew. Adrian didn’t have as many powers as the other descendants here, but he’d had his longer and he’d studied their kind all his life. He knew how to use his gifts.
“Guess it
had to happen,” Marc commented, slowly removing his coat. He had no idea how to battle this way, but he had no doubts about winning. He was in the right. He was also younger, in better shape, and hadn’t just spent days being abused by Major Donner. That did take some of the fun out of it for Marc, but not enough for him to delay the inevitable.
As the witnesses realized what was about to happen, word was sent back as the crowd came closer. Some even began to place bets.
“Rules?” Marc asked, dropping his jacket.
Adrian tossed his butt into the blowing grit and stood up. “Honor.”
“You don’t have that to bargain with!” Marc sneered and spat toward Adrian’s boots.
“Your honor, grunt!” Adrian responded angrily. “No one expects me to have it. I gave up the luxury when I became their leader.”
“Rules?” Marc insisted, unbuckling his gun belt. He’d already tried that method of punishment.
“None. Prize?”
Marc considered that one carefully, but only out of respect for the future. Angela insisted they still needed Adrian. He knew her personal feelings had helped make the choice, but he had no reason to doubt that she was telling the truth. She’d seen something else coming for them that only Adrian could cover, but Marc figured if it were truly that awful, fate itself would step in and save the traitor again.
“You’ll make it to your trial, where I’ll enforce the decision. Especially if they chose to end your life.”
Adrian slowly removed his gun belts. “Agreed.”
The men moved toward each other without further words, both drawing upon their demons to battle for them.
Then darkness fell.
One minute they were in late afternoon sunlight, set to kill each other or die trying, and then it was nighttime and they could barely view their opponent.
Marc’s anger flipped into concern for the camp at the same time as Adrian’s, but neither man moved as the sounds of the panicking crowd faded into a rushing noise that some of them were still haunted by. It reminded them of the dam that had broken and nearly washed them away, but the source was much more familiar.
Angela and her team of females were coming through the crowd, each of them inside protective bubbles that refused to admit the slugs the Mexicans started firing upon seeing her in the open.
