The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

“This is some ride we’re on,” he stated, bracing as the tug increased.

  Kendle grunted, half in agreement, half in pleasure. Energy flowing in was better than sex.

  Connected, Tommy chuckled as the kneeling members of the team stood up to help hide what was happening.

  Kendle let go when Tommy yawned, wary of hurting him. “I’ll be good now. Let me sleep.”

  Tommy rose, waving Ben to take his place. “All we’ve been doing is lying around after eating and resting. Let us help.”

  Kendle didn’t have the strength to resist. When Josh placed his hand over hers, she drew what she needed.

  Renda’s sentries didn’t know what was happening. They didn’t discern anything odd, but they were distracted by their concern over what had been said. Had Renda meant they would die if the Widow did? Worried that was the case, the troops began preparing a meal and gathering supplies. Renda wasn’t stable. Everyone knew that. It was best not to take chances.

  9

  “This is the fifth match for the Black Widow! How has she lasted this long? Come find out tonight! Betting booths are closing soon.”

  Kendle leaned against the ropes, eyeing her opponent. The energy from her team had done a lot for her internal injuries, including the broken rib, but she’d stopped before the external wounds could be repaired.

  Yuri, coming to stand by her with a wide grin, slid a hand around her waist. “Your room has been broken into. You will stay with me tonight if you survive.”

  Kendle didn’t argue. She wasn’t surprised by the cubby being damaged. Renda was still searching for proof. She would only have 24 hours after this to find it and Kendle expected the Iranian woman to be in rare form as fear crept up on her.

  Kendle scanned the four thick rocks piled on each side of the ring, then the woman waiting to grab her share. “Rocks are so archaic.”

  “It was that or machetes,” the older woman, Ellen, stated, surprising Kendle with the response. “My aim is better than my arm.”

  Kendle was surprised into a grin. “I’m the opposite. Gives you the advantage.”

  “Yeah,” Ellen muttered sarcastically. “Gonna kill me with a rock and she makes a joke.”

  Kendle realized Ellen didn’t want to be here, but it was too late to change her plans now.

  “This fight is not to the death,” the announcer called.

  The bell rang.

  “Yeah,” Ellen repeated…then streaked for the rocks.

  Distracted, Kendle was just reaching her pile when the first stone struck the back of her skull. The second caught her in the cheek, tearing into her skin.

  Dazed, Kendle brought the demon forward to make sure her aim was good as she rose and turned. To do it, she took a third hit that split her lip open and sent blood splashing down her shirt.

  Kendle threw the rock as hard as she could, as she had in the first match with the knife, but this time, her demon guided the aim.

  The stone smashed against the woman’s windpipe, producing a loud crunch that brought silence to the basement.

  Smothering, Ellen dropped heavily to her knees, both hands coming up in futility.

  Kendle waited for the call, keeping the rest of the rocks in her hand. She’d only thrown one.

  “The Black Widow will face our slave master Renda tomorrow night!” the speaker blared. “Place your bets! Place your bets!”

  Kendle drew in another deep breath, and then struggled out of the ring. Her ears were ringing, vision blurry.

  Renda, hovering nearby, watched in happy fear as she spotted Kendle’s weakness.

  Feeling the stare, Kendle couldn’t resist leering over her shoulder.

  Renda screeched at her, drawing attention and condemnation from the other masters.

  Kendle got out of sight as quickly as she could, staggering up to Yuri’s apartment. She needed to lie down. She wasn’t feeling well.

  10

  “I came for something absorbent,” Kendle stated quietly as her turn came at the front of the crowded kiosk. The afternoon crowd around them quieted to listen.

  The former medical man, Stan, didn’t look at her as he said, “It’ll be delivered shortly. I’ll find you.”

  Kendle nodded her thanks and went to the collateral room, eager to meet with Rice. They hadn’t been able to find time yesterday between her torture and fight.

  Pain being controlled with pills that Yuri had sold her, Kendle noted the happy expressions of the guard and the prisoners. All of them were healthier after a week of steady meals. She’d sent all the gifts and donations here.

  Kendle settled wearily at the table, joined by Conner and Ben. The rest of the team that had been released took seats nearby to listen.

  She surprised them all by waving over the sentry instead of whispering as they’d expected. She handed the man a slip of paper that he read with excitement and horror.

  “For real?”

  “It’s a better life than this.”

  Ori ripped up the paper. “Tell me when.”

  “In the next couple hours, a package will be delivered to me. I need you to coat the handle of her whip with it.”

  Ori understood what would happen. “You won’t betray me?”

  “We don’t do that,” Kendle answered. “Safe Haven provides a second chance for almost anyone, including you.”

  Understanding she’d chosen this man to go to camp with them, the team studied him intently, examining him for whatever she’d seen.

  “You won’t betray me?” Kendle returned, honestly concerned over it.

  “I never go back on my word,” Ori stated stiffly. “Not for her or anyone else.”

  “Good,” Kendle praised. “Do your part and you’ll be with us when we go.”

  The door opened to admit Rice.

  The guard went back to his place, growling, “No more noise!” for a cover.

  Rice went to Kendle, glaring. “My brother said no reply. What does that mean?”

  “He can’t answer what I asked,” she replied vaguely. “What about the other half of why I’m still here?”

  The rest of the team hadn’t heard why Kendle had agreed to fight for them instead of blowing this place up. They listened eagerly as Rice explained.

  “In the crib.”

  “A baby,” she breathed, revolted. “You’re giving up your own baby.”

  Rice didn’t respond to the contempt.

  “Far corner or near the shelves?”

  “Corner.”

  Kendle couldn’t remember if she’d seen the child or not. “I’ll need to judge the size and weight. We’ll carry it out in a bag or kit,” she chose.

  “Them,” Rice confessed, chin going down. “Twins.”

  Kendle’s mind flashed to the signs about magic users mostly being twins. “How did you hide that for so long?”

  “There’s a panel under the mattress,” Rice whispered. “We switch them out for feedings and sleep.”

  “How long can that last?” she muttered.

  As if to answer her, a baby’s cried echoed, forcing the sentry to yell at the person tending it.

  Kendle sighed. “Okay. We’ll need two large bags and they’ll have to be drugged or they’ll cry during transport.” She glowered at him. “Can you do that without killing them?”

  “We’ve had to a few times when Renda was in here.”

  “Be careful,” she warned. “After going through all of this, I’d better not be given two corpses. I would have to express my displeasure.”

  Rice paled. “I have to go.”

  “Don’t forget who your real enemy is,” Conner reminded, hoping Rice could be trusted.

  Kendle waited for Rice to be gone before scanning the crib. “So, who knows how to change a diaper?”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Not the Favorite

  1

  Kendle woke to a heavy weight on her chest.

  Her lids flew open in the darkness to find Renda sitting on top of her, eyes glittering with insanity
. Renda’s braid tickled Kendle’s nose as she leaned down. “You die now!”

  Kendle, caught in hazy sleep, sent a powerful blast of need out, calling for help.

  Yuri jerked up next to her, hand clutching the blade he slept with. “What?”

  Caught, Renda slashed with her knife.

  Yuri jerked her by the long braid, throwing Renda from the bed.

  “Get out!”

  Renda scrambled away from his fury, aware of how dangerous Yuri was with his knife.

  “She will die tonight!” Renda screamed.

  Yuri manhandled her out of his room, growling at the troops for the interruption to his sleep.

  Kendle breathed a thin sigh of relief, wondering how badly she’d been injured this time. The pain was minor and she was breathing okay, but that didn’t mean much in the end. She gingerly felt her throat, coming away with wet fingertips.

  “Are you okay?” Yuri asked, flipping on the light.

  “Yes.”

  Yuri got his medical kit out to wipe away the blood and place a small bandage on her neck. “Good as new.”

  Kendle laughed under his light touch. “Yeah.”

  Yuri kissed her cheek and lay down next to her. Of all the women he’d spent time with since the war, this one was his favorite.

  Kendle caught the thought, but didn’t respond. She knew Yuri was only loyal to Yuri. After she killed Renda, Yuri would probably betray her descendant status. Kendle wasn’t certain how she knew that he had figured it out, but there was no doubt. Yuri knew she was a magic user.

  Yuri placed them back to back, enjoying the warmth. He quickly drifted off, not fazed by the dangers of this life. Russia! Now that was a harsh existence.

  Kendle took a while longer to fall back asleep, mind worrying over the coming fight. Renda had been sitting on her arms, hitting pressure points that paralyzed people. Kendle hadn’t been able to move. That didn’t bode well for the coming match. Renda was obviously a good fighter who understood how to disable an opponent. If Ori didn’t get the poison on Renda’s whip handle, Kendle would be flayed alive. That image wasn’t conducive to rest.

  Outside, Renda prowled the market, frustration and fear boiling. She’d felt Kendle’s mental blast, heard the voice in her mind, watched the woman tear three huge sentries apart with her hands and teeth. Not being taken at her word was more than the Iranian could stand.

  “Dirce will believe me,” she ranted madly, making the guards flinch. “Dirce won’t let her kill me.”

  2

  “He’s here. Get up!”

  Kendle rolled from the bed in a daze, grabbing her gun from under the edge of the pillow. “Who? What?”

  Yuri tossed clothes at her. “Dirce. He wants to meet you.”

  Kendle dressed in a blurry fog. She hadn’t dropped off again until daylight. She judged it noon now.

  “You must hurry. Dirce does not like to be kept waiting.”

  Kendle heard the fear and devotion, but she also caught the bitterness. She pulled on her boots, asking, “What should I know about him?”

  “There is no time for that,” Yuri complained. “Come.”

  Kendle let him lead her into the hall, running over previous conversations, but she couldn’t remember anything helpful.

  The market was crowded, so much that Yuri had to elbow people aside for them get down the stairs. The difference in the market citizens was huge. Instead of the boredom and depression she’d been greeted with two weeks ago, there was now cheer and hope. Because they got to be a part of death and it wasn’t theirs? she asked the demon.

  Your light has fed them, the demon told her. That is why descendants were gifted to humanity. If you need these people to defend you, they will.

  I’ve…infected them?

  They were already infected, the demon corrected. The rage disease has spread around the world. You gave them hope for the future, even a short one while you are here. When you go, a little of that magic will remain.

  Kendle was comforted by that.

  The first floor was even thicker with people. Kendle was glad of it, but that relief didn’t overshadow the concern about meeting Dirce. From everything she’d picked up, he was worse than Xavier was.

  Yuri pushed the door open, taking her arm again. “This is the Black Widow.”

  Kendle stopped, catching sight of the big boss. “Do I know you?”

  Dirce chuckled, motioning for Yuri to leave. “Yes, Ms. Roberts. I believe we have a mutual friend.”

  Kendle took the seat he offered, noticing that they were alone in Renda’s grimly decorated apartment. Renda’s den had skeletons and animal dissections in glass frames with bloody fingerprints on the sides and tops. The floor was carpeted in animal skin and the curtains were dusty red bedsheets. What an odd mix, Kendle contemplated.

  “Who’s the mutual friend?”

  “Chauncey.”

  Kendle thought of the Keeper residing in a Safe Haven cell and tried to clear her mind as the full sense of danger settled onto her shoulders. This man knew about descendants.

  The Greek studied her openly, standing near the window where defiant sunlight was trying to penetrate the gloom. It was obvious that Renda didn’t open the sheets very often. Dust was swirling around the room.

  Kendle concentrated on the beams instead of letting her mind run wild.

  “You killed my spy.”

  Bossy, Kendle thought. “Well, it was him or me, and I need me more than I did him, so….”

  Dirce joined her in the chair across the small table that had been set with a meal for two. He didn’t smile at her quip.

  Kendle didn’t touch anything as the wide man began to make a plate. Dirce didn’t wear the uniform or the colors of his troops and masters. He favored jeans and a long button-down with deep blue stripes along the tapered sleeves. His tan work boots were a common style found at any K-Mart, but his weapons were first class. Kendle tried not to gape as she continued to store observations about the boss that was twice her size, but not fat. Muscles bulged under his shirt. Talk about fit, she reflected.

  “Thank you!” Dirce gushed proudly. “Most people don’t notice!”

  Kendle blanched. “What do you want?”

  All pretenses fell like a broken mask. Dirce leaned forward, bracing his arms on the table. “Why are you here?”

  Kendle didn’t resist as he scoured her mind for everything that had happened with the guards and her fights. When he was finished, Kendle felt her demon powering up to fight.

  “Eat,” Dirce encouraged, handing her the plate.

  Kendle took it with a shaking hand.

  “Easy, Healer,” Dirce crooned. “I mean you no harm.”

  Kendle knew better than to believe that, especially since Ethan had once said that to her and then bit off her nipple.

  Dirce blanched. “I’m sorry that happened to you. Please, eat. You’ll need your strength.”

  “For what?” she asked, picking up a strawberry. She hadn’t had one since being on the island.

  “Your match, of course,” he replied, making a second plate. “We can’t disappoint the masses.”

  “What about after?” Kendle pushed cautiously.

  “You’ll be given your team and the gear, and sent on your way.”

  “Why?”

  Dirce gazed at her with glowing orbs that held the promise of the type of abuse Ethan had dealt out. “Because you’re not a threat to me. If I kill you, Safe Haven will come here…and they are a threat to me.” He gestured at the plate. “Eat.”

  Kendle did as he instructed, enjoying the fruit and pastries. Dirce also ate, but he never looked away from Kendle. She could feel him tinkering in her mind, trying to convince her to stay and help him with his goals.

  Kendle shoved him out with a quick motion that surprised them both.

  “Interesting,” Dirce murmured, blue helmet tattoo winking at her as he peeled off part of an orange. “Are all of your citizens as strong?”

  Ken
dle thought of Angela and then brought down her mental wall. “Yes. Leave us be. We’re tired of fighting.”

  “Who could give you a challenge?” Dirce asked curiously. “The Mexican army will not return from that conflict. Who threatens an entire camp of descendants?”

  Realizing she’d said too much, Kendle tried to switch topics, but Dirce ripped into her mind brutally, going deeper this time.

  Kendle forced herself to contemplate her nightmare with Ethan, the horror and the humiliation. Dirce wasn’t able to get through that type of barrier. Even she couldn’t.

  Dirce drew back in frustration, eyes settling into inoffensive chocolate. “You will leave and not return. If you betray this deal, I will hunt you.”

  Kendle didn’t need the threat. “All I’ve ever wanted from this hellhole was to be out of it, Mister. I’ll go right now, without the gear, if you’ll give me my last two men.”

  “There are bets placed and bets to be paid,” he denied.

  Kendle now studied him the way he had with her, witnessing his smirk, feeling his eagerness. “Why do you want Renda dead?” she asked suddenly.

  Dirce frowned at her accurate guess. He shook his head, but didn’t answer, leaving Kendle to puzzle it. When she couldn’t come up with anything, she moved onto the next item on her list. “I’d like to buy the freedom of the other people in the collateral area.”

  “Everything is for sale in our market,” he agreed. “As long as you never return, you may shop as anyone else.”

  “Thank you.” She gestured toward the window, to the alley. “I’m sorry about your three troops.”

  Dirce waved off the concern. “They were hers. Mine would never betray a deal to protect a coward.”

  Ah, Kendle thought. Renda trying to kill her to avoid the match had revealed the yellow streak.

  “Yes,” Dirce confirmed. “I don’t need a coward protecting me.”

  “I can understand that,” Kendle conceded. “Is that the job you’d give?”

  Dirce nodded, scanning her from black hair to black boots. “You’re not a coward.”

  “No,” Kendle agreed. “There are very few things that hit me that way.”