Where We Stand
Page 18
Adrian looked very weak despite the visitors he’d had today.
“Yes.”
Angela was glad for the time alone with him even though there was a new tension. Some of these things were for his ears only.
“I’m listening,” he joked.
“I’m the eavesdropper, remember?” She tried to match his level of hope.
“Maybe we’ll switch that too, but for now, repeat it to me. Inspect it again if you need to. Take your time.”
She’d heard the seriousness underneath and allowed him to become her teacher again for a moment.
“I don’t need to look at the paper. I have it memorized,” she stated. “You’ve chosen the Grenada Lake area because…”
“No.”
Angela sighed, thinking of the rock-thrower from earlier. A large mix of people were about to be let loose in camp. Very few were being turned away. “They’re getting restless. If I say it came from you…”
“No.”
“What about we?”
There was a pause that she knew meant something and then: “No.”
Angela blew out a breath and Adrian went on with the bedside lesson. “That’s how this works. You’re the leader. You made the choice.”
“But I didn’t,” she muttered, making a face at the stack of waiting paperwork. Kenn had instructions to bring everything he collected to Adrian. She picked it up after he read through it.
“I don’t want this.”
Angela saw him frown and braced to take the scold she’d drawn.
“And it shows. That’s why it isn’t smooth for you. It’s not because you’re a woman or a rookie at this, or even that you’d like to make changes while you can.”
Angela met his knowing gaze rebelliously. “Then why?”
“Because they feel your guilt, Angie.”
Adrian softened his tone as her aura darkened. “Every time one them asks when I’m coming back, you cringe.”
Angela looked away and Adrian slid into her mind.
“You are not stealing anything from me. I’ve given it willingly. I have to have a successor.”
“But Conner…”
“Maybe. Hard to tell yet. Right now, while I can, I have to keep training the next leader.”
Angela grunted. “All right. I chose the Springs because…”
“Because it’s the water we need, there’s an oil refinery nearby where we hope there’s gas, and since it’s a preserve, there shouldn’t be much damage. Might even be able to hunt for something other than fish.”
Angela chuckled at that. Li Sing was good, but their fish crop had been so large that the allotted space in the refer truck was full. The excess was being cooked or prepared for long term storage, and as a result, fish had been a part of every meal for the last two days.
“Next?”
“Kenn and Zack are handling the driving schedules. They’ll put them in the cars and tents in the morning.”
“Your approval first. Go over them. He’s not perfect.”
She peered at her notes. “I’m creating a new position in the Eagles.”
“I heard. Gophers, huh?”
Angela read nothing in the tone. “Yes. Each level will eventually have one to care for gear and things, but for now, it’s your son and mine.”
There was a pause.
“The camp must be okay with it or he’d be in here with me.”
Angela winced. “I’m sorry. I should have sent someone to let you know. Matt’s showing him around.”
“Kenn came by. I’m good.” Adrian yawned. “And it sounds like you’ve got it covered. Anything else you need?”
Angela closed the folder. “Yes, there is.”
Adrian understood her reluctance, but he couldn’t offer comfort without giving himself away. “What’s up?”
“Marc lied to me and you’ve known about it for a while. Do you still think it was best for him to not tell me?”
Adrian hated the cold tone even as he respected it. Her skin was much thicker now.
“Yes, I do.”
Angela accepted that. She’d expected it. Would he be expecting the next question?
“And him not telling me, not using his gifts to help us, that’s one of those things I have to forget about, right?”
Stunned to be asked, Adrian choked the words out. “Yes. Let it go. It doesn’t matter now.”
How he longed to say no!
Angela hesitantly showed the new side of her. “I’m going to use it, carefully, and you owe me your help for hiding it.”
Adrian threw his head back and laughed at the awful pain. Brady was right. He had turned her into himself.
16
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“He just discovered it,” Angela informed her son. “He needed the same adjustment time that the rest of us were given.”
Charlie wanted to stay angry, but if his mom had already known and wasn’t upset, there was little for him to argue with. “I just can’t believe he hid it.”
“It’s not like that, at least not until recently. His cage match unlocked the demon. Without that, Marc never would have been able to access his gifts.”
“What can he do?” Charlie questioned lowly. “Besides heal, I mean.”
Angela winced. “I haven’t asked.”
“Wonder if Adrian knows,” Charlie mused.
“You could ask yourself. He’s feeling guilty. He’d answer you honestly.”
Charlie thought of his own secrets. “Let him have that adjustment time. I don’t need another voice in my head.”
“He can’t do that,” Angela stated sharply. “He’s barely using any of it. Don’t shut him out for being like us, Charlie. That’s what we’ve both wanted.”
Angela left him to consider it, motioning to Conner and Matt. “Why don’t you gentlemen take a walk with me and we’ll discuss the Jr. Eagles? I have some new lesson plans on making bug-out kits and I could use some help.”
Charlie saw Marc shadowing Angela, and realized he’d heard the short conversation. Not sure if he should be mad, Charlie waited for Marc to come to him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
Charlie compared it to having the other Marc, the one who took shit, got in fights, and made his mom cry. It wasn’t a hard choice.
“Forgiven. After you answer one question.”
Surprised, Marc silently thanked Angela for not letting Charlie turn on him. “Go on.”
“Are you hiding or lying about anything else?”
Marc slowly opened his mouth. “Yes.”
Charlie studied his father without anger over the answer. When he finally spoke, it was clear that manhood was coming on swift wings.
“Keep her happy and I’m good, I guess. We don’t have a problem until she isn’t.”
Marc smiled. “I came with a peace offering. I’m glad I don’t need it, but I’d like you to have it anyway.”
Charlie smirked. “Unless you’ve got Tracy hidden in your pocket, I don’t need anything.”
“Can’t do that,” Marc insisted. “At least Jennifer’s warning didn’t spill blood. I put Tracy in my pocket, we’ll be diggin’ fresh graves.”
“It’s perfect, though,” Charlie admitted lowly. “Jennifer did me a favor.”
“She freed up more of Tracy’s time,” Marc guessed, pulling a slip of paper from his pocket.
“Yep, and I plan to occupy it.”
“With what?” Marc asked curiously. Tracy obviously felt something, too, but Marc wanted to know what their beginning was being founded on.
“I’m helping her build and after these public scenes and rumors, she’ll try harder.”
Marc’s laugh was laced with respect, Charlie heard that clearly, but he wanted more.
“I’ve got a plan for her–we’re already working on it. Mom may not be happy, but the Eagles will.”
Marc easily picked up Charlie’s thoughts, but pretended he hadn’t. “What’ve you got?”
Marc leaned against the rig, studying his son. Going on fifteen, Charlie was more mature than he’d ever been at that age.
“Not true,” the demon refuted. “You loved Angela, under your mother’s nose, for a decade. He gets that from you.”
Marc enjoyed the feeling and handed the paper over. “That’s your new schedule, if you want it.”
Charlie read the sheet and crumbled it up angrily.
“You were gonna buy me, get me to hide it from mom.”
“No. I told her everything and she suggested I give you something that would make you happy.” Marc hesitated. “Was I wrong on what would do that?’
Charlie was able to let go of the anger when he didn’t read any dishonesty in Marc’s tones. “No, you got it right. It just appeared…”
“I won’t do that, boy. If you’re mad enough to tell on me for something, I’ll handle it, but I won’t buy you off. I honestly think your mom saw that you were gonna be reasonable and wanted you rewarded.”
“And for us not to fight.”
Marc agreed. “Yeah. She’d do a lot to stop that.”
Charlie glanced up at his father, thinking of how proud he’d been to tell Conner who Marc was. “So you’re like us, huh?”
Marc shoved into the boy’s mind, too hard.
HELLO!
Charlie cringed.
Marc withdrew. “Sorry. I’m not very good at it.”
Charlie, ears hurting, snickered. “She’s right. You are a rookie.”
The teenager took a seat on the damp folding chair he’d been in when Angela found him.
“We have to work on that. The other descendants will make fun of us.”
Marc cooperated fully, but inside, he was cold. Angela had declared that Charlie would forgive him, help him, but when he’d asked if she ever could, she’d left the tent. He had no idea where they were now and there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make it up to her.
In the rear of his mind, Marc’s demon began cackling and refused to say why.
Chapter Eight
7/3
1
Angela came from her tent, and Kevin fell in, handing her a mug of tea. It was a routine they both liked.
“You ready?”
“Yes.”
Moving day was here. Marc was organizing it, with Kenn and Kyle’s help.
“They’re packing up?” she asked, sure Brady planned to sleep during the ride. He’d had third shift over the Mess and hadn’t returned to the tent at all.
“Mostly. Some are doing other things, like guard duty or fueling.”
“New arrivals?”
Kevin handed over a speed loader for her .357, and a fresh battery for her radio. “A dozen or so overnight. They’re waiting to be seen.”
“We’ll be ready to leave by 9am?” she asked, caressing her weapon in a quick slide. When she found the time, she was practicing with her left and her right. She would never be caught again without a gun arm to rely on.
“Mostly.”
‘Adrian’s rules apply. You made that clear?”
“Yes.” Kevin was glad she was sticking to them. Her not making changes was helping people adjust.
“I do have some of those in the works,” she stated as they made it under the shelter of the Mess canopy.
It was almost empty, only four tables in use, and Angela exchanged nods with Neil and Doug. Jeremy would be along once his team was finished tending the animals.
Kenn and Jax joined them, followed by Kevin and Cynthia, and Angela got the meeting going. She was suddenly anxious to be on the road.
“Medical update.”
“John says don’t linger here. He has it under control now,” Kevin stated.
“Great. Radio quiet?”
They were monitoring a number of new channels, hoping to hear the government before they arrived.
“No calls in. Steady broadcasts out,” Kevin answered, subtly reminding her they were drawing unneeded attention. Neil and Kyle had both asked him to put that one in.
“The clearing crew?” she asked.
“Will be in camp by dusk, like you ordered,” Marc answered, joining them. “I spoke with Theo. They’re ahead of us by half a day.”
“And the camp?”
“All good so far as we’ve seen,” Doug informed her. “Peggy says the same of the women. They’re all accepting Conner.
Angela was satisfied. Adrian and Conner appeared to be getting along, but not growing close the way she and the Eagles had hoped. None of them were sure about Conner yet. It was much too soon after the death of his mother too assume anything. He might have his father’s values buried inside, but he also had Adrian’s knack for rubbing salt into an open wound. He wasn’t careful about what came out of his mouth, and the comments she’d overheard had caused Angela to mention it to Kenn. Maybe he could get the pair together. If Conner didn’t develop a bond with someone in this camp other than Charlie, they wouldn’t be able to get him to stay and they needed him, needed what he could do for these people. Conner’s gifts hadn’t been explored yet, but Angela held no doubt that he was powerful as his magnetic father.
The Eagles considered Conner a hero and they wanted to bring him in, but he was aloof most of the time. It made the top men nervous and Angela understood why. After all the traitors and assassins they’d been forced to deal with, it was easy to suspect Conner of being a wolf in sheep’s clothing still. She was hoping his attitude would calm down before the camp began to be suspicious of him.
“Okay. When we arrive, Kyle has Point. Get them settled, fed, and entertained.”
She gazed around. “Anything else?”
“Tonya’s been getting questions about growing tobacco for smoking.”
Angela quickly recorded it in her notebook. “We’ll get to that after the battle.”
Angela drained her mug and set it on the table before standing up. “Let’s roll. I want to be in range of Grenada before midnight.”
With the roads cleared before they arrived, their convoy would roll at 45mph most of the time. Their cars were now stocked with small, 3 day kits–one for each person assigned to that vehicle. There were radios and batteries, as well, along with an intercom in some. Kenn was still adding to that each time he worked on setups. Car-to-car communication during the bug-out had been the worst issue and Kenn had tackled that the hardest. The problem was now fuel. They were completely out of gas now and so many of their cars were going to be out too, that there was no way all of them would make it to the Springs.
During their late lunch stop, they would drain the vehicles they were leaving behind and cram in together, she decided. They would also strip the cars, making it a two hour lunch stop. That would put them at the Springs in time for a Fourth of July sunrise.
2
Angela was by the open Blazer door as Adrian was brought out of the medial tent. She waited for him to get settled and then gestured to the shadows. She and Adrian were alone a minute later.
Adrian leaned against the door, lighting a smoke. It felt great to be outside. “Go on.”
“There are people in the towns we’re about to pass. They’ll hear us, but few of them will come out of hiding,” Angela explained.
“And you want to,” he guessed.
She hesitated. “I can’t scan them from this distance.”
Adrian met her concerned gaze and didn’t stop the sparks he felt. “Will you feel guilty for passing them by, lose sleep?”
“Of course. Plus, we need some of them,” she answered distractedly.
“Then don’t,” he instructed. “If they’re a problem, you have Eagles to handle it.”
Bottled-up questions pushed on Angela’s control. She hated sleeping without Marc and last night was only a preview o
f the future.
“How did you know? There were others here, even then.”
Adrian didn’t look at her, not letting that magic draw escape. “Two halves of a whole. It fit. Perfectly.”
“You believe that?”
Adrian closed his eyes to keep from drowning in hers. “I can prove it, and I will if you keep looking at me like there’s a comparison going on inside your mind. Brady’s the good guy. I’m a piece of shit. Don’t ever forget that.”
She snapped her mouth shut and turned away, like he’d known she would.
“Oh, Angie,” Adrian whispered, loathing fate as he never had. “You should have let me die.”
3
Cynthia caught up with Angela as she left the medical tent, not caring about the mud or her sniffles. “You’re going to have to switch me out. I can’t do it anymore.”
Angela turned to face Cynthia. “Say it again.”
Cynthia’s hands went to her hips. “That hormone-fueled boy can be someone else’s problem from now on. I’ve had it.”
“What’s happened?”
Cynthia’s voice rose. “He told Kevin that we’re sleeping together. Kevin believes it.”
“That’s it?”
Cynthia huffed in frustration. “He’s a bad kid, Angela. Anyone can tell that. Why can’t you?”
Angela let her storm away, listening to the Witch whisper that things were happening right on schedule.
“What was that about?”
Kevin had come to her side, unable to resist digging for information. He didn’t notice the thin shadow lingering between the tents.
“She gave up her FND duty.”
It took Kevin a minute to figure it out. “You mean Matt.”
“Yes. She said he can’t be saved, that she was done trying, and sacrificing her happiness to do it.”
“Her happiness?”
“You.”
She left him standing there, stunned, as she went to the family area to spread the word that Matt needed a new guardian. It was ear candy, of course. Matt didn’t need anything here anymore. His time was up and she’d helped it along.
Angela shoved another box into her rapidly-filling crypt as the shadow between the tents followed Kevin’s suddenly lively stride.
4
“I hear you have more free time suddenly.”