Adrian's Eagles: Book Four (Life After War) (65 page)

Jenna’s harshly female voice got through to Kendle where Luke’s manly tones wouldn’t have and she stared at them in shock.

“Kendle?”

Her head swung to Luke, cringing in terror. “Eth..Eth.. Ethan!”

It came out as a piercing shriek that had Luke moving into the cave with determined steps
. This was why the sick bastard wasn’t dead yet,
he thought grimly. She needed to know, see it happen.

Luke grabbed the still man by the arm, blinded by his fury, and he grunted in sharp pain as Ethan’s knife blade sank into his shoulder.

He ducked backward avoiding a second swing meant to render him unconscious this time, and threw his own knife.

“
Ugg
!”

It stuck in Ethan’s gut and Luke resisted the urge to finish him off. He dragged the moaning man out to where Jenna had Kendle mostly cornered against the wall and was trying to calm her down.

At the sight of Ethan, Kendle began screaming again.

Luke swung lightly, knocking the unbound killer to the dirt at her feet, causing her shriek to be cut-off by surprise.

Luke used a vicious boot to the ribs to move the man away from her, deftly retrieving his knife with a fast jerk that sent Ethan’s mouth open in agony.

Kendle watch without blinking as LJ gave Ethan what she hadn’t been able to. Blood flew from the playboy’s face, spraying the rock wall and she stared at it. That was Ethan’s blood. Luke was killing Ethan.

Jenna wisely moved back when Kendle stood up, wobbling weakly on bloody legs. “Stop!”

Luke made sure Ethan was no danger before turning to look at her. He was prepared to take him into the jungle and finish it out of her sight and he was surprised again when she held her hand out.

Luke gave her the bloody knife without speaking, worried when she immediately delivered a nasty swipe down Ethan’s arm that jerked him from the blackness to the sound of his own screams.

Kendle grinned evilly, bloodlust flooding her devastated heart. “More!”

Luke moved back, nodding. “Whatever it takes, Darlin’.”

She was flashing forward before he finished speaking, letting the blade dig and then twist into the side of Ethan’s nose. Blood splashed down his chest as he knocked himself to the ground to get away. Kendle followed him forward, blade flashing relentlessly while Luke held the screaming man in place.

Scared by their behavior, Jenna slowly backed away, leaving the supplies. If they wanted her later, she would come, but not without a weapon of her own. These Americans were crazy!

Kendle kept going even after she had accidentally sliced too deep into Ethan’s neck and gave him release. Her arms and naked body were covered in his blood and it was only as Luke watched those glowing green eyes fade to death that he considered the infection. Kendle had been exposed, presumably violated. She would catch the rage illness and he would have to lock her up to keep her from doing this to someone who didn’t deserve it.

As if she caught the thought, Kendle stepped back and threw up. She wobbled violently, knife falling from her gory hand as she slid to her knees. She stared up at him with a shocked survivor’s face and voice like the dead. “I’d like to go home now, please.”

Luke didn’t move fast enough to startle her, but he didn’t hesitate either, coming to her side with a hurt-filled smile. He had no doubt of which home she spoke. “As soon as you say you’re able.”

She nodded, lashes fluttering, and he caught her as she fell over. He laid her down long enough to finish bandaging her wounds and get the blanket from his bedroll. He cut a hole in it for her head and after sliding it over her, swung her gently into his arms and headed for the well-used dirt bike parked nearby. It would be slow going with her in his arms, but he had no idea how to help her. Not sure if the doctor in town would treat her or shoot them both on sight, Luke flew toward town as fast he could.

4

“Will she live?”

Kendle swam reluctantly toward the grayness, unable to remember what was there and scared to try. The voice below the stone was silent, but she felt him lurking, waiting for her to discover the latest horror and come rushing back. She didn’t feel anything that hadn’t been there already as she pushed through the gray and she was extremely careful to not let on that she’d woken.

“Maybe. Her wounds are healing at an incredible rate and there’s no sign of the infection.”

“And your theory on that?”

“I’ll share later, if she lives.”

Kendle jerked at the sudden bright light and felt someone come to her side.

“Kendle?”

Sure the sound of Luke’s voice was a trick, she squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m sorry, Ethan. Please, I’m sorry!”

Luke growled his rage, spinning from the room and the doctor took his place. The loud female voice brought Kendle into the next level of alertness.

“He’s dead. You’re in town. That was Luke.”

Given the information she needed most, Kendle slipped back into the darkness.

The next time she woke, it was to see a man in the chair by her side. She struggled to control her breathing and couldn’t stop from begging again when he stood up. “I’ll try harder, please don’t!”

“Son of a bitch!”

The doctor hurried to comfort her as Luke left the small room again. “Ethan’s dead.”

Kendle was trying to remember what had happened. She’d already placed the voice of the doctor, but that growl! That angry sound couldn’t have been Luke.

“You sure?”

Harriet used a rough hand to check Kendle’s forehead. “You had too much of his blood on you for him to be anything else.”

Kendle flinched back, more from the touch than the words, and flashes of Ethan’s torture hit her hard. She shuddered, gagging.

The woman had the basin in hand and moved into position with a quickness born of repetition. “Try to stop yourself from thinking about it if you can and I’ll give you something to calm those guts.”

Kendle nodded shakily, taking the towel as the woman went to dispose of the mess. She felt so…
deformed
, Kendle supplied forcefully, making herself look down at what would now be her body.

The sight of it stunned her. There were teeth marks on nearly every inch of the skin she could see and she was suddenly grateful for the IV in her arm that she was sure contained a painkiller. She was stitched in half a dozen places on her arms and hands; the tips of two fingers covered in thick bandages that she knew hid missing fingertips. ”He liked to bite,” she whispered, tears falling onto the numerous scrapes and puncture marks. She would never be the same.

“LJ wants to come in.”

“No!” Kendle shouted. “I never want to see him again!”

Kendle’s ugly shout struck Luke through the chest even though he’d been warned to expect it, and the doctor’s chubby face was sympathetic as she stepped from the room.

“Go sit with her now. Don’t push, but don’t let her push you either.”

Luke asked himself if he was strong enough to help her through this recovery, the likes of which, her first trauma couldn’t even compare to, and found the answer to be easy. He moved into the room and closed the door with a firm hand.

Kendle watched him settle into the hard rocker next to the softly flickering fire, fighting the need to cover herself.

Luke stared back, his guilt sparking the tension. “We have to talk.”

Kendle shook her head. “No, we don’t. It’s over.”

Luke steeled himself for what had to come next. “I want you to come back to the cabin, let me help you like before.”

Kendle had never been so hurt and she couldn’t agree, wouldn’t ever trust again. “No.”

“Okay. I’ll stay here until she throws me out, but I’m not leaving.”

Kendle felt the tears roll down her cheeks and wiped them away angrily. “You should go.”

“I love you, Kendle. Nothing’s changed for me.” It was the wrong thing to say.

”Well everything’s changed for me!” she shouted hoarsely, tears falling harder. “I’m like a broken toy now. Who the hell would play with something that looks like it belonged to a dog?”

“I would.”

Kendle snarled in grief and hurt and Luke had to go to her, unable to stand her agony. “How can I help you?”

She trembled, so full of bitterness she couldn’t stop lashing out. “Go away!”

He ignored the doctor’s warning about pushing her, sitting down on the bed. Even done slowly, she cringed up against the wall in a desperate attempt at escape.

Luke slowly slid to the top of the bed and leaned against the wall, not touching her, but making it so she’d have to crawl over him to get away. He remembered his own horror and how hard he’d fought to be left to his despair. Weak or not, he wouldn’t let her sink any deeper into her own mental hell without trying to show her a little light.

“The cabin, Kendle, our garden. It’s waiting, too.”

Kendle started crying harder and Luke fought the urge to give her the space her eyes were begging for. He held out a hand. “Please, I still need your light!”

Flashes of Ethan’s death came again, but this time they were fighting for space with the memories of the life she’d been sharing with Luke. Fishing holes. Hole-ups. Dark tunnels and nightmarish demons. Love and laughter, life at its best. Blood and pain, hell at its worst. Luke’s grin, the one reserved only for her, broke through her trance and she looked at him with more life than he’d seen so far. “He’s dead. We killed him.”

Luke’s voice turned into that harsh growl she hadn’t been able to place. “Deserved worse than he got!”

Kendle concentrated on recapturing the feel of his smile in her mind, the strength of their love. When she had it securely in her thoughts, she forced herself to keep going. “The others?”

“Already gone. The Mayor got wise to Higgins and sent a flunkey to get the girls out early. We missed the boat by just enough time to see it fading into the sunset with the Mayor onboard.”

Again, the rage in his voice triggered her reaction and Kendle shivered. It wasn’t the LJ she knew and it didn’t match that memory of his smile.

“Kendle, it’s
gonna
be okay. Whatever it takes, I’ll be here for you.”

She pulled up the image again, letting it grow to vivid clarity before she let herself look at him. Deep inside, one desperate need was flaring out, becoming undeniable. She was Kendle Roberts. He was Luke Johnson. They loved each other…. “Go slow, okay?”

Luke grinned in relief, showing a small part of what she needed and Kendle felt the final layer of her shock crack as that wave of need crested in her shattered heart. Ethan was dead and she wasn’t.

Her dreams came to mind, the evil voice floating to the top of her stunned brain
. “Did you know they think you can’t die?”

She shuddered at the knowledge that she could be brought to the brink enough times to wish it weren’t so. Ethan had invaded every part of her. She would never be the same
.

But maybe I can go on,
she thought, concentrating on Luke’s smile and the powerful demanding of her American heart.
Maybe I can stop burning after a while and smolder until the pain recedes. If I can get that far, this time I won’t stop with recovering. I won’t rest until I get home!

Chapter Twenty One

May 7
^th
, 2013

Cedar Bluff State Park

1

Angela’s knuckles were white from her grip on the ambulance dashboard, but she didn’t ask Marc to slow down on the slick, curvy road. They might be too late already…

“Wouldn’t he have sent for John if it was serious?” Marc asked quietly, very aware of how worried she was. The message had come in as they sat down to morning Mess together and she’d been a bundle of live nerves since.

Angela shrugged. Marc was trying to calm her, but that wouldn’t happen until she knew Adrian was okay. She found herself wishing for Kyle and her team. They were in the medical tent right now, being tested for a mysterious illness that had left them incapacitated when it struck. John was trying to figure it out while Kevin and the rookies kept order.

Neil’s team had been with the clearing crew when they left, supposed to be the relief for Kyle’s team that had never made it out of camp last night for their a.m. guard duty over the tow trucks. Seth’s mental call had come while she was busy deflecting people from the
Qz
. He’d told her to bring rope, water, duct tape, and a lot of other little things, but the one that put fear into her heart was this ambulance.
Her team hadn’t been the only target
, she thought, understanding that another attempt had been made on Adrian’s life. Had it been successful?

The ambulance slid through a narrow turn, and then found purchase on the muddy, crumbling pavement. Angela tightened her seatbelt. She wanted to search, a quick glance to settle her heart, and resisted the impulse. If it was as bad as it felt, she might need every bit of strength she had.

“There they are.”

A small group of tow trucks and men came into view through the light drizzle. The men began waving and Marc flicked the headlights in response.

Angela was out first, her black bag clutched tightly under her blue rain slicker. Marc moved toward the group of men for an update, but Angela hurried by them, searching for confirmation.

Neil fell in step to lead the way and she shivered at the feel of his fear. “Kyle and his team were all found in camp, unconscious.”

Neil made a motion to let the others know, but his face held little relief.

“It’s Adrian?”

“The truck went over the edge, along with a car we were moving. We’re pretty sure we can pull them up now that we’ve got more rope, but not until we push the car off of them.”

“Why didn’t you…” Angela froze on the embankment, stunned.

The drop-off was easily thirty feet and she could just see the tow truck. It was upside down and half hidden by a cracked and muddy wagon that was still attached on a thick chain. The partially crushed cab of the tow truck was near the edge of another gulch and she couldn’t see how far down that one went. Wedged against the stump of a thick tree, it was the only thing she could see that was stopping the vehicles from going over. The tree was leaning out, jagged cracks branching out from the point of impact and she shuddered. How long would that hold?

“We’ll have to yank them out fast,” Marc stated, calculating as he joined them.

“I need to get down there.”

Neil thought to respond, but waited. Adrian had made it clear that either she or Brady would be in charge.

“Not until we get them anchored. That tree could go anytime. Even shifting might trigger the slide.”

Angela accepted Marc’s words, turning to Neil. She didn’t want to be in charge. She wanted to see Adrian. “Have you heard anything from him?”

Neil was glad to be able to say yes and even more relieved she hadn’t tried to fight for control. Adrian was in danger. There wasn’t time for that.

“Right after. Nothing for half an hour or so. He said every time we yelled, the ground moved. I figure he heard the ambulance though, and knows you’re here.”

Marc moved back to the waiting group, seeing that Neil was to be her shadow, and he waved the men closer, cringing inwardly at the crudeness of his two-minute plan. So many things could go wrong.

“The line goes behind the motor, the side that’s exposed, and then around the tow attachment. We’ll anchor it to those two trees up there,” he instructed, pointing. “If they can come through the back window, we’ll leave it all. If not, we’ll unhook the wagon and push it off. Even if the ground goes by ten feet, the truck will stay. Dangling probably, but it’ll be there.”

There were doubts all the way around, but everyone held them close. To voice their fears might cause something bad to happen. They got to work immediately, and five minutes later, Angela and the rest of them held their breath as two slowly moving men neared the truck.

Marc watched them begin attaching the ropes, wishing it were him and Kenn doing this hands-on work, and he grimaced at the thought.

The tree didn’t move as Alex and Daniel, the two lightest men here, wrapped the rope around it. Marc felt a little bit better about his next order.

“Get her set.”

He turned to Angela with a controlled calmness that hid his terror. “Don’t yell or do anything to cause vibrations. You’ll be anchored as well, but your line could get snagged if the hill goes, so don’t fight if we yank you up. We can see things from here that you won’t be able to.” He motioned Doug over. “You’ll have a second rope for messages. No yelling.”

“You already told me that,” she muttered, being still as Doug and Neil prepared her harness and lines. “Can you lower blankets and water or should I take them now?”

“Neither. Get them stable enough to be moved and you can treat them in the ambulance.”

Angela lifted her arms to allow the two worried males to secure her anchor. “Straight down or zigzag?”

She quickly asked the questions that mattered, and felt the tension grow when Neil stepped back and gave the okay. Two minutes later, she was starting her descent.

The ground was slick and treacherous. Twice, she lost her footing and started to slide, caught herself with trembling muscles. Mud gushed under her boots and up her legs as she sank. She tried to move faster so it didn’t have time to suck her down.

The men above watched with worry as she sped up, understanding if the hillside went, it was very likely that she would be caught and smashed by the sliding vehicles.

Everyone was relieved when she finally reached the cab of the truck and knelt down.

“Try not to touch anything.”

That drowsy voice cautioning her sent waves of relief into Angela’s heart and she carefully pulled on the door handle.

“It’s anchored now,” she answered, very slowly inching the dented door open. Sliding easily despite the mud, she pushed it back and peered inside.

“Nice to see you,” Adrian greeted her calmly, trying to smile as blood dripped from his nose onto his forehead. Pale blue eyes stared at her from the cuts, blood, and scrapes.

Both men were still in their seat belts, faces dark from being upside down so long. She’d assumed it was Kenn with him when they’d arrived and didn’t see the Marine, but Angela wasn’t sure why Marc thought it would upset her. As long as he wasn’t dead…

 
“Angela.”

It was exactly the right tone and she knelt as close as she could, opening her bag.

“Kenn first.” Adrian ordered.

She stared past him at the unconscious man. Shallow breathing, lids fluttering, a soft moan. Not dead, but definitely hurt. “We can’t get to the other side yet. There’s a car in the way.”

“The wagon?”

Angela quickly felt what she could reach of him, checking for broken bones. “Yes. Is your vision blurred?”

“And then some. You found Kyle?”

“Yes, they’re with John. Do you feel like anything’s broken?”

“No.” Adrian turned his head to see her digging through her bag. “How long have we been like this?”

“Almost an hour. Are you allergic to anything?”

“No. What’s the plan?”

Angela frowned, wiping his bare arm with an alcohol pad. “Marc wants you stable so they can do a snatch and grab. The truck is anchored now and he’s getting everything set for the pull-out. Be still, this will sting.”

Adrian grabbed her wrist before she could inject him. “Have Brady stay close to us, him and Neil.”

His words were a hard command she had no intention of disobeying. “I’ll handle it.”

Adrian didn’t flinch as the medicine began to fly through his system, stinging and burning.

Angela began to wipe his face, instinctively knowing he wouldn’t want to appear too injured in front of the men.

“Will I pass out?”

She carefully wrapped a bandage around his head. Stitches needed there for sure. “No, but you won’t have much control. He said fast. If you’re not feeling it, you can’t react. If there’s something internal, well, you still have to come out.”

“You’ll be close.”

It wasn’t a question, but she answered it anyway, his fear making her loyalty ring out. “Count on it. You’ll come out of this alive and so will your right hand.”

Fifteen minutes later, Adrian was out and Angela shared her concerns with the Trooper as she got set to go back down. She would only be away from him for a few minutes to tend to Kenn, but that was long enough for someone to finish him off. She was comforted by Neil’s simple response.
“My life for his.”

Satisfied, she let Doug secure her again and headed back down.

Marc watched wordlessly from the top, as sharp eyes swept the rainy shadows.

Wiping wet strands away from her face, Angela slowly crawled into the muddy, bloody truck. Kenn didn’t stir as she checked him over, his breathing a lot rougher than she had hoped for and when he shivered, she tried to hurry.

He came around as she was binding his broken ribs, chattering teeth giving him away.

“Good morning, sleepy-head,” she joked lightly, pulling the wrap tighter.

“This is your chance.”

Angela shook her head. “You’re still needed, Marine.” She pulled harder and he moaned.

“Sorry. It has to be tight so that nothing gets punctured when we pull you out.”

Kenn felt her cold touch on his hand and tried to squeeze her fingers, but couldn’t be sure if he had. “You should hate me enough to do it any...” His voice broke as his ribs flared to life with red hot pain in waves. The fire increased and he moaned.

“Yes, I should,” Angela agreed coolly, hoping to distract him. He didn’t need to see how worried she really was.

Kenn felt his arm begin stinging and almost right away, his pain began to recede. Very quickly, all the other noises and miseries were gone, reduced to nothing, but the sound of her voice as the grayness beckoned.

“Go to sleep now, Grunt. When you wake up, you’ll be in camp, where you belong.”

They were slower, more careful bringing Kenn up and everyone was elated when nothing went wrong. Adrian was waiting at the top, instead of in the ambulance. Obviously medicated, Angela was impressed with his stamina. He allowed Doug to keep a big hand on him, but his speech didn’t slur and his steps were steady as Brady continued to run Point over the scene. When he finally moved for the ambulance, following Kenn’s stretcher, Neil’s team kept Adrian in a circle of protection and Angela stayed close enough to read the thoughts of anyone who got near.

Adrian spent a moment in low conversation with Seth and then made a motion. “Let’s go home.”

Angela picked up on the tone and stepped over to Marc, keeping her voice low. “Can you come back and check things over after we’ve got them in camp? I don’t want anyone else behind the wheel while I work on them.”

Marc nodded, worried, but not panicked like some of Adrian’s men were. The blond looked fine to him. “You know it.”

She started to move away and then turned back suddenly, feeling that familiar chill of trouble in her gut. “Has anyone said why no one called on the radio?”

Marc still didn’t like the lies. “I assume to keep the camp from knowing.”

“None of them work.”