by Angela White
“I go where the boss goes.” Jennifer stuck her chin out, glaring at Kyle as he holstered. “So does he.”
Angela studied the teenager, noting the fresh bandage and a small pile of non-perishable food. The baby was sleeping between Jennifer’s outstretched legs, covered with Kyle’s jacket. Nearby, all their possessions packed and ready to be grabbed. The two Eagle kits were with it. Angela understood Kyle had been getting ready to try to sneak them out of here as part of the crew. “Are you out for four weeks or six?”
“Three to five.” Jennifer’s anger lightened. “Jimmy said Kyle pulled the shot. It didn’t do as much damage as it should have.” She inched out of the coat that Kyle had insisted she wear beneath the Eagle gear. She’d been about to bundle Autumn in random clothes when Angela came in. When she’d asked Kyle if he would leave with her, it had been a test of his loyalty to their relationship. She hadn’t meant to make him doubt Angela and she certainly hadn’t intended to leave. Safe Haven was her home.
Kenn congratulated Kyle, impressed with the disheveled man. “Nice job, man. The rest of your team can’t do that yet.”
“Yeah.” Kyle began to recover himself. Exhaustion flooded in next. “I couldn’t before.”
“Jennifer’s life being in danger sharpened the focus.” Kenn couldn’t have explained it further. It was just something a gunman learned how to do. Turning a kill shot into a wound, without changing the fire point or trajectory, was a level of skill that Kenn respected.
“Are you glad you didn’t kill her?” Jennifer sent the image of Kenn shooting Dean instead of Angela.
Kenn was relieved that Jennifer’s tone wasn’t nasty. It allowed him to be honest. “I wasn’t at first, when I realized I still had to pay. I’ve adjusted.”
“You’ve done well for someone who should have been found on the side of the road with one of Kyle’s bullets in your brain.”
Kenn flushed. There it is. I can’t trust that one.
Jennifer snorted. Not true at all. We finally have the same goals and you’re almost a real person. I’d bet we’ll talk about important shit someday.
Kenn didn’t know how to respond to that. He glanced at Angela for help.
Angela was staring at Autumn.
Jennifer stiffened.
Kyle stood up.
Kenn scanned the bottom level in case anyone was sneaking up on him while Angela was in the zone. Tension had slammed into his gut. He pushed hard, sending his gift out for the first time to explore the levels above them.
Jennifer tried to read Angela, but she couldn’t penetrate the shield around the private connection. She’d never felt anything so strong.
It’s Autumn’s. Baby magic is rare, powerful. It’s why the government built breeding compounds. If they could have harnessed this, control wouldn’t have been an issue over anyone. Angela opened the line to let Jennifer connect. She had a right to know how important her daughter would be to their future.
Kenn gestured toward the two kits, getting Kyle’s attention. “The boss wants to borrow those.”
Kyle figured out why in less than ten seconds. He wanted to say it was too dangerous to be out there, but he couldn’t do that while staring at Jennifer’s injury. It was just as bad in here. “That was my plan.” Kyle gave up his hatred of Kenn, sighing in relief as another yolk was removed from his neck. “You’ll be with her?”
“Also Charlie. We’re sneaking out with the support crew.” Kenn didn’t say that Charlie would be busy protecting Tracy.
Kyle’s lips twitched. “Marc really forbid her? Publicly?”
Kenn nodded, smirking. “I was proud of him. Right up ‘til he ran.”
Kyle chuckled. “Do you blame him?”
“Nope. She’s dangerous.”
“So why are you helping her against Marc’s decision?” Kyle’s flip was sudden. “Still trying to get Adrian back in charge?”
“That’s settled.” Tell you later.
Kyle was too tired and too relieved to be surprised at Kenn’s power. He didn’t react.
“That was amazing.” Jennifer motioned to Kyle. “Give them the kits, then deflect Marc’s spy. She’s coming down the ladder right now.”
Kyle hurried from the storage room. After shooting her, he wasn’t even thinking about Jennifer’s requests. If she wanted it, she got it.
Kenn grabbed the two Eagle kits and stood by the entrance. They were taking the hard way out by climbing up the ropes on the residence level to the top floor ramp. No one wanted to mess with a rope now that the ladders had been repaired.
“Kyle says to go while he’s complaining about not having power down here yet. Nancy’s view is blocked.” Jennifer caught Angela’s eye. “I’ll do everything I can to help that all happen.”
“So will I. Four years of peace sounds perfect after everything we’ve gone through.” Angela followed Kenn. Like Jennifer, her mood was better. She’d told Adrian there would be a period without hardship once they cleared the island. It was a relief to know that she hadn’t been lying.
Chapter Twelve
Go West, Young Man
1
“You should have gone to protect Marc.”
Neil hurried to help Samantha into a sitting position on the laundry pile he’d gathered yesterday. She was a lot better today. The doctor had told him so.
“I’m not one of them anymore.” Neil handed her a bottle of water that Kyle had dropped off. “Besides, Marc asked me to keep things calm down here.”
“He let you off so you can play nurse to me.” Samantha shifted, searching for a comfortable spot that didn’t exist. The laundry was lumpy. “And you are one of them.”
“We’re leaving, Sam. It changes everything.” Neil picked up the air pump he’d been bending into shape when she woke.
“I know we agreed to go, but it’ll be weeks before I’m able to travel...”
“You believe they’ll convince us to stay in that time.”
Hating the way she smelled, Sam watched him open the box he’d brought in with the air pump. “Yeah.”
“We need to go, before they can do that.”
“Maybe.” Samantha rubbed her stomach.
Neil was positive there was more. He hadn’t wanted to mention how much it would hurt not to be an Eagle anymore, but that was the only thing he would miss.
“Can I have a minute?”
“No!” Neil glowered at Angela as she entered the tarped area he had built around Sam. “Go away.” Kenn, he ignored.
Kenn returned the favor, thinking Neil needed a shower more than he did.
“Neil!” Samantha gestured, not feeling much thanks to the latest pain shot. “Hurry up or Marc’s spy will tell.” Sam wasn’t panicked like some of the men were. The last time she’d been hurt, she had suffered through it all alone. This injury was hard, but minor in comparison because she had help.
Angela didn’t glance at Neil. He was Marc’s best friend in this mountain. Of course, he would promise Marc to keep her here.
Angela approved of the air mattress Neil had dug out. Samantha would be as comfortable as he could make her. “I’m sorry.”
Sam sniffed, sadness breaking through. She wasn’t doing well at controlling it yet. “Me too.”
Angela went to her friend, taking Samantha’s hand. “What can I do for you?”
Samantha held the tears in, but not the pain. “Make me forget him.”
Angela couldn’t contain her tears. They rolled over her dirty cheeks in thick rivulets. “No.”
“Then I can’t stay here.” Samantha shuddered, pulling her hand away. “Let us go.”
“I’m not staying.” Angela wiped her face dry. “I’m going to the island.”
“But if Marc goes…”
Angela’s tone revealed her terror. “I’ve tried everything. I’ll have to handle it from there, when it happens.”
Samantha held sympathy, but she was also relieved. “We’ll be with you.” She looked toward Neil. “Won’t we?�
��
Neil wasn’t convinced. He didn’t want Samantha endangered again.
“I can’t promise that. Not for her, your twins or for you.” Angela moved toward Kenn, who was waiting with impatient huffs and gestures. “I do know you haven’t thought about her giving birth alone. She has.”
Angela left him with that terrifying image.
Kenn smirked, following her into the darkest part of the cave where they had debris piles that hadn’t been touched yet. Neil would come with them. Women giving birth had been scaring men into submission for centuries. The trooper wouldn’t be any different.
Kenn handed Angela one of the kits, then gestured at the swaying rope. “If you can’t get up there with this kit, you’re not going. If you do make it, which I doubt, we’ll change in corners of the training rooms where we can squeeze through the debris.”
Angela laughed. “You’re learning.”
Kenn let out a sigh of suffering. “I’m giving it my all.”
Good. Angela pulled the heavy kit onto her shoulders. Taking a deep breath, she jumped for the rope. Grunting at the discomfort, she got a better grip and began to pull herself up, forcing her body to do what she wanted. Now stop staring at my ass or I’m telling Tonya.
Kenn dropped his chin so fast he bit his tongue.
2
Marc rotated to sweep the bundled, working crew. They’d found enough winter gear to outfit everyone with everything they needed, except for gloves. Progress was being constantly interrupted by people putting their hands into pockets, but that also allowed them to survey the site for trouble like Marc had told them to do. Things were calm, but…
Next to him, Daryl frowned. “Something wrong?”
Marc shook his head, cheeks stinging from the strong wind. “I got an odd vibe.”
“You felt a disturbance in the force.” Daryl laughed, warm breath visible as it hit the freezing temperatures. He was happy to be out of the mountain. He didn’t care that the snow walls they’d dug made it impossible to view around them or that it was so cold his balls were frozen. He could feel the air and view the late afternoon sky. It was wonderful.
“Something like that.” Marc scanned deeper, using his grid. He stiffened suddenly. Angie! Where are you?
With Kenn and Charlie. We’re teaching Tracy some descendant things.
Marc didn’t hear anything wrong in the tone or the words, but he scowled. What things?
Blocking locations.
Marc swung toward the cave entrance, where the third crew was keeping the entrance clear from snow piles that were collapsing from the heat coming through the open steel door. They were also watching over him. Where are you?
Shouldn’t you be concentrating on your job?
“What’s up, man?” Daryl’s good mood was fading fast at the sight of Marc’s thunderous expression.
“She got out. I don’t know how. I assigned…”
The wrong people, Angela supplied when he fell silent.
Studying the group by the entrance, Marc spotted Kenn’s wide shoulders next to three Eagles who were grinning sheepishly. Tracy even waved.
Kenn avoided Marc’s eye as he stood guard.
Marc groaned in frustration. How did you get out?
None of them would answer.
Marc wanted to order them in, but knew it wouldn’t do any good. By putting the boss back in charge, he’d limited his own power.
If you really want me to go, I will. Angela rubbed her hands together for the hundredth time. As soon as you clear the problem coming up the hill.
Marc and Kenn resumed their positions.
Engines sounded next, alerting the rest of the crew.
It’s four vehicles of Mikel’s men. He sent them up here a week ago. They’re all sick.
Kenn drew his gun, moving in front of Angela. That’ll make it easier.
Angela and Charlie also drew their weapons, like the rest of Marc’s crew was doing. Tracy stayed huddled with the workers, blending in as she’d been instructed to do.
“Pay attention!” Marc shouted so that he was heard over the engines and wind. “Get ready for trouble!”
Camp members crunched through the ice toward the safety of the cave.
Angela and her group stayed by the snow wall as workers ran by. The steel door had been removed for repairs, too dented to open. She wasn’t leaving this entrance.
Kenn also studied the people running by, much like Greg, the entrance guard, was doing. After Eddie and Francis betraying them, it was clear that anyone could be an enemy.
Marc climbed up the wall of snow they’d dug out, hoping to get a visual of the coming threat.
“Don’t move.”
Marc felt a gun shove into his hip. His heart sank. I really believed he would cover me.
Billy edged around Marc to be closer to the cleared snow pile. “I have to go. Don’t try to stop me.”
“I wouldn’t have.” Marc spun around to slap the gun from Billy’s shaky hand. It fell into a snowdrift and sank.
Billy scrambled away, expecting to be killed.
“Amnesia is no excuse for betrayal.” Marc contemplated Angela’s warning again. “When you come back, I expect an apology.”
“Here they come!”
Marc hurried up the wall to take the rifle Daryl had ready. He had already forgotten about Billy.
Greg hadn’t. He grabbed the driver by his jacket and shoved him toward the end of the snow walls, where their old camp was buried. “Get out of here.”
Billy lunged forward to grab the gun, then took off running.
Marc fired. His aim was good, sending the slug through a windshield to embed in the first driver’s chest.
Gunfire filled the cold air as the Eagles follow Marc’s lead.
Behind Marc, a thin man in black burrowed through the snow wall near a pile of large rocks. A sentry ran by, not seeing the man crouched behind the rocks and snow.
Mikel let the guard get out of sight before peering around the thick pile of rocks. He saw the witch right away. She glowed to him in ways that were impossible to explain. Mikel swept the workers gathered near her to observe the gunfight, then the military man firing from atop the snow wall. No one was glancing in his direction.
“That’s three, Marc! One more!”
“Get those camp members in the cave!”
Taking advantage of the chaos, Mikel hurried into the short line of people trying to get in the mountain.
I’m scared. So loud. Let me in! Mikel sent out decoy fear as he neared the witch at the entrance. He ducked his head and kept his sore-riddled arms beneath the black coat he’d scavenged from cars in the avalanche zone. He’d lost his weapon during the descent. He needed to get in and hide until everyone went to sleep.
Mikel couldn’t contain his glee as he neared the entrance. So loud! Scared!
Angela pinpointed the glee under the fake fear, hand rising. Him!
Mikel shoved into the workers by the dented door, trying to get around them.
Tracy shoved her gun into the sick Mexican’s stomach. A shot echoed, loud and sharp. Two more followed it.
Mikel didn’t live long enough to ask how they’d known.
Marc fired again, hitting the last jeep as it chugged over the broken gate and mounds of snow that had thawed and frozen repeatedly for over a month. The jeep sank, taking a body and a screaming Mexican under the snow.
“Wait for it...” Marc was talking to himself like he’d always done on missions. “Wait for it…” Marc fired at the man as he popped up, spraying crimson across glistening gray.
He surveyed the area for the next threat.
Marc determined the fight was over. Angie had said four vehicles. He’d crashed them all by concentrating on the drivers. The Eagles with him had picked off the survivors. It had been quick and neat. Don’t know what happened, but Charlie was wrong.
Marc turned toward the entrance to verify Angela’s safety and found a body.
Tracy fired once m
ore for good measure.
Marc stared in anger. Billy was supposed to catch that. I didn’t bother to adjust for him being gone. Because it came from Charlie and not Angie? Marc was forced to admit that was the truth. Won’t write him off again.
Angela met his eye. “It’s over, as far as I can tell.”
He recovered faster than the Eagles around him who were noticing and gaping. “No refugee wave up here?”
“They heard the fight. We’ll have a few hours before any of them reach us.”
Marc gestured at Daryl. “Get them back out here. I want us done before our new friends arrive. Make sure Ozzie’s crew is ready with the welding tools we dug out.”
Daryl hurried to collect the workers. Once they finished digging out the delivery tube, the camp would have fresh water every time it rained. They would also get water after snowstorms, when things thawed. The tubes ran to their remaining water tank.
Marc glared at Angela and her group of sneaks.
Angela smiled. “Yes, dear?”
Really? Marc swung toward the wall, shaking his head. I don’t know what to do with you.
Love me.
Marc sighed, melting. Always. Now get inside, will you? I need to concentrate.
Angela laughed, going in.
“We’re going to stay.” Charlie led Tracy toward the walls where they were collecting snow in buckets. “Until her teeth chatter, then she’s coming in too.”
Kenn followed Angela, wondering why she was so eager to get back in. He’d hoped to be out of the mountain longer.
Angela hurried toward the ramp that led to the top level. “We have a possible hostage situation on level four and a fight between kids in the mess. I didn’t tell Marc because he’s right. He does need to concentrate.”
“Which one first?” Kenn stayed on her heels, bumping into camp members to do so.
“The kids.”
Kenn wasn’t sure why until they entered the mess.
“Down!”
Kenn ducked a wave of energy that slammed into the wall and knocked ashes from the ceiling. Leeann was in the far corner with Roy and Cody, blocking Romeo. On the other side of the mess, Nancy and Britani were huddled over Gus. Near them, kids from the boarding school rescue were throwing insults and magic.
