The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  Becky snorted. “Team work is a hard lesson. I hear you guys aren’t so good at it, either.”

  Samantha had the grace to flush, still stinging from Angela’s dismissal.

  “We’ll learn it together,” Tonya offered, overjoyed to find herself here, a part of the solution instead of the chaos.

  It drew attention to her, including Kenn’s, and she scowled in return. “What? You guys weren’t the only ones who had shit to work through. Even outcast whores can have a place in his paradise.”

  Kenn waited for them to deny it and finally allowed himself to celebrate his success at her transformation when none of them did.

  “Boo-ya, baby,” he murmured too low to be heard. Tonya wanted to be an Eagle, a real one, and Adrian could now support that. Some of the camp’s hardest, most loyal and trustworthy women were the outcasts–the whores the men went to in secret when Adrian’s strict rules became too hard to obey. The boss wanted the entire herd in his army, and that included those who had been kind enough to offer quiet comfort to his Eagles.

  Kenn looked at the silent females still on the ground and then to the sneering girl in the passenger seat. All of this had come about because Angela had had the strength to overcome what he’d done to her. The shit he’d put her through had been bad–enough to break some of the men he’d served with before the war.

  Kenn felt his heart, that small, cold, organ he’d had no use for, swell with new life. He had no more hopes of holding her again, or even getting closer than they were right now, but it was a tiny secret that he would hold close as he went through his days. By never giving in, Angela had healed him enough that Kenn was finally able to love someone other than himself.

  “Are we done here?” he asked gruffly, hiding the happiness his male mind told him he was required to cover. Decades of training beaten into him wouldn’t allow anything else.

  “Yes.” Becky answered, sounding more like an adult than any of the camp had ever heard from her. “We were something else before. Now, we’re Eagles in his army. We’ll all honor that.”

  The tension broke with those familiar words.

  Sam offered Cynthia a hand and then pulled her up. They shared a rueful look and then offered a hand to Tonya. She took both hands with a smirk, then shoved her way past them to take the seat behind Becky.

  Everyone else was chuckled, including those watching from the perimeter tape. They’d caught glimpses of the men at moments like this and hadn’t understood. Being set free from society’s preconceived notions that women were the weaker sex was intoxicating.

  As the truck left camp, another sharp flood of happy excitement filled the cabin, and Kenn knew that he’d chosen the right females for this quick recon. He’d been training the females, but hadn’t been allowed to be alone with any of them except Tonya, until now. Knowing that he had regained the boss man’s trust boosted Kenn’s mood and increased his willingness to keep training them. He would please the entire camp with it, but more than that, he would be atoning to Adrian and Angela.

  “Did that just happen?” Marc asked, shocked.

  “Yes.” Angela understood what it meant. “Things will be better now for the Eagles.”

  Marc sensed that she didn’t want to talk about her team. “Charlie’s had a lot of questions lately.”

  Angela sighed, not ready for her son to become a part of the couples that were forming in Safe Haven.

  “Angie.”

  She stopped. Charlie did have a crush on someone. Marc was thinking it. “I know he’s growing up. I don’t have to like it.”

  Marc chuckled. He hadn’t told her the details, but he knew she suspected that they were guy talks. “We’ll handle it. Another day.”

  She smiled gratefully. She was tired and a bit restless, a feeling all of the Eagles were sharing as they pushed hard to reach Little Rock. Despite the personal torment, Adrian would have slowed their pace to avoid spooking the herd. Kenn and Angela, however, agreed that the evidence of nature’s determination to wipe humankind from existence would keep this camp rolling with few complaints. They didn’t like being out in the open anymore. As a result, they were now just days from Adrian’s goal, his fear.

  Marc guided Angela towards the room he’d prepared for them. It ran the length of the house and had a wide mattress that he had checked and covered in clean sheets not long after seeing Adrian direct her there. Thick drapes would hide their shadows, and Marc’s respect for their leader increased even as the inner male gloated. Giving this couldn’t have been easy.

  Marc flashed a menacing glare at two rookies lingering in the shadows, their jealousy clear for all to see.

  She’s mine, he sent. Go away or die.

  They left in a hurry.

  “Where’s the fourth tattoo? Your ass?”

  Marc’s head swung her way, and Angela snickered at his expression, stopping at the door. “Just curious.”

  “My ass.”

  Angela’s heart thumped and heat rushed to her chilly limbs. “What is it?”

  Marc leaned against the door, folding his arms across his chest. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

  Angela loved it that she was getting the old Marc. She had Adrian to thank for it. He’d let the tiger out of the cage.

  “Come on. Tell me your secrets.”

  Marc’s breath caught. He had a lot of those, but the only one he could think of right now was wrapping his hands in that silken hair and kissing her until they were both aching.

  “On my left cheek. It was a dare.”

  “It better not be me again. On the hip works, but I don’t think I’m okay with you sitting on my face or something.”

  Marc chortled and advanced. He reached out to tickle her, and the instant their skin touched, electricity flew.

  Angela tensed and quickly backed up.

  Marc followed her. “What is it?”

  Angela wasn’t sure what to say. Flirting was fun, and she was attracted to him, but the fear of physical contact hadn’t gone away. She’d just learned to hide it better. She wouldn’t be healed until these flinches were gone, and she suspected that letting Marc make love to her was the key. If she got through it without him hurting her...

  Marc gently placed his hands on her shoulders. “I scared you.”

  She flushed, loathing her weaknesses, and right at that moment, Kenny. “I’m sorry.”

  Marc pulled her close for a soft hug. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for, baby.”

  “I don’t want to be this way.”

  “I think I’ve got it covered.”

  Angela’s gaze widened. “You’ve made plans!”

  Marc didn’t deny, just leered again. “Keep going over them in my mind, too. Wanna be sure I don’t miss anything!”

  Angela laughed, shoving at his chest, and Marc quickly leaned in to capture her lips. He stayed still, sending heated thoughts, and Angela pushed back, arms coming up. She loved his kisses.

  Marc caught the thought and slid a hand to her hip as his tongue rubbed her bottom lip.

  Angela gasped, and Marc dipped in to taste her. Sweet.

  Her nipples hardened against his chest, tongue brushing his… Lightning flared, and Marc pulled back. Not so fast. Slow down, think!

  Angela’s lips were cherry red, already swelling, and he smirked. Okay, fine. A little more kissing.

  11

  Adrian ducked into the privacy of the training tent, only to find it full of Eagles. He disappeared into the big hay room, nearly growling at Doug, and the males exchanged curious glances. What had the boss so pissed?

  Headed for the showers, Neil paused in the flap at the sight of Marc and Angela kissing. The embrace was torrid, heat flaring.

  Behind him, others came to the flap and gaped. The pair had been a legal couple for a while now and had exchanged a couple of public embraces, but this was the hunger, the lust of a man and woman wanting to complete the act. It was easy to understand why Adrian was upset when each of them was
now filled with a milder version of hatred and blinding jealousy.

  Angela broke the kiss reluctantly, gently stepping back with sexily mussed curls and well-kissed lips. “Feel better now?”

  Marc understood the why and the where, realizing she’d made sure it was seen by everyone, including Adrian.

  “Yes, actually.”

  Angela didn’t grin. “I won’t do it again, hurt someone this way to prove I’m loyal to you.”

  “You didn’t have to this time.”

  She cocked her head, the slightly disdainful curl of her lips saying she hated the idea, but she wasn’t above hurting him, either. “Yes, I did, but now that it’s done, you have to do something to ease one of my fears.”

  Marc’s interest picked up instantly. “What?”

  “Tell me tonight isn’t about making sure he can’t come between us.”

  “Nothing’s happening tonight, baby-cakes.” Marc grinned. “Unless you jump me.”

  Angela laughed and Marc guided her inside.

  As the couple moved into the house, Neil went back inside to talk to Adrian. He entered the hay room, staying out of the way of the blond working out with only his hands and his shadow. And, understood instantly. Didn’t he have his own jealousies when he saw Samantha being given lessons? In this case, it was Angela being reintroduced to passion, and Adrian wanted that slot for himself.

  Again, Neil’s thoughts of a coming meltdown surfaced. Adrian hadn’t reached a limit yet, not by any means, but he was finally showing the pressure. It was time to try to head it off.

  Adrian stopped, turning to look at him, and the Eagle had another of those moments of instant realization. Adrian had heard that thought.

  In too much pain to pretend at that moment, Adrian grunted, “Yes, I did.”

  Neil blanched. Another thing he’d kept from everyone.

  “Not everyone,” Adrian replied.

  Neil’s first thought came out of his mouth. “Why not me, boss?”

  Adrian gave a slow, bitter smile. “That was the question I asked when those two flanked me through the dust storm, and you chose the mess.”

  Neil didn’t respond, locking down on his thoughts.

  Adrian went back to his workout. “Is this a problem?”

  “No.” Neil had accepted that Adrian was different a long time ago. It was the shock and embarrassment of discovering Adrian that had been reading their thoughts. It explained how he was able to keep up.

  Adrian quickly disabused him of the notion. “Her magic rubs off. I couldn’t do that before she came.”

  Neil forced his mouth to work. “But you did, can do things?”

  Adrian confirmed it. “My gifts are what I’ve always done, manipulate pieces into place. Before the war, it was used for government and personal purposes. Since then, it’s become a weapon to fight extinction.”

  “Who knows?”

  Adrian’s face flashed sorrow. “Kyle, Seth, and the woman now moaning in Marc’s arms.”

  Neil was appeased. “We should keep it that way.”

  “Yes.”

  There was a minute of silence as Neil tried to figure out what he could offer in place of what Adrian was hurting over.

  “Do you… Can you talk to me about it? Or Kyle?”

  Adrian knew what he meant and shrugged. “When it boils, I may. All good right now.”

  Neil understood the leader was still fighting and took hope from it. As long as he was strong enough to do the right thing, it might all work out.

  Neil left the hay room with a censored version of an explanation and a lighter heart. He wasn’t as upset over the love triangle thing now, despite knowing how badly it could go.

  Adrian couldn’t tell himself the same.

  13

  “Recon team is on the way back, Boss,” Kevin called over the radio.

  Marc woke instantly, looking down at Angela’s sleeping form. She was curled on his chest, hands tight in his shirt so that if he moved, she would know.

  That means as much as the way she calls for you in her sleep, the inner man stated. Stop pushing or you’ll force them together.

  Marc knew that to be good advice. He would try to act as if nothing had changed.

  “So will he,” Angela stated sleepily, glad Marc had calmed down, “But it doesn’t matter either way.”

  She slowly sat up, locking eyes with him. “I’ll say this once, Marc. Please listen.”

  Marc nodded, expecting to hear a promise of fidelity.

  “I miss my baby.”

  Angela didn’t add anything, just let him put it together. It was an endless ache that she hadn’t shared with anyone.

  Marc’s heart broke for the pain in her eyes, even as that inner voice said this was another clever distraction technique.

  “That was earlier, Brady,” she snorted harshly. “This is real. When we settle down and it’s safe enough, will you–”

  Marc was kissing her before she could finish the plea.

  14

  There was a group of camp members lingering around the QZ when the rookie recon team pulled in and more than a full team of Eagles, off duty, finding make-work nearby. Everyone wanted to see how Kenn had done with the females. The training session and classes were going awful, fighting, flirting, and repeated explanations taking most of the time. After Kenn’s words to the Eagles about it getting better, they were eager to see how he had handled eight females alone.

  Angela and Adrian also needed that information. They were standing together with beers, watching as the Excursion pulled into the QZ parking area. Behind them, Marc stood in the shadows, sweeping with his mental grid.

  Kyle lingered nearby, eyes on Adrian.

  “Welcome back,” Kevin greeted them on the radio.

  The truck lights flashed in response, but when no oral answer came, the Eagles on duty moved closer. That wasn’t Kenn’s usual MO.

  Angela also took a few steps forward.

  The doors on the Excursion opened, and the females began filing out. They all headed to the rear in a rush, and those watching observed eagerly. The women weren’t fighting or even talking. They were...pulling a gurney from the rear.

  “Hang on.” Angela stopped Adrian from moving that way.

  They watched the females take up places around the gurney and heft it into the air. From the way it tilted dangerously, it was obvious that Kenn was on it. The women struggled to keep it balanced, Becky and Tracy directing the other six toward the medical camper.

  Eagles rushed forward to help.

  “Let them be!”

  Angela’s shout froze the men who were only obeying centuries of training. They looked to her in confusion as the women hauled Kenn’s unconscious body into the camper without dumping him out of the gurney.

  Angela ignored their silent requests for clarification. They didn’t need her to tell them what Adrian had been trying to teach them all along. Instead, she moved toward her rookies with a pleased smile that she made sure they each felt as they came back out of the camper.

  “Who has my sitrep?” she asked as they gathered around her.

  Adrian grinned. He hadn’t been sure about how she was handling them–he had let Kyle inside a lot more than she was doing with any of these women–but female Eagles would have to be handled differently in some area. He was coming to realize that through watching their reactions to her aloofness. It got results.

  Angela motioned toward the mini mess when none of them answered. “After each run, you’ll meet me for a sitrep. Eventually, my XO will perform that honor.”

  “When do you want us there?” Sam asked quietly.

  “Ten minutes. And the first thing I’m going to want to know is what happened to your team leader.”

  There was a round of uneasy, guilty looks exchanged among the eight females.

  Angela raised a brow. “Saving one of you when you failed to listen to an order?”

  Again, Sam spoke, voice barely a mutter, “Not exactly. He, uh, forgot
rookie rule six D.”

  Angela’s mind pulled it right up. Always account for the reactions of your team.

  Her lips curved upward. “Caught in the crossfire?”

  The females shared another round of glances, these all guilty.

  Samantha shrugged uneasily. “In a manner of speaking.”

  “Okay.” Angela let them go. “Ten minutes.”

  Samantha glanced around at her team and then motioned toward the filthy Excursion. “Get the nets over to the holding chiller so John can run the tests.”

  Angela noticed the immediate obedience and stored it. Apparently, the women had worked some more things out, and Samantha had emerged on top. Interesting.

  15

  The mini mess was crowded.

  The group of rookie females hesitated in the flap as three teams of Eagles turned to grin at them.

  “Damn it!” Sam swore under her breath.

  “Understatement,” Cynthia grumbled.

  The six females behind them nodded in agreement. They all moved toward the center table with flushed cheeks and stiff bodies.

  Angela had set it up for Li Sing to bring over beers and pretzels, a favorite of the returning teams. The small man moved happily through the crowded tables.

  Sam took a beer with a tired smile, understanding they were being treated like full Eagles. The feeling would have been incredible, if not for the report they had to give now.

  Angela waited for them to get settled and then opened her notebook.

  Samantha and Cynthia automatically followed her lead, but Angela shook her head, motioning. “You’ll use these from now on.”

  Charlie dropped a stack of glossy notebooks onto the table and backed into a far corner to observe.

  “What happened to Kenn?” Angela asked, passing the books down the table. “I was told that he’s awake and refusing to take an all-female team out of camp again. Ever.”

  Eagles around them snickered. They’d already made bets on what had happened. If it were a threat to camp security, Sam and Cynthia would have already told someone.

  “Well?” Angela insisted.

  Sam cleared her throat. “Well, we rolled north for a little while and saw lights.”