by Angela White
Marc looked at him with an open honesty the cop couldn’t miss. “I’ll stay back and follow the rules, but the minute she snaps her fingers or needs me, I’m going, and I won’t be stopped.”
Neil felt his respect grow. It took courage and self-belief to say something like that to a complete stranger. “You want someone to hang with tomorrow, to show you around?”
Marc nodded gratefully, curious as to just where this man was in Safe Haven’s chain-of-command, but not doubting that he was. “Absolutely.”
The wolf was watching with red-tinted ears perked, head down, and Neil wondered how Marc had earned such loyalty from a wild animal, but didn’t ask. Stories like that you shared with friends, and that, they weren’t. They would be though, he was suddenly sure of it, and Neil looked forward to hearing the tale.
“I’ll see ya in the morning.”
“Yes, you will.”
It was an odd response, and the trooper could tell from the tone that it meant something, but again, didn’t question, sensing that, too, would require real friendship to share.
He left Marc alone with his thoughts, and while Brady wasn’t bitter that Angela hadn’t been quarantined too, he wished he was out there, watching over her. Being her protection was something he did automatically now and it hurt his heart not to be able to do it when she was suddenly surrounded by strangers and facing old dangers.
Chapter Forty Two
Night One
1
When Angela stepped from his tent, Charlie was waiting for her and she grabbed him for a quick hug that he tolerated with flushed cheeks.
“Sorry boy, but I missed you!”
Charlie grinned, eyes saying that he felt the same way. “Couldn’t tell.”
The mess lines were short, most of the tables empty, but Angela was very aware of the twenty or so people still eating, and staring at her openly.
“We're late?”
Charlie nodded. “Only by 20 minutes. You’ll get used to the schedule.”
She nodded as they got in line, thinking that he sounded older than he was, and she wanted to talk to him, to find out how he’d really been, but the eyes were constant, persistent. For one brief second, she wished Kenn hadn’t found them yet so she could have one more quiet night alone with Brady.
“You still can!”
Charlie shoved the words angrily at her, but she said nothing. Now was not the time. Later, when they were alone, they had a lot to talk about.
The suddenly sullen boy took two trays, handed her one, and grabbed a pair of green cans from the icy cooler. “Come on. Adrian saved you a seat.”
The eyes and whispers followed their progress, and everyone saw Adrian slide over to clear the place to his right. Again.
Kenn frowned, good mood gone, and Angela quickly sat down, feeling like a fish in a glass bowl. Didn’t they have anyone else to stare at?
“I have to deliver trays.”
Charlie’s tone was agitated and they all sensed it was directed at her, but Angela only nodded. “See you in a while.”
The men heard the boy sigh, felt some of his anger go with the words, “Yes, you will.”
Neil and Adrian both recognized it, understood it was a bond.
“He’s a good kid. He does a lot here.”
Angela smiled at Adrian’s words, thinking Charlie, too, would have to adjust.
She opened her pop. “He seems so grown up, so responsible.”
Angela gave Kenn a warm look that most of them were surprised to see. “Thank you. I meant to say that right away. I’d be lost without him.”
Kenn managed to sound uncomfortable and arrogant at the same time. “He’s my boy, too.”
Fire flashed in Angela’s eyes, and she took a long drink to keep from asking when that sentiment had started.
Neil and Adrian noticed her reaction and both thought it was too bad that she had just passed up a perfect opportunity to get free. They respected her for not wanting to cause Kenn embarrassment, but a public breakup was the only kind that would free her in the camp’s eyes. ‘He said, she said’, didn’t exist here.
“Have you checked in with the perimeter?”
As the men talked, Angela ate and wondered if Marc had been fed yet, if he was okay, if he missed her as much as she did him. It hurt to be away from him, and Angela forced herself to pay attention. The sooner she figured out how things worked here, the sooner she would know how to handle her two Marines.
“Jeremy found everything on his list and says he has pictures of an entire town that’s undamaged. Cherry Creek. Says it’s completely deserted, but the stores and malls are still intact. Figures the whole town just evacuated in a neat and orderly fashion”
Adrian grinned ruefully. “Be the first one of those we’ve seen. Okay, that’s it.” He closed his notebook. “You’ll see that the dogs are put out?”
Doug nodded. “Yeah. Chris says Star’s gonna have another litter come May.”
“That’s great. We need all the babies we can get,” Kyle stated. The mobster turned to Kenn, speaking before he really thought about it. “Didn’t you tell us that you had one on the way?”
Angela froze, heart ripping open, and every man at the table frowned when Kenn flushed and turned questioning, embarrassed eyes her way. He hadn’t asked that yet? They’d been alone in his truck for hours!
Angela couldn’t hide the hate in her eyes as the awful pain dug into her chest. My baby!
“I lost my other son.”
Her voice was like broken glass, and no one was surprised when she stood up.
“Excuse me.”
The entire Mess was full of silently condemning eyes, and Kenn knew they were all thinking he’d been too busy giving her that fat lip to even ask about their baby. His face was scarlet, and he got up without a word. That was it. The first actual blow to his ship and she hadn’t even fired it. A few more of those and his ship would quickly go under.
Angela knew Kenn would follow, he’d been waiting all day for the chance to be nasty to her, and she chose a public place. There was only one woman in line for the restrooms though, and the tall brunette went in as Kenn stopped at her side. Angela braced herself.
“I’m sorry. I should have asked.”
Her eyes were almost shocked, and Kenn smiled bitterly. “Things have changed. I’m not the same man here. It’s not allowed.”
Angela said nothing, but her eyes screamed.
His face reddened, embarrassed gaze on her split lip. “We can work it out. I’d never do that here.”
Silence…
Kenn blew out a sigh, shoving down on his anger. “We’ll make a new deal.”
Angela raised a brow at that, thinking she’d just won the second battle before it had even started. She chose her words carefully. “No more deals. If we stay together, it will be because I want to build a future with you.”
She could almost feel the rage, as his eyes grew hotter.
“You can’t end it with me. I won’t let you do that!” he hissed violently.
Angela wanted to take a step back, but knew it would be a mistake. “You don’t own me anymore. That’s also changed!”
Kenn took a step forward, his body blocking most of the camp’s view. When her hand slid to her hip, the brunette coming from the restroom stopped and made eye contact with the nearest guard.
“You belong to me for another six years, bitch. Do what you're told or people will get hurt, come up missing!”
Angela turned to go, seeing he barely had control of himself.
Kenn grabbed her arm, roughly spinning her back around and drawing a lot of attention. He kept from hitting her only by sheer will power. The Marine sucked in air... control.
“Don’t make me kill you!” he growled lowly before letting go, making his feet move away from her.
Kenn was aware of all the frowns and angry eyes of the guards. Some of those he had just shared a meal with. The Marine knew he was causing a lot of unrest. People were o
penly questioning about her lip and all he could say was that he didn’t know. It was an answer the camp never heard from him, but Kenn couldn’t seem to fight the rage of the past. He still had six years to get her love - her power - or break her. Either would do.
2
“Coming in with dinner.”
Charlie carefully ducked inside the dim tent with cool eyes and a rapidly-beating heart. Marc saw the boy’s first quick glance was at the wolf as he set the tray down.
“That’s Dog.” Marc introduced, hoping to quickly find a common ground.
Charlie kept his eyes on his target, trying the techniques he’d seen Adrian and Kenn use on men they weren’t sure about. Silence and a cool stare.
The father waited patiently as he looked back, impressed that the teenager didn’t fidget. Charlie didn’t resemble the small boy Marc had seen in the pictures. The male in front of him was approaching maturity.
“Why are you here?”
Marc blinked at the adult tone despite what he’d just been thinking, impressed again. The truth was easy to give. “Your mom needs me.”
“You want her back,” the boy accused.
When Marc nodded but said nothing else, Charlie’s frown deepened. “Adrian and Kenn will take care of her. You can’t stay here.”
Marc shook his head, thinking the child had his mom’s courage. “Only she can get rid of me.”
“You don’t know these people. If they want you gone, you are. I’ve seen them do it.”
The teen’s smirk was a good copy of Kenn’s, so close that Marc instantly hated it. He shoved some brutal truth into the moment.
“They’re already trying. I had hoped you would be on my side, but hear me and be clear. Only your mom can get me to go away, not another person on this planet. They’ll have to kill me.”
Hoping it wouldn’t come to that, but not so sure now that they were here, Marc stood up to get his tray.
Charlie cringed back.
Marc stilled, mind slamming that obvious clue into place. It was the same reaction Angela had given for the first weeks of their cross-country journey, and sometimes even now… when she got scared.
“He hit you too?”
It was a guilty, horrified whisper, and the boy’s face crumbled with the truth.
Charlie shoved the tray at him and spun out of the tent.
Angela turned down the radio and lit a smoke. She was waiting now, writing in her journal and killing time until Kenn would be on guard duty. She hated it that Charlie’s tent was next to her Marine’s. She had her gun resting under her thigh, planned to sleep with it in reach in case he came for her during the night.
Hearing voices go by that she identified as Adrian and Doug, Angela mulled over the fast kinship she’d felt and worried over what the leader would want from her… what he already wanted.
She sighed. Two questions had been answered, at least. It was only Kenn she still feared, not all men, and it wasn’t just Brady she could respond to. Both Adrian and Seth had tempted the Witch.
Angela let out another sound of frustration. It was good here. She had seen things she could help with, but Kenn was high up, with serious responsibilities. He was so different from the man who’d kept her so upset during her pregnancy that she had been having pains long before the War came. Even now, he hadn’t cared enough to ask what happened. She got the feeling it was a side of him that these people didn’t often see, but that would change, was already starting to. Kenn had been a good man all day, then turned into a nasty SOB while they were in plain view of everyone. Was he really fighting old demons, or was he putting on the act of a lifetime?
Angela frowned as Brady’s worried words suddenly came to her.
“He’s coming your way, and he’s upset. Sorry.”
Angela tensed, drawing her gun. She was relieved when her son came in and not Kenn. She slid the weapon back into her holster before Charlie saw it, seeing his pale face and hot eyes.
“You okay?”
Charlie shook his head. “No. Why did you bring him here? This will get you in big trouble!”
He was crying, and she went to him, held him as much as he would allow.
“I have some things to tell you. A story,” she stated, knowing it would be a censored version of the truth. There couldn’t be more until she made her choice.
“About... my dad?”
She nodded, smiling a little. “And about you.”
3
Adrian watched Kenn’s approach through the open tent flap, able to feel the awkwardness invading the cool night air. He thinks she told me everything, the leader thought, and chose to encourage the idea while still staying as neutral as he could. He needed the Marine. Angela didn’t.
Kenn dropped into the empty chair with a grunt and put the envelopes on the table. He didn’t meet Adrian’s eyes and tried to get right to business. “We’re short on...”
“Wait.” Adrian’s voice was like stone. “We have something else to discuss first.”
Kenn nodded, not sure if he would lie when asked if he had put his hands on a woman in anger, not sure if he could.
“Are you mine or hers?”
Kenn’s head flew up, mouth opening, hesitating. “Sir?”
“You can’t serve two masters, Marine. You were the first one here, the first true member of my command, and you have the most active part in everything I do. You’re my right hand. What happens to a man if you cut that off?”
Kenn dropped his eyes. “He’ll bleed to death.”
“He, and all his dreams as well. Here, that would mean the death of this camp, and that would be unforgivable alone, but worse, what else would we lose?”
Kenn’s reason warred with his anger, and he struggled to find the right words. “Our last chance. Our way of life... America.”
There was genuine regret in that last one, and Adrian leaned back, satisfied for the moment. He studied Kenn with cool eyes before speaking, no longer looking at his even tempered XO, but the short-fused, mean-mouthed, second-in-command that people were already starting to avoid - after just one day. He needed to get this under control if he could, but Adrian suspected it had already gone too far. His Marine didn’t believe they were just friends either.
“Because she asked me not to, unless someone comes to me, we won’t discuss this after tonight. So long as it never, ever happens again.”
Kenn was shocked… stunned that Adrian would protect him. It went against everything the blond was trying to build here, and the Marine was full of guilty gratitude.
Adrian however, was still furious. All the suspicions were confirmed by what he read in his man’s eyes, and he spelled it out angrily. “The War changed life for every living thing on this planet, including her. She has the right to pick her own future, and you will back off.”
Kenn shook his head, eyes on the green canvas floor. Now Adrian knew who he really was. “We were happy. She’ll settle back in.”
“No!” Adrian’s raised tone got Kenn to meet his eye. “She doesn’t want that, and the rules here are for everyone. She knows it now.”
Kenn waved a hand, frustrated. “She and that boy are all I’ve got left. I can’t just let him have them.”
Adrian sighed. “Give me a yes to this question and you’ll have my support. Ready?”
Kenn gave a short nod, already knowing it was a trap.
“It’s easy to see that the Wolfman would do just about anything for her, maybe even die. Would you? Do you love her enough to give your life for hers?”
Kenn didn’t respond, and Adrian waved a hand. “Let her go.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“You have to. She and everyone else here has realized you gave her up for dead, while he found her and protected her. That alone gives her the right to end things, and so what? You have a good life here, have a firm place. You’re looked up to, well-treated, admired, and then there’s a certain redhead sniffing around, giving out samples. That’s always fun.”
> Adrian’s words worried Kenn, surprised him. He hadn’t thought the boss knew about his trysts with Tonya.
“Think on it, but understand me. You can’t have both. You can try, and you can destroy a lot of lives, but you cannot have this position and that woman. I’ve met her. No man could balance the two,” Adrian warned, ignoring the male heart insisting that he could.” Let her go, Marine. I need you so much more than she does.”
Kenn nodded, tone warming, but his blue eyes were unreadable. “I’ll try to do what’s right.”
“Good. Let’s move onto the important stuff. Schedules - put her with John for right now, and add her to Neil’s defensive class. Can she use that .357 on her hip?”
Kenn nodded reluctantly, humiliated male mind flashing to the ride here. “Probably the least of what he taught her.”
Adrian ignored his bitter tone, but responded to the impression that Kenn knew Brady better than he was letting on, thinking that was not a good sign of things to come. “Tell me about him.”
Kenn lit a smoke, his thoughts chaotic. He couldn’t tell the truth without giving all of it, could he? “We served together. Same platoon for a few years. He’s a good Marine. I don’t know him personally.”
Adrian raised a brow, waiting for the details he knew were there.
Kenn hated it that he had to give more, but he couldn’t refuse Adrian’s need, couldn’t deny the observations he had stored over the years. This was part of the job, and he knew Brady better than anyone he’d reported on since getting this position.
“He’s quiet, likes to work alone. Stickler for the rules during regular business hours, but I’ve seen him get drunk and beat the hell out of men off base. He wasn’t close to any of us that I know of, kept to himself and wanted the corner table alone, but he backed us up in bar brawls. When we lost two members of our squad in Iraq, he retrieved both bodies and helped the widows financially out of his own pocket.”
Kenn let out a sigh, hating that it was the truth. Damn Boy Scout! “He’s one of the good guys.”