From the Ashes

by Angela White

  “Well, I won’t!”

  Charlie was standing behind Kenn. It was hard to guess how much he’d heard, but clearly, it was enough. Weariness swarmed over Angela, and she braced her wobbly legs. Maybe it was too soon for all this.

  “You always get off!”

  The open hatred in Charlie’s words was a surprise to the Marine, but not to the mother.

  “I’m gettin’ real tired of that. He doesn’t deserve forgiveness,” Charlie insisted, sneering. “But, until I’m an Eagle, I guess there’s not much I can do about it.”

  The teenager left with an angry stride that was very unlike the obedient boy the camp had gotten used to.

  There was a pause after he left. Charlie’s words had opened a new dilemma. Would Adrian let the teenager into his army? What was the age limit? Was there one?

  Kenn started to follow the boy, and Zack stepped into his path. “Leave him alone. You’ve done enough damage.”

  “Move!” Kenn snarled in surprise and found Zack’s gun aimed at him.

  “You should lie down.” Zack told Angela, full of disapproval. He glared at Kenn. “And you should get the hell out.”

  Adrian viewed it all from the front door in satisfaction. She’d won them all over, even the stunned Marine slowly lowering his fist. Kenn was also now hers to command.

  Adrian watched her motion Charlie out of the line of fire, and then refuse his request to go get Marc. She understands Charlie needs to see this, too, Adrian thought in approval. It was amazing to find someone who could lead so instinctively. Angela was exactly what he’d begged fate to send.

  “Go on then, shoot me,” Kenn ordered. “You still won’t get my place.”

  “I don’t want it!” Zack spat. “I want you exposed for the lying pig that you are!”

  “Why?”

  “Because our camp XO always has to do his duty first, or we die.” Zack motioned with the barrel of his gun. “Jeff overheard Adrian right after the brother snuck into camp and was killed. He said Angie could have been stabbed and shot!”

  Zack’s finger tightened, expression twisting in hatred. “You once told me you were the best rifleman on your base. So, why did she get hurt at all?”

  Kenn hadn’t seen this blow coming, and the listening men crowded closer, giving Zack a full team of pissed-off, mixed level support.

  Zack wasn’t aware of it, didn’t need it. He’d found out the night before the slaver mission and vowed to handle it as soon as he could. “If you’ll do that to a female, to an Eagle, you don’t deserve to be his XO. You should be banished!”

  “Or maybe dead.” Allan came to flank Zack. “If you had your own team, it might have already happened.”

  “That’s why he doesn’t,” Lee stated angrily. “And why he resents all of us so much. Even the rookies are more worthy than he is. At least they try to get along.”

  Zack slowly lowered his arm. “Angela should have your place.”

  Kenn had frozen, determined to take his punishment like a man, but now, he shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against the doorframe, no longer caring about their audience. “I have his right because I belong there. You don’t have to believe it. Adrian does.”

  “Then maybe he’s wrong!”

  Outside, the camp was growing quiet, becoming aware of a problem.

  “Maybe so,” Kenn agreed, flashing that hard new expression that they were all starting to be cautious of, to respect. “But you wouldn’t even be an Eagle right now if it weren’t for me, so your opinion means exactly shit.”

  Zack’s arm rose again. “That’s not true!”

  “It is.” Ignoring the gun, Kenn swept the other furious men. “The same is true of most of you. I’ve added to his army, too, and I’ve always pulled my weight. I’ve even saved the sheep, all of them, at least once. I’ve bled and sweated, and built, the same as you have.” Having the day for it, Kenn surprised all of them. “And I’ve made mistakes, ones I’m trying to fix. If it’s too late for that, or I find I’m not strong enough, I’ll resign.”

  “It’s too late,” Zack insisted. “Look at the mess last night!”

  “You don’t get to make that call,” Kenn defended. “And I’d like to see how you would have done so much better with everything going on.”

  All eyes went to Adrian, but the blond was staring at Angela. He lifted a brow.

  “He stays where he is.”

  Faces tightened at her firm answer.

  Zack’s anger fled, leaving only a tired hatred. He spat at Kenn’s boots. “You’re a piece of shit.”

  Kenn let out a harsh grunt. “Fuck you, boot.”

  Everyone waited.

  “You’d better kill me now,” Kenn warned, “Because that is the only way I’ll go.”

  “Maybe he’ll have help with that,” Allan spoke up again. He hadn’t drawn his gun, but his hand was resting on the holster. “If you had been doing your job, Rick wouldn’t have gotten close enough to try killing Adrian. You let your personal shit endanger everyone in this camp.”

  “Too busy plotting and planning to do your job,” Zack accused coldly. “It’s been quiet because we had more important things to handle, but now that the slavers are gone, maybe you should be, too.”

  It was a powerful moment for the Eagles, but for Kenn, it was only the rest of his lies collapsing.

  “Take a vote, then,” Kenn sneered.

  Allan looked to Adrian, who was still in the doorway. “He has your support?”

  “Yes.”

  There was no hesitation. Allan hadn’t expected any. “Until he doesn’t, we’ll follow, but the second he gets out of line, we’ll kill him.”

  “I’d expect no less from the men you’ve become.” Adrian’s tenor was full of careful control. “Now, you’re truly my Eagles.”

  “We are that,” Zack confirmed. “As long as he walks your line, things will stay the way they are, but we’re watching now, and we won’t let one fucking thing slide.”

  Kenn had known it could get this bad when the truth finally came out. It would be open season on his place now, and the competition was only a part of it. The Eagles would help each other; make their own picks and groups of support. It was quite likely that a month from now, Neil or Brady might have the XO slot. Despite the words that had been said and everything that had happened, Kenn’s mind refused to believe Angela might get that place. The Eagles would never allow it, not when so many of them wanted it so badly.

  Adrian moved away from the main door and turned toward the camp. The members couldn’t hear what was happening, but thanks to the glass front windows, they were viewing it. The warehouse was in the center, near the bonfire. He wanted Angela to feel surrounded, protected, and part of the golden light that he was throwing out in thick waves and increasing his headache.

  Angela was reeling from the open emotions and the loss of their men wasn’t helping. Daniel, Frank, and Chris had given their lives and were to be buried tonight, if she were any judge of the small work crew driving up the nearby hill.

  Angela heard Kenn leave, and stayed at the window. The constant ache in her shoulder was draining, and she planned to sleep for a while before it got dark. When Adrian put their men to rest, she would be there to pay her respects, even if she had to have a wheelchair ride.

  “Is this a bad time?”

  The curt rudeness of the past was gone, replaced with a cautious respect.

  Angela chuckled at the irony. Just a few days ago, the answer would have been completely different. “No, Cynthia. Close the door so that we can talk.”

  2

  Samantha watched the door close with resignation. After saving her life–a story currently flying through camp–Cynthia had every right to be Angela’s XO. That didn’t stop Sam from wanting it.

  Sam noticed Adrian being surrounded and glared at by Hilda and Peggy, and detoured that way. Obviously, they’d expected him to do a better job of protecting Becky.

  “No, I won’t. I trust Seth t
o handle the duty he accepted,” Adrian stated.

  “I’m going in there!” Peggy snapped.

  Finally acting like a mother, Samantha thought. About time.

  “No,” Adrian answered firmly.

  “I’m going, and you won’t stop me!”

  “I will,” Sam stated.

  Hilda and Peggy gaped, expecting Samantha to be on their side because she was female.

  “Let the Eagles work,” Samantha instructed. “It’s what we do.”

  Adrian grinned at her open declaration of joining his army.

  “What happened to my daughter last night?” Peggy demanded. “Was she beaten like you?”

  Sam wanted to shout the truth, but she did what any Eagle would have. She ignored the woman and walked away.

  Samantha’s guard–Kevin–denied Peggy when she would have grabbed Sam’s arm. He stepped between them. “I wouldn’t do that. She hasn’t had any sleep yet.”

  Peggy glared at all of them, promising retribution.

  Samantha stepped by with a casual nod to Adrian, and received one in return. Behind her, she heard the chatter of angry women heading for the QZ.

  Samantha hit the button on her new belt, the first time she’d used it. “The QZ is under full quarantine until further notice. We’re not sure what the contaminant is yet. No one allowed in or out.”

  “Copy,” the QZ guard replied.

  Adrian and Kevin shared pleased looks. If the other females that signed up were like Angie and Sam...and Cyn, Kevin added wistfully–if the others were as smart, Adrian’s army was about to be unstoppable.

  A minute later, the rookie guard on the parking area was refusing two pissed women entry to the QZ.

  Smirking a bit, Samantha continued on her way to the women’s tents, ignoring the ache in her jaw and the stares her bruises were attracting. You should have cared more when it might have made a difference, Peggy. You deserve to worry.

  Samantha was shocked at the callous thought. Didn’t she have any compassion for a hurting mother? A fellow woman?

  No, not in this case. Becky had been crying out for help, and her mother had been too busy to even notice, let alone react in time to save her. It was a hard lesson that Becky had learned, and Peggy deserved no less.

  3

  “She’ll be okay?”

  “Yes. John said she can do light duty, as long as she keeps healing so fast.”

  The two teenage boys didn’t bother with lowered voices despite the late hour.

  “That’s good then, right?”

  “Yes…”

  Matt was aware of Charlie’s anger. “Are you mad that she got hurt?”

  Charlie considered, vaguely thinking that Matt only stuttered sometimes. “No. At least, I don’t think so. I’m pissed at Kenn.”

  “Because he hit her before the war?”

  “Because he never has to pay for what he’s done!” Charlie stated angrily. “Someday, that will change.”

  He held out a hand for the usual bottle they had been sharing.

  Matt dropped his eyes. “Sorry. Couldn’t get it this time. My s-source…dried up.”

  “You mean he kidnapped two of our women and got himself killed!” Charlie corrected coldly.

  Matt was shocked. “If you kn-knew I was helping Rick, why didn’t you tell?”

  “For the same reason you didn’t tell anyone about the things I can do.” Charlie shrugged, too upset to lie. “I didn’t want to lose my friend.”

  “Yeah,” Matt concurred.

  After a minute, Charlie broke the grim silence. “Does Adrian know?”

  Matt paled. “I haven’t heard anything yet, but I wasn’t given a schedule this morning…and I might be under guard. Yeah, I think so.”

  “What about your dad?”

  “Not yet.”

  “I could show up when he’s flipping out, try to take some of the heat off you.”

  “No.” The pimply teen let out a harsh sigh. “I earned it. I’ll pay for it.”

  “Like Becky,” Charlie muttered.

  Both boys shuddered at the images. They were old enough to imagine what men did to women. They hadn’t been friends with Becky, but she was their age, and it was frightening to think that she and Samantha had been alone with a slaver.

  “You wanna go with me to check-in? Maybe my d-dad’s heard something from Kyle.”

  Charlie followed Matt, aware of Eagles giving them suspicious looks. Yes, Adrian knew, and Matt’s punishment would come.

  The boys ducked under the canopy and saw Adrian and Mitch in conversation at the rear of the truck.

  Ray–the Eagle on duty here–waved them on. “Bad time. He’ll need to cool off.”

  “He’s been doing what?!” Mitch shouted. “I’ll kill him!”

  The boys immediately fled for the opposite end of camp.

  Mitch continued to spout threats, and Ray approved of Adrian’s casual talk-down that would keep the boy from being beaten. Matt’s drinking problem was partly his father’s fault. He had no right to hurt Matt for the methods used to achieve his needs. Mitch had done the same, only his desires had been attention and respect.

  Across the way, Dale paused in his digging chore and delivered a quick smile.

  Given with a slight tilt of the jaw, Ray’s heart picked up. He’d met Dale right here in Safe Haven, and that was where they were staying. Dale hadn’t been cut out to be an Eagle, but there was a place for him, a purpose other than being one of the herd. Maybe Dale be good on the fire crew. It was a respected place, more than enough to earn acceptance.

  Off duty soon? Dale sent through code.

  Ray shook his head, motioning back, No. See you after mess?

  Dale nodded quickly, and Ray gave him a lingering smile that sent a flush of happiness over his lover’s cheeks. Ray knew it was likely to cause trouble, but it beat the hell out of ignoring Dale unless they were alone. Honesty, even if it got him thrown out, was the line Ray had chosen to walk.

  4

  “You need to lie down.”

  Angela didn’t protest when Marc slipped a hand under her good arm and gently guided her back to the bed. She had only been up for an hour, but her body was swearing it had been much longer.

  Marc helped her into a comfortable position and handed her a bottle of water, not letting himself run through all of the things that she and Cynthia could have been talking about. Deep down, he was sure he knew. “I should wake you, right? For the service.”

  “Before that. I’ll need time to get ready.”

  Marc settled into the chair next to her bed. “I brought you something.”

  He handed her a purple gift bag. “Picked it up a couple weeks ago.”

  She slowly removed the trappings to reveal a long, thin box with blue velvet covering. Inside was a beautiful gold chain with a small silver pendant in the shape of an A.

  Angela took it out of the box with a smile that filled his heart.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “I saw it in a display and thought of you.”

  Glad to know it hadn’t been taken from a previous owner, she held it out. “Put it on me?”

  “Nope,” Marc denied her in mock regret. “John said not even a bra strap for a few more days.”

  Angela blushed and dropped her arm. She wasn’t wearing one now, and her chest grew pointed under the thin shirt that John had given her.

  Marc kept his eyes on hers, swallowing a crude offer to hold them for her. Some days, being a man was hard.

  Angela caught the thought and flushed darker. “Can you, uh, give me a few minutes?”

  Marc snickered, sending a chill through her gut.

  “Sure, baby-cakes.” He moved for the door. “I’ll hold that thought.”

  Angela gasped, and Marc pulled the door closed before she could recover and fire back. As he went, he motioned a man over to stand guard. When they finished securing the perimeter and putting out the animals, Dog would also be here, ready to eat anyone who came clos
e. The wolf wasn’t any happier about her injury than anyone else.

  Angela listened to the settling camp with one ear, and the thoughts of those moving around the warehouse with the other. The mood was half-glad, half-furious, and she didn’t think it would take much to spark the fuse. She also didn’t think it would take much to put the fire out.

  The camp thought she was dying. If she showed up for the services, they would understand it wasn’t as serious as rumor had implied, like when Zack’s team had rioted or when she’d been stabbed. The Eagles would know better, of course, but they would spin the story because it served the greater good.

  Pain, thick and heavy, dragged at her and Angela let sleep carry her away for a brief respite with Marc’s gift clutched tightly in her grip.

  5

  “Kyle’s back, Boss,” the radio crackled.

  Adrian headed for the QZ, getting there in time to see Kyle pull in.

  Kyle didn’t look at anyone, didn’t check in, nod to his teammates, or even acknowledge the QZ guard waiting nearby. He got out and went to open the passenger door of his truck.

  The girl climbed down slowly and mutters went around the Eagles. The other slaves had said fourteen, but wearing Kyle’s sweats and Eagle jacket, Jennifer didn’t even appear to be that old. The clothing swallowed her, leaving only a child’s face and a stomach that looked ripe enough to pick.

  Kyle grabbed his kit and gently put an arm around the teenager, helping. It would have been fine except for what the Eagles had been told, and for the way he was ignoring everyone.

  His handling also drew notice from Adrian. It was too familiar, too caring, too openly done. Adrian saw the frowning Eagles on duty, the scowling camp members who were close enough to witness it, and understood Kyle wasn’t going to be talked down from his choice. He’d come prepared for a war, doing it this way to draw first blood.

  And what about this pregnant urchin that had drawn his highest man so hard and so fast? Adrian studied her closely, searching her mind.

  He picked up nothing but energy. Some of it was dark, but enough of it was bright to tell Adrian what he needed to know. She’s one of us.

  “We may have to do something about that,” Neil stated lowly, coming to Adrian’s side. The urge to roll back out of camp was strong for the trooper. There was nothing here for him but guilt. “After what I’ve done...caused, the camp won’t take much of it.”