by Angela White
Holding his bleeding arm, the private shouted, “I hate you, sir!”
Donner laughed hard, unceremoniously shoving Philips’s corpse from the vehicle. “Didn’t like him anyway.”
Donner again kept his gun in hand as they neared the next base camp, shouting orders before he hit the portable gate. “More security! They’re in the rocks and bushes!”
Soldiers flooded the area, dogs barking eagerly.
Donner felt control slip back into place. He assumed the hard stride and tone that had bluffed his own men for so long, suddenly wising his full team had arrived already. Not that they were familiar with these tactics. Descendants always fought fair, always kept their word, but Donner had begun to suspect that Safe Haven’s leader wasn’t the saint the government files had led him to believe. Unlike Adrian, who’d taken decades to bend, Angela had apparently succumbed to the evil in mere months. The only question that Donner didn’t have an answer for was why she was still protecting the weaklings.
Donner ignored the wounded private who was declaring his grievances to the new men. Donner stormed through the camp, calling orders and taking charge. “Come morning, we head for Safe Haven!”
The resulting cheer of bored, restless males drown out the Private’s complaining and echoed off the walls of the mountain, where it rang into the valleys below and the cliffs above.
7
Samantha adjusted the sights on her rifle carefully, heart thumping. She put her eye to the scope, pulling back until she felt the trigger notch, ready.
The target stopped, took a canteen from a passing soldier…Samantha had to fight her nature to follow her orders instead. She aimed for a wound instead of a kill.
Donner grunted as the bullet slammed through his thigh and hit the soldier sitting on the ground. It went through the unfortunate boy’s forehead and opened a hole that Donner hadn’t ordered put there. It enraged him.
“Come down here and fight me, you cowards!” the Major shouted.
Another bullet flew toward him.
Donner moved too late, taking a second slug in the same leg.
Donner fell, screaming.
The soldiers rushed to get him into a jeep, as they’d been taught to do with officers. Brass, then your own ass.
“Find them!” Donner shouted, clutching the rail with a bloody grip as Sergeant Wallz sped down the hillside.
The soldiers who had been in combat before knew that by the time they scouted the area, the sniper would be gone, but they went anyway. Orders, were orders.
Samantha hurriedly put her weapon away and wrapped herself in the blind, not trying to evade them. They would know it had been a sniper, but hopefully they would think that person had fled after wounding the Major.
Samantha didn’t let herself gloat over the beautiful shots. It was hard to feel good about letting him live. She was sure it would come back to haunt them.
When the boot steps came, Samantha had almost dozed off from the stiff adrenaline crash. She stayed in that dream-like state as the two teams of soldiers passed right under her without looking up. She didn’t think she could have been spotted anyway, but it was a bit like hiding in that dank basement again, except in her favor this time. And no snakes.
Sam stopped herself from scanning the tree anyway and giving up her fragile location.
As the soldiers faded from sight, complaining about their chore, Sam let herself sleep. She didn’t have to be in the new place until dawn and it had been a long wait to fire those two short shots.
8
“There he is.”
The team of Eagles watched the jeep fly into the large base camp with a clearly wounded passenger. When they saw the soldiers snap to attention and follow the wounded man’s orders, it was proof of their target.
“It says to sit tight and pass communications until they move on Safe Haven,” Jeff read from the group envelope they’d opened upon arriving half an hour ago.
Seth stared at the busy camp in frustration. He’d been told Becky would be here at noon, but there wasn’t any sight of her.
They were waiting on a narrow ledge directly above an enemy camp that was lined with trees. They were up far enough to be out of sight and sound, but still view their target.
“Hey, there’s something on the other side,” Jeff called, still reading the detailed plans. “When the girl gets here, provide an escort, but do not interfere with her duty.”
Seth knew right then, but Becky stepped from the thick trees and he was too relieved to yell at her.
Becky slid into Seth’s arms and let him hold her too tightly, too possessively. She’d deal with it when the time came, but for now, let them both have a little comfort. It had only been a short time apart, but she was exhausted.
Seth could feel her weariness. “You got time to eat and sleep?”
“We don’t leave until dawn,” Tracy stated, smiling at Zack when he offered his small tent. “Thanks. I’m beat.”
She ducked inside as Seth took Becky to his own canvas, leaving the others to pass a peaceful shift on sentry duty over the enemy camp.
9
“I’m worried.”
“About the baby,” Angela guessed.
Cynthia waited for the words she was scared to hear.
Angela delivered them as gently as she could. “Yes, a danger to everyone around you.”
“How can I–”
“You can’t.” Angela softened her tone, but it didn’t change the answer. “You’re not a descendant. The baby is. You’ll never be strong enough to control him.”
“And will he be…like his father?”
Angela’s witch blazed through with brutal accusation. “Worse. He will fall into government hands and become a plague upon the earth. Kill him now!”
Cynthia gasped, jerking herself awake. She was glad of the military sleep system that she was wrapped in as the dirt shifted. The dream had startled her. She wasn’t sure if she’d really been communicating with Angela or blowing off worry during her sleep.
Her hand went to her stomach, where not even a lump proclaimed her child yet. Was her dream the future to come? Any child of Adrian’s would be powerful, though. Why wasn’t Conner bad or even Jennifer’s offspring? If there were evil in the newborn, that mix would have brewed it, right?
Only one of them lived, she reminded herself. Nothing could be ruled out yet. She needed to talk to Angela
Cynthia felt the breeze stiffen, moving dirt. The leaves rustled as if a giant above her had let out a long-suffering sigh. The hair on her neck stood up as she sensed what was coming.
You have talked with me, Cynthia. I’m sorry.
Still buried in the ground, the reporter cried herself back to sleep.
Chapter Thirteen
The Winds are Blowing
1
Kyle took the message from Shane to put it with the others. Once he’d brought Jenny’s group out here and angrily dropped them off, he’d made two more stops before coming back. With darkness, exhaustion had returned. He’d never thought he could get so tired just from being behind the wheel.
“Do you have my next orders?” Kyle said tiredly.
Shane handed him a small envelope, feeling almost as run down as Kyle looked. “She’s got a lot of us on break overnight. Maybe you.”
“That would be nice,” Kyle answered vaguely, ripping his own envelope open. “Be safe out there.”
“You know it,” Shane agreed, leaving the glow stick-marked van to rejoin his group.
Kyle was parked in the center of three zones that held Safe Have teams. They would be bringing him messages all night, according to his new orders. He was to stay here and sleep between visits. Kyle immediately made sure he was under good cover, got settled, and went to sleep.
He’d only been out a couple minutes when female voices roused him from his weary stupor. “Jenny?”
“Mail for the boss.”
Kyle recognized Tonya’s voice. He forced himself to sit up. “Leave it
with me.”
Tonya handed him the two folders, then climbed into the van. She took up a guard position near the rear windows. “I was told to let you sleep between visits.”
Tonya was ready to sleep as well, thinking she would have to work hard to stay awake if the mobster snored. She and Kendle had lured small fire teams into ambushes all day, not actually exchanging gunfire, but being seen enough to lead them toward Eagles. Kendle hadn’t been happy with not being directly involved, of course, and Tonya still had blood to scrub from her hair.
“Kyle? You hear me?”
Kyle couldn’t answer. His eyes were glued to the group coming out of the darkness. Jennifer led it, once again covered in dried blood and little else.
Kyle felt fresh adrenaline flood his system and stood up. “You sleep first. It’s wasted on me now.”
Jennifer was braced for Kyle’s anger and arguments, but the sight of him swaying on his feet with clenched fists brought out her compassion. She went to him with a ‘nothing’s wrong’ smile. “Where can I clean up at?”
Kyle blinked. “Don’t you have..”
“After I’m clean and you hold me for a while,” Jennifer stated firmly. “Okay?”
Kyle became aware of the fearful gestures he was getting behind her back and managed to pull himself together. “Fine. Come on.”
Jennifer yanked her arm from his light grip, even though he hadn’t tried to pull her. “Tell me where I can clean up.”
Kyle wasn’t sure how to react, except to give her what she wanted. “Behind the van. I’ll get the water.”
Jennifer went that way with her head high. He wasn’t going to push her around in front of other people. She didn’t like it. She didn’t have to take it.
Kyle watched her go without moving, stunned by the difference. “That’s not Jenny.”
“Yeah,” Zack agreed lowly. “We had the same thought and didn’t ague when she wanted to keep the…coating on. Good luck.”
“What happened?” Kyle asked, thinking she’d been hurt and snapped.
Zack filled in what he knew as he got Kyle moving toward the van to get the water. It was making Zack nervous to keep Jennifer waiting. “When we got to the camp, it was like she didn’t need us again. We never went inside, man.”
Kyle didn’t believe it. “By herself? Against two dozen armed soldiers? Yeah, sure.”
Zack stopped, growing angry. He was also tired. “You believe what you want, but you keep her calm and happy, or me and the boys will tie your ass up and gag you.”
Zack left Kyle standing there with his mouth open. What the hell?
Zack joined his team as they set up a small perimeter around the van, avoiding Jennifer’s bathing area until she was finished. When she stepped into the van, clean, with only Kyle’s thick jacket wrapped around her, few of them bothered to steal a glimpse. She was too scary to be sexy.
“Incoming.” Seth called, seeing new shadows break away from the trees with tired movements. “Ours.”
Kyle went to meet them.
The two Indians were carrying a struggling bundle, both men panting and grunting with the effort.
Kyle yanked the rear door of the van open when they went in that direction, wincing as a body hit the van floor with a hard thump. Must not be one of ours, he thought.
The groan that came from under the bag had Kyle reaching out to remove the covering before either of the guards could stop him.
Adrian glared hatefully, gagged and bound.
Kyle recoiled, shocked. “That’s Adrian!” He looked around. “Will someone please tell me what the hell is going on?”
2
“Can you talk about your runs?”
Becky wasn’t sure that was a good idea, but didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She settled for shrugging. “Some of it.”
They were in Seth’s tent, following orders that had implied this might be their last night together. “What do you want to know?”
Seth recognized the moment. He’d used the same tone a few days ago with an Eagle who hadn’t cleared Angela’s security list yet. Seth didn’t think there was a problem, but until the boss gave the okay, Kip would remain outside the loop. He’d been left at Safe Haven, where Tommy had instructions to shoot him if there was reason to. This was the time they were most likely to find out why he’d failed his security check.
“I don’t like this.”
Becky didn’t argue. She hadn’t liked it either, but after only a couple days, she was feeling stronger and that did matter to her. Instead, she told him about her first mission.
Seth almost couldn’t stand to listen. The fear and doubt he’d expected, but the excitement and eagerness to go out and do it again tomorrow was sickening. And he couldn’t even tell her that was how he felt. The Eagles expected the ranks to be fully supportive of the females that were brave enough to join and tough enough to make the cut. Those who spoke against it were often made outcasts until they switched their views. Seth wasn’t sure he could do it.
“I don’t know how,” Becky said, drawing his attention back without realizing she’d lost it. “But I didn’t even get any blood on me.”
Seth didn’t know what to say. He held her tighter.
“I’ll try to figure it out next time.”
“You’re sure about doing this?”
“Yes.”
Becky slid a hand under Seth’s shirt, but the Eagle understood what had brought on the desire. “Not now, okay?”
Becky didn’t mind so much. She curled up on his chest instead. It didn’t take her long to fall asleep.
Seth, however, was still awake come dawn.
3
“I need to sleep now.”
There was only one bedroll in his gear and Jennifer crawled inside the mammoth Marine bag without showing signs of being afraid.
Kyle was terrified.
Jennifer scrunched into the corner as Kyle climbed in, realizing she should have let him get in first. She tried not to stiffen when he tugged her into a better position. It placed her against his side, and then his back when he immediately rolled over.
Jennifer caught the flash of him thinking about her hard nipples against his arm and understood he was once again resisting temptation. He was a strong man.
Jennifer allowed herself to lean against him, and then to give in and melt against his heat with a soft groan. It had been a long start to her mission. He felt too good to let her fear stop them from sleeping.
A short time later, Jennifer was snoring and Kyle carefully rolled over. As he shifted, she did too, placing herself the way he’d first had them.
Kyle felt her chest against him, relaxed in sleep, and was able to send his mind to calming thoughts that would allow dozing. He couldn’t have done that before.
Stop babying her or she’ll leave you.
Kyle jumped, instantly aroused and repulsed to have Jennifer’s witch standing so blatantly in his mind, where he wasn’t always good.
Should I apologize? the witch asked evenly. I don’t know about these things.
Kyle opened his mouth and then slammed it shut to respond silently, What do you want?
The witch began a slow, revolving dance that Kyle turned his back to mentally, lids flying open to stare at the tent ceiling.
She’s not the same. Don’t treat her like a child.
It was hard to resist the temptation of thinking about treating Jennifer like a woman, but Kyle shoved the witch out of his mind with an effort of pure will.
I won’t betray her that way, he snarled, big arm blocking the door to keep her out. And I have nothing at all for you!
Jennifer’s eyes opened and her head lifted, stunning Kyle with the ugliness he read there.
She is a killer.
Kyle refused to believe that, but the witch shoved by his meager defenses to show him the bloody replay of her day.
Kyle stopped struggling as the awful scenes went on and on, incapable of denial with the proof before him.
&nb
sp; The witch continued her assault. She needs a man to heal her now. She faced Donner and Louis, and came back stronger instead of curling into a corner and begging for mercy. Claim her.
Why? Kyle demanded. And why now?
She wants you, in ways.
That cryptic answer angered Kyle enough that he closed his lids and started his sleeping ritual. He didn’t have to tolerate this shit.
She has a plan.
That snapped Kyle out of his annoyance and into concern. He’d been watching.
I’ve shown you proof, the witch intoned. She is not who you would believe. That arrogance will cost you everything.
Kyle felt pain, loss, and fear. He unconsciously tightened his hold on the girl sleeping peacefully on his chest.
“Jenny,” he whispered, hoping she’d wake and end this conversation before he was told something he had to react to.
She’s remembering the first time she saw you. Leave her be.
Tell me what you’ve come to say and be gone!
She wants to forget it all and move on. Caesar, her mother, the baby–it’s too much. She’s torn though, because of you.
She should hate me, Kyle admitted. If I move in now, she will.
Have you noticed that she doesn’t need you anymore?
Kyle winced, but didn’t deny it.
I see that you have. The place as her protector for the next year is not what she wants. Adulthood came to her over the last months. She wants a future for her child.
We’re building that now, he protested. After the war, we’ll have a home, a fresh start–
The witch flashed an image that forced Kyle to explore one of his biggest fears when it came to Jenny. Her mental state.
The image was of a great victory and a group of females who were bathed in blood. The girl in the front was holding a bloody child, red orbs glowering at the enemy, but when one of her own fighters approached, the girl directed that rage on him.
No more!
The ground was covered in the dead, in the blood of their fellow American’s. Crimson tears oozed from the girl’s eyes as she backed away.