by Angela White
Adrian was near the tent and handled it quickly. “What she chooses. Anne and Angela will handle it if John won’t.”
Seth was grateful, but his own need was clear, too.
Adrian sighed. “Freedom, Eagle. It’s not always as easy as just letting them fight.”
Seth let his boss see his pain, the only one he would share it with. “I long to be a dad again.”
So do I, Adrian thought, eyes going to Angela as she moved into the training tent. He looked back at Seth. “She’ll remember how it felt to carry life, even if only for a little while. You’ll have the opportunity again, and then, there won’t be a ghost to mar it.”
Seth took those words to heart and let them ease some of his fury at the situation. Adrian was right. In time, he would fill Becky with his sons and daughters, and Rick wouldn’t be anywhere in that picture.
Adrian motioned toward the showers, where Matt–naked as the day he was born–had just come out and begun drawing attention. “I want him in the Eagles. Can we do that?”
Distracted with a challenge, Seth grunted thoughtfully, “If he doesn’t snap, yes.”
“That’s why he needs to be an Eagle, Seth. If he isn’t, that snap might come on this camp, and I’ll have Kyle remove him before I let that happen.”
Adrian gave the undercover cop a hard look. “You’ve saved Becky, given her a chance at a future that shouldn’t have existed. Do the same for Matt and let the victory fill your heart when she follows through. Becky doesn’t want to be a mom yet. She wants to be one of us.”
7
“North looks bad. We only paralleled it for a little while. The mutations and smells are unbelievable. I thought I was watching a bad horror flick from the 1980s.”
Kenn had just gotten his full clearance from John and come to deliver his report in person, despite already sending it in on paper.
Adrian sighed. Oklahoma was known for a rich, black soil that was perfect for raising food, but not any longer. The deer here were deformed, and mutating more with every month’s fresh litters. Since the deer were herbivores, that meant the ground was now contaminated enough to produce poisoned food. Predators would get a strong dose with each meal, and eventually, so would the humans who had to hunt those predators for food. An ugly cycle, it would take a decade for the effects to wind down.
They were camped on the state line, and Adrian was glad to be entering another state, but he wasn’t expecting better conditions. Now surrounded by empty fields instead of rotting plants, Adrian was sure they would start finding starvation as they traveled. They’d thought the west was bad, and Adrian had been grateful to find Middle America almost intact, but the eastern edge…it was ugly. The death tolls from their battles with nature had leveled off, but what happened when they went into Little Rock might start it all up again. It was a shared thought.
“We also saw something you’re not gonna like,” Kenn stated.
Adrian braced for it. “What?”
“Tenkiller Lake was totally dry, like it hasn’t held water in months.”
That boded ill for the springs they hoped to gather water from. The camp was going that way to start collecting water as soon as the mission team returned from Little Rock. If there was no water here, the springs might also be dry.
“Up to fate now,” Adrian stated. “We’re too low on fuel to get to another area.”
Kenn put his notebook away, ready to follow through on the idea he’d had earlier. Tonya deserved what he was about to do. “If not, we’ll find another refinery or treatment plant.”
“Yes. We’re far from beaten. It’s just going to get a little tougher to keep us all alive now.”
Kenn indicated the group around the bonfire. “Harder for some than others.”
It was Kenn’s way of asking if it was okay to try and Adrian clapped him on the shoulder. “I think you’ll be surprised.”
Kenn went that way, motioning to the nervous woman waiting in the shadows. “Come on, rookie. Just don’t throw anything at me.”
Adrian was still surprised to be including Tonya and Cynthia in anything, let alone the Eagles. He watched as Kenn and Tonya approached their two biggest enemies and waited to be judged forgiven or not.
Seth and Kyle exchanged resigned glances as the couple waited, not speaking or forcing anything. A simple head shake would get rid of them.
Kyle gestured at Becky. “There’s room for you, if they slide down.”
Meaning it was up to them.
Becky was aware of Seth’s tension, his need to keep old grudges flying, but her mind was in other places. She put a hand on Seth’s arm to keep him from protesting. “There’s room.”
The undercover cop gave in without much of an argument. He too, had other things on his mind. “Fine. You can tell us about the look on everyone’s face when the rabbits attacked.”
Grinning, Kenn guided Tonya to the inside place, where she was surrounded, protected. It was noticed because the action said he cared about her safety.
Tonya kept her mouth shut, allowing the contentment to linger instead of chasing it out with the next plan or goal. She’d never been around people who could accept her flaws without taking advantage. She wasn’t used to it at all, but some of Kenn’s talk was rubbing off. She’d always known about the dream, but until she had let herself view it through his eyes, she hadn’t understood. If she had, she might have stood an honest chance as Adrian’s legal mate. If she’d just stopped and listened, even once, she would have wanted to be a part of this.
Back in Nevada, Tonya had thought only the top man would work for her, but after all these months, she’d come to think that where she was, was good enough. Maybe it wouldn’t have been with any other man in Adrian’s Army, but Kenn knew how to handle a real woman.
It helped that he was as lusty as she was. They had sex in cars, over motorcycles, in the showers, against walls and trees, and anywhere else that the mood hit them. She didn’t have time to work on another man or plan. When she wasn’t sneaking around with her Marine, she was cooking, cleaning, sitting, collecting trash for the nightly burning, and a hundred other nasty chores that Kenn called ‘FND’ work.
“Room for another?”
Becky stiffened.
Seth looked at her, questioning if her forgiveness extended to someone who’d actually done her harm.
Becky stared at Neil, choosing his fate and her own. She didn’t hate him as much anymore, but they would never be friends.
Neil waited nervously, hoping she would give him the chance to atone.
Becky’s stomach lurched, reminding her that she wasn’t able to cast stones. Neil wasn’t the only one who’d made mistakes. Hers, in comparison, now seemed worse.
“Sit down.”
Becky’s choice broke some of the tension, and Neil took a seat by Kyle.
He flashed a grateful smile and watched Becky’s face tighten. Her eyes narrowed into that squint he’d been warned about, and Neil broke the contact, not wanting to ruin the gift she’d given by allowing him to be here.
Becky pushed the hate back down, controlling herself like Jennifer had instructed. The things that she could do were different than Adrian’s other special people, but they were also more volatile. When she wanted to see blood, it flowed.
Silence settled over the group, each lost in their own thoughts about the trials they’d gone through.
With the exception of Neil, this group was almost content now.
“Damn.”
Neil remembered to breathe as Marc and Angie came out of their tent, clearly fresh from an intimate moment. They were still holding hands and smiling, exchanging quick kisses. It was enough to make a trooper sick.
Neil got up and left the fire, vanishing into the darkness. Maybe he’d take one of the camp women up on their offer and at least have a warm heart next to him occasionally. He missed human contact more than he could say.
“Is he okay?”
Kenn’s question was met with scowls and
shrugs. “He might be if he gets laid,” Seth answered, staring at his former friend.
The group burst out laughing, amusement breaking the tension.
“Maybe we should help him.”
They all turned to Becky, surprised.
Becky rested against Seth in a direct violation of camp rules. “Rick hurt Sam, too. I know that. Maybe Neil can help. Like Seth is helping me.”
They considered the implications and of them all, the clearest was that little Becky had grown up.
“Hot, steamy showers that last long enough to run out of heat,” Jennifer offered in the silence.
They had been talking about what they missed most when Kenn and Tonya joined them, and she hadn’t wanted to ruin the calm mood by saying her mom.
“Mmm. Me, too.” Tonya moaned, also leaning against her man’s big arm. “Except, it was baths. I could spend hours in them.”
Kenn stored that information and answered like a guy. “The PornHub.”
The group cackled again, males the loudest.
“Saturday morning cartoons.”
The campfire group stared at Seth in surprise.
He flushed darkly, body rigid as he shared his private agony for the first time. “My daughter, Bella. She loved the damn things, and I…I loved her.”
Becky slid her hand over his, marveling at how much their skin looked alike. If only she could count on that! “You lost her in the war?”
Seth’s voice was thick with anguish. “Never found a sign.”
Becky understood that, in a small way, coming to her rescue had been something driven by the death of his daughter. Right at that moment, she’d been Bella, needing him. He hadn’t been able to help his daughter, but saving Becky had freed him from some of his guilt at surviving when Bella hadn’t.
“That’s why you search the new arrivals?”
“Yes.”
Understanding how hard her choices would be on him, she tried to lend him her comfort. “I’ll help you look from now on.”
Caught in his own moment of healing, Seth stared at her. “You’re good for me, too. I didn’t expect that.”
“I think the same can be said of everyone around this fire,” Kenn stated, a bit stunned.
They’d each had their trials and survived, because they’d had someone to help them. It was that part of the human spirit that nature, or any other enemy, would never understand. Together, they were stronger.
8
When Matt stepped under the mess canopy, there was a loud round of snickering and laughter that turned his cheeks bright red. He hadn’t spoken a single word after the attack, just moved into his tent and gotten dressed. After that, he’d gone to do his usual chores, but on the inside...
Matt’s hands were in his pockets, drawing attention from those who knew how on the edge he was.
Jennifer and Charlie stood up at the same time, but Matt had counted on them. He was ready.
Moving without his usual clumsiness, Matt pulled the tightly filled balloon from his pocket. “You all think it’s funny? Try laughing now!”
The stink bomb exploded, sending the deep reek of fresh feces across the eating crowd. Seth and Kyle were smart enough to grab their females and get them out of the zone, but most of the camp wasn’t as lucky. The sounds of gagging and vomiting echoed through the night.
Matt didn’t run from the Eagles as they rushed his way. He wasn’t done yet.
The second balloon bomb was ammonia, and the harsh fumes dropped all of the males crushing each other in their attempts to get to him.
“Clear the area!” Adrian shouted, motioning for the canopy to be taken down.
Ducking under the cloud that Matt was busy inhaling deeply from, Adrian tackled the teenager and sent them both rolling through the dirt outside the mess.
Adrian started to shake the boy until his teeth rattled and then realized Matt wasn’t breathing.
“Medic!”
9
“You want me to do what?”
“Put Kevin on hold and spend that time on Matt,” Angela repeated evenly.
“One is a good man, and the other is a kid who just tried to kill half the camp!” Cynthia sputtered. “Are you nuts?”
“Matt needs a hope for the future, or we’ll leave his body on the side of the road in the morning,” Angela grunted. “Is that what you want?”
No, Cynthia realized. She liked Matt, had thought she was making progress.
“You are,” Angela assured. “He was pushed today.”
Angie quickly filled Cynthia in on the port-o-let incident and was satisfied by the anger she saw there.
“When Kevin asks why, you say FND work. He’ll wait.”
Cynthia’s eyes snapped to hers, and Angela smiled, one of those hard, female exchanges that brooked no disobedience. “Get...close to the boy, show him there’s another world, and I’ll take you with me for the next three runs into any city after Arkansas. As XO.”
“Wow.” Cynthia’s greedy heart made her agree. “What exactly do you want me to do?”
“Help him, like Seth and Kyle have done with their abused charges,” Angela’s voice lowered. “Love him. It’s what he needs the most.”
Cynthia didn’t respond, instead moving for the flap. She had to think about this one. It went against her beliefs, but more than that, it might make her an outcast with the camp again, and she’d just gotten in. It would be temporary, until Matt was strong enough to stand on his own, but...
Cynthia felt Kevin staring at her from his place on duty over the supply trucks. I was looking forward to that date!
10
Matt opened his eyes to find himself still alive. It was the last thing he expected and tears began to stream down his cheeks. He didn’t want to be here anymore!
“Matt?”
Cynthia’s voice made him stiffen in fury. “Get out!” Matt blinked at his barely audible croak.
“It’s the ammonia. Should wear off.”
Cynthia took the chair next to his bed, ignoring the scowling Eagle in the corner who was Matt’s guard. “If you had used bleach with it, we’d all be dead now.”
Matt was too wrapped up in his own mind to care. “I couldn’t find any.”
Cynthia and the guard stored that. Matt really had tried to kill everyone. The camp thought it was an awful prank.
“Why are you here?”
Cynthia took his hand gently, glad when the boy didn’t pull away. “I’m your friend. Where else should I be?”
Matt recoiled. “I don’t have any friends!”
“Sure you do,” Cynthia soothed, leaning closer. She used her feminine powers of persuasion, carefully. “And I care.”
Matt wasn’t sure how she meant it and didn’t ask. There was nothing she could offer that would bring him back from the dark side.
“Matt?”
He looked up, still worshiping her, still wanting what his slowly maturing body was whispering of. “Why are you here?”
At his repeated question, Cynthia let her fingers rub his, not grimacing at the feel of his rough skin. “To offer you an arrangement.”
The Eagle in the corner tensed, sensing what was coming. That someone higher up than the reporter had arranged this, Billy had no doubt.
“A what?”
“An arrangement.” Cynthia let go of Matt’s hand and slowly stroked a soft finger down his pale wrist. “I want you to live with me.”
Matt’s skin flushed under her attention, and Cynthia pushed harder, cringing at the thought of this story flying through the camp. “For the next month, you’ll live with me.”
Matt couldn’t speak, but his mind was working perfectly. He was getting his heart’s fondest wish instead of Kyle’s bullet.
“Why?”
“We’ll atone together.”
“You’re lying!” Matt accused hoarsely. “It’s FND!”
The boy shoved her hand away. “Don’t want your pity, bitch!”
Cynthia delivered a light slap
to Matt’s mouth. “Ms. bitch.”
Matt’s hand came up to his mouth, eyes filling with fury. “I won’t take...”
Slap!
Matt’s arm came up to hit her back, and Cynthia nodded. “I’ll let you get one in, and then I’m beating your ass.”
Matt hesitated.
Cynthia watched his arm go down. “Wise choice.”
She handed him a paper from the front pocket of her shirt, his cicada drawing.
“The boy who gave me that said art was his only dream. Is that still true?”
Matt slowly shook his head.
“Good, ‘cause I have needs to be serviced, and I’m asking you to see to them.”
Matt was floored by the adult conversation, by the smell of her and the concern in her eyes. “You want me?”
Cynthia gave him a soft smile and avoided the question. “Is that a yes?”
Matt nodded quickly. He would live with Cynthia!
“Good. I’ll arrange it with Adrian. When John releases you, you’ll come straight to me. Understand?”
“Yes...” Matt didn’t know how to express his emotions and tears welled again.
Cynthia gave him a sharp pinch on the wrist that snapped his attention back. “No more tears, Matt, unless you just can’t keep from it. Okay?”
“Okay,” he agreed, wiping them away. He would have a new life now, one where crying wasn’t needed.
Cynthia slowly opened her arms to him and let the teenager curl into her protective embrace. She’d done what Angela wanted and claimed Matt. Wtf?
Billy listened to the deal with only a little surprise. What would have been shocking was if Adrian hadn’t tried to save the boy. These methods might seem extreme to the camp, who wanted Matt and Mitch tossed out, but Billy thought this was a good idea. In time, Cynthia might even come to care for Matt.
It would leave Kevin on the outside, but it was a needed sacrifice for the dream. Banishing Mitch and Matt would hurt Adrian and that man was currently suffering enough. He didn’t need another weight on his shoulders. Watching Marc love Angie was more than enough to bring things down. They didn’t need any more help.