by Angela White
“Fail. If you want onto a mission team, you’ll be perfect.”
The playboy dentist stormed off as Angela glanced at Kyle, who was ready to get going now that he had a new defense to use.
“It won’t work if they gang up on you,” Angela warned. “And if they decide to do that, my advice is to surrender. You are no match for a descendant.”
Kyle left with the ugly thought in his mind. He still didn’t doubt it was true, only loathed being able to deny it.
Angela had four more teams to send off and the list would restart tomorrow. This was a timed plan to get her people into the right areas before it was all mined. She wouldn’t miss a departure because of emotions.
Angela went to the gate on the other end of the quickly emptying camp, where Neil, Jeremy, and their two teams were loading up. Few of them wanted to leave at all and the mood was somber.
Angela surveyed the small pile of weapons and gear they had stacked by the rear of their vehicles. The men were currently saying quick goodbyes between carrying loads over, and it was sweet to witness these hardened men caring for their women. The fact that some of their women were becoming as hard as they were didn’t matter. They understood their females still needed the emotional care that they always had. In battle, that would sometimes become an issue, but it was unavoidable. Women would learn to handle it the same as any other fighter had to.
“We’re ready in five,” Neil called, checking the kits against what was on his list. Samantha was in the van, and he and Jeremy were staying busy. Kyle would watch over her. They would all do their part.
Angela handed Jeremy the envelope. “Call if you need more men.”
“We will,” Neil promised, thinking her hair was going gray faster than Marc could fill her up on energy. What would she do while he was gone again?
“I’ll take what I need, the same as Samantha will.”
Neil held his tongue. He hated not knowing what was going on, what the plan was. He also hated the tension in Safe Haven and the camps that surrounded theirs. The relief to be away for a while was warring with the need to stay close.
“You guys ready?”
The call came from Stanley, their radioman and medic, newly appointed to both positions.
Neither Neil nor Jeremy answered.
Stanley frowned. “I’m sorry I’m late. I had to pack.”
The kit Stanley dropped, as his proof, was clumsily packed and bulging.
Jeremy waved at the neat pile he was loading. “Make yours look like these and hurry up.”
Stanley stumbled forward and the XO gave his CO an exasperated gesture.
Neil shrugged, and the two men went back to work. Stanley was hopeless no matter what he did. Someone had to take him along for this ride. If he were left in camp, they wouldn’t have one to return to.
All around them, Safe Haven was having a busy morning. People were coming and going with serious intent, and Neil stopped for a moment to watch the small circus nearest to them. The livestock truck was being loaded for the morning’s trip deeper into the mountains. Everyone assumed that Angela had found them a cave and this would start getting people used to living inside it. By the time the battle made it to Safe Haven’s front gate, she would have them all ready to shelter-in place. Neil thought that theory was likely. Once the camp was bunkered-in, it would be hard for the government to get to them without blowing up the entire ridge of cliffs, but if they did that, they would end up killing the descendants they seemed to need so badly. Angela was obviously relying on that to protect their mountain shelter. So was everyone else, because if the government came in with planes and bombs, Safe Haven would be buried alive.
Chapter Seven
Stirring the Pot
1
Seth slammed his kit into the truck, punching the door when it refused to close. He hadn’t gotten to see Becky this morning and now she was gone. Overnight, the babies and younger children had been safely transferred into the mountain den that Angela had chosen. He’d returned an hour ago, gotten his packet from the boss lady, and then discovered Becky had left with Jennifer. How would he get to her when they lost, if he didn’t know where she would be?
“Faith matters now, Seth,” Angela stated from behind him. “We can do this.”
“I’ll follow my orders,” Seth spat, slinging the next kit into the backseat.
“Seth.”
He didn’t want to look at her. He loved Angela as much as any of the men did, and he was still as loyal to Adrian as he could tolerate, but he’d give it all up for Becky and the baby. The feel of being about to lose it over the edge was too clear to ignore.
“There’s only one thing that can ruin my plan, Seth. Please don’t be the one to get us all killed.”
Seth spun around, but Angela had vanished, leaving him to wonder if she’d been there at all. Her gifts were stronger than the other descendants were. Seth thought Becky could reach that level of power in time. If she lives.
Seth turned around as gunfire rang out. Eagles flooded the area, but he stayed by the vehicle. He wasn’t only in charge of loading gear. He was protecting it. Angela wasn’t taking chances that their food would be poisoned or their supplies would be sabotaged. She also had sentries on the mess, the supply trucks, the water, and guards on those guards. Cameras were in place, with a constant crew viewing them, and the mood was one of oppression. Seth missed the freedom, the love they’d shared under Adrian’s reign. So did the rest of the camp.
“After we win,” he muttered resignedly, repeating what everyone was telling themselves. “We’ll have it again. The fences will go away and the bubble will return.”
That magical sight hadn’t come into view in a while. None of the love and hope that had filled it before existed now and Angela refused to reveal the black shroud hanging over them.
Seth scanned the truck, the area around it, the guards on it, before hitting his radio. “We’re set. Five minutes.”
Seth’s hard tone was quickly answered. The entire team was tired, but none as much as Seth. They all knew to tiptoe around him. Many of his men had also returned to discover their loved one already gone, so it was a feeling they understood. They were ready to rip someone apart. It almost didn’t matter who.
2
“You’re stirring the pot kinda’ hard aren’t you?”
“Yes,” Angela agreed, not looking at Cynthia. The reporter had refused to leave her side for the fighting and Angela had switched her with Heather, who she’d originally chosen to be her personal assistant for today. Heather was one of the click sisters who’d recently signed up to be on the next rookie female team. Kyle would now handle that issue during his ride.
“Ready for your stir, Cynthia?”
The reporter swallowed nervously. “Yes. Get it over with.”
Angela chuckled without amusement. “What’s the rush? Kevin already left.”
Cynthia froze, furious. “You told me he would be here when you were finished with rounds!”
Angela moved toward the next parking area. “I’m not finished, am I? You wanted me to talk to Hilda and then doctor had a favor to ask about his sons, and then the vet needed…”
“I get your point!” Cynthia snapped.
“Good. When the van leaves, be on it. I don’t need a babysitter. I need my teams to do their jobs!”
Before Cynthia could protest, Angela stopped by the main gate and took a minute to view the area around them. The chilly mountains were serene, stunning even, but something wasn’t right. She was monitoring a number of people in their camps, but it wasn’t enough. That old feeling of cold dread swarmed over her.
Angela hit the button on her radio. “Full alert. Lock us down!”
Cynthia spun round, searching for the threat, and found them surrounded by Angela’s personal guards. Chosen by Marc, the seven men stood shoulder to shoulder.
Cynthia unthinkingly climbed up on the nearest man to see better. Her training said to get up high to get eyes on the
threat.
“Be still,” Cynthia snapped when Jax started to fight with her, thinking she was the problem. “I need to see.”
Angela motioned for Jax to pull her down.
He did it carefully, not about to risk hurting the reporter. All the pregnant women were being handled with care.
Camp alarms started blaring to their right and the guards moved with Angela as she ran that way. Marc’s orders were protection, not detaining, but the men running along considered grabbing her and keeping her in the middle, before quickly discarding the notion. Considering it was the only comfort they were allowed.
Angela darted between running people, and scaled a water tanker. She tossed herself down, hip taking the tolerable pain. She quickly slid forward on her elbows and knees like a reptile.
Her guards came up in almost identical movements as shots rang out.
Angela racked the slide on the 9mm that Marc had insisted she switch to. In a real fight, her 6 shooter wasn’t enough. She wasn’t a crack shot anymore, but she could hit what she aimed at as long as she used both hands.
Angela peered over the edge to find a large herd of mountain goats invading their walls. Many of the dingy white animals had been trampled in the rush down the cliff where Safe Haven was camped. The rest were bunched painfully against the fenced walls. Wood groaned, creaking under the strain and more shots rang out as those on watch tried to alleviate the pressure. Aiming at the crippled goats closest to the fence, the sentries were creating a barrier of bodies, as they’d been taught.
Angela was pleased. She stood up, looking around at the guards to let them know everything was okay. Her protection also rose.
Hiss! Thud!
The Eagle on Angela’s right fell off the side of the tanker.
“Sniper!” Jax grabbed Angela, covering her. He slid her off the tanker and into Daryl’s waiting arms, then rolled onto his spine and hit his radio.
“I saw a flash, Shawn! He’s at my noon, high!” Jax directed.
There was about three minutes of tense silence and then one muffled shot rang out.
Everyone waited.
“Sniper’s dead. I’m hit. Switch out.”
Angela headed for the gate before Jax could roll from the top of the tanker. He had to run to catch up.
Angela met Shawn, healing him before he was in physical reach. The handgun wound wasn’t serious, but she needed all of them at the full health. The witch, who wanted this baby as much as she did, would let her know when it became a problem.
After he was healed, Angela went to help the Eagles gather the meat that had delivered itself to their front door. She couldn’t do anything for Jack. He’d been dead before hitting the ground. Two of the camp’s older women would come to direct handling of the body. They were getting too good at the routine.
“Can I talk to you?”
Angela slung her end of a carcass onto the cart, scowling. “I’m not. So don’t ask.”
“You’re getting good men killed!”
Daryl’s accusation wasn’t new, but Angela felt the guilt threaten to overwhelm her. She shoved it aside to embrace the anger that she was working so hard to bring out in everyone else.
“I’m trying to save an entire country, our future. I can’t do that from a covered tent!”
Daryl opened his mouth to make a different suggestion and Angela swung, punching him in the mouth hard enough to make him stumble and almost fall.
“I’m sorry, Daryl. I am, but so help me if I hear one word about abandoning these people to save myself, I will shoot you dead.”
The top Eagle clamped his lips shut. She never bluffed.
Angela slowly went back to helping collect the food.
Those who witnessed the ugly moment took some of it with them and wished even more that Adrian were leading them again.
3
“I can’t believe she sent us out alone,” Conner said, holding the bushes for Jennifer to pass.
None of the other team members spoke. They were scared and not in the mood to talk. Conner was excited and it was annoying.
Jennifer and Becky stayed together, with Conner in the front and Charlie in the rear. The guns in their holsters felt surreal. Even the stunted, abnormal ground was harsher than they were used to. Their roles were just as unreal, though all of them had agreed without hesitation. It wasn’t something they had ever thought they’d be sent out to do.
“This is the place,” Conner stated, holding up his map. “She said to split up when we reach the bridge.”
Charlie and Becky took the path to the right, while Conner went to the left. Jennifer hesitated, torn. She didn’t know Conner.
A hand pulled on her shoulder and Jennifer flinched, swinging.
Conner landed on his ass next to her.
Charlie and Becky laughed and for an instant, the bubble around them became visible. Peace settled over the kids as they remembered they could protect themselves now.
Then reality returned and the two inexperienced teams headed down the mountain in silence.
Behind them, two trained teams also came down the same paths and then split up to watch out for the teenagers. The adult teams would split off on their own runs later, but for the beginning of their trek at least, the kids were safer than they thought.
4
“Ladies, I’d like to have your attention for a moment.”
Chatter in the van stopped as Kyle cleared his throat. “Each of you has an envelope. Inside is a sheet of paper and another envelope. When I tell you, open it and read the contents of the paper only. Look at the time and date before opening the second set of instructions. Anyone who opens the wrong one, even by accident, will get left right here.”
Only doubting him a little, the females waited impatiently for permission.
“Open part one.”
Tearing sounds filled the van, and then an awkward tension.
Kyle brought them to a halt to put the van in park. He tore opened his own instructions before looking at the passengers. “Mine says to tell you that I have the same message.”
“What message?” Heather asked, confused. “My paper is blank.”
Every head turned toward the former accountant, expressions shocked, angry.
Kyle filled her in. “Our papers say: One person has no instructions. Ask her why she betrayed us.”
Heather gasped, face flooding with fear.
Tonya grabbed the woman’s arms so that Tracy could take the weapons from her belt.
“Start talking!” Crista ordered, gun ready. “I’ll kill you.”
Heather held up a hand. “Please, wait.”
As Tracy and Tonya stepped back, Crista looked to Kyle for guidance.
Sensing this might be the only distracted moment she would get unbound, Heather swiftly pulled a secondary gun from her boot.
She snatched the first person she could reach and held the hostage in front of her. “Drive or I’ll shoot her!”
Kyle shook his head, hands out of sight and moving, body set to react. “Don’t make me do this. Face a trial.”
Heather laughed harshly. “And let those idiots who…”
Kyle spun around and fired over the seat, one quick round.
The bullet slammed into Heather’s shoulder, knocking her backward to free Tonya.
Before Heather could do more than cry out, Tonya flipped around and began punching the woman in her bloody shoulder.
Kyle calmly got the van rolling as the other women hurried over to subdue their traitor.
5
“You all right here?”
Peggy shoved hair out of her face and hefted the babbling baby higher onto her hip. “No. Only part A is done. Here’s part B: The drafts need to be sealed in the kid’s area, the entrance gets closed one hour after sunset, and yes, that means you’re staying here.”
She handed Doug an envelope before he could argue and walked away while he was reading, passing the baby to one of the other den mothers. She knew what his i
nstructions were. He wouldn’t like it, but he was needed.
“Did you do this?!” he demanded, drawing attention.
“No.”
“Who did this?!” Doug roared.
Peggy rounded on him, furious. “You did, ya big lug! And you had the nerve to lecture me!”
Doug suspected the knowledge she had, but his pride wouldn’t let it go.
“Why?” he insisted.
“You’re sick! You lied!”
Peggy entered the bathing area and got busy giving orders to the lingering males who were eyeing the kids as if they were hungry jackals. “Set those buffalos more evenly, hang a thicker curtain, put down the adhesive mats…” Peggy made a sharp gesture. “Write!”
Doug fumbled his notebook and pen into hand as she repeated the current list, then kept going.
“After the mats, get guards in every area. Make sure only happy, loyal men are on shift tonight.”
“I know how to set up security, woman!” Doug snapped, face red.
“Then why do you have to write it down like a rookie?” Peggy grinned sarcastically.
Doug paused, mouth moving with thoughts he couldn’t voice.
She made that sharp gesture again. “Get moving, man!”
Doug stomped off, muttering.
Peggy quickly went to the rear of the cave. She stopped to consult her notebook, but when everyone was out of sight or not paying attention, she ducked behind a pile of boulders that appeared to be a dead end. She lifted a rough grey curtain and went under it before she was spotted.
The sentry she bumped into in the darkness put a steadying hand on her arm. “Careful there, sexy.”
Peggy snorted, but didn’t snap at the man. They were all tense and using whatever outlet they could find.
“Is everything ready?”
Tommy nodded. He loved being in the loop. As a member of Jeff’s team, he always was. “Right on schedule.”
“And the C4?”
“In place. When you call it, I’ll demolish it.”
6