by Angela White
“Something going on I should know about?”
“Nothing bad,” Charlie informed him quickly. “I heard something and now it’s stuck in my mind.”
Instantly worried, Adrian took a quick look around to verify that only their personal shadows would be able to hear. “What was it?”
Charlie’s timbre became a low, intimate draw that was shocking.
“I offer no future, no claims, only the right here and now.”
Adrian gaped at hearing his own passionately spoken words, but Charlie went on, stuck in the repetition of his mind.
“Tomorrow, it never happened, but tonight, no one else exists. You’ll feel me forever.”
The teenager stared up at his stunned idol, exposing boyhood curiosity. “How?”
Adrian hesitated, and Charlie pushed on. “I know about sex, but it’s like a chore for them, right?”
Adrian snorted through his misery. “Where’d you hear that?”
Charlie flushed, looking down. “Around the showers.”
“Listening to the hens cluck?”
Charlie was torn between guilt and that edge of youthful discovery. “I don’t want them to talk about me that way!”
Realizing the teenager was having his first moment of male anxiety, Adrian leaned back and handed out a valuable piece of advice. “You have to be good to them. That means all the little things you’re already picking up, but also, romance.”
Charlie was clearly confused, and Adrian concurred. “I know, but it’s the way they work. I use words because most men don’t. It gives me an advantage.”
“Why don’t you …”
“Ask them outright to satisfy my needs?”
Charlie leered as much as he thought was acceptable. “Sorta like a perk of leadership!”
“Not unless I want to claim them,” Adrian scoffed. “I have to be careful where I take relief. So will you.”
Charlie was pleasantly surprised to be having such an adult conversation, and it gave him the courage to seek the information he wanted most. “What makes it so that they’ll never forget?”
Adrian pushed away from the rail, refusing to let his mind go where it wanted as he spotted Angela striding confidently across the camp. “Physical pleasure, combined with consideration and respect.”
“Physical pleasure?”
Adrian turned toward his dusty camp. “That’s all you get from me, boy. These questions can be answered by the careful observations that you’re already making…and by talking to your dad. He certainly knows what he’s doing.”
Twenty minutes later, Adrian rolled his convoy out. As he did so, the feeling of not doing it for much longer stung him like drops of acid.
Two weeks from Arkansas.
Fourteen days left to lead.
Chapter Fourteen
Chosen, Not Used
June 15th
Outside Bixby, Oklahoma
1
“Thanks for agreeing to help me out with this. The list has really grown.”
Jeff, who had no clue how he was going to deliver, glanced around uneasily. “Show them the basics, and then stand there and take a beating, right?”
“For now, yes.”
“And it’s just five minutes, right?”
“Five each, yes.”
Jeff swallowed. To show them the basic positions, he would have to touch the females on Neil’s list. Jeff had picked up kai as quickly as Seth, and he was being trained to take some of the load as the camp’s second instructor. Now that females had been in the Eagles for a bit and the camp had adjusted to seeing them training as hard as the men, lessons were being offered to the camp members who had passed Doug’s self-defense class.
“There they are.”
Jeff turned to see eight females in full Eagle gear running towards the tent. Wrapped in tight black, titties bounced, asses shook, thighs rippled, and male heartbeats tripled in the space of a second.
“Oh, holy shit!”
Neil would have echoed Jeff’s expletive if he’d had the breath. Samantha running toward him was erotic enough to make his nuts suddenly drop in anticipation.
“Neil, man, damn. I’m, uh, it’s been a while, buddy. I’m not sure I can do this and remain…professional.”
Neil grimaced as his growing flesh brushed the sharp edge of his pants. “Almost a year for me.”
Jeff’s voice was oddly soft. “A bit longer on my end. I’m a widower. Three years before the war.”
Neil glanced down and spotted the shiny ring on Jeff’s hand. He’d never noticed before that it was a wedding band, and the distraction had blood returning to the head he needed it in. “I didn’t know that.”
Jeff shrugged, expression darkening slightly. “Everyone in Safe Haven has a story.”
Neil heard the females hit their target and begin wrestling for whatever it was that Doug had declared as their totem. “After this, we’ll both be ready for a beer and some male conversation. My tent once Adrian’s done snickering over the report that I’ll be too screwed up to write?”
Jeff welcomed the gesture of friendship. “I’ll be there.”
Samantha noticed Neil and Jeff joking and had the same reaction as the rest of the females around her. She stared. They were both attractive men with high places here, and there was enough need in this group of women to light up a city block.
Samantha smirked as the males started noticing the vibes, sentences stopping mid-speech, expressions growing dazed. Being single had its perks. She was free to let these two men be driven crazy–by her, as well–without all of the drama that came with a relationship.
As she lounged in the shade, cooling off and waiting to be called into the small tent, Sam admitted the truth. She could handle it with Neil because she knew he’d do anything she wanted for even a moment of her time. It wasn’t something she planned to exploit, but he had to understand the terms. She didn’t want to be a couple. She was an Eagle who would pick a relief source.
Or two, Samantha thought, spotting Jeremy as he and a few of the rookies went into the gardening area to help pull weeds. Moving at a brisk pace, Jeremy’s thick arms called sweetly.
Need took her by surprise, and Samantha couldn’t help the heated stare. He had a beautiful body, and those tank tops he’d changed to definitely suited him.
As he climbed into the semi, the laptop-toting genius turned and caught her staring.
Jeremy stumbled at the warmth he read there.
He caught himself before he could smile in welcome, remembering the problem. She wanted him and Neil. Will she get her way? Jeremy asked himself, vanishing into the coolness of the first garden truck without acknowledging her silent call.
As soon as he was out of sight, Jeremy’s shoulders slumped. Not if he could help it. He didn’t want to be a friend with benefits. Neither did Neil, but this time, it wasn’t going to matter. In the future, they might both have what they wanted so desperately, and have nothing at all, at the same time. It was heartbreaking.
2
Blond and gray, Jeff felt his heart thump heavily in his chest as one of the waiting rookie females gave him a bright smile. Damn. She was a brunette. He liked those.
Crista saw that she’d finally caught Jeff’s attention. He was the reason she’d signed up for the Eagles, though not why she’d chosen to stay. Crista had joined Safe Haven in Nebraska, and been eyeing Jeff since their first argument outside the supply trucks. She hadn’t known the rules yet and had forgotten to sign for what she’d taken. When he insisted, she’d told him to sign it himself, that her hands were full. He had, muttering about rude Barbie dolls with more legs than manners.
Being classified that way, especially considering the stiff competition in this camp had gotten Crista’s attention. Does he still see me like that?
She moved closer, being sure to flip her hair and arch her chest.
Jeff’s head swiveled her way as if drawn by a leash, and she grinned. Sweet!
Jeff tried not to look
down her gaping shirt as the rookie stopped in front of him.
“Sorry I told you off.”
Jeff, who had forgotten about the brief encounter, frowned absently. “I probably deserved it.”
Crista flipped her head, sending beautiful shards of heat into his eyes as he narrowed in on her hair.
Not above using her God-given assets, Crista quickly ripped the ponytail holder off and shook. Her action drew several male heads her way–Jeff wasn’t the only one who had a thing for brunettes–and Crista took her time stroking her fingers through.
When she finally stopped, Jeff was standing inches away with an intense look on his face.
“If you do that again, I’ll be banished for taking what you’re offering!” He stepped back, hard enough to ache. “Be careful playing games with grown men.”
Far from intimidated, Crista followed him, sliding into his personal space as if they were a couple. “Promises, promises…”
Understanding fell in a lot ways, but Jeff wasn’t as blindsided as she wanted him to be. He leaned closer and disappointed everyone watching by giving her a harmless hug.
Except that it wasn’t harmless. He throbbed against her hip, and her soft laugher filled his mind. She’s sexy!
“It’s about time you noticed me.” Crista placed a lingering kiss to his cheek, and felt him fight not to turn his head. “You should ask me out sometime.”
She slowly moved out of his tense embrace, flipping her hair again. “I’ll wait a week or so, let you think.”
Jeff remembered how to breathe. “And then?”
Crista waved a hand at the other males who were eyeing her wild hair like it was water. “One of them will, and I’ll say yes.”
She sauntered back toward the other cackling rookies, and Jeff looked toward Neil in desperation. “What the hell do I do now?”
Neil allowed himself to chuckle. “Hold on for the ride, I’d guess. She’s a wild one.”
Jeff thought about it, and started to grin. “She does have the three things I need–brown hair, courage, and great legs.”
Neil’s laughter echoed. Life was improving for so many of them that the trooper couldn’t help but feel a little hopeful. The mistakes he’d made wouldn’t ever be forgotten, but in time, he wouldn’t hate himself as much.
Not that it mattered. What did was how Becky felt. Until she was okay, forgiveness was too far away to consider.
3
“All right, folks. Five minutes,” radios crackled with Kevin’s calm voice. “We leave in five.”
Danger!
Unease rippled through Angela, strong enough to make the shield flash into solid red around the packing camp.
“What is it?” Kyle was her personal shadow today, and he instantly feared the concern coming from her frozen form.
Angela didn’t answer, concentrating. What had nature thrown at them this time?
The shield going up so fast in broad daylight drew attention, and Adrian followed his instinct.
“Everyone get to your vehicles. Mitch! Get the check-off started. Now.”
Pleased that their new radioman didn’t know how to do it yet, Mitch hurried that way, dragging Matt along when he would have stayed with Doug. “You ain’t no Eagle yet, boy. Till you are, you’re with me!”
Matt didn’t struggle, but inside, he burned. He’d much rather be riding with Cynthia. She was wonderful.
Angela shuddered as the images from the witch came into clarity.
Fire is roaring through the dry valley in a merciless path of death and devastation, zeroing in on human targets. It is finding them in basements and cellars, in malls and sewers–flushing the battered refugees deeper into the darkness in an effort to escape the raging wildfire that is moving southwest as fast as it can spread on the stiff wind.
Brady and Adrian came to her side, but Angela was trapped in a mental horror. It was everywhere!
Adrian knew it had to be bad and made a motion the Eagles had hoped never to see again once they’d finished that week of classes and drills. Under attack, training lesson F.
All of their hearts picked up, and the men began spreading the word and preparing themselves. Lesson F was where the camp was fleeing for their lives. Half of the Eagles would keep the herd together, while the rest would try to eliminate an unknown threat.
Adrian heard the count-off start and went to his semi, sure Brady would bring Angela. She was still searching through doors and growing steadily paler. When she let the shield come down, there was going to be panic. What to do first?
Prepare them for it.
Adrian hit the button on his mike. “We have a problem folks, but we’re not sure what it is or what direction it’s coming from. Once the count-off finishes, we’ll lower the shield. I expect we’ll be running a bit from there, so listen to those radios!”
Now, camp members were fleeing toward their assigned vehicles instead of the usual straggling they did on late travel days. Adrian struggled with himself as he waited for everyone to get in and be accounted for.
While they did the count-off, the dogs began to growl restlessly in their cages, the rabbits huddled together into a corner of their hutch–even the more antisocial of the litters–and their few birds cawed and pecked at their pens in frustration.
Seeing people taking the time to gather tents, Adrian interrupted the count. “Leave everything! Get in your vehicles now!”
Understanding Adrian wasn’t going to wait, those few hurried toward the convoy, leaving their belongings.
Outside the shield, were other noises that didn’t match the dimness of their enclosed camp–pops and cracks that reminded them all the fight for survival wasn’t over yet.
As the call came, “All here, A–Man.” Angela let him know what it was they were about to face. Fire!
Angela was at a level of terror that Adrian had never heard from her. He recognized it as a personal ghost, carefully storing the information as he climbed into his seat, starting the engine. If they survived, he would help her with that.
Bring it down.
Trembling in the seat next to Brady, Angela forced the panic to ease, to release their shield. It dropped like a stone and sent raw panic through the herd.
They immediately stampeded.
4
The fire was everywhere–on the ground, devouring the grass, and licking up molding trees that hadn’t seen any rain in weeks. They wilted under the onslaught, crashing to the ground in showers of bright coals that immediately started new streams of winding flames.
As if spotting the fleeing convoy, the front wall of the wildfire shifted, racing toward Safe Haven. The fire already had them surrounded on three sides, and the Eagles were horrified to find it less than five hundred feet away in some places. Would the shield have held?
The fire roared as it swept up the trees, and the sound of exploding branches and debris rattled through the smoky air.
The inferno raging in their rearview mirrors was merciless, overtaking the area they’d just evacuated and consuming everything left behind. The fire came from the sides as well as the rear, squeezing them together as they fled along the rollers and debris.
The Eagles on the outer perimeter had the worst of it, trying to avoid the flames while keeping the fleeing vehicles together. Seeing familiar faces waving people in the right direction helped, but it didn’t keep those men from inhaling a lot of the smoke as they sped along the outside of the lines of cars and trucks.
“Drive into the creek!” Adrian blasted out the order in that irrefutable timbre of command.
It was the only place to go, and the Eagles began escorting vehicles into the lightly running creek, trying to keep a count. Through the smoke and screams, the flames continued to advance.
Adrian’s next shout over the radio drew more attention from the stampeding herd. “Get in the creek! Stay together!”
Cars and trucks circled toward the water, and Adrian coughed as he watched. He and his shadows would be the last o
nes in.
Vehicles streamed by, some panicked and flying along the grassy ruts, but many had fallen into a sloppy version of their travel line, doing what he’d tried to teach them.
Adrian hit the button again. “The water’s gonna be cold, expect it. Tell the kids, and get the animals up off floorboards. I don’t want one drowned dog!” he snapped, distracting them, and was satisfied to see even the panicking cars start slowing and falling into line.
“If you’re in a truck, get out of it. The flames might spread to the top from the wind. Keep your vehicle at least fifteen feet from any trucks as our fire crew comes through.”
“I’m letting the animals out.” The vet wasn’t leaving them to burn.
“Yes, once we’re all in the water, or we’ll run them over.”
“Copy.”
It sounded like bacon frying in a giant skillet, and the pressure from the explosions made Adrian’s head pound in time with the pops and flashes of heat that surrounded him.
Unlike the total chaos of the bat attack, Safe Haven had gotten enough thinking time before the fire reached them to be able to handle this crisis with more care.
Less than ten minutes after the shield went up, every vehicle was sitting in the creek, windows up, fans off, with the edges of their coats and shirts over their mouths to avoid the smoke.
The wall of flames reached the creek minutes after the camp, and Safe Haven held it’s breath–literally in some cases–as smoke began to pour over the convoy. Sitting in water, the vehicles were nearly inaccessible to the smoke from the bottom, the liquid preventing the toxic fumes from getting through entry sources that were flooded, but the sound of people coughing still became almost as loud as the crackling hunger of the wildfire.
The sense was one of being trapped by both fire and water. Adrian was sure to keep his calming tenor flowing over the radio. “Someone kill those smoke detectors. Let the animals go by. Don’t try to touch them. They’re as upset as you are, and they’ll bite. The Eagles are coming to stand guard around the vehicles. Keep an eye on them and be ready to give them a break from the smoke. Don’t be afraid to take a ten-minute shift in their place. We won’t leave until everyone has been accounted for.”