Adrian's Eagles: Book Four (Life After War) (68 page)

“Angie.”

The order was short. “Dope it out according to the setup you gave me.”

Marc forced himself to pretend it was someone else’s love about to be used as bait. “I’ll have a final battle plan ready and in your tent before dawn.”

Behind them, Kenn listened in dumbfounded shock. He hadn’t known those two were doing that deep-level work already. It was another of those life-changing moments, realizing Marc had been doing his job all along and hadn’t tried to take credit for it. Brady could have had the XO’s slot anytime he wanted it.

5

Early the next morning Safe Haven rolled out of Cedar Bluff with the annoying cries of mating cicadas ringing in their ears. A few short hours later, the Slavers rolled in and even the invading insects went quiet.

They’d been traveling for nearly a week, using the cleared roads to catch up and they’d made great time thanks to Rick’s messages. Cesar shook the dirt from the baggie and scanned the letter inside quickly.

They are headed for Georgia. They plan to use the caves there. Made 3 attempts, all failed. She keeps saving him. I can’t do it from here - up to you now. Will be listening at midnight for the next week.

Cesar turned to the men now taking over the cleared area. They were more than 300 strong, all seasoned killers, and he brandished his deformed fist.

“In three days, we will have a new camp of supplies and whores!”

There was a resounding cheer from the Mexicans, the last three towns already empty before they arrived, and Cesar moved toward the center of the clumsily unrolling camp. There had been more problems without fresh females to enjoy, but the smart Leader had broken into his own harem, passing out the ones he’d had for a while with no sign of pregnancy. It had calmed his men down and made him more popular, but it also sent a hotter fury into Cesar’s heart to hear his girls cry out in pain and him not be the cause of it.

Chapter Twenty Two

May 10
^th
, 2013

Near Hays, Kansas

1

“I’m telling you it’s too heavy. Unload half of it and we’ll add a box or two to each vehicle that’s left.”

Angela’s voice was annoyed and Zack sneered hatefully. “What the hell do you know about it?”

He and the others from the mini-riot had been taken back into the Eagles after just two days, but they were now Level Ones again and had to work their way back up. Zack wasn’t adjusting well to being the same rank as her.

Angela shrugged, turning back to the churning, debris-filled river. “I’m smart enough to know if the pontoon’s sinking, you don’t send the truck across anyway.”

Zack’s face went scarlet and he waved an angry hand at the rest of the convoy that had already reached the other side and started up the hill. “We’re falling behind. We’ll get split up!”

Angela flashed those flecks of blue steel they were all familiar with now. “What’s worse? We show up an hour late with the water, or go now and lose a reserve truck because you can’t stand to do what I say?”

They glared at each other for a long moment and then Zack dropped his head. “
Losin
’ water. We’re low.”

“Is there a problem?” Kyle asked from behind her.

Angela grinned sweetly. “Not anymore. Will you help us unload a little weight? The pontoon keeps going below the waterline with just the weight of the front tires.”

“Sure. Good thing you caught it. That’s the last of our reserves after Mess tonight.”

They both saw Zack stiffen and Angela turned away to hide a smirk of her own. “Back it up, Allan, and let the cars go on. We’ll just be a little out-of-order for the check-in.”

Allan was relieved despite being on Zack’s team. He hadn’t wanted to go out on that merciless river; had been sure he would have to jump and maybe even get drowned.

He met Angela’s eye as she hung on the side to stay out of the way as Kyle began directing traffic. “Thanks. You… okay and all?” His look went over her various scars in a quick sweep.

It was another sign she was making progress with the rest of Zack’s team and she smiled. “I’m 5-by. What about you?”

The Eagle grimaced, turning back to the choppy waves of the Smoky Hill River that were sloshing onto the pontoon. He hated water. “Right now, I need a drink.”

Angela pulled a beautiful silver flask from her pocket and tossed it onto the empty seat next to him. “Make sure I get that back.”

Allan was surprised she would share the gift with him even after the coldness a few of Zack’s team had still been stubbornly treating her to. He handled it with care. “I will. If I don’t, Lee will rack my head for me.”

Angela laughed. “You’re probably right. He’s a big fan now.”

Allan’s words were grave. “He should be. You’ve given him his heart back and… I’m sorry.”

She nodded easily, mentally moving his name to her side of the board. “Change takes time.”

“I guess she don’t have to work,” Zack complained as he walked by the window with a large box.

Allan turned to frown at him. “Lay off.”

The team leader looked back in surprise and Allan finished declaring his loyalty. ”You were wrong; we all were, so lay off.”

Zack stomped away and Angela delivered another sweet smile. “Thank you.”

Allan shrugged, uncomfortable at the kindness he didn’t feel he deserved from her. “He might have gotten me killed.”

Angela’s thoughts were along the same line and she stepped down, catching Kyle’s motion. “It’s probably light enough now.
 
Ease the wheels out and we’ll see.”

The truck went across the pontoon bridge with no further problems and Angela resumed her post as the other vehicles went on. The last four jeeps were full of Eagles and when Neil stopped, moved to the passenger door, she got behind the wheel without protesting that there were still cars left. If the trucks had made it, the rest would as well.

She eased them out onto the floating pontoons, feeling them give and then accept their weight. She tried not to stare into the river. They were across a minute later and the last two jeeps of men quickly ran back to collect their equipment. They were up and loaded with routine precision and then all four vehicles were rushing to fall in behind their convoy of light in the barren wilderness.

“I hate these damn hills,” Angela muttered as the convoy slowed again for another sharp curve. The road was two lanes, cleared only an hour before, and it wound upward at an awkward angle. Complete with steep drop-offs on both sides, after Adrian’s accident, it was a cruel reminder of how things could go wrong without any warning.

Neil flipped the radio off, tiring of the female ballads she had put in. “Yeah. We’ll be out of them in another day or two.”

Angela narrowed her eyes against the lightning, not looking forward to the storm that was coming with it. Sam had warned Adrian and he’d moved them to higher ground. Day after tomorrow, they would be in the clear from a Slaver attack during the bad weather, but until then?

Angela turned to Neil. “Will you switch with me?”

“Sure.”

When they were rolling again, Angela leaned her head back and closed her lids. Breathing becoming shallow, it was the only sign of magic and Neil thought maybe she’d fallen asleep. He couldn’t stop from glancing over, checking on her every few minutes, though, uneasy and not sure why.

2

Angela still hadn’t moved when they finally stopped for the night and the Trooper killed the engine. “We’re here.”

Not expecting a response from his lowly spoken words, he jumped when she spoke.

“I’ll catch up.”

Her tone was… disconnected and when the dome light flashed on, her eyes seemed much too big. He got out and closed the door quickly, mind telling him not to disturb the power behind those empty sockets.

“Who’s her shadow?”

“I am.”

Seth was already near her door despite his limp and he motioned Neil on. “I’ll handle it.”

Seth opened the door with caution, able to feel the hum of the Witch hidden within her. “Is everything okay?” He spoke lightly, using his hand to reach in and cover the glare.

“We look.”

There was an eerie double timbre to her voice and Seth put the window down before quietly closing the door. “Take your time. I’ll deflect.”

There was no answer and the Eagle stepped back, searching for anyone coming their way. Seeing they were all busy hurrying to get camp set before the heavier rain came, he tapped out a short message, aware that this was over his head.

Angela blinked when the dome light came on again and she took the bottle of water that was handed to her, but didn’t open it.

Adrian slid into the driver’s seat and closed the door. “When?”

“Tomorrow or the day after. In these trees, on this road.”

“Kyle just checked in. They have spies on us now, two groups.”

“One in front, one in back?”

“Two in front, covering the two main roads east. To run, we’d have to go south from here or be pinned in by the Interstate and that’s where he expects to trap us with the main group.”

“How will it happen?”

Adrian gave her a tight smile. “Is that the question you really want to ask?”

Flashing back to her first day at Safe Haven, Angela grinned at the bittersweet memory. “No. I’d like to stay with you for the whole thing, no matter the risk or ugliness.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s my duty to help you kill him.”

“And we will do that,” he swore, face twisting with a hatred she’d never thought to see from him. “My life or his. Only one of us will walk away.”

“…still using our old campsites.”

Samantha stopped, staring at the two men as they walked by.

“Makes us all feel wrong, but we’re not sure why…”

Sam climbed out of the passenger seat of Hilda’s minivan and closed the door, noticing, but not returning Neil’s friendly smile.

“Using our old campsites.”

“You okay?”

The words jarred her concentration and she shook her head, seeing the Trooper had come over to her. “What?”

“I asked if you were…”

“I heard someone say the Slavers are using our old camp sites,” she interrupted, mind full of those beautiful webs of connection.

“It’s bothering all of us. I’m sure it’s meant to.”

Sam’s unease grew.
“Using our old sites.”
She’d heard that before. Where? She picked the thought back up, moving slowly toward the bathrooms and Neil stayed with her, sensing she was onto something.

“What would they gain? An already cleared area? Leftover supplies?” she muttered and shook her head. “We don’t leave anything, and sure, it’s easier than the streets but… they have to be getting more or they would take our cleared roads and ambush…”

Her face paled. “To do that, they’d have to know where we are.” She turned to Neil with fury on her face. “I know how he’s doing it. Someone has to go back and search our last campsite!”

She swung toward the place she’d seen Adrian, and Neil grabbed her arm, pulled her back. “I’ll do it. Tell me.”

Sam let her discovery out in a fast, low rush of words. “Check where his tent was, dig if you have to. He’s leaving them messages.”

“How do you know that?”

“One of the refugees from Trinidad said that was how they were beaten. One of their people was leaving messages in baggies at their camping spots.”

Neil’s mind slammed it into place and his head turned wildly, picking a team. “Jeremy, Daryl, Jeff, Kevin, find a replacement and mount up. Recon.”

He ignored their surprise and turned back toward Samantha. “Tell Adrian and then Angela. Let them know where we’ve gone.”

She stared at him apprehensively, wanting suddenly to say something and Neil felt the moment for what it was. “When this is done.”

She flushed, but didn’t smile, too worried for him. Sam watched until the jeep was out of sight and then turned for the lights of camp.

Rick ducked further into the shadows as Sam stepped by, heart beating furiously. All of his attempts had failed. He’d caused damage, but not the huge chaos he’d been hoping for. Neil had even escaped Kenn’s pain with the early morning switch so he could cover Kyle’s team. None of it had gone like it was supposed to and now that they knew, Rick couldn’t even go back to his tent for the gun. He would have to sneak out to Cesar, empty-handed.

The traitor frowned. Did he have to go back to the Slaver? He’d done everything he could to take out the leadership here. They were just too strong. Not that Cesar would care for his excuses. If he ran to the Mexican now, he wouldn’t see dawn come.

Rick’s thoughts flipped to Samantha. Leave without her? He shook his head, wincing at the increase of guards flooding the area. He would lay low, follow the camp maybe. He wasn’t done with her yet. Maria had been a poor substitute.

What about the cook?
He asked himself. Did he need to get her out of here? Rick shook his head, pulling off his grimy black bandana. If they thought he’d escaped they might be quick to come hunting. Unless they had a distraction, and who better than traitor number two?

3

Leveled out and covered with trees, it was cool and shady in the field where they made camp. Dinner was a wet, but loud, comfortable affair and Adrian listened to his people. There was little time left for enjoyment now and it didn’t matter if they traveled for another day or let it happen right here.

He stood up, drawing their attention. “Everybody ready for travel in the morning?”

There were half-hearted responses and Adrian smiled. “My feeling, too. How about we start our break now?”

The cheers were huge and he held up his hand, pretended to stumble back. “I can take a hint.” He motioned at the corner, where two Eagles were sweeping the damp trees. “Kyle and Angela have point. Set us up.”