The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  Kendle stepped in front of her weaker partner instinctively, drawing on her own reserves. She also felt the evil surrounding them, sampling their scents, her gifts. This was worse than trouble.

  Aware that she was alone in this fight for the moment, Kendle opened all of her mental doors to be ready. As soon as an aggressive act was made, she would open fire in every way.

  “Ah, there’s no need for that, my friend,” the leader of the newcomers stated pleasantly. “If you give me my property, I’ll even leave without anyone dying. Better offer than I’ve made anyone else, dear.”

  Kendle didn’t doubt that, but she chuckled as if she had the upper hand. “Stand by for the boss, mouth.”

  The leader frowned at the insult, eyes glowing darker.

  “You can’t use that on me!” Kendle sneered. “I’ll drown you in your own shield.”

  The leader’s eyes returned to those pale orbs of death and devious pleasure, and Kendle stopped gloating. His thoughts were open to her and the blood in them was tempting. He wanted everyone here dead. Kendle could almost agree with him and felt her rage rising.

  “Keep pushing those images,” Kendle demanded. “It’ll flip me and I’ll take us all out. Been on the edge of it for a while now.”

  The pictures disappeared and a large scowl placed itself across the man’s weathered countenance. “Who are you?”

  “More than you can handle,” Kendle answered. “And that’s just me. You’ll meet the real power any second now.”

  An instant later, Angela came from the cave with Marc on her right and Jennifer on her left.

  Other people peered out, but no one else left the den, and Kendle thought that was wise. If this got ugly, inside the stone was the safest place for their herd. Kendle wanted to be surprised at her longing to spill blood in defense of Safe Haven, but there was no time to ponder it as Angela approached the gates.

  “Welcome to Safe Haven refugee camp,” Angela stated warmly, hands resting on her guns. “What can we do for you?”

  The leader surveyed Angela, as did the other five men, and Marc took the moment to return the favor. He found power and problems, but not anything that they couldn’t handle if they were careful. In fact, Angela’s level one females could probably handle half of these guys on their own.

  “Do you think so?” Angela asked Marc, intentionally interrupting the newcomer before he could answer her.

  “Probably, but it’ll cause damage.” Marc lifted a brow. “Is this what you want?”

  “No, but it may have to happen,” Angela warned, ignoring Jack’s growing anger at being treated this way.

  Samantha had joined Jeremy topside, taking a place behind Angela. She swept the threats, lingering on the big man by the leader’s side. He appeared more dangerous than the others.

  Samantha felt the man’s leer go over her and knew she’d been claimed.

  Jeremy flashed a harsh glower of hatred toward the man. “Over my dead body.”

  Vlad laughed. “Exactly what I was thinking!”

  “This is that moment,” Samantha muttered, finally understanding what Angela had been trying to tell her all along. “And we have to let them go.”

  Jeremy wanted to know why, but waited. There was too much danger to be distracted right now.

  Tara and Missy appeared in the cave entrance, but didn’t come any closer. Tara hovered over the child, twitching in agitation as she stared at her ex.

  Angela spoke to the leader silently. You can’t have them. I’ll kill them both before I give that power to you.

  You will return my daughter! Jack growled. The bitch, I don’t care about.

  Angela shook her head. “Never.”

  Jack leaned back on his tall mount, contemplating Angela and the others with her. There was a thick shield over the rest of the camp–to hide how weak they were, he assumed–but that wasn’t a guess that Jack was willing to risk his life on openly. Missy’s warning to avoid the Ghost at all costs had scared him and that mysterious man could be hidden under that shield. Even if he wasn’t, the four descendants in front of him were priceless and he was sure to lose them in a fight. His own crew was recognizing the gifts here and already growing eager to consume them.

  Jack dug deeper into the man at Angela’s side, and didn’t like the resistance he found there. He wasn’t any happier with the reaction of the teenager or the blonde woman flanking her, and reluctantly made the call. “I’m leaving, but I guess we both know it’s temporary.”

  Jennifer had the camp completely covered and Marc was busy digging into their evil minds for plans or weaknesses. She needed to draw this out a bit. “How about arranging visitation?”

  Jack recognized the ploy, but played along. “I never considered that.”

  “Will you now?” Angela asked politely. “We don’t have to destroy you.”

  Jack laughed, denying the feel of death hovering on his shoulder. That was the image Angela was sending and he was loath to admit, even to himself, that she was intimidating while doing so little.

  “I’m so much worse than intimidating,” Angela stated matter-of-factly. “I’m as evil as you, and your death will come exactly like the nightmares you often cried about as a child in the labs–quick and unexpected.”

  Jack paled and then the red bloom of anger came to his cheeks. “I’ll see you again, fire walker, and of course, your friends. You’re very weak friends.”

  Jack wheeled his horse around and his men followed with sharp jerks on the reins that filled the air with the protests of their horses. They were out of sight before the dust settled.

  Angela looked at Marc, hating the order she had to give now, and found him already taking gear from the belts of those around them.

  “I’ll send a small team to catch up, if you want,” Angela offered, also hating what she had to give next.

  “No, quicker now and alone.”

  “Yeah,” Angela grunted. “Take Kendle.”

  Marc, realizing how hard that was for her, kissed her as if they were alone.

  Kendle turned away, anger growing, and she motioned for the gates to be opened. She suddenly couldn’t wait to be out there killing someone.

  Marc let go slowly, pulse rapid, and Angela chuckled. “Nice. Hurry, will ya?”

  Marc rubbed her still flat stomach. “Before you know it.”

  He was gone a minute later, vanishing into the early morning drizzle with Kendle as if they were about to drop off the planet.

  “And in a way, they are,” Angela muttered. She also knew they wouldn’t be alone for long. Another descendant around here needed to know where Jack was going, which meant one of her men would have to compromise.

  Angela hoped Adrian would do it. Marc wouldn’t be in the mood for anything but blood after the images he’d witnessed in Jack’s thoughts. Big Jack Devine had come for death and he was going to get it, one way or another.

  “Thank you.” Tara and Missy came to Angela, both pale and clearly uncomfortable.

  Angela studied the woman harshly, letting the truth bleed through for a single moment. “If Marc gets hurt, you better watch your six!”

  Those who heard it thought they understood Angela’s caution, her warning. People would blame the new woman if anything happened to Marc.

  Tara, however, took the warning to heart and quickly got out of Angela’s sight. She had read more into it than that. If Marc were injured or killed, Angela would pay it forward.

  “Why did we let them go?” Jeremy asked Samantha as they moved away from the others.

  “So she can draw them back at the right time,” Samantha answered evasively, realizing Angela might not want that known. “So what’s the snack today? I’m starving.”

  3

  Marc and Kendle hit the bottom of the main road less than five minutes later, loaded with the basic gear they’d both had on them and a few quick items taken from those nearby. Neither of them worried over it. Pulling their needs from the land wasn’t as hard as it used to b
e when they’d both been alone in their minds. Now, there was power as well, and the need to catch up to Jack and his crew was hard to fight. It told Kendle to be ready to kill, to bathe in Jack’s blood to save Marc, who would now be Angela’s sword of justice.

  Kendle hated anyone having that type of power over Marc, but it wasn’t as if he was going to refuse. Being allowed to kill, expected to kill, had to be freeing.

  “It is, in ways,” Marc admitted, always scanning people now. “It’s also heavy.”

  “Because you’re not a killer,” Kendle stated. “Unless it’s called for.”

  Marc didn’t answer that. He would murder several people, if the opportunity presented itself the right way. And he wouldn’t ever regret those deaths.

  “Do they deserve it?” Kendle asked uneasily.

  “To me, they do.”

  “Then, they do,” Kendle tried to comfort. “You’re a good man. You won’t randomly kill.”

  “Uh, Kendle, I need to tell you something.”

  “Yes, Marc?” Kendle simpered.

  “You’re making me sick with the hero worship and you’re giving Angie thoughts about removing you once you’re no longer useful.”

  Kendle froze, a bit stunned at the abrupt topic change.

  Marc looked over his shoulder at someone behind them. “Can you do something with her? Angie’s patience has limits, even when she has plans running.”

  Kendle stared in surprise as Adrian emerged from the lightly wooded cliff directly above them. On foot, he wasn’t out of breath yet despite running to stay caught up. Marc was built that way, too.

  Marc caught the thought and sneered, “This should be a fun trip with you comparing us the entire time. Should we hold still so you can get some of it out of your system now?”

  Furious with herself and him, Kendle swung down from her horse.

  She strode off angrily and Adrian took her mount without commenting. Marc had blasted her out of the water and he might not be done firing yet.

  Marc snorted. “The boss set it up so we’d have to do this together. She’s hoping we’ll work out our differences on this run.”

  “We certainly didn’t on the last one,” Adrian stated lightly. He didn’t think it was possible. Marc wasn’t the forgiving type.

  Marc didn’t respond to the comment or the thought, and Adrian scowled. “Are we in for another Brady run through hell?”

  “Her mind was closed, so I’d say yes to the hell,” Marc replied, trying not to enjoy Adrian’s discomfort. “As for me, no. You’re not worth my time anymore.”

  Marc lightly snapped the reins to catch up with Kendle. He swung her up onto his horse, and then neatly slid to the ground.

  It was so Indian-like that Adrian gaped. Was Marc part Indian? He got on with them amazingly well.

  Prying, Adrian caught a glimpse of a forlorn man on a shore as a boat sailed away and he quickly slipped out, hoping Marc hadn’t noticed the slight intrusion.

  Adrian shut his mind down, storing the new thread for later. When he didn’t have to protect his thoughts, he would explore that. From a first peek, it said Marc wasn’t leaving with them.

  Adrian’s tiny heart thumped happily.

  Marc knew what Adrian was thinking, but the blond traitor hadn’t stayed for the thought that always followed the image of remaining in America. Angie always jumped off the boat and joined him on the shore. She wasn’t going to let them be split up and if Adrian thought that was the final plan, he had a huge shock coming. Marc had considered telling Adrian that Angie had made a contingency plan. If he refused to leave, so would she. Marc had chosen to let her have that moment of revelation and enjoy knowing that no matter how Adrian plotted or schemed, nothing would work. He and Angie couldn’t be parted now. Neither of them would allow it.

  4

  “Company!”

  Angela turned toward the gate. Marc and Kendle had only been gone a short time.

  As Angela walked, a number of Eagles fell in step with her. Marc hadn’t left any specific instructions, but he hadn’t needed to. Jack and his red-eyed men had been enough to snap the sentries into full alert. Around the camp, the sense was the same.

  Angela knew their unease wasn’t good, but there were many types of descendants and her people had a right to know what they were up against this time.

  Angela paused at the gate, out of sight of the new people, and scrutinized them mercilessly. Unlike the morning visitors, these ten men weren’t descendants. The clue was their horses. Angela’ recognized the brands immediately–three small ‘J’s.

  Angela went to the gate, hands resting on her guns. “Hello. Welcome to Safe Haven.”

  The ten men all took their hats off at the sight of her, and their leader dismounted. He walked toward the gate, stopping when the guards’ guns followed him.

  “No need for that with us. We want to talk.”

  He edged closer; rotating his hat in restless hands that were covered in thick callouses. “I’m Darian. I have some questions.”

  The leader was tall and thin, familiar to some of them, and Angela placed him before he could reveal his identity. “You’ve come for justice. For Dari.”

  Darian paled a bit, head lowering. “Maybe, maybe not. We’ve heard you handle things fairly.”

  “We do,” Angela confirmed. “And your twin sister was no different.”

  Darian raised a face that was lined in grief. “You found her guilty.”

  Angela nodded again. “She wanted descendants to rule everyone else. She refused my offer to change her mind.”

  Darian sighed unhappily. “I can believe you, but my people will want more.”

  Angela waved a hand at the gate. “You may enter and file the complaint. The rest must leave. They cannot stay with us.”

  Darian waited for the gate to open and then said, “I accuse you of murdering my sister. I demand a trial.”

  Gasps and mutters filled their small audience, but Angela smiled as if she’d been expecting it.

  “I grant your demand, Darian. Please leave your weapons outside the gate. You will not roam freely within my walls.”

  “But I will receive justice,” the man insisted quietly, removing his gun belts and giving them to an uneasy guy on a small, branded gelding. “If it isn’t a fair trial, my people will come here and attack.”

  “All trials in Safe Haven are fair,” Angela stated evenly. “But we don’t rush things. You’ll be here a while.”

  Darian stepped through the gate and around angry, armed Eagles with no signs of fear. “Got nothing else to do now. She was my only family.”

  Angela winced. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “You killed her!” Darian’s countenance blazed with the first emotion he’d shown. “Why do care for my pain?”

  “Because you’re not like your sister,” Angela answered, signaling for the gates to be shut. “I can read that, you know. Your loyalty is misplaced.”

  Darian took a deep breath and allowed Kenn to lead him into the smallest QZ. “A trial will tell.”

  Jennifer joined Angela as Darian was taken to the farthest tent from the gate. “Is that another problem?”

  Angela, who still studying their newest guest, replied, “If I get enough time to prove it, no. If he makes up his mind too quickly, then it could become one.”

  “How about I assign a personal guide,” Jennifer suggested, thinking they had several people here who needed to be occupied.

  “Agreed,” Angela said. “Put a list together. I’ll pick from it tonight, if he passes the medical.”

  “Yeah, about that,” Jennifer said. “Should his first impression of you come from Doc Savage?”

  “No, but he’ll understand that even people who hate me agree I’m fair. Let it go for now.”

  “I’ll have the list ready,” Jennifer promised, not following when Angela left. Jenny hated the thought of Angela being seen as a cold-blooded killer. She never did that without a need and this new guy had to u
nderstand that.

  5

  “Let’s hear about our target.” Marc had spent the first hour of the ride deciding how best to handle the situation and the people. Now, he was ready for details.

  Adrian, still in the rear, caught up to be right behind Marc.

  Still leading, Kendle fell back a bit to listen.

  “He’s what I am,” Adrian stated, lighting his last stale cigarette. He didn’t plan to dig through the dead land for more. “We trained together, ran together, hunted, competed. They finally split us up when we started using our men in battles of will.”

  Marc’s face tightened at the lie, but he didn’t interrupt.

  “When you what?” Kendle didn’t have that self-control and shut her mouth when Marc glared at her.

  “Give me his profile,” Marc instructed, not sure why Adrian was stalling. Because he didn’t want Kendle to know what a POS he really was? Probably.

  “It’s hard to talk about,” Adrian grunted. “You may think spilling your guts is easy, but you don’t have all these secrets.”

  “No, I don’t,” Marc acknowledged gleefully. “I’m not slime.”

  Adrian’s demeanor went from sullen to ice and Marc let out a sound of annoyance. “Finally! Now get to it.”

  With his emotions shut down, Adrian’s voice became the monotone of information that Angela was used to.

  “He’s an Alpha with the ability to control others. He can kill you like Becky–with his mind–but he’s limited on range and strength. He can’t handle too many opponents at once and his focus can be broken that way. He hates humans and has always wanted control over this world so that he doesn’t have any rules. If that’s his daughter, he won’t stop coming until he gets her or he’s killed.”

  “His crew?” Marc encouraged, storing the note of eagerness under Adrian’s words. If Adrian wanted to be the fighter for this one, Marc would let him and study that fight for his own coming moment with Safe Haven’s former leader.

  “They’re the true power. Between them, they have his ass covered too well for an open attack. There are usually twelve of them. We need to split them up. If we can’t, each of us will take one of his men and hope to duck his mental hits during the fight.”