LAW Box Set: Books 4-6 (Life After War Book 0)

by Angela White

  Damn, how I’ve changed, she thought.

  “Can one of you boys do me a favor?” she asked kindly, spotting her landmark. There were only so many roads through here and so many places to make a camp or ambush one.

  “What’s that, baby?” the man on the right asked, hand rubbing her breast.

  “Tell Donner that first explosion was his personal team–the one he sent in because he has no faith that you guys can do the job. The second was your EOD. Good luck getting past all the mines.”

  The hands slid from her chest in jerky movements as Tonya smiled coldly. “The next one could either be the tank you brought or the camp you’re taking me to. I don’t remember which one Angela said she was hitting today.”

  The men on either side leaned away in fear.

  “If you’re smart, you’ll tell your driver to take me to Safe Haven’s gates. You’ll surrender, pick up arms on our side, and find a woman to settle down with. Eventually you’ll have a kid, join our army, and vote for your future.”

  Tonya was surprised she’d gotten it all out without stumbling over the words. It wasn’t her normal conversational topics.

  “Take us to Donner,” the Captain in the front passenger seat ordered.

  The driver turned at the next fork.

  Tonya didn’t argue. She used their fear to protect herself, as she’d been instructed. She began laughing like a crazy person. “Bet you boys bleed real heavy.”

  She cackled again and the driver sped up as the two men in the back with her scooted over as far as they could.

  “Shut up!” the Captain snapped.

  Tonya wiped her face of all emotion and sat perfectly still, freaking them out further. Too tense to snicker even mentally, Tonya concentrated. On my way, boss bitch.

  She yawned, suddenly exhausted. The immediate response made her twitch.

  Thank you. Be careful.

  Heart warmed, Tonya shook her head. “Don’t know how someone so cold can make you want to be so close to her. Absolute bullshit.”

  The soldiers had little idea what she was talking about and didn’t respond. All of them were either wishing they were already safe in a camp or that they’d shot this crazy woman as soon as she climbed from the water.

  6

  Angela couldn’t sleep.

  She was wondering the deserted camp in slow circles, checking on people and waiting for updates that were still likely hours away. She had a third of her army in enemy hands or enemy areas, and it was unnerving. There was no way she could sleep.

  Her guards followed in silent concern, exhausted.

  Angela found herself behind the mini-mess, where they had Sergeant Wallz in a pup tent with a guard. She listened to their lowly spoken conversation with guilt and bitterness.

  “We’re trying to survive.”

  “And I’m following orders.”

  “They could be wrong.”

  “So could yours.”

  “She isn’t.”

  “Because she’s a descendant?”

  “Because our lives matter to her. She’d never throw us away.”

  Angela couldn’t take much of that and moved toward another area of guilt, punishing herself. She ducked into the canvas where they were keeping the other POWs, directing her guards to stay outside.

  Shawn ignored the order and Greg waited by the flap.

  Silence fell among the nine men inside.

  “I’m here to set most of you free. One of you is suspected of serious crimes and you’ll eventually stand trial. One of you,” she said, glaring at the man by her boots. “Will be leaving on the next chopper.” She looked around the room without caring for their disgruntlement. “Those numbers can change, depending on your choice.”

  Adrian’s lips thinned as he read more into her words than what she was saying. There was an entire field of walls up in her mind. It didn’t take a genius to figure out she was hiding something big.

  Angela motioned for the gags and ropes to be removed, warning them, “There are no camp members here, only enemy troops around us. The first one of you who screams is the traitor I’m searching for. I’ll get you before they can get me.”

  Tension filled the tent as those here for simple rule violations realized they were keeping company with an assassin.

  “I still need fighters who obey orders. You’ve been punished and you’re pissed. When I cut you free, you’ll either say something nasty to me and then see Shawn for an assignment, or get out of my camp without a word. You broke the rules, not me.”

  Angela waited as men stood up, moved for the tent flap. She braced for silence.

  “I’m taking a piss first.”

  “I’ll be back to get my job in a few minutes, boss.”

  “Man, you got some nerve, you bitch.”

  Angela withstood the nastier comments easily, feeling she deserved every one of them for holding her own people captive.

  “Half an hour gentlemen, and then get busy with your assignments,” she ordered. “We have a war to win.”

  As men began leaving the tent, rubbing wrists and glowering at their former friends, Angela reminded them, “We have a traitor in this group. Watch out for him.”

  Satisfied, Angela stared at the remaining captive, but didn’t see him as she and the witch went to work.

  Adrian knew she was tracking each of the men who’d left. It hurt him too when she discovered what she’d been hoping not to.

  She gestured and Greg quickly came to her side.

  Angela put her mark on the paper in his hand, one she’d insisted on. “Both of them, before they can get down the cliff to the first enemy camp they find. Go now. Tony’s already outside our gates. His girlfriend has killed a sentry to help him escape without being tailed. Due east.”

  Greg vanished.

  The sound of gunfire echoed shortly after. It was her first official execution and she had insisted on it not being a secret, like Adrian had handled these moments. She’d given the order and she would face her people over it, if the time came.

  Worn out, she swayed on her feet, hand going out to grip Adrian’s cage bars–something she’d demanded for him.

  Angela was glad they were alone in the tent except for Shawn when Adrian sent his light over her because she accepted it greedily. The stress was nothing compared to the guilt, but even that faded as his warmth surrounded her in a consoling embrace.

  Angela filled herself from Adrian’s force, the only man she’d pulled from since becoming Marc’s woman in every way.

  Adrian controlled his thoughts as she responded to his caring. It didn’t matter that it might be only for the baby. The moment was perfect in any form.

  Adrian’s magic sank down into her and warmed the guts that had suddenly felt cold and foreign. The muscles relaxed, the nausea settled. Angela sighed gratefully. “Thank you.”

  “Come over here,” Adrian whispered roughly. “Let me help us both.”

  Angela didn’t move and Adrian withdrew his force. “I have to touch you for the healing to work in full. You know that.”

  Angela didn’t want Adrian to help her, but she needed this baby as much as she now needed leadership or to win this war.

  She went by, leaving the tent.

  His groan of denial was music to her. What she’d allowed would hold her for a while, but there would come a time when she would beg him for help and he already knew it.

  Angela saw the camp lookouts signaling an incoming vehicle and went to meet the van, not sure who all might be on it at this point. They were about to start the part of the battle where things would be scattered and confusing. She was dreading it.

  Kyle stiffly stepped from the van, alone, and Angela waved Shawn over to get his report while she went to open the rear door.

  The sight of Conner laying there had been expected, but not crying in fear and remorse as he cowered behind the thickly wrapped crate.

  Angela caught enough of his thoughts to understand why he’d been delivered and signa
led for him to be placed with his father. She’d known he was hiding something, just not what. His mind was hard for her to get into when he was being defensive and that was all he’d been lately. Discovering that he was obsessed with a camp member wasn’t exactly what she’d thought to handle with Conner, though.

  Angela wasn’t sure what to do yet, and stayed outside the tent, listening to the father-son talk that began as soon as the pair was alone.

  “They found out.”

  “Yeah, I figured.”

  “Do you want to know what happened?”

  “No.”

  “Well, I do. Why did she give you up?”

  “To save her people, this country.”

  “But she loves you!”

  “Yes.”

  “Then how can she–”

  “You’re too young to understand the ways a woman will sacrifice herself for her goals.”

  “What…What will happen to me?”

  “She’s standing outside. Ask her.”

  Angela scowled, but lifted the canvas flap, not about to shirk her duty as leader in this moment either. It came with the blame, as well as fame.

  “I don’t know yet. When I do, you’ll be told.”

  “And until then, I’m a prisoner?”

  “Yes. You’ve been arrested for a moral violation.”

  “And my dad?” Conner accused, shoving over to lean against Adrian’s cage. “Is he under arrest for a moral violation too?”

  “No.”

  “Then let him go.”

  “He’s right, Conner. You are too young to understand the sacrifices, but it’s not just the ones that women make. Men give their lives daily for us now. Your father will be one of those heroes.”

  Angela turned and left the tent before she could lose control of her mouth or her emotions. She had a plan and she was sticking to it.

  “Will she really hand you over?” Conner asked in a whisper.

  Adrian nodded resignedly. “There was a time when she would have killed anyone who even suggested it. Here, now, it was her idea.”

  Conner stared up at his dad in concern. “What did you do to her?”

  Adrian’s misery filled the drafty tent. “I didn’t find her first.”

  Angela paused as an early update snared her witch.

  We’re okay. Traveling your way. Dad’s coming.

  Angela was glad of the warning. Charlie was helping her control Marc’s anger, but apparently, her time had run out on that front.

  He’ll be there shortly. Becky and I are ahead of him by an hour. She refused to quit when Seth told her to. He stayed with dad. Dog and the ants are with him too.

  Angela felt his concern and asked, Is she okay?

  Uh, yeah.

  Charlie’s pause said Angela needed to make sure things were going according to plan. She changed her instructions on the fly, like she’d known would happen in places.

  Tell your dad that I can’t reach Doug. And stay with him. You’re not safe here.

  Angela hated it that she couldn’t have her family close, but there were government assassins sneaking closer even as she was sending these mental messages, which is why she hadn’t been allowed to stay on site. The duties she was giving Marc would keep them alive. It was being by her side that was likely to get them killed.

  This was a one-day camp that she and her two personal guards had entered a short time ago. There were still Eagles at the first site and she would return there, but Marc had insisted that she leave each evening for a secure location to sleep. She’d agreed, knowing it wouldn’t matter if fate decided to hand her another challenge. It had made Marc feel better and that had been her goal.

  Tomorrow or the day after Angela would have most of her people reunited, with the bulk of the damage done during the next 24-hours. The soldiers currently sneaking up her mountain in the darkness were about to have the roughest day of their lives.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Make Me Believe It

  1

  Marc’s group was somber as they approached Safe Haven’s den in the eerie dusk. The carrion birds circling the gritty sky said they were walking into another scene of death. The ten fighters braced for it to be their loved ones.

  Marc had more hope than the others and shared it as they topped the cliff. “They were supposed to leave if this cave was attacked.”

  “Were they supposed to blow it up?” Kenn asked in horror at the buried bodies and dried blood.

  “Yes,” Marc responded. “And those aren’t our people.”

  “But their wearing Eagle…” Kenn trailed off as he realized there were no level patches on the jackets. “Copies!”

  “Yes,” Marc said, leading them around the carnage and back down the cliff. “Copied back before Adrian chose to show rank. Angie was right.”

  “About what?” Kenn asked, staying on Marc’s right as they moved by the path that led to the carnage.

  “She said their information will be weeks or even months behind. It will give us the advantage in every trap they try to set, because the details won’t be exactly right.

  Jeff, who had begun to scour the area the instant they topped the cliff, came to Marc’s left in a much better mood. “We only lost one back there, down the hill, and all of the other camps are gone–headed the way you are.”

  “Who was it?”

  “Kip. Shot.”

  “Damn.”

  Jeff agreed, but silently, out of respect for the dead. Kip had been up for rookie team leader and though he was obnoxious, it had kept Stanley from getting that place. The clumsy medic was unbearable as a boss, worse than Kenn, but he worked tirelessly.

  “I’ll take care of that after,” Marc promised, moving faster now that the fresh rush of adrenalin had woken them all up. He was aware of Charlie frowning as he came up between his dad and Kenn.

  “Have you guys heard anything from Tracy?”

  “No, but we wouldn’t if she was with the rest of the camp.”

  “That happened hours ago. She should have gotten here right before us,” Charlie insisted. “So where is she?”

  “Already tracking the camp, like we are,” Marc guessed. “If she’s not with them, we’ll go out looking.”

  “Can we call mom? Now?”

  Marc started to try and was stopped by Jeff handing him an envelope. The brown wrapper was in bad shape, but unopened.

  Charlie watched in worry as Marc opened it.

  Marc’s face tightened, eyes flashing betrayal, and it told Charlie to prepare himself.

  Marc handed him the sheet of paper.

  Stay with your dad or you’ll get Tracy killed.

  Charlie tried to pry into Marc’s mind, to see if he knew more details, but Marc’s demon shoved him out with the flick of a wrist.

  Best grow up first, son.

  Enraged, Charlie began screaming at his mom.

  Marc wasn’t able to treat his son the way he had others who’d reacted this way. He nodded curtly to Stanley.

  Stanley had orders to tranquilize whomever Marc told him to and he came forward with a syringe, but Charlie felt him and whirled around, swinging.

  Stanley fell onto his back as Jeff and Quinn quickly grabbed the irate teenager, but Marc waved him off. Instead, he grabbed Charlie’s head and forced him to lock eyes.

  “Look at this, at the future coming for us!”

  Charlie couldn’t refuse the command of the alpha or the strength of Marc entering his mind with what looked like armageddon scenes.

  “They’re going to bomb us, boy. Between the destruction and the aftermath, we’ll lose the entire state. Trust your mom. Trust me.”

  The boy was in agony at the thought of Tracy being used as the other females had for this terrible plan, but he shook off the men holding him, visibly calming down. “Both of you would sacrifice Tracy to win!”

  “Do you think so?” Marc asked coldly, continuing down the hill. “Don’t you think she knows if Tracy dies, she loses you? Wake up, boy!
She’s got that type of deal going with every Eagle under her command.”

  “And there will be losses,” Jeff reminded them both gravely. “There already have been. It won’t be her fault. She’s done the best she could to keep the dreams alive.”

  “Slam the dreams!” Charlie shouted, taking point to hurry things along.

  Marc let him go, not sure if Angela had this covered or if she’d set it up to be sure Charlie experienced this feeling. Either way, Marc wasn’t okay with how she was toying with everyone’s lives. If they lost, he wouldn’t be able to put this many pieces back together for her.

  Jeff, following orders, waved a smart salute to Marc and vanished down a narrow path into the weeds.

  2

  This is it.

  Cynthia went over it one last time as the engines rumbled toward her and the sentries on the area began sounding the alarm by triggering her watch. All of the people going in this way had been given special watches with their orders. Hers had gone off once already and she’d slowly unzipped herself to be ready, like her instructions had stated. The cold had seeped into her Military Sleep System setup quickly after that.

  Cynthia could see the light from her watch, but didn’t move and shut it off. She was protected by the dirt over her shallow grave and she needed the time to let her eyes adjust. Until she rose, she couldn’t be sure if it was day or night, though Angela’s estimate had said it would be hours before dawn when the soldiers broke through the camps of dozing Eagles. The cold air coming in through her air straw said the boss was right, though Cynthia was sure she’d never tasted fog before for the comparison.

  The rumbling grew louder and she heard male voices. She waited in terrified excitement.

  Start counting when you’re sure it’s them.

  Cynthia blinked rapidly, in time with her new heart beat. One. Two Three.