From The Ashes (Life After War) (15 page)

“
That doesn’t absolve you,” she retorted sharply.

Kenn didn’t answer. He hadn’t come to fight.

Angela watched him as he watched her. They’d been through a lot together, years of hell, but the War had ended it. They were free now.

“
I’m telling the camp about Charlie’s parentage.”

Kenn stiffened. “Most of them suspect. They think you had an affair.” He took the next step toward peace with the past. “I’m sorry for saying it.”

Silence reigned in the small room at his admission.

Kenn leaned against the door frame and stared at her with an unreadable blue gaze.

Angela lifted her chin and carefully stood up. “Ugh.”

The thick twinge when she straightened ripped a groan from her lips against her will. She didn’t look at Kenn, hating it that he was seeing her weak.

“
You’re on light duty in a week?”

“
Providing John clears it.” Angela slowly took her first steps while the overprotective hens were out of the room. It had been five days since her boots had even touched the ground. It felt good to be standing–to be alive.

Angela carefully inched toward the window. The room they had her in was an office, now cleared of everything except the stiff couch, two chairs, and the desk where photos of a smiling family still sat. The room had one door and one window.
An escape route
, she thought gratefully, flashing to the country club. Fire was still her biggest fear, one she wasn’t sure she even wanted to try to tame.

Sunlight, bright and rare, beamed in as she peered through the yellowed blinds. Safe Haven appeared, hundreds of happy survivors, and the weight in Angela's heart eased a bit. She was home.

Angela watched Marc take the dog leashes from Charlie, freeing the boy to come in again. He was so good, so pure.
Being with his father might have given Charlie that type of personality too
, Angela thought. Hopefully, there was still time for some of it to rub off.

Behind her, the room was filling with tension, and she realized Kenn wanted something. Angela answered lowly. “What is it?”

Kenn winced. He’d assumed there wouldn’t be magic with her so weak. “Do you think… is there some way…”

Kenn clenched his hands, forcing himself to atone. “Can you forgive?”

Angela turned, gaping. That was something she’d never thought she’d hear.

It was something Kenn had never thought he'd say. Hoping for her to die had been easy. When it was a real possibility, the truth had come like a shovel to the knuckles. He’d wanted her for the power but thought he’d remained immune to her charms. Then the War came, and he had even thought to leave his obsession behind. But she’d survived–made it here. And earned a place at Adrian’s side! It was the Angela he’d first glimpsed working in the kids’ unit at the hospital, settling into her new career. She’d been vibrant, a glowing beacon of hope for his dark soul. He’d loved her.

Angela was picking up his thoughts clearly now–the ugly darkness she was used to was gone, replaced by the heavy chains of guilt. Her nearly dying had sent him soul-searching. She wouldn't destroy that progress.

“
Yes. In time, I think,” she lied.

Kenn opened his mouth, grateful.

“
Well, I won’t!”

Charlie was standing behind Kenn. It was hard to guess how much he’d picked up, but clearly, it was enough. Weariness swarmed over Angela, and she braced her wobbly legs. Maybe it was too soon for all this.

“
You always get off!”

The open hatred in Charlie's words was a surprise to the Marine, but not to the mother.

“
I’m gettin’ real tired of that. He doesn't deserve forgiveness,” Charlie insisted, sneering. “But, until I'm an Eagle, I guess there's not much I can do about it.”

The teenager left with an angry stride very unlike the obedient boy the camp had gotten used to.

There was a pause where nearly everyone listening froze. Charlie’s words had opened a new dilemma. Would he let the teenager into his army? What was the age limit? Was there one?

Kenn started to follow the boy, and Zack stepped into his path. “Leave him alone. You’ve done enough damage.”

Kenn snarled in surprise and found Zack's gun aimed at him.

“
You should lie down.” Zack told Angela, full of disapproval. He glared at Kenn. “And you should get the hell out.”

Adrian viewed it all from the front door in satisfaction. She’d won them all over, even the stunned Marine slowly lowering his fist.

Adrian watched her motion Charlie out of the line of fire, then refuse his request to go get Brady.
She understands that Charlie needs to see this, too,
Adrian thought in approval. It was amazing to find someone who could lead so instinctively. Angela was exactly what he’d begged fate for.

“
Go on then, shoot me. You still won’t get my place.”

Zack sneered. “I don’t want it. I want you exposed for the lying pig that you are!”

“
Why?”

“
Because an XO, has to do his duty, or we all die.” The trucker motioned with the barrel of his gun. “Jeff heard Adrian right after the brother snuck into camp and was killed. He said she could have been stabbed and shot!”

Zack’s finger tightened, expression twisting in hatred. “You once told me you were the best rifleman on your base. So, why did she get hurt at all?”

Kenn hadn’t seen this blow coming, and the listening men crowded closer, now giving the trucker a full team of pissed-off, mixed level support.

Zack wasn’t aware of it, didn’t need it. He’d found out the night before the Slaver mission and vowed to handle it as soon as he could.

“
If you’ll do that to a female, to an Eagle, you don’t deserve to be his XO. You should be banished!”

“
Or maybe dead.” Allan came to flank him. “If you had your own team, it might have already happened.”

“
That’s why he doesn’t,” Lee stated angrily. “And why he resents all of us so much. Even the rookies are more worthy than he is. At least they try to get along.”

Zack slowly lowered his arm. “She should have your place.”

Kenn had frozen, determined to take his punishment like a man, but now, the Marine shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against the door frame, no longer caring about their audience. “I have his right because I belong there. You don’t have to believe it. He does.”

“
Then maybe he’s wrong!”

Outside, the camp was growing quiet, becoming aware of the problem.

“
Maybe so,” Kenn agreed, flashing that hard new expression that they were all starting to be cautious of, to respect. “But you wouldn’t even be an Eagle right now if it weren’t for me, so your opinion means exactly shit.”

Zack’s arm rose again. “That’s not true!”

“
It is.” Ignoring the gun, Kenn swept over the other furious men. “The same is true of most of you. I’ve added to his army, too, and I’ve always pulled my weight. I’ve even saved the sheep, all of them, at least once. I’ve bled and sweated, and built, the same as you have.”

Having the day for it, Kenn surprised all of them. “And I’ve made mistakes, ones I’m trying to fix. If it’s too late for that, or I find I’m not strong enough, I will resign.”

“
It’s too late,” Zack insisted. “Look at the mess last night!”

“
You don’t get to make that call,” Kenn defended. “And I'd like to see how you would have done so much better with everything going on.”

All eyes went to Adrian, but the blond was staring at Angela. He lifted a brow.

Faces tightened at her firm answer.

“
He stays where he is.”

Zack’s anger fled, leaving only a tired hatred. He spat at Kenn’s boots. “You’re a piece of shit.”

Kenn let out a harsh grunt. “Fuck you, boot.”

Everyone waited as Zack’s finger tightened.

“
You’d better kill me now,” Kenn warned, “Because that is the only way I’ll go.”

“
Maybe he’ll have help with that,” Allan spoke up again. He hadn’t drawn his gun, but his hand was resting on the holster. “If you had been doing your job, Rick wouldn’t have gotten close enough to try killing Adrian. You let your personal shit endanger everyone in this camp.”

“
Too busy plotting and planning to do your job,” Zack accused coldly. “It’s been quiet because we had more important things to handle, but now that the Slavers are gone… maybe you should be, too.”

It was a powerful moment for the Eagles, but for Kenn, it was only the rest of his lies collapsing.

“
Take a vote, then,” Kenn sneered.

Allan looked to Adrian, who was still in the doorway. “He still has your support?”

“
Yes.”

There was no hesitation. Allan hadn’t expected any. “Until he doesn’t, we’ll follow, but the second he gets out of line, we’ll kill him.”

“
I’d expect no less from the men you’ve become.” Adrian’s tenor was full of careful control. “Now, you’re truly my Eagles.”

“
We are that,” Zack confirmed. “As long as he walks your line, things will stay the way they are, but we’re watching now, and we won’t let one fucking thing slide.”

The Marine had known it could get this bad when the truth finally came out. It would be open season on his place now, and the competition was only a part of it. The Eagles would help each other, make their own picks and groups of support. It was quite likely that a month from now, Neil or Brady might have the XO slot. (Despite the words that had been said and everything that had happened, Kenn’s male mind refused to believe Angela might get that place. The Eagles would never allow it, not when so many of them wanted it so badly.)

Adrian moved away from the main door again and turned toward the camp. The members couldn’t hear what was happening, but thanks to the glass front windows, they were viewing it. The warehouse was in the center, near the bonfire. He wanted Angela to feel surrounded, protected, and part of the golden light he was throwing out in thick waves was increasing his headache.

Angela’s mind was reeling from the open emotions. The loss of their men wasn't helping. Daniel, Frank, and Chris had given their lives, were to be buried tonight if she were any judge of the small work crew driving up the nearby hill.

Angela heard Kenn leave, and stayed at the window. The constant ache in her shoulder was draining, and she planned to sleep for a while before it got dark. When Adrian laid their men to rest, she would be there to pay her respects, even if she had to have a wheelchair ride back.

“
Is this a bad time?” The curt rudeness of the past was gone, replaced with a cautious respect.

Angela chuckled at the irony. Just a few days ago, the answer would have been completely different. “No, Cynthia. Close the door so that we can talk.”

2

Samantha watched the door close with resignation. After saving her life–a story currently flying through camp–Cynthia had every right to be Angela’s XO. That didn’t stop Sam from wanting it, though.

Sam noticed Adrian being glared at by Hilda and Peggy, and detoured that way. Obviously, they’d expected him to do a better job of protecting Becky.

“
No, I won’t. I trust Seth to handle the duty he accepted,” Adrian stated.

“
I’m going in there!” Peggy snapped.

Finally acting like a mother
, Sam thought.
About time.

“
No,” Adrian answered firmly.

“
I’m going, and you won’t stop me!”

“
I will,” Sam interrupted.

Hilda and Peggy gaped, expecting Samantha to be on their side.

“
Let the Eagles work. It’s what
we
do.”

“
What happened to my daughter last night? Was she beaten like you?”

Sam wanted to shout the truth, but of course, she did what any Eagle would have. She ignored the woman.

Samantha's open guard–Kevin–denied Peggy when she would have grabbed Sam's arm. He stepped between them. “I wouldn't do that. She hasn't had any sleep yet.”

Peggy glared at all of them, eyes promising retribution.

Sam stepped by with a casual nod to Adrian, and received one in return. Behind her, she heard the chatter of angry women heading for the QZ.

Sam hit the button on her new belt, the first time she’d used it. “The QZ area is under full quarantine until further notice. We’re not sure what the contaminant is yet. No one allowed in or out.”

“
Copy.”

Adrian and Kevin shared pleased looks. If the other females that signed up were like Angie and Sam...
and Cyn
, Kevin added wistfully–if the others were as smart, Adrian's army was about to be unstoppable.

A minute later, the rookie guard on the parking area was refusing two pissed women entry to the QZ.

Smirking a bit, Sam continued on her way to the women's tents, ignoring the ache in her jaw and the stares her bruises were attracting.
You should have cared more when it might have made a difference, Peggy. You deserve to worry.