by Angela White
Angela acknowledged the hints. When he turned back toward the quieting camp, she let him go without asking more questions. First, she had to decide what she really wanted and if it would be possible with so many of her past demons here.
It would mean separating herself even further from Marc, who was only here because he was hoping for another chance with her. He would leave tomorrow if she told him that she wanted to become an Eagle and help teach the women here to do the same. He'd know it wasn't possible for her to be his mate and a leader, too. Both of those things were all-or-nothing.
Angela felt the wolf and the guards lingering, waiting for her, but instead of returning to camp, she settled herself on the damp grass and began to sort through her mind. What did she really want now? Adrian was tempting her with a new life, with possibilities she hadn't even considered, and she was suddenly afraid that her time alone with Brady hadn't been enough to keep them together. He wanted a mate, a part of the past returned, and she… she wanted the second chance Fate was offering.
Angela lay back on the ground, staring at the sky as full darkness settled over the broken land. Was there a way she could have them both, if only for a little while?
7
"Maria."
The Mexican cook flinched, stepping back from the door of the dark supply truck. This side of the Mess had only a few people in sight and was almost pitch black except for her lantern.
"Who es there?" She held up her light and sucked in a sharp breath at the man next to the rig. "Dio."
Rick chuckled at the name, moving out of the shadows. "Sometimes."
He held the door for her, so the plump woman would have no choice but to step inside or draw attention. When she hesitated, he said three words, "Cesar says hello."
Her eyes were terrified in the dim lantern light, and Rick clicked his tongue at her, tone scolding as she stepped inside. He closed the door behind them. "They have a monthly meeting. You've known where they'd be and yet, no word since he sent you here. Not a single call. Why is that?"
Maria was trapped. Cesar was holding her two sons, sparing them if she would infiltrate the camp of Americans they had heard on the radio and now, he'd sent this... this evil Gringo to what? Kill her? Scare her?
“I couldn’t. The radio is watched!” she hissed.
Rick shook his head. "Can we trust you Maria? Or are you a convert too?"
His scorn drew a reaction, but not the timid one he had expected.
"If you are here, then you owe him too. Maybe we help each other and both stay alive, yes?"
Rick grinned, eyeing her soft, womanly lines. "That's what Cesar said."
He moved closer, big body intimidating to her, as he intended. "But understand this. I am loyal, and if I get caught, I won't go down alone."
He slipped around her, reaching for the handle. "I'll be in touch. Soon."
She frowned, voice low, scared. "He is near?"
Rick's tone was pointed as he stepped out into the cool night air, aware of a nearby guard eyeing him suspiciously. "Don't wish for the Devil if you owe him money you don't have."
He glanced back, eyes glittering. "Especially if you never intended to repay him."
8
"It is late. You sleep now, ja?"
Angela ignored the woman, slipping her boots on and frowning openly when the German den mother stepped in front of her tent flap.
"You sleep."
"You move. Now!"
Hilda considered, shook her head full of pink-and-green curlers. "He says keep them women healthy." Her face softened. "You no sleep, no eat. I see shadows. Not good."
Angela felt her anger fade, but not the sense of urgency that had woken her. "Thank you. I'll try harder. Later."
Satisfied, Hilda moved, and Angela stepped outside, pulling her sweater closer. She knew the woman cared for the females here, she could feel it. She was also sure something in the German's past was driving her, but didn't push. Angela darted between tents, sure she knew where he was. She had to show him…
"Just tell me what's going on. Why are you so determined to become my pal?"
Tonya's voice was unmistakable, even without the usual fake accent. Angela slowly made her way past the showers, easily avoiding the three men subtly guarding the camp's perimeter. The Eagles were too far away to hear the women, but Angela stored every word.
"Because I'd know! He has secrets. Who was he?" another voice hissed angrily, also familiar.
"Not a clue. I know I've seen him before... a politician maybe?"
That one was definitely Tonya, voice muffled a bit from running water.
"I've already run through that entire list. Not on it."
Angela tried to figure out who the other voice was as she crept by during a thick silence, and then realized they were talking about Adrian. She felt her blood heat with the urge to defend him.
"Maybe we could work together while he's distracted with Barbie and her Wolfman."
There was pleased, cruel laughter from the other female. "I knew I read you right. Let's grab some coffee at the Mess and talk."
Angela was full of rage. How dare they plot against Adrian! She wanted to confront them, but kept moving, evading and pushing herself to use the skills she feared were beginning to rust without a daily workout. This couldn't wait.
The creek bank had four guards that she had little trouble sneaking around since she was inside and they were watching for trouble from every other direction. As she rounded the slight curve and the spruce tree, she caught sight of Adrian and gasped. He wasn't alone!
Hot, searing jealousy burned a path down her throat, and she pushed it away, face flaming as she turned her back to them, listening.
"What?"
"I'm sorry. I have to go."
There was the sound of a soft kiss being pressed to an even softer, younger cheek…the rustle of bodies becoming untangled, clothing being adjusted.
"But we're ..."
Adrian left the anonymous female without an explanation.
As he stopped behind her, Angela could feel the sexual tension running the length of him. He'd been close to the edge. She caught another hot flash that sent a chill of surprised need floating into her gut. He'd been pretending it was her.
"Something's wrong?"
Angela swallowed a nasty remark, frowning at herself. "There's something you should see."
She spun toward the caution tape, and the guards on the area dropped their hands to their guns at the noise of her no-longer careful steps.
Adrian was impressed, pulse still racing with need. They hadn't known she was here. She'd gotten past Level Three Eagles, and he hadn't known either until her feeling of pain echoed through his heart, calling him a traitor, a betrayer.
Aware of the wolf paralleling them on the right, Adrian waved back the men who tried to follow them out of camp. His frown deepened when she didn't stop for nearly a mile. She didn’t talk, just moved with a surety and grace in the unknown forest that sent his mind not to the embrace that had been interrupted, but to the fantasy that it had been her in his arms.
Adrian took another look around and then turned his eyes back to her, watching the way she'd learned to keep herself under tight control as they walked quickly through the forest. Fantasy wasn't even close.
"Over here." She led him to a steep cliff that overlooked the route the camp had traveled to get here - west. "Use these. You'll get better details."
He looked through the night vision goggles she took from her belt, stifling a moan at the sweet hint of vanilla lingering on them. He stiffened when she leaned close, using a gentle finger to guide his sight. He felt the thrum of raw energy, and then his eyes took over and he froze, watching.
Angela turned her back to his, almost touching, hand resting lightly on her gun as she protected him. It gave him time to see everything that mattered and she knew he was pleased. After a long minute, she heard him light a smoke, and stayed alert, sure he was now choosing what to do.
&
nbsp; "Hell of a fight down there."
Adrian nodded, mind seeing the glow of a huge fire, the explosions. "Surprised we can't hear it."
Angela didn't tell him that she could. To her, the cries of the dying were loud.
"They're coming for me soon." She hadn't meant to say it, and there was a tremor of fear that had him turning toward her instinctively.
"I'll protect you."
She didn’t answer, clearly not sure if she could trust him, and Adrian gently put his arm around her shoulder, tugged her close to his warmth.
He didn't say anything, just held her, and Angela allowed it as they watched the flashes of light in the distance. There was a battle for survival going on down there, and she could feel him wanting to help, hurting because he couldn't.
"The Witch says it's not your destiny to save them all. Try to relax. Stress is bad for the heart."
Adrian grinned and stepped back as the scent of sweet vanilla began to steal his thoughts. "Don't I know it?” He handed her the goggles. “Let's get back."
She shook her head, watching Dog patrol the darkness around them. "I overheard a conversation tonight… one I think you need word for word."
Before he could ask, she took his hand. Adrian felt her response, her fear, and then he was in her head as she dealt with Hilda and then slipped past the showers.
When she let go, Adrian had to clamp his teeth shut to keep from protesting and hoped she would take his silence for anger at Tonya and Cynthia. It had been a long day, and his control wasn’t at its strongest.
"You'll punish them?"
Adrian snorted, leading the way back to camp. "No. They never quit."
She raised a brow, again marveling over the fact that she was here, using her powers so openly for him after only four days. "Care to share?"
"You'll get the full soon enough. These people love to gossip." He looked at her with pleased blue eyes tinged with real need. "Thank you."
Angela nodded and turned away to keep from asking if he would now go back to what he'd been doing before she showed up. It was none of her concern. Yet. Angela frowned at that thought and headed for her tent, full of confusion about these new, unwelcome feelings.
"It's what I'm here for, right?"
Adrian thought of his dreams, of the goals now expanding further than he had ever really hoped was possible, and let the longing fill his tones. "Among other things.”
Chapter Forty Eight
April 5th, 2013
Just north of the Rapid City Airport
1
Adrian was waiting at the QZ when the water crew pulled in and knew by their faces that they had survived a close call. They'd gotten the precious liquid, though. He could tell by the way the tires on the tanker were pushing out from the weight, and was relieved that at least one of their bigger problems was solved for a couple weeks.
Neil and Kyle came straight to the tape, directly to him.
"They followed us openly from the state line, tried to surround us while we got the water. Rough count is sixty. Jeeps, trucks, machine guns. We didn't engage, but we did put a timer on the tower so they couldn't have the rest of it. Maybe we took out a few when it blew, but it’s not likely since they were watching us the whole time," Neil said tiredly, pushing his trooper hat more firmly onto his head.
"You did exactly right. How did you evade them?"
Kyle's grin was subdued. "Can't attack what you can't see. We cut through a storm drain and rolled up the mill creek for a few miles like Kenn had us do after Cheyenne. They never saw us come out."
Adrian was pleased, but not relieved, and the odd whine to the wind seemed to mock him. Something else had happened. "So, you eluded, they got no water or hostages, and you've brought back valuable supplies and information. Why are my top men so upset?"
It was Kyle who answered, voice clearly worried. "Because another city's burning, Boss. They've taken Casper. The camp will be able to see the smoke once we clear the trees."
Adrian dug into the pockets of his jacket for a smoke, frowning, acting like he hadn’t known. "So, they have enough men to watch this camp, follow you, and sack a city all at the same time?"
Neil nodded, green eyes coming alive as he seemed to pick up Adrian's thought. "We can do it. We're ready."
Adrian sighed, seeing Kyle clamp down on a protest. He already knew it wasn't true. They were good, yes, but that good? He shook his head. Not yet. They needed another six to eight weeks.
"This camp isn't ready. If we did it now, we might as well not come back. We'd be starting yet another war we can't be sure of finishing and there will never be support here for that."
Adrian shrugged resignedly. "For now we'll double the security, increase the number of levels we start each month, and get out of his sight for a while."
Both guards heard the hatred, knew Adrian was thinking of all the people who would likely die in their place. Neil was sure their leader would change his mind, but he didn't.
"We need to make some real distance. Don't hold anything back when people ask about your run."
"He's going to keep following."
Kyle nodded his agreement, as did Adrian. "This is your job, gentlemen. Protect her quietly, though. The camp can't find out yet, not like this. We have to buy her time to win them over."
They were both clearly glad he agreed as they ran their eyes over the camp, nodded to men on duty.
"How have things been here?" Kyle asked, seeing Kenn was busy getting the camp ready to roll, and Adrian's tone caught attention.
"Interesting."
They followed his line of sight to Angela, who was sitting at his table, laughing sweetly at something Doug had said.
"She's one of us - an Eagle in disguise. I want you to encourage it, let her have the lead if possible. I’d see how strong she is, what she already knows."
Both men were wondering the very same thing, but neither was able to imagine the men accepting a female.
Adrian reassured them. "I have it covered."
"What about the slavers?" Neil asked, still sure they were ready.
Adrian's face tightened. "I’m working on it."
Feeling like he'd overstepped, the trooper’s tone was apologetic. "His camp won't travel as hard as this one will when they find out Casper's gone."
Adrian shrugged again, knowing guilt would keep him up tonight. "He'll send men to keep track of us, maybe even try to slow us down. We'll have to scout and clear before we roll."
"My team will handle that personally. We'll take backup, but only Level Six Eagles will clear the road."
Adrian nodded again, thinking the mobster had grown into his destiny faster than anyone else so far. "We leave in one hour. You two should talk to Billy and some of the others before we go, catch up on what's been happening here. See Kenn for your driving schedules and adjust where you need to."
"What about today's route?"
Adrian's tone was pleased as he turned away. "We're not taking a road. We're gonna roll right through these Black Hills."
Adrian spotted Brady and the wolf moving alone through the small crowds of packing camp members, and waved them over.
"You have things for me?"
When he wasted no time with small talk, Marc understood he was worried, and the Wolfman found that he didn't like it any more than the rest of Adrian’s herd did.
"Yes. After the call, I finished that plan you asked for. It's good."
"How good?"
"For us, casualty rate is 3-4 percent. For them, 95% at least, but it'll have to be set up just right to get these kinds of results."
The three pages were quickly put into his pocket, and Adrian knew he would read them while Kenn drove. He'd told Neil no for an attack now, but they had to start getting ready for it. The battle was inevitable, and when the time came, he would kill every last one of the foreign invaders or die trying.
2
Seeing the new woman was surrounded by a group of females who looked ready to fight, J
eremy moved closer to the shower camper. He stepped casually - in that alert manner the other guards took note of even in chaos of a travel day.
As he neared the five females, he noticed the new woman wasn’t backing away. She didn’t look scared, only angry, and Jeremy listened to the instinct telling him to wait and see how she handled it.
“You can say that because you weren’t there!” one of the women stated, hand on her hip. “You didn’t almost die there!”
Samantha let the truth roll out of her mouth with a harsh snarl. “I escaped after being raped, you snotty twit! And I still say we should fight!”
Silenced for a moment, the others eyed her in disbelief.
Samantha read their thoughts with ease and let out another rough sound of private misery and dangerous fury. “Call me a liar. I dare you.”
Jeremy wanted to wait, but he knew two of the female lurking in the back of the group were about to accept the challenge. “Is there a problem, ladies?”
He sounded so much like Adrian that all of them flinched.
Samantha stared. It was the guard from the creek. She hadn’t seen him again since then… He was close now, enough for her to see the warmth he held for her already and she felt a blush spread over her cheeks. What the hell?
“Just getting to know the newbie,” one of the girls stated.
Jeremy frowned deeply. “Play nice or maybe Adrian will reverse his choice on female punishments. You could end up digging toilet holes.”
There was an immediate flare of hate, but no response other than short glares thrown toward Sam and the guard. Instead of thanking him, Samantha turned away. She didn’t need anyone to defend her. She was learning to do that for herself.
Jeremy watched her go with a thoughtful look. She really needed a friend here…