The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  “Com to Eagle One. Huntin’ crew pulled in. All’s 5-by.”

  “Copy.”

  Jeremy faded into the background to wait, wondering how strong the pull was.

  Less than a minute later, a state trooper’s hat appeared through the fog.

  Samantha wasn’t aware of anything, except that she was back in the normalcy of camp.

  The trip had been worse than she’d expected. The hunting had consisted of cornering a very small herd of deer and opening fire. Only two of the eight members who’d gone along had been able to do it when Doug’s call came; Lexa, a gun shop owner who’d thrown up afterwards, and Samantha.

  Samantha pushed away her revulsion at the memory. She’d stepped forward without any qualms, eager to practice her new skills on the fleeing targets. The Eagles had called her headshots perfect. Even Zack had given her an arrogant gesture of recognition. She’d passed their test and failed her own.

  I liked it. I like to kill.

  “It’s the same, for some of us.”

  Sam was startled to find Neil next to her. They were behind the shower camper, almost out of view of everyone.

  “What’s the same?” she asked distractedly.

  “We loathe that part of ourselves that likes to spill blood.”

  “How did you–”

  “I’ve been there,” he stated, watching her red-streaked hair blow in the stiff wind. Sexy. And odd that he thought so.

  “We all have. Facing the evil inside is hard, but you’re always better off knowing your true limits, your true self.”

  It sounds like he actually cares, Samantha thought and raised a brow, “Do you always meet the new killers when they come in?”

  He laughed, but his face was serious. “Yes, ma’am. I meet the survivors too.”

  Neil tipped his hat to her and joined his team, eager to know why they’d volunteered for duty again so soon.

  Not sure why, Samantha felt better. Because I’m not alone in these feelings or because it came from Neil?

  Confused, Sam let the water beat the tension from her shoulders, but the sight of herself murdering all those terrified deer wouldn’t leave her mind. What if they’d survived the mud wave just to be eaten? What kind of a caring creator made a life-circle based on violent death?

  When she stepped from the camper, Samantha had settled some things, but all of them were forgotten when she spotted an intimately familiar shadow lurking in the darkness nearby.

  “Hello, Samantha.”

  Instantly on edge, she stopped. “Rick.”

  The grimy black bandana and those greedy green orbs were all that remained of the man she’d traveled with, and she sensed more strength, more danger in him.

  “How are you?”

  “Better. And you?”

  Rick flashed a menacing grin. “Oh, I’m good, baby. I’m settlin’ in and getting real comfortable.”

  Sam retreated several paces.

  He was gone an instant later, and she sucked air into her lungs. He was warning her that he hadn’t forgotten their deal. Had anyone noticed?

  Neil’s icy face was right behind her. “What did he say?”

  “That he was settling in and getting comfortable.” Instead of scorn, she got an answer that allowed her to breathe again.

  “Good, he’s relaxing. He’ll get cockier and then we’ll have him.” Neil’s voice softened. “Until then, keep that gun close.”

  “I will.”

  She turned toward the mess, sighing when she noted how crowded it still was. Lovely.

  Neil was drawn to the sound. “You got plans for dinner?”

  Samantha’s heart thumped. She should tell him yes, put an end to things here and now.

  “No.”

  A bit arrogantly–he was high up here, after all–Neil said, “Good. Hang on a minute.”

  He made motions to one of the shadows nearby and the Eagle went to make the report to Adrian. Anything on Rick went straight to the boss as soon as it happened. They hadn’t even given him a job yet, hoping the free time would allow them to catch him in the act. So far, the janitor had spent each day doing what any other refugee here did.

  Neil regarded Samantha with a feeling in his stomach that he accepted reluctantly. He might want her.

  “Come eat with us, and afterwards I’ll show you how we work off the extra tension.”

  He saw happiness and caution flood her countenance in equal measures and felt his own expression lighten. She might like him, too. That always made things easier.

  Unable to resist, Samantha gave in and they traveled toward the main camp, side by side.

  Behind them, more than just his team gaped in surprise.

  8

  “Adrian has sent all of you here for various reasons and I promise you’ll leave bleeding. Be sure. This is no easy lesson.”

  Doug swept the men waiting eagerly in the dark. “You’ll notice there are some others here, observing. They’ve been invited to witness what you have to go through to become an Eagle. Don’t disappoint them, or him, by giving up because of a little pain–”

  Doug glanced up as Angela stepped from the shadows. When she gave him a cool nod that said she had Adrian’s permission to be here, he winced, but kept going. She reminded him very strongly of a man he’d served with, had that same look of confident kamikaze that Joshua had gotten when shit hit the fan.

  “This lesson will cover the basics of a type of fighting that all Eagles must be proficient in by Level Five. Kenn and Daryl will demonstrate.”

  The dozen men craned their necks, ignoring Angela. The two men squared-off with hard glares, but Doug kept his attention on the newest rookie he was about to be training. He and Josh had been drinking off-base, suckin’ ‘em down to forget a bad moment they’d shared. A cute girl with more chest than brains had asked him for a dance. When Josh said no, that he had a woman waiting at home, the drunken party girl had asked him who the hell he thought he was. The immediate response had been one Doug had never forgotten.

  “I'm a dirty, nasty, filthy, Army grunt, and the bloody tip of my nation’s spear. Who the hell are you?”

  That’s what Angela would be to Adrian, Doug was suddenly positive of it. The big man continued instructing, wondering if Marc would be able to handle it.

  “If you watch this and think ‘I’d never be able to stand that’, leave as soon as you have the thought, because you’re right. If you see the blood and think ‘that’s okay, I’ll take a Tylenol before it starts’, you might belong here.”

  Angela slowly moved toward the small ring of hay bales, stomach in a hard knot. He hadn’t said Kenn would be here.

  “You didn’t ask,” the Witch told her. “Now, you know better.”

  Kenn and Daryl were already trading hits, but not the average punches. These blows were done with sharp, fast jerks, and graceful slides into the other man’s personal space, to deliver a vicious hit. It was the fighting style Adrian and Neil had used while they were in quarantine, and Angela inched closer to get a better view.

  “You’ll notice it’s quick in and even faster out. This type of fighting is called Kai and only one person in camp knows all of it. He’ll be here in a few minutes to start your training.”

  Angela assumed he meant Adrian and wondered if he and Kenn would be fighting. Daryl was good, but not nearly enough. Kenn’s big hands were currently giving the Eagle what he’d given her so many times.

  “Kai accomplishes two things, quickly. It causes severe pain and puts your opponent out of commission for a while.”

  With those words, both men delivered two of the ugliest shots Angela had ever witnessed outside of the movies.

  Daryl was the one to eat dirt.

  “Not everyone can be good at it. Tonight, you only have to survive.” Doug gestured at the biggest of the five pale men. “Jake, you’re up.”

  9

  “Aren’t you eating?”

  Neil sipped bottled water as she devoured a plate of fries covered
in ketchup. She was putting on a little weight. It looked good on her. “I have a lesson in a few minutes.”

  Samantha frowned. “I thought we were going somewhere.”

  “We are.”

  He was taking her to a lesson? She shrugged. “Okay.”

  A little disappointed, she picked at her fries.

  Neil hid a smile. She thought he was taking a test and wanted to show off. Good. She’d be distracted from her thoughts about Rick and the hunting trip.

  They had spent a quiet ten minutes at the center table so far, the crowd around them falling silent the instant they’d gotten in line, and it hadn’t changed. There were dozens of witnesses and Samantha had quickly acquired a permanent pink streak across both cheeks.

  “I’m not supposed to be at this table, right? That’s why they’re all staring?” she asked suddenly, unable to wait until they were alone.

  “Sorry, I thought you knew,” Neil said quietly. “They’re surprised because I’ve never done this before.”

  “Done what? Had a meal…” She blinked. “They think we’re on a date!”

  He reddened a little and she raised a brow. “Are we?”

  Put on the spot, Neil couldn’t lie, but his first thought was, yes.

  “Not unless you’d like it to be.”

  Not expecting a hint of affection, Samantha wasn’t offended and even teased, “What if I did, Mr. O’Neil?”

  Neil smiled, body language saying more than his mouth. “I’d be flattered and happy to play along.”

  Play along.

  Now the sting was there. “I’ll let you know. I’m not sure I like how you asked.”

  They were both laughing as they stood up and Samantha was very glad to be gone from the mess a moment later. Out here, it was just the cool breeze, the darkness she’d been in since the war, and Neil’s comforting body next to hers.

  “I’ll be there for about half an hour, and then we can do something else if you like.” He leaned a bit closer than he normally did with the women here. “I know the boss. I can sneak you into the training tent for a quick drill.”

  Sam smirked, sliding further into his personal space with no hesitation. “Can I have the sweaty towel, too?”

  “Of course.”

  Still chuckling, the couple went toward the area that Angie had found by using her gifts.

  10

  “Now that the warm-ups are done, Neil will teach you three basic moves that you’ll practice every day on your own. Do it or not, you’ll still have to get by him for every test and he’s no easy mark.”

  Kenn’s tone was gloating. He’d beaten on all five of the bloody men who were now listening with a much clearer idea of what they’d signed up for, and he couldn’t wait for Angela to duck into that tent. It was about to be over and he’d have his life back. “When he calls your name, leave the guns out here.”

  During the last two matches, Angela had been studying those gathered for the lesson instead of the battles themselves, sensing Kenn might be hitting harder than he had to in order to show off for her. If he thought she wasn’t paying attention, he would get it over faster and not hurt them as much. While she was scanning the half a dozen extra observers, she’d gotten hostility. None of them were willing to accept that she, too, was one of Adrian’s hand-picked and it made her angry. She had as much need to be here as they did. Kai was harsh enough to allow her to handle any man.

  “Here’s the teacher.”

  Neil and Samantha emerged from the darkness.

  “First man to the tent is…Tucker.”

  Hoping she wasn’t on the list waiting inside the tent for him, Neil directed his new friend toward Angela. “Keep her company, will ya?”

  Samantha wasn’t sure the woman wanted it and she stopped a few feet away as Neil slid into the tent. The two females exchanged polite smiles, but not words as they listened.

  “And you’re sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then, let’s get to it.”

  There was the sound of a struggle and then Neil’s voice.

  “Like this.” Thud.

  “Lower.” Slap.

  “Faster.” Thud.

  It sounded as if each order was followed by a hit and they didn’t have to wait long to have it confirmed.

  When Tucker came out with a limp and a bloody face, less than three minutes later, the women instinctively moved closer together for comfort.

  “Anderson.”

  It was a very fast private class, which was the good side. There was now a nervous Neil giving the lesson, having verified that Angela’s name was indeed on the list. That was the bad side for the new men, but also for Neil. He knew he would treat her like any of the others that Adrian had sent to him for toughening up, and he hated the boss a little for showing him that he and Kenn had more in common than he’d ever realized.

  “White.”

  Angela went toward the small canvas with a thumping heart. Listening to the sounds of their battles had reminded her of the years Kenn had abused her, and the fear had grown as each bleeding man left the tent.

  She and Samantha were the only ones still here besides Doug and a guard whose name she didn’t know yet, and now she had to conquer those fears or give up the idea of being an Eagle in Adrian’s army. This was why he had sent her here. To discern if she could handle getting and delivering a real hit.

  Angela wasn’t as scared as she had been during her time with Kenn, but she could feel the sweat rolling down her sides. The Marine had left with a gloating glare a short time ago, but the taste of acid was on her tongue and her body felt stiff, foreign. This isn’t going to go well, she thought suddenly. I’ll get hurt.

  She paused in the flap, meeting Neil’s cool gaze as he stood with deceptive casualness in the middle of the bloody floor. Is that what I’m afraid of? The pain?

  Angela considered. Yes.

  And if there wasn’t any pain?

  “Then I wouldn’t really learn it,” she muttered, “Pain is a memory-maker.”

  Neil didn’t speak, just waved her in, and she went, determined to conquer her weaknesses.

  11

  Marc spotted the two Eagles near the small tent, Samantha lingering nearby, and moved their way with a raised brow that was ignored by them and by the stiffly standing woman.

  He saw the .357 lying in front of the tent, recognizing the owner instantly, and bristled. Who was in there with Angie and what were they doing?

  Samantha felt Marc and Dog come up beside her, but didn’t look at them, not wanting to miss anything. Neil and Angela had been in there twice as long as any of the others and not one sound had been heard until a minute ago, when there had been a thud that she would swear was someone being hit. Was this Neil’s idea of blowing off steam?

  Thud!

  “Again.” Neil’s voice sounded pinched, as if he was in pain.

  Slap!

  “Harder!”

  Dog on his heels, Marc stomped toward the tent, blood beating furiously. “What the hell is going on here?!”

  Thud! “Damn.”

  “Pay attention!”

  “He’ll come in–”

  “Do you want this or not?!”

  Marc hadn’t heard Neil’s tone of command yet and he froze in the flap at the sound of it. That was Adrian’s rehearsed script. This was the private lesson.

  Thud!

  Marc started to go in, unable to witness anyone hitting her.

  “Don’t interfere!” Angela had flung a hand out, not taking her eyes from Neil, who was getting set to repeat his motion. “I mean it!”

  Again, the tone of command halted him, and Marc winced as Neil slipped inside her ring of protection and used an open palm to drill her shoulder.

  Thud!

  Braced for it, Angela ignored the dull throb and immediately ducked under his arm to do the same to him.

  Slap!

  Even hitting him her hardest, she couldn’t match the strength he was using against her, and Mar
c was glad of the brute-like arms that dragged him away from the flap. He didn’t want to do anything stupid.

  Yet.

  Doug let him go a few feet away, ready to defend himself if he had to, but Marc had gone cold; he was too furious to move.

  “He won’t hurt her.” Doug straightened his red vest. “She wants to be one of us. You’ll understand that if you bother to try.”

  The big man left him alone, blending back into the shadows and Marc took his advice, too upset to think clearly. How could she want this? She was a woman, not a man!

  Thud!

  Marc winced and Samantha did the same. Doug’s words hadn’t eased her anger either, and she waited for it to be over, eager to deliver a scathing rebuke.

  “Do it again, but hold your wrist like this.”

  Thud!

  “Very good. That’s your homework. Train yourself to remember that pad and when you’ve built up some muscle mass, you’ll be able to deliver the same force as a small man.”

  Angela took a moment to get under control as Neil made notes in his book. She was still afraid, but it had gone better than she’d hoped for. Neil hadn’t wanted to treat her like the others, but her nasty attitude had forced him to. After a little while, he’d gotten into it, liking how fast she was.

  “Thanks. I know this wasn’t easy for you.”

  Still in his shell, Neil shrugged. “Adrian sends ‘em and I beat on ‘em. That’s the way it works.”

  “Who do I talk to if I’d like another lesson?”

  Neil stopped writing in surprise. “Do you?”

  She gave him a rueful smile. “In a few days, though, when these bruises heal.”

  Impressed despite himself, Neil chuckled. “I’ll let him know.”

  They came from the tent together, tension mostly gone, and Angela stopped by Samantha. She whispered into the woman’s ear before facing Marc’s anger.

  Nervous, she turned too fast and couldn’t hide a grimace when one of her leg muscles flared up in pain.

  “And you want this?”

  She bristled at his insulting tone. It said she was nuts. “I can’t be an Eagle without passing matchups, Brady. I have to learn, and from someone who’ll actually hit me.”