The Price We Pay (Life After War Book 7)

by Angela White

  Sam stopped herself from scanning the tree anyway and giving up her fragile location.

  As the soldiers faded from sight, complaining about their chore, Sam let herself sleep. She didn’t have to be in the new place until dawn and it had been a long wait just to fire those two short shots.

  9

  “There he is.”

  The team of Eagles watched the jeep fly into the large base camp with a clearly wounded passenger. When they saw the soldiers snap to attention and follow the wounded man’s orders, it was proof of their instructions.

  “It says to sit tight and pass communications until they move on Safe Haven,” Jeff read from the group envelope they’d opened upon arriving half an hour ago.

  Seth stared at the busy camp in frustration. He’d been told Becky would be here at noon, but there wasn’t any sight of her.

  They were waiting on a narrow ledge directly above an enemy camp that was lined with trees. They were up far enough to be out of sight and sound, but still view their target and all of the fighters took careful steps.

  “Hey, there’s something on the other side,” Jeff called, still reading the detailed plans. “When the girl gets here, provide an escort, but do not interfere with her duty.”

  Seth knew right then, but Becky stepped from the thick trees and he was too relieved to yell at her.

  Becky slid into Seth’s arms and let him hold her too tightly, too possessively. She’d deal with it when the time came, but for now, let them both have a little comfort. It had only been a short time apart, but she was exhausted.

  Seth could feel her weariness and let out a breath. “You got time to eat and sleep?”

  “We don’t leave until dawn,” Tracy stated, smiling at Zack when he offered his small tent. “Thanks. I’m beat.”

  She ducked inside, and Seth took Becky to his own canvas, leaving the others to pass a peaceful shift on sentry duty over the enemy camp.

  10

  I’m worried.

  About the baby, Angela guessed.

  Cynthia waited for the words she was scared to hear and Angela delivered them as gently as she could.

  Yes, a danger to everyone around you.

  How can I—

  You can’t. Angela softened her tone, but it didn’t change the answer.

  You’re not a descendant. The baby is. You’ll never be strong enough to control him.

  And will he be… like his father?

  Angela’s witch blazed through with brutal accusation.

  Worse. He will fall into government hands and become a plague upon the earth. Kill him now!

  Cynthia gasped, jerking herself awake and she was glad of the military sleep system she was wrapped in as the dirt shifted. The dream had startled her and she wasn’t sure now if she’d really been communicating with Angela or blowing off worry during her sleep.

  Her hand went to her stomach, where not even a lump proclaimed her child yet. Was her dream the future to come? Any child of Adrian’s would be powerful, though. Why wasn’t Conner bad or even Jennifer’s offspring? If there were evil in the newborn, that mix would have brewed it, right?

  Only one of them lived, she reminded herself. Nothing could be ruled out yet. She needed to talk to Angela

  Cynthia felt the breeze stiffen and the leaves rustle as if a giant above her had let out a long-suffering sigh. The hair on her neck stood up, and she sensed what was coming before it arrived.

  You have talked with me, Cynthia. And I’m sorry.

  Still buried in the ground, the reporter cried herself back to sleep.

  Chapter Thirteen

  1

  Kyle took the message from Shane, and put it with the others. Once he’d brought Jenny’s group out here and angrily dropped them off, he’d made two more stops and then come back.

  With darkness, exhaustion had returned. He’d never thought he could get so tired from being behind the wheel.

  “Do you have my next orders?” Kyle said tiredly.

  Shane handed him a small envelope, feeling almost as run down as Kyle looked. “She’s got a lot of us on break overnight. Maybe you too.”

  “That would be nice,” Kyle answered vaguely, ripping his own envelope open. “Be safe out there.”

  “You know it,” Shane agreed, leaving the glow-stick marked van to rejoin his group.

  Kyle was parked in the center of three zones that held Safe Have teams and they would be bringing him messages all night according to his new orders. He was to stay here and sleep between visits. Kyle immediately made sure he was under good cover, got settled, and went to sleep.

  He’d only been out a couple minutes when female voices roused him from his weary stupor. “Jenny?”

  “Mail for the boss.”

  Kyle recognized Tonya’s voice and forced himself to sit up. “Leave it with me.”

  Tonya handed him the two folders and then climbed into the van. She took up a guard position near the rear windows. “I was told to let you sleep between visits.”

  Tonya was ready to sleep as well, thinking she would have to work hard to stay awake if the mobster snored. She and Kendle had lured small teams into ambush directions all day, not actually exchanging gunfire, but being seen enough to lead them toward teams of Eagles. Kendle hadn’t been happy with not being involved, of course, and Tonya had blood to scrub from her hair still.

  “Kyle? You hear me?”

  Kyle couldn’t answer. His eyes were glued to the group coming out of the darkness. Jennifer led it, once again covered in dried blood and little else.

  Kyle felt fresh adrenaline flood his system and stood up. “You sleep first. It’s wasted on me now.”

  Jennifer was braced for Kyle’s anger and arguments, but the sight of him swaying on his feet with clenched fists brought out her compassion and she went to him with a ‘nothing’s wrong’ smile. “Where can I clean up at?”

  Kyle blinked. “Don’t you have..”

  “After I’m clean and you hold me for a while,” Jennifer stated firmly. “Okay?”

  Kyle became aware of the fearful looks and gestures he was getting behind her back and managed to pull himself together. “Fine. Come on.”

  Jennifer yanked her arm from his light grip, even though he hadn’t tried to pull her. “Tell me where I can clean up.”

  Kyle wasn’t sure how to react, except to give her what she wanted. “Behind the van. I’ll get the water.”

  Jennifer went that way with her head high. He wasn’t going to push her around in front of other people. She didn’t like it and she didn’t have to take it.

  Kyle watched her go without moving, a bit stunned by the difference. “That’s not Jenny.”

  “Yeah,” Zack agreed lowly. “We had the same thought and didn’t ague when she wanted to keep the… coating on. Good luck.”

  “What happened?” Kyle asked, thinking she’d been hurt and snapped.

  Zack filled in what he knew as he got Kyle moving toward the van to get the water. It was making Zack nervous to keep Jennifer waiting. “When we got to the camp, it was like she didn’t need us again. We never went inside, man.”

  Kyle didn’t believe it. “By herself? Against two dozen armed soldiers? Yeah, sure.”

  Zack stopped, growing angry. He was also tired. “You believe what you want, but you keep her calm and happy, or me and the boys will tie your ass up and gag you.”

  Zack left Kyle standing there with his mouth open. What the hell?

  Zack joined his team and they set up a small perimeter around the van, avoiding Jennifer’s bathing area until she was finished. When she stepped into the van, clean, with only Kyle’s thick jacket wrapped around her, few of them bothered to steal a glimpse. She was too scary to be sexy.

  “Incoming.” Seth called, seeing new shadows break away from the trees with tired movements. “Ours.”

  Kyle went to meet them.

  The two Indians were carrying a struggling bundle, both men panting and grunting with the effort. />
  Kyle yanked the rear door of the van open when they went in that direction and he winced as the body hit the van floor with a hard thump. Must not be one of ours, he thought.

  The groan that came from under the bag had Kyle reaching out to remove the covering before either of the guards could think to stop him.

  Adrian glared hatefully, gagged and bound, and Kyle recoiled in shock.

  “That’s Adrian!”

  Kyle glared around. “Will someone please tell me what the hell happened?”

  2

  “Can you talk about your runs?”

  Becky wasn’t sure that was a good idea, but didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She settled for shrugging. “Some of it.”

  They were in his tent, following orders that had implied this might be their last night together. “What do you want to know?”

  Seth recognized the moment. He’d used the same tone a few days ago with an Eagle who hadn’t cleared Angela’s security list yet. Seth didn’t think there was a problem, but until the boss gave the okay, Kip would remain outside the loop. He’d been left at Safe Haven, where Tommy had instructions to shoot him if there was reason to. This was the time they were most likely to find out why he’d failed his security check.

  “I don’t like this.”

  Becky didn’t argue. She hadn’t liked it either, but after only a couple days, she was feeling stronger and that did matter to her. Instead, she told him about her first mission.

  Seth almost couldn’t stand to listen. The fear and doubt he’d expected, but the excitement and eagerness to go out and do it again tomorrow was sickening. And he couldn’t even tell her that was how he felt. The Eagles expected the ranks to be fully supportive of the females that were brave enough to join and tough enough to make the cut. Those who spoke against it were often made outcasts until they switched their views. Seth wasn’t sure he could do it.

  “I don’t know how,” Becky said, drawing his attention back without realizing she’d lost it. “But I didn’t even get any blood on me.”

  Seth didn’t know what to say and he held her tighter.

  “I’ll try to figure it out next time.”

  “You’re sure about doing this?”

  “Yes.”

  Becky slid a hand under Seth’s shirt, but the Eagle understood what had brought on the desire. “Not now, okay?”

  Becky didn’t mind so much and she curled up on his chest. It didn’t take her long to fall asleep. Seth, however, was still awake come dawn.

  3

  “I need to sleep now.”

  There was only one bedroll in his gear and Jennifer crawled inside the mammoth Marine bag without showing signs of being afraid.

  Kyle was terrified.

  Jennifer scrunched into the corner as Kyle climbed in, realizing she should have let him get in first, and she tried not to stiffen when he tugged her into a better position. It placed her against his side and then his back when he immediately rolled over.

  Jennifer caught the flash of him thinking about her hard nipples against his arm and understood he was once again resisting temptation. He was a strong man.

  Jennifer allowed herself to lean against him, and then to give in and melt against his heat with a soft groan. It had been a long start to her mission and he felt too good to let her fear stop them from sleeping.

  A short time later, Jennifer was snoring and Kyle carefully rolled over. As he shifted, she did too, placing herself the way he’d first had them.

  Kyle felt her chest against him, relaxed in sleep, and was able to send his mind to calming thoughts that would allow dozing. He couldn’t have done that before.

  Stop babying her or she’ll leave you.

  Kyle jumped, instantly aroused and repulsed to have Jennifer’s witch standing so blatantly in his mind, where he wasn’t always good.

  Should I apologize? the witch asked evenly. I don’t know about these things.

  Kyle opened his mouth and then slammed it shut to respond silently, What do you want?

  The witch began a slow, revolving dance that Kyle turned his back to mentally, lids flying open to stare at the tent ceiling.

  She’s not the same. Don’t treat her like a child.

  It was hard to resist the temptation of thinking about treating Jennifer like a woman, but Kyle shoved the witch out of his mind with an effort of pure will.

  I won’t betray her that way, he snarled, big arm blocking the door to keep her out. And I have nothing at all for you!

  Jennifer’s eyes opened and her head lifted, stunning Kyle with the ugliness he read there.

  She is a killer.

  Kyle refused to believe that, but the witch shoved by his meager defenses and showed him the bloody replay of her day.

  Kyle stopped struggling as the awful scenes went on and on, incapable of denial with the proof before him.

  The witch continued her assault. She needs a man to heal her now. She faced Donner and Louis, and came back stronger instead of curling into a corner and begging for mercy. Claim her.

  Why? Kyle demanded. And why now?

  She needs you.

  That cryptic answer angered Kyle enough that he closed his lids and started his sleeping ritual. He didn’t have to tolerate this shit.

  She has a plan.

  That snapped Kyle out of his annoyance and into concern. He’d been watching.

  I’ve shown you proof, the witch intoned. She is not who you would believe and that arrogance will cost you everything.

  Kyle felt pain, loss, and fear, and he unconsciously tightened his hold on the girl sleeping peacefully on his chest.

  “Jenny,” he whispered, hoping she’d wake and end this conversation before he was told something he had to react on.

  She’s remembering the first time she saw you. Leave her be.

  Tell me what you’ve come to say and be gone!

  She wants to forget it all and move on. Caesar, her mother, the baby—it’s too much. She’s torn though, because of you.

  She should hate me too, Kyle admitted. If I move in now, she will.

  Have you noticed that she doesn’t need you anymore?

  Kyle winced, but didn’t deny it.

  I see you have. The place as her protector for the next year is not what she wants. Adulthood came to her over the last months and she wants a future for her child.

  We’re building that now, he protested. After the war, we’ll have a home, a fresh start—

  The witch flashed an image that forced Kyle to explore one of his biggest fears when it came to Jenny. Her mental state.

  The image was of a great victory and a group of females who were bathed in blood. The girl in the front was holding a bloody child, red orbs glowering at the enemy, but when one of her own fighters approached, the girl directed that rage on him.

  No more!

  The ground was covered in the dead, in the blood of their fellow American’s, and crimson tears oozed from the girl’s eyes as she backed away.

  “You’re like them. So am I. We’re evil.”

  Before the man could stop her, the girl rushed toward the edge of the cliff with her child clutched tightly and Kyle jerked himself out of the vision so hard that he shifted Jennifer from his chest and startled them both into uneasy alertness.

  Jennifer, exhausted and comfortable with Kyle being close, only muttered and shifted back into the warm spot.

  Kyle was frozen in agony.

  She will see what she has unleashed, what all of you have become, and it will be too much. She needs you.

  To do what? Kyle forced out. Manipulate her into thinking I’m the sun and the moon, and worth living for?

  To heal her wounds, the witch filled in. To work through these things with her before she becomes overwhelmed by the blood.

  Her wounds are from being hurt by men. It takes time—

  That you won’t have, the witch interrupted, getting aggravated that she couldn’t explain it so he could understand. She is not a chi
ld. She is a woman, a mother, and she has friends. None of those things will be enough to hold her here once she realizes she is corrupt. Only love can bring her through that darkness.

  Kyle was adding up clues. You’re scared. What happens to you if she dies?

  The witch faded back at the question, voice a quiver of terror. I end.

  One way ticket? Kyle asked without compassion. He blamed the witch for Jenny’s deeds.

  Yes, but you’re wrong. I tried to stop her. She wanted to kill, to be a part of this war in ways she knew would never be forgotten.

  She’s afraid of dying? Kyle guessed.

  But not like most of you humans are, the witch whispered. And when she realizes how much evil she carries, that terror will be the only punishment she feels is suitable. You have to stop her.

  From what?

  Hating herself. Show her how you feel, how you see her, and bring her back to the light.

  And if I don’t? She’ll jump?

  Or pull a trigger, or swallow a pill. Once she decides she doesn’t deserve to live, she’ll take her life. Its why so many of my kind have been absent in the world.

  And with that, the witch left Kyle and Jennifer woke up.

  Jennifer had been vaguely aware of voices and emotions flowing around her as she dreamed and it had pulled her from that first night of new ownership with Kyle. So much had changed since then.

  “Are you all right?” Kyle asked softly, anger gone. He would have to spend time thinking about things, but he was already sure he would take action. He doubted it would be the recommended plan, but he wouldn’t sit by and lose her.

  Jennifer nodded against his chest. “Better after some more sleep. You coming this time?”

  Kyle smiled, shifting slightly to hold her more securely. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Jennifer giggled and let sleep pull her down as Kyle evened out his breathing for slumber. She felt him dozing, but not coming below the surface far enough to join her, and Jennifer didn’t insist. She swam off alone through the murk in her mind, trying to sort and make room for the horrors that tomorrow would bring.