by Angela White
Adrian played it cooler than he felt. “If not, I’ll be in that hunting party you were organizing.”
Because of the tremor, the moral board hadn’t been notified, there hadn’t been time. They would have to be ready for what came next with the camp, but first Adrian would give Kenn one last chance to get it right.
He left Safe Haven’s light, trying to find the right words among the new piles of debris and the uneasily resting camp. Even the animals were making more noise than usual. Despite not being able to view the cracks anymore, it was hard for the camp to settle down, but for the Eagles, it was impossible. They had a sniper hunting one of their own.
Adrian sighed restlessly, feeling cut-off and ill ready to be without Kenn. He didn’t know of a way the Marine could keep his high place here, but he might not have to die. His was one life that Adrian wouldn’t order his army to take until all other attempts at peace had failed.
Adrian pushed the button on the mike and there was silence from his men as they waited to see how Kenn would be handled.
“Rookie lesson, Marine. Get set.”
There was no answer from the darkness, but after a minute, Adrian went on like there had been, positive Kenn was listening to them, too.
“Eagles are men and women who care about the future of their country. So much, that we are willing to do anything, sacrifice anything, to accomplish that goal. America comes first with us. Not to hide greed, but for the greater good; the survival of our country. The continuation of America is all I care about and there isn’t anything I won’t do, any one life I won’t sacrifice, to make it happen.”
“He’s warning him,” Angela realized with relief from where she now stood in the doorway of her tent, and the half dozen Eagles around her showed relief. To them, it was Adrian proving the loyalty that they were all willing to die for as Eagles. Each of them hoped Adrian would give them the same chance, if they ever messed up as badly. Until this, no one had.
“An Eagle can now be trusted with a life, the only possession which has any true value. Lives are not to be taken lightly but they will be taken. Doubts are normal and I’m here for that, too, but your fellow Eagles share a bond that cannot be broken by miles or mistakes.” Adrian felt the right words coming and let them flow.
“An Eagle faces errors and makes amends. Even some of the worst choices in judgment can be given leniency if the person acts like an Eagle and is deemed worthy of another chance. Not everyone in Safe Haven will get such a consideration, but as an Eagle, it came to you unspoken, with the first order that I gave and you accepted.”
Magic flowed out, reaching into the darkness with a brilliant golden light.
“Before the war, grunt, you were something else. Now, you’re an Eagle in my Army and I still have a place for you. That hasn’t changed.”
“Is he saying we’ll forgive and forget if Kenn comes back? ‘Cause, that won’t ever happen!”
Marc’s anger was ignored by Neil and Kyle. Adrian’s decisions were just that–his to make. The aftermath of the tremor still wasn’t cleaned up and probably wouldn’t be as good as what Kenn would have accomplished even when they were finished. Kenn had been a thorn in their sides, but until Angela had come, he had also been the go-to man and they were already missing him.
“Surrender and face the punishment. I’ll stand with you.” Adrian regarded his two highest men.
Neither of them wanted to, but refusing wasn’t an option during that moment. Their bond demanded it.
“I won’t stand with him, but I won’t plot either. Whatever the board votes, my team will go with.” Kyle was the first to give him what he wanted.
Neil reluctantly joined them, keying his mike. “Same here, but this only works if you can leave her…them, alone. We won’t stand for any more.”
Adrian hit the button again, not satisfied, but content Kenn now understood he wouldn’t be killed on sight. “Schedule switch. Eagle Two has Point from noon until evening mess. Moral board meeting immediately after.”
Marc couldn’t believe Adrian was letting the dangerous man back in, and earned a head shake from Neil before he could object again.
“Adrian knows what he’s doing.”
“Giving Kenn a pass!”
“Buying time.” Adrian’s tone was soothing. “If he thinks there’s a chance to keep his place, he’ll take it. Kenn assumes Neil and Kyle and you, of course, to be the headhunters. He won’t think I’ve rigged anything because it’ll be much easier if the Eagles vote him back in. Then, we don’t have to explain it to the camp.”
Marc was confused. “So, you don’t plan to let him stay?”
Adrian shrugged evasively. “That’s up to the board.”
He was gone an instant later, leaving Marc’s anger behind. Marc wanted Kenn dead for the mistakes of their past, but Safe Haven needed him alive to help fight for the future.
10
“What punishment did you ask for?”
The question was demanded by Zack, but all of his team wanted to know the answer.
“He deserves the same as everyone else, right?” Angela retorted coldly.
“Death! She asked for his death!” Allan exclaimed. That was the standard punishment for a woman-beater in Safe Haven–the real punishment always carried out away from the camp’s sensitive view.
“It’s a trap. One of you call him, right now,” Zack instructed, not about to let his mentor be tricked into coming in to be met with a bullet.
Angela’s laughter stopped even the Eagles in the shadows and they stared at her in wary confusion.
She slowly stopped, wiping at her eyes. “I’m sorry… It’s just that you have so much loyalty for him and he feels none toward you.”
She shook her head. “Such odd alliances have come from this war.”
Angela regarded Lee, his thoughts easily read. “If I tell you what you want to know, will you then support me and abandon Kenn?”
It was the moment some of the Eagles had feared, her using her new freedom to usurp authority, but there was no denying that she was more worthy than the Marine that Zack’s team was ready to sneak off and help.
“To know, I’d swear loyalty to the wolf and his master,” Lee caved desperately.
Angela cracked a smile. “I won’t ask for it. You’ll accept me when you’re ready. As for your question, talk to Adrian. I’ll try to answer it, if he says okay.”
There was a dumbfounded silence as all of them realized she’d reminded them of who was in charge here–Adrian, not Kenn.
She sneered at Zack. “Kyle is coming through the trees to your left. Don’t shoot him.”
“Bossman says for you to meet him in the training tent.”
Angela thanked Kyle as he revealed himself and then left. Around her, shadows followed and she tried not to appear worried. Kenn was out there somewhere, probably with a scope searching for her. The moment she’d feared for so long was here and it was terrifying.
Kyle had heard her last words and the few Eagles still in the shadows were quick to fill him in.
When he glowered at Lee, the pain there was too great to deny.
“I’ll do it this once because she wants it. From now on, anyone else can go to him themselves and explain why it’s worth her wasting that kind of power.”
11
Angela ducked into the training tent with a feeling of relief, but she didn’t let her guard down yet, not sure if it was a trap to get her alone. The Kenny she’d survived before the war was capable of that and worse.
Adrian was waiting for her in the large hayroom and Angela immediately felt better as she read his thoughts. He wasn’t as worried and that meant he still had faith that Kenn would do the right thing. She hoped he was right.
Adrian saw her controlling the fear, and knew he’d been right to put himself with her instead of an Eagle. She honestly believed Kenn would try to kill her and that meant he might.
This was the most dangerous time, the chaos while they were closing the
gaps in security. Adrian would have to be relieved before dawn came, but for now, his presence would be a distraction for her and also for Kenn, who should be set up at this point, as Marc thought. Adrian wasn’t sure that his radioed words had been enough and until he was, he planned to stay close to her. Kenn wouldn’t take the chance on hitting him, to get to her. Anyone else was likely a dead bird.
“Ready for a lesson?”
Angela started to say no, but stopped. She was too wound up for anything else.
“You’re the boss. I just hang here,” she joked distractedly.
He kept his distance. “Good. Show me what they’ve taught you so far in Kai.”
Eager to work off some of the tension and advance in that area, Angela dropped her guns and gear. Outside, a dirty drizzle began to fall, bringing the fog with it.
Chapter Ten
Best Served Cold
1
Dawn hit the refugee camp slowly.
Fog, thick and waist-high in places, had rolled in overnight, covering Safe Haven with a mysterious, dingy gray canopy that had the sentries tripled and everyone who knew about Kenn’s snap, on high alert. The Marine could be sneaking in to do what he had threatened.
Stashed in the large hayroom, Angela tossed and worried. The awful dream wouldn’t let go of her and she muttered lowly, waking her son with words of danger and death–hers.
Charlie listened with a worried heart, the sense of something about to happen thick in the cold air. He’d been scared when he found out Kenn now knew who his dad was, but he had been terrified for her and was glad Adrian and the Eagles had put them under guard. Not sure what to do, but positive trouble had arrived; Charlie quickly dressed and slipped out.
On duty, Marc caught the teenager’s attention as he came from the tent, but got only a tense glance that had the father surveying for signs of Kenn. Finding nothing, Marc swept the landscape harder, now accepting that his bad feeling had grown into an awareness of blood about to spill. What did I miss?
Kyle and Neil sipped from steaming mugs, one slowly waking, one refusing to sleep yet. They had finished updating each other about Mitch and Rick, and the hunt for a new Com truck. Both tired males wondered what Charlie was doing, but didn’t stop him to ask. His shadow was Seth, who appeared as confused as they were, but with that expression of intense need, there was only one person Charlie wanted and it wasn’t either of the men who had a father’s claim.
They’re coming for her!
Adrian’s lids shot open at the silent words, not hearing the camp or his men, only the worried thoughts and images of the boy now begging him to do something.
Adrian met him at the flap. “When?”
The teenager linked their minds as he had with Marc, and then fate was all around them and they both took off running toward the training tent.
2
On the hill above them, where the layers of damp fog concealed everything, Kenn was waiting.
Blind up and ghillie on, he’d been set and ready since midnight. Tonya had packed everything he needed to accomplish this last mission and it was too bad he wouldn’t get the chance to thank her.
The fog below parted, revealing the barest shadow, and he used instinct to help guide him to his target; the killer instinct that his government had honed. Small, Kenn would have dismissed the shadow if not for the adult form following. Who would have a guard right now? My targets.
Kenn adjusted his scope to cover the main entrance of the training tent, but he scanned what he could discern of the sides and rear, as well. Brady would have her in the hayroom, where the bale walls were too thick to be positive of a kill shot. And where Adrian might still be, too. Smart. Brady knew Kenn wouldn’t kill Adrian or even trim him by accident. If Marc kept Angie and Adrian close, it might take a while to get a clear shot.
Kenn studied the hayroom intently. He was on his own line now. There was time to spare and if Adrian thought his rage could be stopped with a short radio call, the leader was in for a shock. It didn’t matter that Kenn’s heart had clenched with longing to be on Adrian’s right or that he’d even been halfway to that coveted place before he’d stopped. They would never really let him back in and the person responsible had to–
Someone’s creeping along the ground near the flap of the training tent. Infiltrator!
When Angela left the hayroom, tired Eagles scanned her, but no one told her to stay put and she proceeded to the tent flap. The first-ever rookie tryout for females was about to happen and she wasn’t missing it.
She’d spent most of the night worrying, but she’d come to accept that whatever was meant to happen, would. Like Adrian, she too felt they couldn’t outrun fate.
As Angela emerged into chilly fog, and saw what she’d failed to account for, it was too late to avoid the knife sliding around her throat.
Time slowed as the blade drew blood and the voices demanded survival.
“Be still!” Dean growled, dragging them toward his waiting jeep.
The knife went deeper, blade spotted red, and Angela stopped fighting. If he couldn’t take her out of here, he planned to kill her. She had to survive to meet Cesar.
Adrian and Charlie rounded the corner of the training tent as Marc dropped from the tree behind them.
Realizing he was trapped, Dean jerked her closer, using her as a shield. “Stay away!”
Angela locked eyes with Adrian, knowing only he would have the strength to do it and got his subtle nod. The brother wouldn’t leave this camp alive, no matter if she had to fall, too.
“Let her go!”
Neil grabbed Marc before he could rush in, and Doug helped him wrestle Marc back.
“Let me go! He’ll kill her!”
“Eagle lessons, Ten.”
At Adrian’s words, every man in the area retreated and prepared to do it by the book. They dragged Marc along. It took four of them.
Feeling Dean’s determination to take her away or kill her, Angela drew on her courage and relaxed her body as much as she could. Blood trickled down her chest as she shrank against the burning man.
Almost a caress, the surprise loosened his grip for a brief second that she didn’t waste. Twisting, the blade sank in deeper, and she braced against the pain as she swung her arm around to catch his hanging flesh in a yanking vise.
The knife flared into her skin, making her moan, and their sounds were mirrored agony.
“Bitch!”
Angela shoved at his loose arm, ducking beneath it, and Dean swung wildly as she spun away.
“Lookout!”
“Open Fire!”
“Angie!”
“Mom!”
“AAhhhh!” Angela screamed as Dean’s knife sank into her shoulder instead of her neck and her hand clutched her holster as she fell.
Pop!
Dean drained of life as Angela stared up at him in scared confusion. Between his glaringly dead eyes, was a round hole that oozed crimson in small rivulets.
Kenn slowly lowered the rifle, heart now thumping with that familiar feeling of victory. Boo-ya! I made the shot!
And they all knew. The Eagles were staring up at him in shock and Kenn snapped a quick salute that Adrian returned. He’d saved her. Now, Adrian would forgive him his flaws and let him back into the fold.
Angela caught the thought through the pain and din of voices surrounding her. She shoved into Kenn’s mind as Marc swung her into his arms and headed for the medical tent.
“Only for Adrian and your place?
You know it.
Then I owe you nothing.
Agreed.
Following Brady, Adrian handed out orders with a steady voice and a worried heart. We almost lost her!
“Check-in of all guards. Get everyone in the mess and accounted for. Pull those steel plated rigs around it and get rid of that body! Call in all shifts and set up a perimeter.”
No need. Angela’s thoughts were surprisingly calm considering how much blood and pain she was covered in. He was alo
ne. It’s over.
But how would I know that? Adrian sent back, hoping to distract her with a lesson. She’d been stabbed and it hurt. Careful cover. Remember it.
Angela was only vaguely aware of how many members were running their way. I will.
In the dark about the drama that had played out behind the scenes, the camp was there to greet Kenn as he walked down the hill in his handmade sniper cover. A large part of the startled crowd met him, some of the Eagles as well, but Adrian was nowhere to be seen and the Marine stored it, bitterness still festering. He’d known Brady would run to her side, but he hadn’t expected the boss to.
As he strode toward his truck, Kenn tossed the brass to Kyle. “Give that to him. Tell him I want my place back.”
Kyle nodded, sliding the warm casing into his pocket. Like him or not, Kenn was needed. None of them had been able to take a shot without hitting her. Even Marc had hesitated when Doug let him go. Adrian had been drawing his own weapon when Kenn fired, but it would have been late even if he could have accounted for the angle. The Marine had saved her life and Kyle had little doubt Adrian would give Kenn what he’d asked for.
Kyle witnessed Kenn being welcomed by Tonya in a way that had the Eagles patrolling the parking area staring in surprise. Most of them hadn’t known the two were having an affair.
Kyle frowned at the term. Neither of them was dating anyone else. Theirs was more like a relationship. Would he abuse her, too? Would Adrian care?
Kyle vowed to find out.
3
“Did he know? Did Kenn let him get that close to you intentionally?” Adrian demanded, the need to do something overwhelming. She was hurt on my post!
Angela shook her head, wincing as fresh warm drips ran down her arm. She was thinking about how Kenn had lingered long enough to make sure she’d be marked. This searing wound was his payback. “Yes.”
Marc and Adrian both pivoted to John.
“Is she okay?”
Brady’s tone was threatening and the doctor snorted, angrily snapping on a pair of gloves. “Does she look it?” John elbowed his way through them to get to her. “Make a hole!”