by Angela White
Kenn glanced around the tent, surveying the concrete supports they’d poured. It would take weeks for the pylons to fully dry and harden, but they had roughly thirty-six hours before the storm hit and Kenn thought it would be enough. They’d already double-tied all ropes, driven vehicles up against the weakest side, and rechecked the stakes they’d driven in. Kenn estimated the tent could withstand 60 mph winds without much trouble. Higher than that and they would have to use the backup–the cave. The trucks around the tents would drive people to the entrance and crews already laboring down there would help get everyone inside safely.
Kenn knew that would be chaos and spent an extra minute rechecking the support posts. Maybe he could get them to take another 10 mph if he added a layer of gravel and enclosed it.
Greg cleared his throat. “Um, you got a minute?”
Kenn, who had forgotten he wasn’t alone, turned around in confusion. “What?”
“I need you for a minute.”
Kenn didn’t like the tone or the expression, and joined Greg in the corner of the empty tent. “What?”
“The boss wants a message sent to Adrian.”
Kenn understood he was being asked to deliver it, and instantly worried over what that would mean for him if Brady or the Eagles found out.
“So?” Kenn replied, stalling while he ran it through his filters. How badly would it hurt his place if the camp found out? Would it hurt Tonya?
“She said he has work to do. She also said you’re the only one who can get him to do it without creating more drama.”
Kenn relaxed. That, he could do. Adrian would accomplish any task that came straight from Angela and she knew it. “What is it?”
“Give him these instructions,” Greg stated, holding out a folded piece of paper. He had read it in surprise, but not shock. Angela always had an eye on their future.
“When?” Kenn asked, reading.
“Now, would be best,” Angela stated from the flap behind them. “And you don’t have to hide it. That part of your life is over.”
Kenn was glad to hear it. “I’ll go after I add a little more support to our supports.”
Angela left the flap and Greg followed, glad to hear he didn’t have to lie to Marc. He was also relieved that it wasn’t a personal message, but it mattered more to him that it wasn’t another grand secret. He’d had enough of those.
“So have I,” Angela commented, spotting Kyle emerging from the canvas he now shared with Jennifer. She and the baby were currently sleeping in the builder’s common tent and Angela was positive the mobster wasn’t happy about it. Many of Safe Haven’s couples would spend the next ten days apart, but it would strengthen most of them.
“I’m ready for the next list,” Angela stated, steering them toward the caves where teams with engineers, plumbers, and electricians were about to descend into the earth and begin the next phase of their settlement.
“I’m actually caught up,” Greg stated. “We had two loads come in, two crews left, and the bell for meals has been changed to a call on the radio. Other than the wind picking up from last night, I’ve got nothing new for you.”
Angela noted the slightly surprised men going eagerly into the caves. They’d assumed they had been forgotten all this time. Now, they knew their time to be useful just hadn’t come yet. In Safe Haven, there was work for everyone.
“I have things for you,” Angela said. “Ready?”
“Shoot,” Greg answered, taking out his notebook.
“We need to get the water crew drafted and gear for them separated. After that, the next fuel crew will be chosen and their locations picked. After that, have more cleaning supplies and tools brought up. Then, have Zack…”
Greg trailed behind her, taking notes. As far as she was concerned, they were about to be living in those caves and that meant her lists were almost never-ending. When they got the caves ready to live in, then they had to get the people inside and that would be no easy feat. It would take long days, hard labor, and any remaining luck they might have.
3
Kenn kept the paper in his hand as he made his way through the crowds of people changing shifts. Angela said he didn’t have to hide it and he wasn’t going to.
Curiosity from the sentries became glares and frowns as Kenn neared the gate and then exited while a new crew was hauling a load inside. When he took the rough, trampled path toward Adrian’s site, the mutters were audible. Kenn didn’t let the comments goad him into a reaction. He also didn’t respond to the shouted questions and complaints of those in Zone C, except to mentally disapprove of their attitudes.
“Lower, boy!”
Kenn followed the voices, recognizing a training session with only those two words. Once you’d gone through it, you never forgot the feeling.
Kenn took the next path to lead him into a small wooded area in an alcove of stone. It was so much like where Safe Haven was, just in miniature, that Kenn burst out laughing.
His hard, surprised brays alerted everyone to his presence and told Adrian he was being mocked.
Conner rose from the pushup position quickly, stepping back as his dad’s face turned dark. They’d risen to a drillmaster today and Conner was glad for any break.
“She shouldn’t send you again,” Adrian stated.
Kenn understood it wasn’t because of the laughter. “I can handle the fallout.”
“What do you want?”
“There’s a storm coming tonight.”
“I know. Why are you here? You shouldn’t be here.”
Adrian didn’t want anyone around right now. He had too many mistakes to ever atone for and being near Kenn, who he had been closest to, was salt in his wounds.
“Boss has a message.” Kenn gave him Angela’s note with angry amusement still lining his words. “You have work to do, like the rest of us. Get on it.”
Adrian’s eyes misted over as he read the cold instructions.
After the storm, have Conner and four good men meet a Safe Haven crew at the very bottom of the road. Assist and provide security. This is not FND. It’s survival.
“Anything you need,” Adrian whispered gratefully.
Kenn, repulsed again at Adrian’s weakness for Angela, left without saying anything that he wanted to. How could he have idolized that man so much?
That’s not Adrian, his mind whispered hesitantly. That’s a shell. She’ll fill him back up in time.
Kenn paused, hidden under the cover of a wildly growing tree. He hadn’t heard that voice in a long time and wasn’t sure he wanted to now. The inside whisper had led him into so many mistakes that he would never fully be free of.
I’m sorry. It’s my nature.
You almost destroyed me and everything else, Kenn responded, thinking clearly for the first time when dealing with his demon. I won’t ever trust you.
I can try to follow the light, the demon offered apologetically. You’ll have to help me.
The wind blew the leaves around aggressively and Kenn got his feet moving. No. Go back to sleep until you can do better than try. I won’t risk my place again.
Relieved and disappointed, the demon faded away and Kenn felt his soul lighten. He was a better person now, a stronger person, and he loved his life. It had been good under Adrian and he still missed that, but serving under Angela was quickly becoming necessary. She was good at it and she didn’t hold a grudge anymore, as far as he could tell. The future had never looked better to the Marine, and he entered the main gate with a tolerant nod to the guards who glowered. “We all have work to do. Get on it.”
Behind Kenn, Conner stood under the same tree and gazed at the gates of Safe Haven in confused longing. A team had just come in with three large trucks and it was holding up a line of people on their way to the supply vehicles. One of those people was Candy and Conner stared, heart hurting. He was hers! Why couldn’t she understand that?
Adrian’s hard hand settled onto his shoulder and Conner accepted the comfort, trying to fight the ne
ed to rush the gates to be with her. At least his dad understood how that felt. They did have one thing in common.
“Come on. We need to get some things ready for our mission.”
Conner allowed his father to lead him to their site, not asking what they were being sent out to do. He was willing to go wherever Angela wanted, if it meant he might have a chance to earn his way back in.
4
“We’re all set,” Whitney stated, handing Kyle a paper. “It’s all in there.”
Kyle had understood by their gear list that Angela was sending them out to a dangerous area and hadn’t argued. They needed the items on her list and he planned to return with them. “Good. Half hour after mess. Tell the others.”
Whitney rushed off to get cleaned up and eat, and Kyle lingered, verifying that the guards were alert and the camp was calm. It was always hard to tell with so many people, especially when whining about sore muscles was so natural, but to his ear, everything was fine.
“That’s when his place is the most dangerous,” he grumbled. Kyle wasn’t anticipating being away from Jennifer for the next few days. Hell, he didn’t like being away for a few hours!
“Then we should go have a nice meal,” Jennifer stated, coming up behind him.
Kyle froze when she wrapped her arms around him from behind, pressing those breasts into his back.
Jennifer retreated, understanding and yet annoyed at the same time. “Or maybe I should go eat by myself.”
Kyle, frustrated and tired, slid in front of her and delivered a kiss that promised she would never have to eat alone.
Jennifer giggled as Kyle pulled away and stared at her. His thoughts were now complete chaos. It was cute.
“It’s not cute!” Kyle protested. “It’s frustrating.”
Jennifer’s demeanor became cold and she went to the mess without saying anything else.
Not sure what he’d done wrong, Kyle followed, replaying the scene.
Jennifer stopped at Peggy’s table to collect Autumn, and Kyle went to get their trays, still confused. Why were women so hard to figure out?
Jennifer was busy blocking her thoughts from the baby and missed Kyle’s observation, but it wouldn’t have mattered. She was having a hard night. Sleeping alone was hard. She’d had a bad dream and Kyle hadn’t been there to comfort her. She didn’t like this schedule at all.
“I’m sorry,” Angela said, joining them at the center tables. “It does matter.”
“It’s okay.” Jennifer smiled tiredly. “We’ll be fine.”
Angela waved at the sleepy baby. “Yes, you will.”
Jennifer took hope from that and allowed Kyle to slide in without giving him the cold shoulder. All she’d wanted to do was share a good moment with him to replace her bad mood, but she needed to control her own emotions and not depend on her man to do it for her.
“Eagle signups are still open folks, but there are only a few slots left,” Tonya’s voice told them over the radios. “Come see me. I have the sheet.”
Angela was pleased with how that was going–both the rookies and the radio–and she skimmed the board that Doug was currently updating. Theo’s team had been in the lead until Billy’s crew got in today and dumped three semis of stuff in their site. No one knew how they’d managed to do so much in only one day, but Angela was more than happy with their ingenuity. The coats and boots would keep them all alive.
“You all set?” Angela asked.
“Yes,” Kyle answered, not sure how much of his run he should talk about. “We’ll get in, get the stuff, and get home.”
“Perfect,” Angela agreed. The run north wouldn’t be pretty. Neither would a couple of the other missions that she had crews leaving for in the morning, but without water and food, they were doomed. Fuel was also a necessity, though, most people here wouldn’t understand why for a while yet.
“Have we seen any movement?” she asked next, making the people at the table tense. All of them knew she meant their old enemy.
“Nothing so far,” Morgan said. “From either source.” He was fresh off sniper duty with the teens and he felt as tired as Angela looked.
Angela was glad. She hadn’t been able to view anything about the remaining government or the Mexican’s, and it was making her twitchy.
The crowd cackled and groaned as Billy’s team was listed in first and Angela took the opportunity to inspect her people for problems.
She found only the ailments that she’d already known about and forced herself to relax and try to enjoy the calm meal that she had stayed up for. If Marc came by and found her moping, there would be hell to pay.
Angela spotted Kendle coming through the crowd and waved her over. Around them, people grew wary.
Kendle joined her at the table with red cheeks. “Yes?”
“I have some things I need delivered,” Angela stated evenly. “Would you like to take them or should I ask Kenn?”
“Depends on what it is, I guess,” Kendle answered, glad when people resumed what they’d been doing.
“I need a problem handled. You’re delivering a few items to make that job easier. I’d like them to arrive around midnight.”
Kendle understood who the recipient was and the trouble it might cause between Marc and Angie. “I’ll take it.”
“Good.” Angela took a packet from her jacket and handed it over. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” Kendle went to the tray line after putting the package into her pocket, wondering why Angela had asked her. Make work?
Kendle shrugged. She’d planned to visit Adrian later anyway.
Angela didn’t reveal how important the delivery was. When Adrian received it, he wouldn’t be happy. Neither would Kendle when she met with Daryl for her shift later. They made a good team, despite the fact the fact that they hated each other.
5
Evening fell over the mountains in a quick spread of darkness that had Eagles scrambling to light the cans and center fire. They didn’t have the timing down yet and the shadows on the mountain cliffs were spooky.
Marc spent time with the huddling groups of people who weren’t laboring, glad Angela had instructed the radio crew to play soft, soothing music. Marc chatted, calming fears, but slowly made his way toward the cave. The constant sound of work was echoing and Marc was curious how much progress had been made since this morning. As he approached the entrance, raised voices drew his attention.
“Don’t ever do that again! Do you understand?”
Marc rounded the cliff wall and found Tara, with Missy at her side, crying. The two were clearly having a discipline moment and Marc joined them, trying to read Tara’s thoughts again. “Problem, ladies?”
Tara flinched.
Missy immediately came to Marc’s side and wrapped her little arms around his waist.
Marc lifted a brow. “Well?”
Tara frowned, arms crossing over her chest. “She ran off and I found her inside the cave. She could have gotten hurt.”
Marc looked down to tell Missy she couldn’t be in there, and froze at the fear on her little profile. It instantly reminded him of Angie, as a child. “Are you okay?”
Missy nodded, burying her face against his hip and Marc patted her soothingly.
“That’s not right,” Tara stated. “I’m not abusing her. I yelled.”
Marc didn’t reply, busy trying to dig into the child’s mind this time. He hit a blank wall and found it impossible to penetrate.
“Please?”
Marc regarded Tara coolly. “Please, what?”
“Please don’t interfere with my rules as Missy’s parent. She has to learn to fit in.”
Marc agreed, but he knew there was something wrong. He just didn’t know what it was. “As long as the child isn’t being abused, we don’t believe in interfering.
“Good.” Tara carefully came forward and took Missy’s hand. The little girl smiled up at her mother and Tara sighed in defeat. “Okay. I’m sorry I scared you, but the cave is dan
gerous. Don’t do it again, okay?”
“Okay!” Missy shouted, jumping into Tara’s arms.
Marc kept studying them as the woman struggled toward the tent area with the wild child. He’d figured out what it was that had bothered him about her shadow while in the QZ, but it didn’t fit with this protective parental feeling. Whatever was going on with her, Marc was suddenly confident that Angela had plans based around it. To pull off anything in Safe Haven, you either had to have the boss lady’s permission, or you had to be smarter and more alert than Angela–something Marc wasn’t sure was possible at this point.
Marc spotted Tracy trailing the pair and nodded to her but didn’t offer more. He was confident that she would have intervened if Tara had been abusing the girl. Eagles protected people in many ways, and it wasn’t always from outside enemies. Sometimes, people had to be protected from themselves.
Marc saw Kendle leaving by the rear gate, where there were no people in quarantine to shout at her and he frowned. Kendle was walking an ugly line and he was considering an intervention. He wasn’t happy about having to do it, but he’d brought her here and it was his duty to help her if he could.
6
Adrian was waiting for the rest of his instructions from Angela. Her coded message had said there was trouble. He assumed she didn’t want his pals to know, otherwise Kenn would be more than a delivery boy.
“What did I miss this time?” he muttered.
“I don’t know,” Kendle answered him, enjoying his flinch as she ducked inside the tent. “But she has her own shit-storms brewing. I wouldn’t count on her for more help.”
Kendle tossed him a small package and then waited. She agreed with Adrian that Angela didn’t want some people to know they had more problems, but Kendle wasn’t one of those and she’d already scrutinized the parcel. Angela had been confident that she would.