From the Ashes

by Angela White

  Sam stopped, but didn’t turn to face Neil, not wanting the observant trooper to notice her crimson cheeks. How much had he seen and heard? “Forgotten what?”

  “I’d like to spend some time with you, Sam.”

  Her shoulders stiffened. Great. Another awkward conversation. “In what respect?”

  “A date. I’ll swing by your–”

  “No.”

  “What?” Neil’s mouth snapped closed.

  Sam sighed, moving toward the crowd. “You guys will figure it out eventually. I believe that.”

  Neil sighed. The attraction wasn’t going anywhere. He’d hoped for it to fade, but the more that she said no, the harder he was pulled to her.

  “Who set it up this way?” he muttered bitterly. “Must be a female up there, I swear. No man would ever be this cruel!”

  12

  Charlie studied Marc as the bare-chested man pushed the bar up in quick, hard repetitions. The members and Eagles were gathered on the other side of camp for the second half of the level tests, leaving the workout tent empty around the pair

  Charlie drew on his courage as the silence continued. “Do you and mom get close when you’re alone?”

  Marc’s grip on the slick weight shifted and he caught it awkwardly. Damn tent shadows.

  He grunted as he shoved the weight off his chest and set it in the groove. “Interesting question.”

  Charlie shrugged, tossing him a towel. “Just heard something and it made me curious.”

  Marc sat up on the bench, wiping at his light beard. “Guess it depends on your definition of close.”

  “Sex.”

  Charlie’s cheeks reddened, telling Marc he had an itch that needed scratching.

  “What’s up, boy?”

  Charlie was relieved at the willingness. “I have this idea about men and women, and I’m kinda watching you guys to verify it.”

  Marc took that in, trying not to grin. Being a teenager was confusing. The last thing he needed was his father’s laughter filling his mind. “Why don’t you tell me and I’ll give you my opinion?”

  Charlie agreed eagerly, sitting on his bench. “It’s about how to recognize a good mate.”

  Marc immediately wondered who had caught his eye. “Go on.”

  “Well, it’s a myth until you and mom are in a tent together. People notice it, and I started studying the other couples here. They don’t have the same connection that you guys do.”

  Marc studied his son in the softly swaying light. Charlie was growing into a man already, and he hadn’t seen him as a boy. The thought made Marc blurt out a question of his own. “Does that bother you? That we’re getting close.”

  “No. Matt teases me, but I think it’s great you guys like each other so much.”

  “And…”

  “I’m watching, that’s all.”

  “No pressure,” Marc joked.

  Charlie grinned, looking away from his dad’s new injuries. It made his own desire to be an Eagle more complicated, but hadn’t dimmed it. “Not like that. I mean for myself. I won’t go through the crap everyone else is. I’ll be sure of my choice the first time and stick with it. Like Kyle.”

  Now Marc frowned. “What Kyle’s doing may not be right.”

  “But it is,” Charlie protested. “He can’t help who he loves. Jenny won’t believe it yet, but–”

  “How is that possible?” Marc interrupted angrily. “He’s a grown man and she’s just a kid…”

  Marc let his words trail off, realizing he and Angie had started very close to the same way. Was Kyle’s attraction so different from his own? Hadn’t he acted on his desires and found a love beyond compare?

  Marc looked over to find Charlie changing his shirt and smiling happily.

  “You did that on purpose.”

  “It’s a psychology thing I have to practice,” Charlie admitted. “And I know you liked being friends with Kyle.”

  When Marc didn’t blow up, the teenager moved for the flap, giving his father the rest of the truth as he saw it. “Kyle deserves the same chance that Adrian made sure you were given when everyone thought you and mom were having an affair.”

  Marc stared after his son, stunned. No wonder Adrian had already brought him into the Eagles. A mind like that needed to be occupied or it could bring down the dream without even trying.

  Dazed by the intelligence he and Angie had created, Marc headed for the tests, eager to start shooting. Unlike last night’s surprise, this evening would be fun. He would pass, enjoy being with Angela while they watched the others for a while, and then maybe head back to their tent for an hour of pleasure before sleep. He couldn’t wait to hold her again. It had always been that way, and it would never change.

  Chapter Twelve

  1

  “We have a couple minutes before the test is ready. Does anyone not scheduled want to try to pass a new–”

  “Left-handed, level three,” a voice interrupted.

  The area went quiet as Angela came eagerly through the thick crowd. She couldn’t wait to stand on her own again.

  Crone got a pleased nod from Adrian and allowed her to come to the line. “White, you’re up.”

  Angela’s skill with a gun was something most of the females here had only heard about, and all of those thinking about the team she was putting together, crowded closer.

  Angela thought she was the only one who knew she had only cleared level three a single time and by a hair, but when they got to the line, Billy smirked in a good-natured challenge.

  “No wind. You might be all good.”

  Angela realized the guard had observed her attempt. “Sweet. Now clear me a line of fire. Momma needs to hear that thwap!”

  The males chuckled as she checked her weapon, and then she drew and fired in a smooth blur.

  Thwap! Thwap!

  The last two slugs went into the farthest target within an instant of each other, and Angela immediately began to reload as they waited for the call. Unable to take her level tests, Angela had been working on the left hand so that she could have this moment.

  “Five of Six!” Crone had to shout over the cheers. “That’s a pass!”

  Adrian came to her and held out a small patch.

  “What’s this?”

  “A welcome back.”

  She recognized it as the new way he’d been setting the teams apart. It would go on her jacket, declaring her a level Three.

  “But I didn’t pass my–”

  “Yes, you did. Every Eagle who went on the slaver run earned the next rank.”

  Angela waited until the congratulations were over and kept her voice low. “Why the double jump?”

  Adrian knew she’d accept either answer and gave her the one that mattered most. “I need you to be a level Four Eagle by Arkansas.”

  Adrian turned away before she could plunder his thoughts to discover why.

  Shoving that newest challenge onto the shelf labeled with that number, Angela held up a hand towards the females in the front row. “Let’s have a small contest, ladies, while they’re waiting on the men to get here. Anyone who passed the gun class can try.”

  As the two main women lined up and began casting fresh glowers at each other, Angela swept the murmuring crowd. “Anyone else?”

  Shadows broke out to line up with them, causing mutters and betting.

  Angela needed a few minutes with these hopeful women, and it wasn’t just a shooting evaluation. She was still trying to narrow down who her right hand would be. So far, she honestly wasn’t impressed with any of them for that slot. Adrian had told her he’d known where Kenn belonged on first sight. He hadn’t said the same was true of her upon their first earth-shaking glance, but she’d heard the thought. Where was her decisive moment in that regard?

  First in line, Samantha looked to her team leader. “Set.”

  Angela changed to a better viewing place and got comfortable. “A full clip at fifteen feet. Go.”

  2

 
“Can you stay for a while?”

  Anne nodded, getting ready for bed. “I’m off until noon.”

  John’s eyes went over her in desire, something he hadn’t felt much of in the last year. They hadn’t made love in a long time, and the doctor found his hand reaching out to caress her hip. She felt good under the fingers that tingled with new life.

  John grinned up at her when she looked down in surprise. Her long hair was loose–she’d been about to brush it–and the elderly man tangled his fingers in it softly. “Miss you, baby.”

  Anne had only been thinking about sleep, but the feel of her husband’s hands on her after so long after so long. “Mmm…”

  John felt life flow into other areas of his body and felt tears try to rise. He shoved them back, gently wrapping his arms around Anne’s waist. “I’d like to try to love you.”

  Anne knelt down, bringing herself within reach. He looked younger, but it was how he felt that meant the most, and Anne was grateful. So much that she’d sworn to find a way to give Angela what she wanted most–to be accepted for who she really was.

  “We’ll sleep in the camper tonight.”

  “Where the beds are higher.”

  They said it at the same time and spent a great moment laughing and holding each other as they had for most of their marriage.

  3

  “Shooters to the line,” Adrian called.

  Angela was now standing along the tent wall with thoughts that were no clearer. Samantha and Cynthia were neck-and-neck in most of the areas she’d compared so far. By small margins, Samantha was better in the cage, and Cynthia was better with a gun. They were neat, organized, and tough. The others who’d shot tonight weren’t anywhere near as good, though Leslie’s surprising bulls-eye had given her third among the twelve who had tried. Having Peggy and Hilda line up had been something of a shock. Angela almost hoped they chickened out when the harder tests came. Getting those two to follow orders would be a nightmare for any team leader.

  Angela thought about the current camp rumor and snickered. Maybe not for Doug.

  “Some of the Eagles in my army have backgrounds that give them an advantage.”

  Lingering with his team, Marc’s head snapped up at the familiar words.

  The crowd also fell silent.

  “Challenges can now be issued during a level test,” Adrian informed them. “Would anyone like to?”

  Kenn’s big shoulders moved through the crowd that began to cheer and bet.

  “I’ll offer a challenge to Brady for top gun in camp,” Kenn stated, taking his place with the other shooters.

  “Do you accept?” Adrian asked Marc.

  Marc grinned. “You know it.”

  “What happens when I win?” Kenn asked, ignoring his stinging jaw. The other three men looked worse than he did. “Does he fail?”

  Adrian nodded. “Yes. From now on, you have to be able to defend your title. If you can’t, it’s gone.”

  Meaning those who were getting by on lucky shots and other people’s misses, were SOL. Eagles groaned as the camp cheered.

  “I also have a personal challenge,” Kenn stated. For the moment, he was accepted again as one of Adrian’s men, and it felt better than he’d remembered. “Plates.”

  The betting went up as Adrian agreed. “Another challenge has been issued. Do you accept?”

  Marc’s inner man had already been given permission to come out. “Yep. Got one to offer myself. How about you join us?”

  Adrian hadn’t expected that, it was clear by the look on his face.

  His answer, however, came from the heart. “I’d love to.”

  The crowd was starting to get slightly unruly now, and Neil waved his bruised team into the mob, giving them instructions to keep things calm while Adrian was occupied. In the rear of the throng, Kyle’s team was doing the same thing, under Daryl’s command.

  Many of the other shooters wanted in on the action, but all of them seemed to know this was a leadership moment and didn’t thrust themselves into it. The camp loved these three men the most and wanted them to have one moment in time where they got just that trio and the magic that might come with it.

  Billy hobbled out of the way as Greg hefted a small crate of plates onto a nearby bale of hay. He would throw while Billy called it.

  “On my mark,” Billy stated. Overseeing the shooters was all he could do with a broken leg.

  Adrian took his place between Marc and Kenn, pausing to let his herd have the full effect of them standing together. Adrian and his hard defenders. The only thing missing was...

  Angela came through the crowd and took up a place along the front wall to watch.

  Samantha and Cynthia, chatting lightly, came on her heels and chose nearby spots. During their off time, those two females were staying around Angela, much like Kyle’s team had done with him in the beginning.

  Adrian turned to make eye contact with the senior men on duty that he could see. All of them nodded alertly, and he let himself shrug off the leader’s cloak for the fighter’s jacket. He couldn’t help the small part of him that wanted to beat Marc, but he didn’t stress over it. It was his job to rattle the man–personal satisfaction came second to the lessons–and he would try not to enjoy winning too much.

  Angela picked up the thought and understood that Adrian didn’t plan to hold back. Marc didn’t either. That tiger would probably never see the inside of a cage again.

  “Anyone else want a piece of the action? Ten to one on the XOs, with Adrian the fave!”

  Angela raised her hand. “I’ll take a part of that.”

  Alex quickly wrote her name down. “What order?”

  The crowd kept calling their own bets, sure of who she would place to win.

  “Adrian, Kenn, Brady.”

  Silence except for heads whipping around.

  Angela grinned as she stared at Marc’s shocked face. “Care to prove me wrong?”

  Marc felt that edge slam into him with a brutal chill. Her taste came to his lips, that sweet, mysterious odor he wanted to drown in, and Marc hooked his hands into his belt. “Care to make a personal wager on it?”

  Angie chuckled as the crowd voiced approval. “I think so. Depends on what you had in mind.”

  Marc’s eyes went to her lips. He pulled back the first thought in favor of not embarrassing her. “A date.”

  Angela snorted as the crowd chuckled. “We’ve passed that already.”

  Marc shook his head. “Not like what I have in mind.”

  Angela shrugged. “And when you lose?”

  The crowd oohed and groaned at the direct challenge.

  Marc’s eyes went dark, dangerous. “I’ll tell John to clear you for full duty.”

  Angela grunted amid the laughs and frowns. “Damn, Brady. I’m already betting against you. I didn’t really want to see you fail, but...”

  The crowd roared, and those who knew it wasn’t a joke anymore, pretended otherwise. Angela had hurt him a bit with the bet, even though it was meant to be a nerve challenge and nothing more, and he’d slapped her in return by dangling the freedom she longed for.

  Adrian didn’t like it. Marc issued challenges to her regularly and she’d never struck out that way.

  “Let’s start,” Adrian ordered, revealing none of his assumptions that said there was already trouble in paradise. Adrian didn’t want to make sure that Marc failed, but...

  Not involved in the drama for a change, Kenn stepped up to the line. “Set.”

  Billy tossed the first plate and Kenn’s gun crashed.

  4

  Neil moved away from the happy crowd to do a quick check on the camp. It had been a good day for Safe Haven. They were back on full water rations, their vehicles would be fully gassed and ready to roll when they were, the garden had been watered, and they’d saved a truckload of dogs from certain death. Neil was content in his duties, but the loneliness!

  Sighing, he swept the shadows around the tape, nodding to perimeter men. When h
e spotted Kyle coming his way, Neil waited. There hadn’t been much said between them since Jennifer had come here. Whenever they were together, Neil’s guilt rose up at the reminder of another young girl who’d been abused.

  Kyle stared at his former friend, wanting to explain, to accuse, to ask. He did none of those. Instead, he said, “Look at the female tents for a minute. Tell me what you think I should do.”

  Frowning, Neil did as instructed.

  The shadows on the tent caught his attention and held it. On the floor, one hard body was lowering itself on top of a barely rounded second form. Neil realized which canvas it was–Seth had crossed the comfort line–and waited for his usual righteous anger to spew out.

  So did Kyle.

  The top shadow hesitated, head shaking. The one on the bottom arched a young body that either of the men watching would have taken right then. Seth visibly shuddered, but didn’t make any other movement.

  “She’s using sex to handle her anger,” Neil stated, throat only allowing curt words. What had he done to her?

  Kyle didn’t tell him that Becky hadn’t been repressing her anger. There were tray servers and duty men with the bruises to prove that. Neil had missed all the fun while staying away.

  “She’ll become an Eagle if we leave them alone,” Kyle stated.

  “And probably a camp whore not long after,” Neil protested. As a cop, he’d seen the pattern repeat itself again and again.

  The top shadow thrust and a short cry was cut off.

  The bottom shadow wiped away tears and held on, clearly refusing to let him stop.

  “She’ll be strong, one of the first eight ruthless rookies Angela accepts,” Kyle stated, not acknowledging the revulsion or the jealousy he felt from watching the tent.

  Neil paused in his automatic urge to interfere. “Is it fair, Becky getting that in exchange for being hurt?”

  Neil wanted his conscience wiped clean, and Kyle couldn’t do it. “No. Nothing we ever do will equal the debt owed to her. She was sacrificed.”

  Neil had known before he’d asked, but hearing the words was another form of the punishment he knew he’d be dealing himself for years to come. “I’ll support whatever she wants,” Neil decided. “He’s dead to me.”