Life After War: Books 1-3

by Angela White

  Angela looked up as the three dozen or so people around her went quiet. Samantha had left her place in the front of the dim, foggy food line and headed toward Rick, who had just stepped into the shorter coffee row. The dirty-blonde took a small white envelope from her back pocket, and Angela watched just as closely as everyone else, able to feel the tension.

  Samantha didn't meet Rick’s eye as she held out the ‘Dear John’ letter. She made sure her voice carried to where Adrian was standing, mug of coffee in hand. "I'm sorry. It's over."

  She walked away without another word, and Rick flushed nervously at all the stares and whispers. He shoved the letter into his shirt pocket until he got his food and found an empty table in the back. He was very aware of Adrian's hard eyes on him as he read it.

  “I've decided not to tell them that you took advantage of me, or about the deal I believe you made with Cesar because I hope I'm wrong. This is a good place and you can make a new life here. We both can. I won't ruin your chances unless you make me. Please leave me alone. You're a part of the past I need to forget.”

  Rick put the letter back in his pocket, careful to look sad but not angry for his audience. When they saw he wasn't going to blow up, the stares and whispers went back to the other hot story - Kenn and his cheating wife. It wasn't as bad as Rick had feared anyway. He would keep blending in and do as she asked for now, for a while. And then he would make her pay for breaking their deal as soon as she thought she was safe among her own kind.

  “Danger! Pay attention!”

  The voices were whispering of grave peril as Angela stepped to the tailgate. Her eyes went to the plump cook wearing a brown poncho and dirty overalls. Was the feeling coming from her or the jilted man sitting alone at the back table?

  Angela gave the woman a friendly smile, pushing gently as dozens of eyes stayed on her, watching. "Two plates please, one's for the doctor."

  The woman didn't respond, just frowned like she didn't understand.

  Angela’s brow creased too, picking up a sense of furious betrayal from the Mexican. "Two plates, my schedule says to get them from you."

  “Es schedule?”

  Angela held out the paper and saw the cook’s dark eyes light up with triumph as she reached for it.

  Angela snatched it back and shoved it into her pocket, scowling openly. It drew a lot of attention from those in the lines around her.

  "What evil do you hide?" Angela barked, stepping closer, aware but uncaring of those now watching in surprised curiosity or the guards moving subtly closer. "How long have you been here?"

  Maria shrugged again, still acting confused, but she hurried to get the plates, now wishing she had just given the dark-haired slut what she asked for. Cesar would kill her for blowing her cover over something as petty as jealousy of how beautiful the newcomer was.

  The woman's silence and her foreign mind were hard to read, and Angela forced the Witch back, sensing Adrian close by. She wondered vaguely if Charlie had picked up anything from the pudgy cook.

  "Is there a problem, ladies?"

  Adrian had stopped behind her, blocking the camp's view. He didn't want to interrupt, but these sheep weren't anywhere near ready to know what she could do. It would have to be careful, slow, but this was what he needed, that little edge. He would help her sharpen it.

  "No, not yet."

  Adrian took the plates the anxious cook was still holding out. He stayed at Angela's side as they stepped from the too-quiet Mess.

  Angela took one last, long look back at the cook before she turned to him with a soft face full of grim warning. "You should watch her. She has a black spot."

  Adrian held his emotions in check, seeing how her eyes slowly lost their glassiness. With discretion, there would be so much they would accomplish!

  "Does it hurt to see into people?"

  Angela shook her head, a little amused at the question. It wasn't nearly what she'd expected, and while she was glad he wasn't upset, she was aware that more eyes were staring at her than before. Word traveled fast here.

  "No. It's like that gray area between sleep and awake, where you feel like stretching forever and a loud noise can make you cry."

  Adrian was now the one amused and he handed her the plates with a smile. "You can use it when you want? Control it?"

  Angela nodded, feeling strange and yet wonderful to be talking about it openly. She kept her voice very low. "Yes."

  There was a lot more he wanted to say, but there were people walking all around them. "Will you come and really talk with me about this tomorrow?"

  Meaning he would really want to talk about it this time. Despite wanting to earn a place where she could use her gift, Angela hesitated. In the wrong hands...

  "Just to talk. Give me a chance to show you I can be trusted."

  His excited eyes belied his calm tones, and it was her schedule that Angela let influence her choice. He had listed her as a doctor with no proof. Even Kenn called her a well-paid nurse, and really, it seemed a fair trade. This way she'd be using both her talents. "I'll talk. I won't promise anything more.”

  "Great, my tent after lunch Mess."

  There was eagerness in his grin, and Angela leaned closer. "Doesn't it bother you to let someone else like you have free run of your camp?"

  His eyes seemed to glow as he shook his head. "I have no doubts about you. Your heart is so much more pure than mine, and just so you know, there's no one here like you. You're unique, special."

  Adrian delivered another brilliant smile that made her heart feel tight. "Come on. Let me introduce you to the slave driver we call an MD."

  2

  Samantha hesitated. On her way to the gun class, the sight of Eagles loading up in the parking area drew her eye. Their movements weren’t the slow and casual she was becoming used to seeing in Safe Haven. Their quick work and worried looks said there was trouble.

  Sam’s mind went straight to the Slavers and she let herself edge closer to the parking area. Unable to hear, she tried to appear busy studying the dreary sky instead of the leaving crew. She couldn’t pick up anything about their mission, but her eyes stayed on them anyway. There was something about the man in charge…

  Neil didn’t turn to see who was burning holes into his back, thinking it could be any of the camp members. None of the sheep liked it when the Shepherds were away, but this was a priority. They had to have water. The cop motioned to them that he was ready to head out.

  The Trooper’s hat moved through the orderly loading team, and Samantha’s gaze followed. She’d seen the state cop around, knew who he was and what position he held, but seeing him about to leave bothered her.

  Why? she asked herself, and didn’t like the immediate answer. “I’m safer when he’s here.”

  Neil turned at that moment, and found her staring in open surprise. It was the last camp member he’d expected, the new woman had avoided contact with all of the guards so far as Neil knew, and he looked back, drawn… Her hair blew in the wind, giving him that flash of corn silk again.

  Sam didn’t realize Neil had turned, too shocked by the discovery. What was it about the males here that made a woman want to fall in behind and be protected? She snorted, turning toward the gun class she was now late for. She stood behind no one. The War had changed everything.

  Neil watched her move away, now the one staring. What had she been thinking? It had been about him, he was sure of that, and it was something she hadn’t been expecting. Male curiosity awakened, the trooper’s gaze followed her until she disappeared behind the bleachers of the gun class. When he got back, maybe he’d dig into it.

  Kevin looked up as the other students turned to frown at the late arrival. Teaching the class today, he only gave Samantha a short nod and motioned her toward the front. “We waited.”

  Kevin had seen her pause to watch the loading crew, but didn’t call attention to it. Samantha was still settling in, trying to figure out her place. That she had one, the rookie didn’t doubt. She an
d Angela wore the same look of determination his sister had gotten whenever she really wanted something. Kevin sighed. Safe Haven was a great place. His sister would have liked it here.

  “On your mark, shooter.”

  Mind on the man she could hear now rolling out of camp, Samantha drew and fired without her usual flash of Cheyenne Mountain. Against her will, she wondered if he would be gone long. She’d already gotten used to seeing Neil around.

  3

  Driving in from the south, the wind had begun to pick up, storm clouds rolling behind the grit. It cooled sweaty necks and ripped papers from careless fingers. Increasing steadily, by mid-morning it was coming at the camp in long, gusting waves that made everyone glad the dustier areas were behind them.

  The parking area was mostly deserted, only three guards on the cars since it wasn't a travel day, and Adrian nodded to each of them as he headed for the supply trucks. Approving of the stacks of neatly packed and labeled boxes around the semi, Adrian still found himself frowning. Nerves on edge, it was a struggle to smooth out his expression as he pulled himself up into the back of the mostly-empty rig.

  He returned the greetings of the men coming out, heading for their first break and his unease grew with the wind. The sounds of his flock were normal, but not everyone was here. Something was happening. Had it been wrong to send the water crew? Were his men in danger?

  Adrian tried to push it away. They had to have water, and there was no way he could have put Kenn in charge and gone himself. Kenn's one small chance at leadership had passed with the appearance of Angela and her busted lip.

  "We're almost done with this one. Did you know there was a crate of grenades in here?"

  Adrian shrugged distractedly as Marc stood up from a stack of boxes on the semi's mostly empty floor. "I wondered what the key went to. Kenn and Kyle do most of the pickups, and they take anything they think we might need later. Hard telling what you may find."

  "I had it put in the weapons truck, along with all the ammo we found."

  Marc lit a smoke, and Adrian looked around, forcing himself to pay attention. This mattered, too. He had to make sure she stayed.

  Adrian was pleased by the way Brady's eyes swept over their surroundings, just like his other men. With his Old West gunfighter's coat and weapons, people would be less friendly… and that would work to their advantage. Providing Adrian could find the Wolfman something to do while he prepared Angie and this camp for what came next.

  "You've gotten a lot done."

  Marc nodded. After being awakened by Kenn's angry voice at the crack of dawn (what a different, unwelcome start to his day!), he'd been surprised to find four men he hadn't met waiting for him when he arrived at the trucks. They’d made it clear he was in charge, and while Marc knew he could have just supervised, he had done as much as any of them.

  "I spent some time last night working out the best way."

  Adrian grinned, pushing gently, wondering if Brady might be the first male to be immune to his gift. "Before or after Doug and Kenn took the shirt off your back?"

  Marc smiled ruefully, thinking there had been rough moments, like when the Marine had walked in, but it hadn't been nearly as bad as he'd expected. The leader had done a great job of controlling the situation when it got tense. "After. Now I know why Angie's so good."

  Adrian stored that and used his boot to squish a spider with too many legs into the floor, grinding in a way that made Marc frown in recognition. Angela had the same reaction to mutations.

  "I understand why you have the wolf watching her, but it's not necessary. She's safe here."

  Marc didn't tell Adrian he hadn't known where Dog was. The wolf was guarding her all on his own, and the male inside immediately felt better knowing she had some protection.

  "So, a day each?" Adrian asked, switching back to a safer topic as he kept trying to reach the stubborn man.

  "A little less if I spend my free time on it, which I probably will. Say a full day so that I can hang and then fill the baskets and shelves with what your people use most."

  "Our people… Great idea."

  Against his will, Marc liked how that felt and went on, trying not to frown. "As for the stored, you could ..."

  "We could," Adrian corrected him patiently. "They're your people now, too."

  "We … could limit access and have people sign out what they take and when. After certain hours, lock it up and set alarms that only a few people know how to remove."

  Marc didn’t want to argue the point, but his eyes said to back off.

  Adrian stopped pushing. He appeared to be considering the idea as he watched the thick, black clouds start to roll in. More rain. "What kind of alarms?"

  "Basic stuff, a lot like the discs you and Kenn use, but these will give the person a shock they won’t be able to hide, because it will knock them out. I also thought a hidden video recorder wouldn't be hard to hook up with the equipment you have here."

  "Absolutely. Sit with us at lunch, and we'll go over it."

  4

  "John said you needed this ASAP."

  Two of the men looked up from their potted-meat sandwiches, and Angela held out the envelope, eyes on her feet.

  Aware of her before the other two, Marc didn't look up at all, but he did listen closely. Was she okay? Did she miss him anywhere near as much as he missed her?

  "Thanks. Grab a tray and join us."

  Angela headed for the short line, sure Marc wouldn't be at the table when she returned. The eyes on her weren't hostile anymore, but there was no friendship in those glances either. Angela stiffened her shoulders. She had her son back, to hell with them!

  "So that's it?" Marc's eyes dared Kenn to say it wouldn't work.

  Adrian looked at the sullen Marine, understanding Brady's need for escape as the damp wind blew a sweet hint of vanilla around the table. "You got what you need?"

  "Yeah. Are those the results from the dogs?" Kenn asked, hating the source, but loving the plan. With Brady's setup, thievery would be a thing of the past.

  "Yes. They tested positive for sedatives, but none of the water is missing or contaminated, and Danny's excuse is tight. We all saw him out cold by the fire."

  Marc stood up, feeling her eyes on him as he adjusted the edges of his coat around his deadly Colts. He would stay if she'd give him a sign that he should. There was only silence, and he sighed unhappily, causing both men to look at him.

  "I'll see you guys later." He was gone quickly.

  Adrian glanced at Kenn with hard eyes, but said nothing as Angela took Marc’s seat, something that drew mutters from those in and around the crowded lunch Mess. She'd sat with the boss every day that she had been here. Why?

  "They'll be back for travel time?"

  Kenn nodded, ignoring Angela and the big wolf that settled onto its haunches at her side. "Barring trouble the water crew will be back around 8 a.m. day after tomorrow."

  Adrian sipped at the fresh mug of coffee she'd brought for him and Kenn, noticing she hadn't wasted her time bringing one for Brady. She'd known he would be gone. "We'll leave as soon as they get in. You'll do the driving schedules?"

  "Yeah, Seth went with them, so I told Doug to take charge of the new Eagles training."

  Adrian grinned, but his sharp blue eyes traveled the murky sky beyond their camp, worrying. “They'll want him back when Kyle starts on them. He's every drill instructor I've ever known."

  They laughed and went on to other camp business, and Angela kept quiet as the light drizzle began to fall, still lonely and feeling very much like an outsider despite sitting at the “in” table.

  5

  "You probably shouldn't get so close, odd things come out of high water now."

  Samantha jumped and turned with a face full of fear, only relaxing her defensive stance when she saw who it was.

  “Thanks.” She scooted back a little as the chilly wind blew her curls around. Bugs crawled happily near her feet as she watched the leafy trees blow wildly and
Samantha closed her tired eyes, thinking it was pleasant here until you saw a rabbit with three ears and only one front paw hopping though the grass. Then reality sank back in. For those who'd been through what she had, not seeing the bodies wasn't enough. Any little sign was a reminder, a flash of hell, a tortured slap, and she sucked in a breath, pushing her crimes away. What else could she have done?

  "You okay?" Marc asked, carefully filling two milk jugs of sludgy water to scrub the trucks with. No way was he going to the Mess to eat with everyone there. Not without Neil. He wondered if Samantha might be feeling the same… only she didn’t have a friend high in the chain did she?

  Samantha stood up, brushing the dirt from her tan slacks. "Mostly I’m bored and a little uncomfortable around so many people all at once."

  Marc met the eyes of a small group of men moving past, delivering a hard glare that kept them going.

  He turned back to Samantha. "Most of us spent some time alone, but I’m guessing you spent all of it that way. It’s hard to adjust."

  "Will you tell him I need a job or something? I've got way too much free time."

  Marc took a minute to write it in his new notebook, his first entry. "Just give it some time, Sam. The feelings will ease."

  She looked at him with worried eyes that held desperate secrets. "Will they?"

  Brady sighed, picking up the jugs. "I hope so. Otherwise, it just might be what pushes me out of here."

  Sam watched him leave, distracted for an instant from her own problems. Marc seemed as unhappy as she was to be back in the arms of society…but he didn’t have the weight of her burdens and she resumed her seat on the bank. No, he only worried over his love, his heart. I care for this camp, these people, Sam clarified. It doesn’t make me better than him, only more of a threat.

  Samantha’s time alone had forced her to take hard looks at herself and her role in the War. She hadn’t pushed the button, but she hadn’t lifted a hand to stop those who had, either. Instead of using her gifts for a heartless government, she could have been saving the lives of her fellow countrymen.