They sat on either side of her, not saying anything that would be overheard, but letting her know she would be in their thoughts. It was clear that she would have to make a choice when they came back… if they came back. She stifled a sob at the thought and clutched both their hands in a tight grip.
3
At ten a.m. they were loading Adrian's truck with stacks of boxes, bags and crates, each person's tent on top of the semi. In all the organized chaos, Adrian found their secret well protected.
The camp probably would have found out about Kyle if not for Neil and Marc getting them involved, playing the tape for a few, having very serious, private talks with some. It worked out in their favor that the Slavers had made contact. He wasn’t sure why they had, it wasn’t their usual MO, but he thought maybe they assumed Angela had known they were about to attack.
Adrian did another sweep. There were semis and fuel and water trucks being lined up, circled around Safe Haven. The guards had been tripled and moved closer. Everyone was carrying a weapon, even the women, and huge machine guns were being set up. Snipers were taking up strategic places, men and women rushed children and elderly to large tents in the center of the camp that had seemed to cave in, shrinking the area by almost half.
Vests were up in the camper windows, people were wearing them openly, and Adrian stepped over to talk to John, who had come to see them off. He noticed all their vehicles and tents were sporting shiny new American flags. Adrian looked closer and saw they were also on shirts, hats, jackets, buttons and jewelry and his heart was warmed a little at this show of spirit. Marc and Neil had gotten the plan to enough of the troublemakers that nearly everyone knew they were about to try to eliminate the Slavers. Perfect.
Adrian turned back to John, thinking the older man appeared tired. "Eventually Kenn and Marc will come to you about quarantining the women and children who will be coming back if things go well, and I'd like you to tell them it's already taken care of. You have to wait until the last minute to set it up though, or disguise it and have it ready so the Slavers don't see we're planning to return.”
John nodded. He hadn’t gone to the meeting, but he knew what was happening just the same, and he approved.
“These 'slaves' will each need a volunteer to stay with them from the moment they get here until they're settled in. Try to get women who've lost young children and maybe fate will do the rest. Figure on 20 of each, but I doubt we'll do that well."
John was glad he got to play an active role for a change.
Adrian waved Kevin over. "John has some things he's going to need help with. I'd like you to take care of whatever he needs."
The Level Three Eagle stepped to the older man’s side. "You're the boss."
Adrian was frowning as he walked back toward the fully-loaded semi, letting his worry show a bit to make it more convincing. He had a very strong feeling that Cesar’s eyes were on Safe Haven now. What would he see?
Most of the camp was around the parking area and watching, but everyone's view was blocked by semis, U-Haul trucks and even a livestock trailer that Chris had put two cows, two sheep, and two dogs into. People wanted to talk, and Adrian purposely ignored them, sure Cesar was currently making his own hard choices.
Adrian climbed into the driver's seat, taking the picnic basket from Angela as she scrambled up into the seat like she couldn’t’ wait to go. They hurried to get moving and Adrian was pleased. It seemed very much like he and his closest allies were fleeing while the camp prepared to defend their very lives. Perfect.
Chapter Twenty Four
The Slaver Camp
1
Jennifer froze when the flap opened.
Cesar was out of camp, observing Safe Haven since the call had come from their spies that something was happening, and the younger Mexican now moving her way wasn’t supposed to be in here.
José grinned eagerly at her pale face, but surprised her by going to a dim, filthy corner. He began to burrow into the pile of garbage and after a minute, all the terrified girl could see was his dark eyes and the tip of his gun.
“Va a ser mío cuando él está muerto.” You will be mine when he is dead. José growled softly in warning. “Go to sleep.”
Curled protectively around her enlarged stomach, Jennifer immediately pretended to do just that, not sure she wanted him to kill Cesar. As bad as the Leader was, his cousin might be even worse. Cesar wanted babies. José wanted blood.
It was a long hour for Jennifer, faced with choices no 14 year-old should have to make. Her life with Cesar was indescribable, but if José took over, he wouldn’t want any of the Leader’s bastards around, would he?
Determined to keep her unborn child alive, Jennifer made the hardest choice. She would help Cesar, save him from José’s attempts to take control of these men. And in return, maybe the evil man would spare her after the baby came.
“Get half the men ready, rápido. We’re going after them.”
Jennifer tensed at Cesar’s voice outside the flap, eyes flying to his would-be assassin, and she trembled at the hate lurking there. Maybe they would kill her by accident. Anything could happen here.
“Tell them to keep track. We leave in fifteen minutes.”
Cesar threw the flap open and Jennifer jerked, giving herself away.
“Get up!”
Jennifer scrambled to her swollen feet, seeing how his possessive glare went over her round stomach to confirm it was safe, before delivering a slap that sent her back to the floor of the tent.
“The flap was open. Who has been in here?”
Jennifer opened her mouth, not sure if she would be alive a minute from now. “Your cousin.”
Cesar’s face darkened and he slid his knife out of his belt as he moved closer.
“He didn’t touch me!” Jennifer shouted, scrambling back. “Nothing happened!”
Cesar already knew that. If José had taken what was his, he would have killed her afterward and fled.
“What did he want?”
Her eyes slid pointedly to the corner. “You.”
Cesar felt the warning, instinct kicking in, and he flung the blade.
“Whore!”
Jennifer threw herself out of the way as José stumbled to his feet, bloody knife hilt protruding from his chest. The Slaver fired as he fell forward, bullet slamming through everything it hit.
Cesar delivered a nasty kick that sent the blade the rest of the way into José’s chest, hilt deep and the younger man let out an awful gasp. His hands clutched desperately at the knife as he fell against the side of the tent, leaving a bloody smear.
Cesar stared at the girl, realizing she’d saved his life. His fist clenched at the sight of the bullet hole in the tent near her head. José had shot at her, instead of him!
Not nearly immune enough, Jennifer slid to her knees, shaking uncontrollably. She’d made a hard choice, and now someone was dead because of it. Tears began to run down her face.
Cesar called to the men who had come running. “Get that out of here.”
“What about her?”
The Slaver hadn’t looked away from the crying teenager, and now he smiled, letting his gold tooth glint in the dimness. “She goes into the trailer, with my others.”
Cesar looked at the smooth-skinned man who’d come in first. Pre-chosen to be his next right hand, Gravari was a tough, loyal headhunter who had been fighting for the power José had scorned. “If someone touches her while I’m gone, you will pay for it.”
The man lifted his gun in answer.
Satisfied, Cesar waited for him to drag out José’s body before turning to look at his pregnant slave.
“You are okay now?”
Jennifer nodded, wiping away her tears. The Slaver liked them pouring from her and she dried up as best she could, so as not to encourage him to take her before he went to conquer Safe Haven.
“You will clean this up.”
She moved immediately to do as she’d been told and the Mexican stared a
t her with hard, black eyes. He’d been expecting his impatient cousin to try soon. Finding Maria’s body had been hard on José, especially considering she was his wife.
Cesar grinned cruelly. It had been his duty to look after her when José was captured by the Americans. He’d done that and a bit more.
And what of this shivering Americana carrying his next born? She’d saved his life, maybe. He owed her now. The evil man knew just how to repay her kindness. When the baby came, he would let her keep it for a while, get attached. And then he’d give it to someone else to love.
Cesar stepped back out into the gritty light, seeing Gravari had the men loading up. There was none of the usual fighting. His men had seen José go in. His eyes glittered dangerously as they all turned his way. Was that disappointment?
“No se puede matar al diablo! You cannot kill the Devil!” He shouted violently. “I dare you to try!”
They shrunk back from him, believing the rumors now that their Leader was invincible, and when he stormed toward his filthy car, they did the same.
2
Swallowing the awful feeling of abandoning his flock, Adrian moved his small convoy fast and hoped the men in the rear would be enough.
These soldiers would bear most of the weight of the battle - of killing and springing the trap. They were surrounded by deadly weapons and knew how to use them. Machine guns, grenades and launchers, and razor wire so thin it could hardly be seen and so sharp it could take off a hand or slit a throat. They knew they wouldn't have a lot of time and they began to prepare as much of it as they could. While they worked, they ate their lunch from baskets and coolers like everyone else in the small convoy, each aware it may be their last meal.
"By 8 Eagle."
Adrian keyed the mic without speaking and then turned to channel 64.
"Eagle," Adrian said into the mic and the words that came back were alarming. Everyone listening wondered what he would do.
"A very large group of heavily armed men just left, heading toward Safe Haven, with The Man in the lead. Roughly thirty vehicles and a hundred men. By 6 and 2."
Adrian switched to channel 38 and keyed the mic. "Stay low and close. Check in every half hour."
"Copy Eagle, out. 9 miss 4 by 3."
Adrian hung up the mic, and switched to channel 15.
Angela shook her head. "How do you keep that straight?"
He lit a smoke, leaning on the gas a little. "Practice and then it's like military time. Once you learn the secret, you have it, and your mind automatically does the work."
She didn’t answer, trying to ignore the voice in her head that was demanding to know why Adrian wasn't turning back to help defend their people. She noticed the increase in speed. "You're sure he wants us enough to pass up the camp?"
"Yes, because it's only temporary. Once he has us, he'll come back. He's sure our people will negotiate if I'm a hostage."
"They would," she said, thinking of Kenn.
"It’s another reason why we have to be successful."
"And if you're wrong? If he attacks the camp?" she challenged and was shocked into silence by his answer.
"Then I'll have made a terrible error in judgment and if I'm not executed for it, I’ll probably put my gun in my mouth and pull the trigger."
Her eyes closed as images of the White House and Milton’s suicide flashed. His father had paid that way. Would Adrian? She shivered, waiting in tense silence for the spies to radio and say the camp was under attack.
Five long minutes later, the radio crackled and then popped loudly as lightning flashed violently in the distance.
"The enemy is going past. Repeat, they are going by. Watch your ass, Eagle, they’re moving fast."
"Roger that. 7 by 1."
Adrian turned to channel 7 and Angela breathed a sigh of relief. Respect for Adrian doubled, and the few doubts she had left vanished. Adrian would take care of things and it would all turn out the way it was supposed to.
3
They traveled steadily for the next five hours and made it about 15 miles from camp before the weather broke. The dim sky darkened as sheets of rain began to cover everything and the humidity seemed to go up instead of down.
Angela shivered as Adrian turned on the A/C, the cool air rushing over her sweaty skin. They had been forced to drop to 30 mph, but it was clear that Adrian wasn't stopping unless he had to. He was careful not to go anywhere those behind him would have trouble with. They could see okay, but the storm was just getting started.
The radio crackled with the thunder, making them jump and they waited for someone to speak.
"Grid 12, E-8. Enemy is now approaching E-8, still moving fast, 45 steady," their lookout called.
Adrian keyed the mic, let go and switched back to the very first channel they had used. It lit up right away.
"That's only about five miles behind us."
"Copy. By 9 plus 5," he switched to channel 86 and hit the truck's intercom button. "You men settled in back there?"
"As ready as we can be, considering we're bouncing."
"Good. The weather's getting worse. We may have to take shelter and that'll mean setting our camp wherever we land."
"Copy that. How far behind?"
"Only five miles, going faster than us."
"Roger that. We'll hang on. Let's keep that distance."
Adrian controlled his need to panic, knowing it was likely to get them all killed if he didn’t stick to his guns, and pushed the rig up to 50. "Maybe I can buy us a little time." He keyed the mic. "Channel eighty three."
Angela frowned as he switched. That was the Slaver channel.
"…on Interstate 70. I’m having trouble keeping up."
“Ir más rápido!” Go faster!
The transmission was full of static and odd drumming noises and Adrian gave her a quick look.
"Have Neil call me on this channel, tell me he thinks he saw someone following us and we should take shelter in Glendale and get ready to fight. It wouldn't hurt for Doug to tell him he’s imagining things, and that we can't stop."
Angela nodded, knowing Cesar would tell his men to back off if he knew they were about to make camp - back off to surround them.
The Slavers were still talking, working on how best to attack, and then in a pause, a very American voice cut through the accents.
"Eagle? Come in, Eagle?"
Adrian waited a second and then keyed the mic. "What the hell are you doing on their channel? Get off!"
"I've had a fire and fell behind. This is the only one I can broadcast on."
"Do you need a ride?"
"No, but maybe we should stay and get ready when we hit Glendale. I'm going to blackout after this. I think I saw someone following."
"You did not. You're jumping at storm shadows.” Doug interrupted.
The static clicked and Adrian keyed the mic. "We'll wait for you in Glendale and hole-up. The rain’s getting worse. They won’t be able to attack in this."
"Copy. Out until 10."
Adrian went to channel 10. "Perfect. 7 by 4."
They went through four channel changes that Angela couldn't keep track of and she smoked one stale cigarette after the other, listening, hoping.
The rain began to fall harder, slowing them down further and the wind rocked them along the sunken lanes of Interstate 70. The road was amazingly clear of traffic, but it was slowly becoming a pond as the torrents continued. Hail pinged off roofs and hoods as the lightning cracked, striking a structure in the distance.
Crack!
They watched as flames burst, and immediately began fighting the driving rain for survival. Thunder rolled above the small convoy, loud and echoing as if in warning and all of them wondered how things were going back in camp.
4
The news of Rick’s escape had worried everyone except for a single sullen teenager, but now that the Slavers were coming, the traitor had been forgotten.
Becky had been sneaking out to their usual meeting place
s, hoping he would be there, but he hadn’t shown. Until this morning, Rick’s name had been on everyone’s lips and Becky hated them for it. They didn’t know him like she did. They all called him evil and a killer, but she didn’t see it that way. He’d told them who he was, told her…
“Psst…”
Becky spun to the see the object of her thoughts in the shadows behind the barn. Only his shaking head kept her from throwing herself into his arms.
“Careful.”
The teenager took a subtle glance around, but as usual, she was being overlooked by everyone. It was almost like she didn’t exist while they hurried to defend the camp.
Rick stayed still as she moved toward the showers and darted into the underbrush instead. His eyes went around. Any observers? He grinned. No.
“Come on.”
Becky followed him away from the chaos of camp, loving the nervous chills in her stomach. He’d come back for her!
As soon as he thought it was safe, Rick turned and opened his arms. Like he’d hoped, she didn’t hesitate and neither did he.
Instead of the intense hug she wanted, Becky found her lips against his, her chest crushed tightly to him. She thought to resist, but he eased his grip then and she responded to the feel of him against her female body. He was hard in all the places that she was soft.
Rick drew back after a long moment, debating changing his plans. He could take her now. No one knew where she was and with everything they were doing, she wouldn’t be missed for hours.
“I have to know why you didn’t tell them.”
Shy under his gaze, Becky flushed, tone low. “I like you, more than them.”
Rick swept her back up and this time, gave her the gentle welcome she’d been longing for. He held her until she began to let her fingers play in his hair and Rick kept himself still even when she shifted against him restlessly. He hadn’t meant to encourage her, only get some information, but the sight of her welcoming young face had been too much to resist.
Adrian's Eagles: Book Four (Life After War) Page 58