Adrian's Eagles: Book Four (Life After War)

by White, Angela

  Ready, Angela thrust the gun under his chin and shoved it hard as his grip tightened around her throat. "A little more and I'll pull this trigger."

  Kenn's eyes were burning as he struggled to control his urge to squeeze, to keep what he'd earned. "That’s his son. I'll fucking kill you!"

  "Not if I kill you first."

  The Eagles around them faded back, trying to pick the best ways to take him out with no hit to her and none of them noticed the blond enter the tent.

  Adrian moved closer, picking it from their minds. She'd wanted to handle it. Could she?

  "You have disgraced the Corps and I'll do my best to get you banished for it!"

  Her icy words sank into Kenn’s brain, cutting through the haze, as she'd known they would.

  "Isn't that what you told Marc?" Her tone grew pointed. "Pick carefully. Everything you are hangs in the balance. Your place, your future," she sneered despite the awkward position. "Not to mention your life."

  Kenn's hand was letting go before she finished talking, but Angela didn't remove the gun, instead following him the rest of the way up with a neat move that drew admiring nods. She learned fast. They’d only shown her that a few hours ago.

  "I could pull this trigger right now and none of these men would stand on your side at my trial. I'd be exonerated." She was gratified to see an edge of wariness fill Kenn’s eyes.

  "If I want you banished, they'll do it right now and maybe, just maybe, leave your body on the side of this road.”

  “No maybe about it.” Adrian’s voice was harder than any of them were used to.

  She felt Kenn’s internal flinch and the tension grew as Angela's own anger rose up to lick her with flames of revenge. She wanted him to pay. Did she want him dead? No, but she did want him to back off.

  "The next time I pull this gun on you, I'm using it."

  She let her finger tighten a bit further, feeling the hammer start to slide, and shook her head before he could react. "I wouldn't. The Witch is running this show and she loathes you. Even if I die, she won't."

  Kenn froze, stopping his fingers from going for his gun, and Angela stared at him. What would it take? "I don't want to kill you, Kenn." She slowly lowered the weapon, sank back into the chair. "But I will."

  She showed only a relaxed, confident posture, and the now dread-filled Marine spun around to find Adrian's condemning blue eyes by the flap.

  "You are confined to quarters until the vote or we'll escort you from camp right now!"

  Kenn shouldered his way through the elated Eagles, beginning to realize it was all over. “I’ll be there!”

  Doug’s huge form appeared outside and fell in behind the Marine without being told as Adrian started issuing orders. “Notify the moral board and get a few more men on his tent. Someone round up Tonya too, and put her on ice until it’s over.”

  “Wait.” Angela’s protest was ignored by the men as they moved quickly, eager to spread the story. “Something’s happening.”

  Adrian caught it through the chaos and turned to say something to her, but his words were lost in the sudden roar sweeping over Safe Haven from the west.

  Two minutes before, right as Kenn was reaching for Angela’s throat, Yellowstone had ejected an enormous geyser of smoke as the plates below shifted. The earthquake spread across the Midwest like a bomb blast, the Wyoming hotspot shaking every inch of dirt for five hundred miles in every direction. It lasted more than a minute, sending a huge black cloud of ash high into the western sky.

  The rumbling died down slowly, gradually lessening into stillness, and lava levels inside the no-longer-dormant volcano rose into the cracks and crevices along the surface. The land around the caldera was now swelled, as if preparing for birth.

  The tremors had been strong enough to throw all of them to the ground and Adrian helped Angela to her feet while he tried to clear the distortion from his head. Outside the swaying tent were screams, and Adrian hurried toward them, using his hands to give new orders. The Kenn disaster would have to wait behind this one.

  Angela stepped out into one of the apocalyptic landscapes that she and Brady had come through on the way here, and stopped in horror. The neat and orderly refugee camp had been replaced with running chaos. Tents were down, some burning, vehicles wrecked, people and animals streaming through the debris. There were overturned cars, a telephone pole lying across the center bonfire pool, and Angela stared in dismay. How would he ever get this back to normal?

  Adrian knew speech was still useless and he gently pushed Angie back inside the lopsided tent. He waved Jeremy and Seth over with a short motion and the Eagles followed her in. She would be watched after and he would take care of his camp.

  “rin..!”

  The blond could only get part of Billy’s words to him and he shook his head, signaling. “Can’t hear…”

  The driver’s eyes were wide, but he made a fast motion that Adrian understood clearly and responded to in kind.

  “People trapped.”

  “Show me.”

  The two men hurried toward the parking area, Adrian making people pay attention by hitting the air horn they all had on their belts since the bird attack in Utah. He moved through the calming refugees and his silence was not a hindrance. Thanks to the training they’d been given, his army could communicate in half a dozen different ways. “Get someone in the kids’ campers. Do a visual check-in with the perimeter guards. Put out the fires.”

  The vehicle was trapped partially in a crevice that had opened up directly under, and tried to swallow it. Mitch was still slumped inside the crushed Com truck, along with the shadow of someone else they knew wasn’t Matt. That boy, with Charlie at his side and looking better, was currently trying to climb down to his dad.

  “Get them outta there!”

  Adrian studied it for a moment, ignoring the boy’s protests as he went over what could go wrong. When he thought he had it covered, he began directing the restlessly waiting people now gathered nearby. The Eagles came through a few minutes later, carting a quickly made pulley-system, and the crowd let out a cheer. Adrian would save them. They had faith.

  All around camp, people moved under the darkening sky. A few were still in panic, shock bringing old terrors to light, but on the ground near the men’s tents, one person wasn’t moving at all. Large and dotted with blood, it was almost half an hour before Doug was found and taken to John.

  Shivering at the fresh bite to the wind, Tonya slid between the trees near the vet area, keeping her head hidden. Where was Kenn? She’d seen him come this way after hitting Doug… Her hand flashed out to grab the next big shadow running by and she knew to stay low, expecting him to swing on her. “It’s me!”

  Kenn stopped the punch, registering her voice, and it spun him off his feet and into the side of a large tree. Damn quake! Damn good shot from Doug too, before he’d managed to use the nose breaker and escape.

  “Get back here!” Tonya pulled him behind the largest tent and shoved his kit into his hands. “The black work truck behind the vet tent has keys in the ignition. You’re good for a week.”

  Kenn stared in surprise, checking in for an instant of sanity. “Why would you do that? They’ll banish you, too.”

  The whore no longer held glints of greed in her eyes, only misery. She didn’t want him to go. “You should run now, before they find Doug.”

  Kenn raised a cold hand to her soft cheek, let himself feel some of the loss that was waiting. He would mourn later, after his new mission was over. He ran a rough thumb down her cheek, marking her with a deep red line from his nail.

  It didn’t bleed, but it was close, and Tonya held still, willing enough to take anything he wanted to give. “Can’t prove it,” she whispered, grinning sadly. “It’s his favorite tactic.”

  Kenn dropped his hand, reminded of everything he’d just thrown away. For a second in time, he wanted to ask Tonya to come along, but the answer wasn’t in question. Instead, he moved back. “Don’t wait for me.�
��

  Her lip quivered. “No, I won’t.”

  Her sadness was overwhelming and Kenn yanked her forward for a last brutal kiss. He would miss her too. That, he hadn’t counted on.

  Tonya forced her arms away and she sank to the ground as he turned toward the black truck he could see from where they were. She was helping him escape, but she couldn’t watch him leave. It would hurt too much.

  5

  An hour after Adrian had them move camp away from the huge crevices, Neil found Samantha at the Mess and slid onto the bench across from her. “I can’t make it tonight.”

  Sam shrugged, hiding her disappointment. “That was an earthquake, Neil. I understand.”

  She winced at how loud her voice was. The quake had things distorted and it was strange to be back into even a small part of that silent world she’d first traveled through. She’d relaxed here more than she’d thought was possible.

  “Another time?” Neil was shocked to hear himself offer it, but after how strong Angela had been in the face of Kenn’s breakdown, the Trooper suddenly wanted it for this quiet female too.

  “I might have an hour in the morning, day after tomorrow, but it’s extremely early.”

  Sensing he meant it, Sam smiled and kept her eyes away from the golden skin of his arms. “I run light anyway.”

  Neil grinned at the familiar expression, noticing her quick glance toward where Rick sat, three tables over. What was that? It hadn’t been anything good, the Trooper was sure. If she was still watching the man, there was bound to be trouble. Trouble I won’t let her be hurt by, again, Neil thought.

  “Five thirty? Same place?”

  “Sure. Should I cover?”

  Neil hadn’t thought about it and he didn’t now, either. “No. Females are allowed. This is part of your evaluation if anyone asks.”

  That had Sam frowning, but she didn’t tell him no. Maybe a little Eagle training was just what she needed. Along with some privacy. The camp’s mood was uneasy, like people waiting for the other shoe to fall and squash out the small lives they’d been able to create for themselves. Sam thought they were right to be concerned. Adrian and his Eagles were good, but in the chaos, there would be no way they could protect everyone.

  6

  Night fell with a menacing suddenness that none of the guards liked. The sky went from dim green hues to barely even there; it was black and they lit extra cans to push back the dark. The camp was still up long after an awkward evening Mess where Lee and Zack finally noticed Kenn’s absence and began asking questions. By the time the sheep finally settled in their tents to mutter, all the levels knew of Kenn’s snap and escape. The only good news was Doug’s fast recovery from being knocked unconscious.

  Adrian put Zack’s team (the only one he thought might join the Marine) on guard duty over the intended target. Then he put two other teams in the shadows to make sure they did their jobs. Most of Zack’s men were still on Kenn’s side and Adrian hoped making them spend some time with Angela would help. They were the last hold-outs to her being accepted, other than a last man on Seth’s team, but Jeff had already shown signs. Zack was the one they needed to convert and Adrian had serious doubts it could be done.

  “If it can, I will.” Angela soothed from her over-protected tent. He didn’t answer, busy concentrating on where Kenn would be and what he would be thinking. All around him, the Eagles were wondering the same.

  “Where is he?”

  “No one knows. Tonya swears she hasn’t seen him and he’s not in camp; we’ve searched it.”

  “We gotta find him before he gets to her.”

  “You won’t.”

  Neil and Kyle turned to see Marc sitting on the back bumper of the mangled Com truck. Mitch and Rick had been gotten out safely and both men were okay, except for everyone wanting to know what Sam’s ex had been doing with their radioman.

  “He’s hunting. We might hear the scream, if he lets her live that long.” Marc’s eyes went over the tent they had her stashed in. “He’s out there, getting set, reading us by the changes of the shadows. He’ll narrow down where she’s being kept and wait for the next travel day for her to come out.”

  “What should we do?”

  Marc answered Neil quickly, “Kill him, before he can kill her.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “We’ll come with you,” Kyle corrected and all three men jumped at a fourth voice.

  “Not yet.”

  They turned to see Adrian stepping around the corner of the training tent. “We’ll make a call first. See if he’ll come in.”

  “No way,” The Trooper argued, watching Sam move into the Mess. He would have to reschedule with her, again, if they didn’t get this mess cleared up fast. “It’s giving him more time.”

  “It was her call.”

  Marc stopped his own useless protest. Of course, she wouldn’t want Kenn’s blood on her hands and what she wanted, Adrian would give her. If not for all the macho bullshit in this camp, Marc might think the blond had made it all up so he could have a chance at Angela too. Instantly fitting that thought in place, he slammed his own mental doors shut and tried to be reasonable. He had no proof of that and wasn’t going to worry. All the men here wanted her. What was one more?

  “Do you think he’ll listen, boss?”

  Adrian played it cooler than he felt. “If not, I’ll be in that hunting party you were organizing.”

  Because of the tremor, none of the camp had registered Kenn’s absence yet. The moral board hadn’t been notified, there hadn’t been time, and other than the Eagles, no one was the wiser. They would have to be ready for what came next with the camp, but first Adrian would give Kenn one last chance to get it right.

  He moved out of Safe Haven’s light, trying to find the right words among the new piles of debris and the uneasily resting camp. Even the animals were making more noise than usual. Despite not being able to see the huge cracks anymore, it was hard for the camp to settle down, but for the Eagles, it was almost impossible with a sniper on the hunt.

  The Leader sighed restlessly, feeling cut-off and ill-ready to be without Kenn. He didn’t see a way the Marine could keep his high place here, but he didn’t have to die. This was one life he wouldn’t order them to take until all other attempts had failed.

  Adrian keyed the mic and there was silence from his men as they waited to see if they would be forced to kill one of their own. “Rookie lesson, Marine. Get set.”

  There was no answer from the darkness, but after a minute, Adrian went on like there had been, positive Kenn was listening to them, too. “Eagles are men and women who care about the future of their country. So much, that we are willing to do anything, sacrifice anything, to accomplish that goal. America comes first with us. Not to hide greed, but for the greater good; the survival of our country. The continuation of America is all I care about and there isn’t anything I won’t do, any one life I won’t sacrifice, to see it happen.”

  “He’s warning him,” Angela realized with relief from where she now stood in the doorway of her tent, and the half a dozen Eagles around her showed relief. It was Adrian returning the loyalty that they’d been willing to die for all along. Each of them hoped the blond would give them the same chance, if they ever messed up as badly. Until now, no one had.

  “An Eagle can now be trusted with a life, the only possession which has any true value. Lives are not to be taken lightly but they will be taken. Doubts are normal and I’m here for that, too, but your fellow Eagles share a bond that cannot be broken by miles or mistakes.” Adrian felt the right words coming and let them flow.

  “An Eagle faces errors head-on and makes amends. Even some of the worst choices in judgment can be given leniency if the person acts like an Eagle and is deemed worthy of another chance. Not everyone in Safe Haven will get such a consideration, but as an Eagle, it came to you unspoken, with the first order that I gave and you accepted.”

  Magic flowed out, reaching into the dark
ness with a brilliant golden light. “Before the War, Grunt, you were something else. Now, you’re an Eagle in my Army and I still have a place for you. That hasn’t changed.”

  “Is he saying we’ll forgive and forget if Kenn comes back? ‘Cause, that won’t ever happen!”

  Marc’s anger was ignored by Neil and Kyle. Adrian’s decisions were just that - his to make. The aftermath of the tremor still wasn’t cleaned up and probably wouldn’t be as good as what the Marine would have done, even when they were finished. Kenn had been a thorn in their sides, but until Angela had come, he had also been the go-to man and they were already missing him.

  “Surrender and face the punishment. I’ll stand with you.” Adrian’s eyes swung to his two highest men.

  Neither of them wanted to, but refusing wasn’t an option during that moment. The bond was demanding it.

  “I won’t stand with him, but I won’t plot either. Whatever the board votes, my team will go with.” Kyle was the first to give him what he wanted.

  Neil reluctantly joined them, keying his mic. “Same here, but this only works if you can leave her…them, alone. We won’t stand for any more.”

  Adrian keyed the mic again, not satisfied, but content the Marine understood he wouldn’t be killed on sight. “Schedule switch. Eagle Two has Point from noon until evening Mess. Moral board meeting immediately after.”

  Marc couldn’t believe Adrian was letting the dangerous man back in, and earned a head shake from Neil before he could object again.

  “Adrian knows what he’s doing.”

  “And what’s that? Giving Kenn a pass?”

  “Buying time.” Adrian’s tone was soothing. “If he thinks there’s a chance to keep his place, he’ll take it. Kenn assumes Neil and Kyle and you, of course, to be the headhunters. He won’t think I’ve rigged anything because it’ll be much easier if the Eagles vote him back in. Then, we don’t have to explain it to the camp.”

  Marc frowned, confused. “So you don’t plan to let him stay?”