The Price We Pay (Life After War Book 7)

by Angela White

  Marc was ecstatic at Kenn’s mental choice. “I thought it would take you longer.”

  “I’m an asshole,” Kenn grunted. “I’m not stupid.”

  “Honestly,” Marc snickered. “I’ve always thought you were a bit of both.”

  Silence fell again and Marc returned to dozing, mood growing steadily better despite the miles coming between him and Angela. He’d waited months to expose Adrian and now that the time was here, doing it in front of Kenn made it perfect.

  3

  Angela went to Kyle next on her rounds. He was busy guiding his first load of assigned gear into the truck and she waited for him to finish. While she did, she scanned his fares. These females knew their roles, so much that they were ready half an hour early. They wouldn’t let her or the camp down.

  “We’re set,” Kyle called out to the small group of people lingering near his dark colored van. “We leave in thirty.”

  Some people began climbing onboard and the former mobster joined his boss.

  Angela held out the instruction packet. “Make sure it’s too late to turn around before you handle it.”

  “I will,” Kyle promised, observing Jennifer as she and three other shadows vanished into the fog outside the gate. She wasn’t going with him and the worry burning in Kyle’s gut was constant.

  “The first time I think about a traitor they’ll know, if they’re descendants.”

  “I’m going to give you an advantage over that little girl and all the others, Reece. Are you ready to appreciate it?”

  Kyle gave a curt nod, not sure if he should brace for more pain. He’d chosen to pay that moment back when all of their lives weren’t at stake.

  “Distraction, denial, and defiance. The three Ds are how you handle us, like with the camp. And when that doesn’t work, you block.”

  Kyle’s brows drew together. “She can get through any of my walls.”

  “Why does everyone always try a wall and nothing else?” Angela wondered. “Hum an annoying song she would know or an old commercial. Say poems or tell yourself jokes. As long as it blocks her, it works.”

  “That’ll make thinking hard,” he observed, sliding his gloves on tighter.

  Angela stared at his scars, his badges of battles. She lingered on the teeth scar. She’d put it there. “Do you really need to think about this one?”

  Kyle tensed for an instant, and then his shoulders drooped. “No. It’s what has to happen now.”

  “I agree,” Angela stated, swinging around to stop a rookie hand from grabbing the bandana on her belt.

  Kip grinned up at her, hoping for a pass since he’d gotten close enough to touch the red cloth. He wanted to shout, but his throat was still stinging despite the pain pill.

  “Fail. If you want onto a mission team, you’ll be perfect.”

  The playboy dentist stormed off and Angela glanced at Kyle, who was ready to get going now that he had a new defense to use.

  “It won’t work if they gang up on you,” Angela warned. “And if they decide to do that, my advice is to surrender. You’re no match for a descendant.”

  Kyle left with the ugly thought in his mind. He still didn’t doubt it was true, only loathed being able to deny it.

  Angela had four more teams to send off and the list would restart tomorrow. This was a timed plan to get her people into the right areas before it was all mined, and she wouldn’t miss a departure because of emotions.

  Angela went to the gate on the other end of the quickly emptying camp, where Neil, Jeremy, and their two teams were loading up. Few of them wanted to leave at all and the mood was somber.

  Angela surveyed the small pile of weapons and gear they had stacked by the rear of their vehicles. The men were currently saying quick goodbyes between carrying loads over, and it was sweet to witness these hardened men caring for their women. The fact that some of their women were becoming as hard as they were didn’t matter. They understood their females still needed the emotional care that they always had. In battle, that would sometimes become an issue, but it was unavoidable. Women would learn to handle it the same as any other fighter had to.

  “We’re ready in five,” Neil called, checking the kits against what was on his list. Samantha was in the van, and he and Jeremy were staying busy. Kyle would watch over her and they would all do their part.

  Angela handed Jeremy the envelope. “Call if you need more men.”

  “We will,” Neil promised, thinking her hair was going gray faster than Marc could fill her up on energy. What would she do while he was gone again?

  “I’ll take what I need, the same as Samantha will.”

  Neil held his tongue. He hated not knowing what was going on, what the plan was. He also hated the tension in Safe Haven and the camps that surrounded theirs. The relief to be away for a while was warring with the need to stay close.

  “You guys ready?”

  The call came from Stanley, their radioman and medic, newly appointed to both positions.

  Neither Neil nor Jeremy answered.

  Stanley frowned. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had to pack.”

  The kit Stanley dropped, as his proof, was clumsily packed and bulging.

  Jeremy waved at the neat pile he was loading. “Make yours look like these and hurry up.”

  Stanley stumbled forward and the XO gave his CO an exasperated gesture.

  Neil shrugged, and the two men went back to work. Stanley was hopeless no matter what he did. Someone had to take him along for this ride. If he were left in camp, they wouldn’t have one to return to.

  All around them, Safe Haven was having a busy morning. People were coming and going with serious intent, and Neil stopped for a moment to watch the small circus nearest to them. The livestock truck was being loaded for the morning’s trip deeper into the mountains. Everyone assumed that Angela had found them a cave and this would start getting people used to living inside it. By the time the battle made it to Safe Haven’s front gate, she would have them all as ready to shelter-in place. Neil thought that theory was likely. Once the camp was bunkered-in, it would be hard for the government to get to them without blowing up the entire ridge of cliffs, and if they did that, they wouldn’t get the descendants they seemed to need so badly. Angela was obviously relying on it and so was everyone else, because if the government came in with planes and bombs, Safe Haven would be gone.

  Chapter Seven

  1

  Seth slammed his kit into the truck and punched the door when it refused to close. He hadn’t gotten to see Becky this morning and now she was gone. The babies and younger children had been transferred overnight, and he’d been in charge of escorting them into the mountain bunker Angela had chosen. He’d returned an hour ago, gotten his packet from the boss lady, and then discovered Becky had left with Jennifer. How would he get to her when they lost, if he didn’t know where she’d be?

  “Faith matters now, Seth,” Angela stated from behind him. “We can do this.”

  “I’ll follow orders,” Seth spat, slinging the next kit into the backseat.

  “Seth.”

  He didn’t want to look at her. He loved Angela as much as any of the men did, and he was still as loyal to Adrian as he could tolerate, but he’d give it all up for Becky and the baby. The feel of being about to lose it all over the edge was too clear to ignore.

  “There’s only one thing that can ruin my plan, Seth. Please don’t be the one to get us killed.”

  Seth spun around, but Angela had vanished, leaving him to wonder if she’d been there at all. Her gifts were stronger than the other descendants were, and Seth thought Becky could reach that level of power in time. If she lived.

  Seth slammed two more kits into the rear and turned around as gunfire rang out.

  Eagles flooded the area, but Seth stayed by the vehicle. He wasn’t only in charge of loading the gear—he was protecting it. Angela wasn’t taking any chances that their food would be poisoned or their supplies sabotaged. She also had sen
tries on the mess, the supply trucks, the water, and then guards on those guards. Cameras were in place, with a constant crew viewing them, and the mood was one of oppression. Seth missed the freedom, the love they’d shared under Adrian’s reign, and so did the rest of the camp.

  “After we win,” he muttered resignedly, repeating what everyone was telling themselves. “We’ll have it again. The fences will go away and the bubble will return.”

  That magical sight hadn’t come into view in a while. None of the love and hope that had filled it before existed now and Angela refused to have a black shroud hanging over them all the time.

  Seth scanned the truck, the area around it, and the guards on it before hitting his radio. “We’re set. Five minutes.”

  Seth’s hard tone was quickly answered. The entire team was tired, but none as much as Seth and they all knew to tiptoe around him. Many of them had also returned to discover their loved ones already gone and it was a feeling they understood. They were ready to rip someone apart and it almost didn’t matter who.

  2

  “You’re stirring the pot kinda’ hard aren’t you?”

  Angela nodded, not looking at Cynthia. The reporter had refused to leave her side and Angela had switched her out with Heather, who she’d originally chosen to be her personal assistant for the day. Heather was one of the click sisters who’d recently signed up to be on the next rookie female team. Kyle would handle that now.

  “Ready for your stir, Cynthia?”

  The reporter swallowed nervously. “Yes. Get it over with.”

  Angela chuckled without amusement. “What’s the rush? Kevin already left.”

  Cynthia froze, furious. “You told me he would be here when we got finished with rounds!”

  Angela moved toward the next parking area. “We’re not finished, are we? You wanted me to talk to Hilda and then doctor had a favor to ask about his sons, and then the vet needed…”

  “I get your point!” Cynthia snapped.

  “Good. When the van leaves, be on it. I don’t need a sitter. I need my teams to do their jobs!”

  Before Cynthia could protest, Angela stopped by the main gate and took a minute to view the area around them. The chilly mountains were serene, stunning even, but something wasn’t right. She was monitoring a number of people in their camps, but it wasn’t enough. That old feeling of cold dread swarmed over her and Angela hit the button on her radio.

  “Full alert. Lock us down!”

  Cynthia spun round, searching for the threat, and found them surrounded by Angela’s personal guards. Chosen by Marc, the seven men were shoulder to shoulder and Cynthia unthinkingly climbed up on the nearest back to see better. Her training said to get up high and get eyes on the threat.

  “Be still,” Cynthia snapped when Jax started to fight with her, thinking she was the problem. “I need to see.”

  Angela motioned for Jax to pull her down and he did with a careful motion, not about to risk hurting the reporter. All the pregnant women were being handled with care.

  Camp alarms started blaring to their right and the guards moved with Angela as she ran that way. Marc’s orders were protection, not detaining, but the men running along considered grabbing her and keeping her in the middle, before quickly discarding the notion. They knew considering it was the only comfort they were allowed.

  Angela darted between running people, and scaled a water tanker. She tossed herself down, hip taking the tolerable pain and she quickly slid forward on her elbows and knees like a reptile.

  Her guards came up in almost identical movements as shots rang out.

  Angela racked the slide on the 9mm that Marc had insisted she switch to. In a real fight, her 6-shooter wasn’t enough. She wasn’t a crack shot anymore, but she could hit what she aimed at with both hands.

  She peered over the edge to find a large herd of mountain goats invading their walls. Many of the dingy white animals had been trampled in the rush down the cliff that Safe Haven was camped next to and the rest were bunched painfully against the fenced walls. Wood groaned, creaking under the strain and more shots rang out as those on watch tried to alleviate the pressure. Aiming at the crippled goats closest to the fence, the sentries were creating a barrier of bodies, as they’d been taught.

  Angela was pleased and stood up; looking around at the guards to let them know everything was okay. Her protection also rose.

  Thud!

  The Eagle on Angela’s right fell off the side of the tanker.

  “Sniper!” Jax grabbed Angela and slid her off the side and into Daryl’s waiting arms, then rolled onto his spine and hit his radio.

  “I saw a flash, Shawn! He’s at my noon, high!” Jax directed.

  There was about three minutes of silence and then one muffled shot rang out. Everyone waited tensely.

  “Sniper’s dead. I’m hit. Switch out.”

  Angela was headed for the gate before Jax could roll from the top of the tanker. He had to run to catch up.

  Angela met Shawn, healing before he was in physical reach. The handgun wound wasn’t serious, but she needed all of them at the full health. The witch, who wanted this baby as much as she did, would let her know when it became a problem.

  From Shawn, Angela went to help her Eagles gather the meat that had delivered itself to their front door. She couldn’t do anything for Jack. He’d been dead before hitting the ground. Two of the camp’s older women would come to direct handling of the body. It was a routine they were getting too good at.

  “Can I talk to you?”

  Angela slung her end of a carcass onto the cart and scowled. “I’m not. So don’t ask.”

  “You’re getting good men killed!”

  Daryl’s accusation wasn’t new and Angela felt the guilt threaten to overwhelm her. She shoved it aside and embraced the anger that she was working so hard to bring out in everyone else.

  “I’m trying to save an entire country, our future. I can’t do that from a covered tent!”

  Daryl opened his mouth to argue and Angela swung, punching him in the mouth hard enough to make him stumble and almost fall.

  “I’m sorry, Daryl. I am, but so help me if I hear one more word about abandoning these people, I will shoot you dead.”

  The top Eagle clamped his lips shut and Angela slowly went back to help collecting the food.

  Those who witnessed the ugly moment took some of it with them and wished even more that Adrian were leading them again.

  3

  “I can’t believe she sent us out alone,” Conner said, holding the bushes for Jennifer to pass.

  None of the other team members spoke. They were scared and not in the mood to talk. Conner was excited and it was annoying.

  Jennifer and Becky stayed together, with Conner in the front and Charlie in the rear. The guns in their holsters felt surreal, and even the stunted, abnormal ground was harsher than they were used to. Their roles in all of this were just as unreal, though all of them had agreed without much hesitation. It wasn’t something they had ever thought they’d be sent out to do.

  “This is the place,” Conner stated, holding up his map. “She said to split up when we reach the bridge.”

  Charlie and Becky took the path to the right, while Conner went to the left. Jennifer hesitated, torn. She didn’t know Conner.

  A hand pulled on her shoulder and Jenny flinched, swinging out.

  Conner landed on his ass next to her.

  Charlie and Becky laughed and for an instant, the bubble became visible and peace settled over the four kids.

  Then, reality returned and the two inexperienced teams headed down the mountainside in silence.

  Behind them, two trained teams also came down the same paths and then split up to watch out for the teenagers. The adult teams would split off on their own runs later, but for the beginning of their trek at least, the kids were safer than they thought.

  4

  “Ladies, I’d like to have your attention for a moment.”

/>   Chatter in the van stopped and Kyle cleared his throat. “Each of you has an envelope. Inside is a sheet of paper and another envelope. When I tell you, open it and read the contents of the paper only. Look at the time and date before opening the second set of instructions. Anyone who opens the wrong one, even by accident, will get left right here.”

  Only doubting him a little, the females waited impatiently for permission.

  “Open part one.”

  Tearing sounds filled the van, and then an awkward tension.

  Kyle brought them to a halt and put the van in park. He tore opened his own instructions before looking at the passengers.

  “Mine says to tell you that I have the same message.”

  “What message?” Heather asked, confused. “My paper is blank.”

  Every head turned toward the former accountant, expressions shocked, angry.

  Kyle filled her in. “Our papers say: One person has no instructions. Ask her why she betrayed us.”

  Heather gasped; face flooding with fear and Tonya grabbed the woman’s arms so that Tracy could take the weapons from her belt.

  “Start talking!” Crista ordered, gun ready. “I’ll kill you.”

  Heather held up a hand. “Please, wait.”

  As Tracy and Tonya stepped back, Crista looked to Kyle for guidance and Heather swiftly pulled her secondary from her boot.

  She snatched the first person she could reach and held the hostage in front of her. “Drive or I’ll shoot her!”

  Kyle shook his head, hands out of sight and moving, body getting set to react. “Don’t make me do this. Face a trial.”

  Heather laughed harshly. “And let those idiots who…”

  Kyle spun around and fired over the seat, one quick round.

  The bullet slammed into Heather’s shoulder, knocking her backward and freeing Tonya.

  Before Heather could do more than cry out, Tonya flipped around and began punching the woman in her bloody shoulder.

  Kyle calmly got the van rolling as the other women hurried over to help subdue the traitor.