by Angela White
“New arrivals in the QZ,” the radio blared.
“Copy.” Angela pushed up from the table. It was her day to sweep the new people. Tomorrow, Jennifer and Charlie would cover it.
Wincing slightly as she curled her newest ingrown toenail into flesh, Angela glanced over the smoke detectors on the fences, then the patches on the guards walking those areas–making sure they didn’t have any wolves in sheep’s clothing again. It’s clear, the witch reported.
Angela went back to her thoughts and observations. She was keeping them camped close to water for the fire safety, but also because so far they hadn’t found a sinkhole near a water mass. It also allowed her to keep up with the sanitary conditions despite the new influx of people. When Adrian had said the call would bring new fighters to them, he’d been right. The ranks were slowly filling out and giving them hope. They now had one hundred Eagles, though a third were rookies. It would be a while before she felt like they had enough protection.
“Good evening, Safe Haven.” Kevin’s calm tones over the radio started the official settling of the camp for the night.
Angela listened to him for a minute, pausing on her way to the QZ gate. She wasn’t picking up anything bad about the new arrivals. She hadn’t told anyone yet that she didn’t have to be around or even talk to the people anymore. All she had to do was tell the witch to show her their secrets. Right now, she could do it from across half the camp. It was a defense she was working on expanding every day.
“We’ve gotten news that Marc’s team has engaged the enemy. They took out a full platoon and two tanks!” the radio blared.
A loud cheer rose across the camp, but not from those who knew what that battle must have been like.
Angela steeled her emotions and was glad when Kevin got soothing music rolling through the tents and campers. She was having them keep the camp updated about the good news, but sometimes the bad slipped in and she had to spend hours getting them under control again. Kevin was better now about letting the herd hear what she needed, but whenever new people made it out of the QZ, not all of them kept quiet.
Angela didn’t think it would matter for much longer. Once the fighting reached the base, it would sink in for everyone that the soldiers were really coming. She planned to have Safe Haven in the mountains by then, or as close to it as she could get.
Kenn and Kyle had indeed become her point men in battle plans, but they had also become her go-to guys for supply runs and planning traps. Once she tossed an idea out, those two ran with it and came up with deadly results. Once the camp got to Lookout Mountain, they would start setting up and assembling those weapons and defenses.
Across the camp, laughter spilled out. Angela was fairly sure she knew where it was coming from. The campfire group now had more than thirty members who could be found around the flames at any time from dusk to dawn. Sometimes the group was quiet, reminiscing or planning, but mostly, they were laughing and living, and Angela was grateful. It was another sound that Safe Haven was low on now.
As she walked by the animal area, Angela spotted Adrian and paused, unable to look away. Beautiful muscles rippled with renewed health and strength, reminding her of how lonely she was.
Angela tore her gaze from the man and forced her feet to move. She drew in calming air and tried to relax as a wave of nausea flew through her. Where was that cast iron stomach now?
Before Angela could make it to the chair, a small group of new men met her and began blowing her world apart.
“You must be the Ghost’s other woman. Wow. Lucky man.”
Angela paused at the words, too slow to brace herself. “Other woman?”
“Should have known one wasn’t enough for a man like that,” Atolius said in awe.
He shook her hand vigorously.
Angela’s face filled with a fury that drove him backward, where he tripped and scrambled away with the knowledge of death coming into his face.
“Angela.”
Seth’s voice brought her around.
She quickly turned away. “Welcome to Safe Haven. May it become your home.”
She cleared the group of tired fighters with that, and vanished into the shadows.
5
“I don’t think it’s a good idea.
Adrian’s denial would have been the end of it if he had been talking to anyone else.
Angela was already pissed. She wasn’t going to permit more interference. “I’m taking three men and my snipers go where I do. I have three alarms, two guns, my K-bar, a wrist blade, and three speed loaders on my belt. I also have my mini-kit around my waist, an extra radio inside my shirt, and enough fucking rage to light this camp’s fuse.”
Angela shoved by the men. “Excuse me.”
Nursing a headache, Kenn joined the grumbling men around the QZ and saw Angela striding determinedly for the gate.
“Where’s she going?”
“Out to visit the camps on our perimeter,” Adrian growled, unable to stop her by his own rules.
Kenn, who hadn’t lost much of his scheming mind, took advantage. “If she won’t be stopped, she should be protected.”
Adrian snorted. “You heard her. She thinks she has it covered.”
Kenn waved at the kits in the rear of his truck. He kept several bags around camp, packed and ready. “Go with her.”
Angela turned to argue and Kenn raised his voice a bit, to be sure she understood he meant to fight her on this. “Take him or stay here. We’ll hold a vote while you’re gone. Safe Haven’s leader won’t be allowed to leave camp again until after this threat is over, no matter who has control. It’s a security risk.”
Angela’s temper flared, but she spun toward the gate without refusing.
Adrian gave Kenn a curious look as he handed him the kit and an extra bandolier.
“You’re welcome.”
Guessing, Adrian kept his head down, voice even lower. “You shouldn’t do this. The Eagles won’t like it.”
Kenn snorted. “They liked it when you were happy. If this is what it takes, they’ll support it.”
“Not if he comes back alive,” Adrian stated lowly. “They’ll view it as a failed conspiracy.”
Kenn didn’t agree with the assumption that it was a lost cause. “That only becomes a problem if either of them insist on it and they won’t.”
Adrian didn’t have time to argue further as the gates slid open. “Thank you.”
He hurried to catch up as their snipers rushed to keep them covered.
Kenn waited for the gate to close, then gestured to Kyle. “You’re in charge. I’ll be around if you need me.”
Kyle was dumbfounded by the gesture of respect. He’d been preparing to deny Kenn lead of the herd for even half an hour. It would have distracted him from Adrian and Angela being alone in the dark together with only half a dozen men for protection. If he’d known how the men in the camps around them felt about her, Kyle might have been able to relax.
Kenn walked away, calming nearby men with jokes and light chatting.
Kyle realized the Marine had changed again while they weren’t looking. Maybe it was the pranks, he thought. We should try it on other assholes.
6
Angela stormed into the woods around them, but stopped as soon as she was out of sight of the camp. She slowly pulled in the rage. She was careful to only let the camp get as much information as they needed to have, but the pressure! Angela tried to calm down, but she missed Marc more than she’d thought was possible.
He was off dying for them and had to live with the knowledge that she’d sent him there and would eventually end up in Adrian’s arms for the comfort. The dreams were hard on her and they refused to leave Marc’s face the same in her mind. They kept merging until it was a different pair of stunning, blue eyes that she was begging for release.
“I don’t want this!” she whispered furiously, holding in tears. She wanted to be with Marc, fighting and bleeding alongside him, not caring for sheep that had to be ease
d into the truth.
Those days have ended, the witch attempted to soothe. They know the truth. They come to you more every day, observe the lessons and practicing. Those who are here, will stay.
“And it’s not enough,” Angela moaned. “We need more fighters.”
“Send out your call,” Adrian instructed, aware of their curious audience. The first camp on their doorstep was now gathered a respectful distance away, gazing at them in awe and making the Eagles nervous.
Angela’s voice was harsh. “Too emotional right now. I’ll call the killers, too.”
Adrian stepped in front of her. “We need them.”
Angela glowered mistrustfully.
Adrian recognized the determination to keep their people safe. He brought her to his point of view gently. “We’re all killers, Angie. We’ll control them, direct them toward the enemy, and use them to win.”
“And after?!” she snapped. “What about after?”
Adrian winced, voice lowering. “They’ll be given new rules to live by.”
Angela knew what that definition was and swallowed the next layer of guilt to come with the job. “And what of the evil that will hear me?”
Adrian sighed. “I’m not sure it matters now. The battles along 40 aren’t slowing them down enough. Our other help has to have time to get here.”
Angela felt the hopelessness, the crushing pain of all the losses they were about to suffer, and a bloody tear ran down her cheek. “Come to me.”
Angela’s call was quiet, but powerful, and each time she repeated it, the force rebounded stronger, slamming into minds with the force of a gun.
“Come to me.”
Angela screamed as the power built, sending ants away and men to her side.
“Come to me!”
Adrian caught her as she stumbled, mind ringing from the power. He could have been across the country and he would have felt that.
“Your…turn,” she gasped, struggling to get her balance. She’d never sent out a blast like that. It had come from the depths of her soul.
Adrian kept her hand when she would have pulled away. “I’ll need help. I’m not as strong as you.”
Angela stilled as Adrian closed his lids, using the moment. He’d needed an opening and fate had provided him with one.
Adrian opened the doors, all of them this time, and locked their minds as he began sending out those compelling mental pleas for aid.
Angela saw all the truths he’d been hiding from her, but the things she’d suspected were also confirmed. It was an honest look into his heart, into who he was inside. Angela struggled at the feel of it.
Adrian didn’t let her break the contact yet, using the images to distract her from moving. He showed her that beach again, shamelessly manipulating her, and felt the pause in her protests at this mental bond.
Adrian came through the fog of his mind and held out a hand. I can show you what you seek.
Angela didn’t want to, she knew something painful was coming, but the need to give Adrian what he was silently demanding was too strong. Fine! she sent hatefully. Show me and then get out!
Adrian linked the last door between them and Angela watched the world collapse again.
Adrian stopped her from hitting the ground, landing with her in his lap. He shook off the arms that tried to take her away.
“Angie?”
Angela groaned. “We can’t win…help us!”
Adrian carefully picked her up and headed for the deeper shadows. Instead of going to their camp, it drew instant unease from the Eagles.
“What did you do to her?” Shawn accused. He hadn’t killed Adrian yet only because of Marc’s orders to let the bastard have Angela if he died.
Adrian put her in the grass and began tapping her wrist. “She fainted. Stand down. Angie?”
Angela came to slowly, and it was clear she remembered everything. She grabbed Adrian’s wrist. “Your life for him? You swore!”
“You know it,” Adrian swore again.
Angela cleared her throat, breathing deeper. “I’m okay. Help me up.”
They got her on her feet. After a minute or so, Angela insisted she was fine and continued to her visit of their outer camps. The powerful new information she had, she buried in the vault. There was no way she could continue to pretend that nothing was wrong if she left the sight of that slaughter in the front of her mind. She’d send them all fleeing to the corners of the earth.
“And we’ll still lose,” Adrian commented. “But it buys time. You understand now why I’ve acted this way?’
“So they won’t hold on, so they’ll survive.”
“Yes. If they can only take one of us, they’ve been instructed to grab you. They think the rest of us will follow.”
“They’re right.”
“Yes.”
“It has to be you that they take,” Angela agreed. “And you’ll be ready for that.”
Adrian raised a hand toward her cheek, and forced himself to drop it. “To leave my son, my herd, you, no. But I will do it.”
Angela glared at him, tone sharpening. “Since I know now, you can stop pushing me into sacrificing you. I’ll do it if I know I have to.”
“You weren’t ready to face it. Now that you know Marc has accepted what’s coming, you can as well.”
Angela glared at him for the reminder. If Marc had someone by him in the night, it meant he knew, too. Angela refused to accept that, though she would take him back the second he said it’s what he wanted. She wasn’t sure about his…relief source yet. She might have to kill that bitch.
Adrian grinned sadly. “I admire your belief in him. It makes me love you even more.”
Eagles gasped and muttered as Angela scowled.
“I said you can stop pushing that act now!”
Adrian leaned closer, breathing in her sweet smell. “It wasn’t an act, Angela, and deep down, you know I mean every single word.”
He went by before she could react. “Come on. We’ve kept these fighters waiting long enough.”
Angry and unable to express it, Angela clenched her fists and plastered on a welcoming expression as she turned. “Hi. I’m Angela, the leader of Safe Haven. Thank you for coming...”
Chapter Twenty-One
How Many More
August 10th
Route 40, East of Amarillo
1
“Thirty more today, sir.”
“What’s the total now?”
“Over four hundred.”
“Base knew this would be a hard fight,” Francis commented calmly. “Too bad they didn’t have the foresight to send us through a more hospitable area.”
Wayne, second in command, agreed wholeheartedly. “We need more men. At this rate, we’ll get to Little Rock on a skeleton crew.”
Francis wasn’t overly concerned. “That’s all we need to secure it. Once it’s in our hands, the planes can bring out fresh men and supplies.”
“Wish they’d dropped us all there. They had the fuel.”
Francis frowned slightly at the grumbling. “The fuel in the bunker has to last a long time, Captain. They can’t be without power, can they?”
Chastised and aware of his commander’s violent temper, Wayne leaned back. “No. You’re right, sir. My apologies, sir.”
Francis didn’t react. “We can expect another trio of attacks tomorrow. Keep security as is, but widen the formations and clear the holes as we go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Wayne went to the meeting tent to relay the nightly orders to the platoon leaders.
Francis stared into the murky darkness. “Where are you, my Raven? Are you with the Ghost or in the nest?”
Footsteps crunching behind gave Francis no worries. He was the last of his kind, brought out of retirement to spearhead the charge against these disgusting descendants. He feared nothing.
“We have a new report, sir. The casualty number went up to 51.”
“A patrol?”
“Yes,
sir. Their throats were slit.”
Francis scowled this time. “Damn rebels!”
His growl sent the Sergeant scurrying away before he could become a target.
Francis hated showing any emotion. He couldn’t stand compassionate, weak-minded humans who wanted peace and joy. He thrived on the battles, the thrill of doing what others couldn’t, and this fight had already proven a challenge. There was even a chance of failure.
The former CIA operative grinned like a lunatic. “I will crush you, Ghost!”
Francis ducked into his luxury tent and gasped as a blade plunged viciously into his throat.
“Someone might. It won’t be you.” Marc wiped his knife across the tent wall in defiance and then slipped through the hole in the rear of the canvas.
He emerged a short few yards away from the tent and checked to verify that the shadow implied the dead commander was in his cot. He was hoping the boss wouldn’t be found until morning. It should start the day with a delay.
He turned to find himself looking down the barrel of a gun. Damn.
Marc’s eyes spoke a million thoughts.
The Private, shocked to find Marc here on his rounds, stared at the legend in the making.
Neither of them moved.
Marc took advantage of the moment. “Let me go and you have a place by my side when you flee their control.”
Ivan was much like the other men here–without any family and glad to be out of the ground, even though they were fighting their fellow Americans. He hesitated. It would be a promotion to capture the Ghost, but what would that really gain him?
“My men are loved,” Marc coaxed. “Come with me. Help me.”
Ivan may have come on his own, but Marc couldn’t wait for him to make up his mind. He sent out a wave of power and insisted, Let me go.