From The Ashes (Life After War) (38 page)

Angela held him close as he shuddered, absorbing the energy. Even at the most out-of-control moment for a man, Marc had kept her safe, but more than that, she'd been braced to take whatever he needed. She hadn't frozen or even flinched,
though there hadn't been a lot of time
, she thought with a small smile. It broke another barrier around her heart. She was healing–sexually–and she had Brady to thank for it.

Breathing mostly back to normal, Angela leaned her head against the canvas, grinning. “When can we do this again?”

Winded and completely amazed that she wasn't filled with his seed, Marc let go of her legs and slid to his knees. “Two... minutes.”

Angela giggled. Being Brady's woman was wonderful.

Outside, most of those who saw the entwined shadows went to find comfort where they’d already been taking it. But, not all of them.

Adrian moved through the darkness toward the firing range instead of the shadows where relief might lurk. Jack Daniels and jealousy would be his companions tonight.

Chapter Eleven

6/2

1

“
Remember to pivot on three and look. If you don’t look, you can’t pass. Go!”

Cynthia was aware that the routine exercise was sure to be a part of their first test. The reporter fell into the rhythm, ducking–remembering to look as she held her body under rigid control.

The rookies rolled together across the training area that had been cleared for this–nine strange souls working together to cover the targets coming at them from dozens of angles.

Cynthia spun awkwardly, caught herself in time to recover, and was there to lay a steadying hand on Samantha’s arm as she, too, spun wrong. They dropped into their place, attention going overhead. They drew as they rolled, dry firing at the targets to their right.

Sweating, Cynthia grunted heavily as she spun again, starting the routine over, and heard Sam echo the sound. This was the hardest thing the males had tried to teach them so far, this team work, and she wasn’t the only one struggling.

“
Take five.”

The group of Eagles dropped to the floor in relief at Doug’s call. It was the tenth time they’d run it in two hours, and though it was getting better, it still needed a lot of work.

Now that they'd all been evaluated the senior men, Cynthia had been put with Kevin, who'd already been training her on most of her Eagle duties anyway. Sam was also still with Daryl. Leslie was now XO training with Jeremy, a fact that Jax and Sam were upset over, without being able to express why.

Cynthia moved toward their head trainer for the day. “Can I ask you something?”

Kyle shrugged, clearly not in the mood to be here. “At your own risk.”

Cynthia leaned against the tent wall. “Why didn’t you expose me? I know you saw me tracking Adrian plenty of times.”

Kyle didn’t bother with the expected sneer. He didn’t hate her anymore. “We needed you busy. You chose the activity, and we made sure you saw what we wanted you to.”

Not a bit hurt, Cynthia fired her next question. “Are you going to claim Jennifer publicly?”

Kyle’s expression tightened, mind going straight to the pregnant girl he’d left in the chair with a heating pad for her back. “None of your business.”

“
Interesting.”

Kyle smothered a growl, waiting for the next dig. Hate her still or not, there was little love lost between him and the reporter.

“
If you wait much longer, you might lose your place. Action is about to be taken.”

Kyle turned to snarl and found himself alone along the tent wall. Was it time? He’d been waiting, but inside, it was a done deal.

Coughing, Daryl slid into Cynthia’s spot. He hated the smell of the perfume Cynthia wore. Damn flowers. “Word says you can expect a visit from the den mothers.”

“
And a call to the moral board after that?” Kyle guessed.

Daryl shrugged. “If you don’t obey what they decide, yes. They've set it up to talk to her, too.”

“
They what?”

Daryl took a step back. “They always check on the new females, Kyle. You know that.”

Kyle cursed, storming from the tent in a show of Italian temper that the camp rarely witnessed.

He climbed into the new female shower camper a minute later with no thought to the rules, catching Hilda and Peggy mid-undress.

“
I need to see you!”

Peggy had a good idea what had brought him here. “We’ll wash, you talk.”

Hilda’s mouth dropped open as Peggy removed her shirt, exposing the tops of her breasts and a waist that was still slender for a woman her age.

Kyle blinked. “Put your clothes on.”

“
Wait until we’re done.”

Kyle crossed his arms over his chest. “No.”

He didn’t bother keeping his eyes on the molding stall doors or the foggy windows that were screwed shut to keep out the draft and curious teenage boys.

He leaned against the door that was now being knocked on by Doug, the guard on the campers.

“
Is everything okay?”

“
Go away! We’re all full here!” Kyle shouted as Peggy stepped into the stall and closed the half door.

“
What the hell, Kyle?” Doug’s bewildered voice faded.

“
I want you to support me and Jennifer.”

Neither woman responded with anything more than frowns.

Kyle’s tenor rose. “And, stay away from her!”

“
You’re not exempt from the rules,” Peggy warned, now carrying a grudge against any male who wanted an underage girl. “And doing this isn’t helping your cause.”

“
Depends on what we can work out,” Kyle said.

Hilda’s gaze flew to his in denial.

Kyle scoffed. “Tell me there isn’t anything you two want, and I’ll call you both liars.”

Again, neither woman spoke.

The mobster groaned. “What is this? A guessing game? Tell me what you need!”

Now that he’d said the right word, Peggy grinned, a harsh smile befitting a sly female determined to have her way.

“
When the time comes, support Angela, not Brady or Kenn. Do that, and you can have
any
willing female in this camp.”

“
So long as there’s no physical contact until legal age,” Hilda added.

It took Kyle a minute. What... who...

A bit stunned, he uncrossed his arms. “And they say men are ruthless!”

Peggy’s sneer was bitter. “But we’re also survivors, Mr. Reece. And she’ll make sure that we stay that way.”

Kyle opened the door. “I’ll get back to you. Until then, leave us both alone.”

He slammed the door, ignoring Doug and the other scowling guards.

Kyle paused on the landing, caught in a haze of desire as Jennifer tilted her chin up to catch the sun’s warm rays. She and Dog were walking by, ignoring everyone around them to enjoy the beautiful day, and Kyle’s heart thumped.

Jennifer felt the heat, the familiar sense of presence that was Kyle, and immediately started searching. She found him nearby and gave a small wave, detouring.

Kyle held up a hand, telling her to wait. He slid back inside the shower and gave Peggy’s now naked chest an appreciative leer. “Nice, Ms. Kelly!”

He enjoyed their startled expressions for a moment, letting the tension build. As they both started to speak, the mobster delivered scorn and surrender.

“
You’re conspiring against Adrian. You've offered a deal for a teenage camp member, to get what you want.” Kyle dropped his eyes in respect. “And it worked. Give us your approval and so will I,
if
the time comes.”

“
It’s the right choice–unlike the one you’ve made with that little girl,” Hilda stated.

Kyle’s demeanor became dark and dangerous. “Don’t push me. You have no idea how big of a mistake that would be.”

Peggy studied him, this big killer with the bleeding heart showing for everyone to judge. She relented reluctantly. “Walk the line we’ve set, and you’ll have what you want.”

Kyle understood the word choice, and now flung it back at her. “
Need
, Ms. Kelly. If I only wanted her, I would have made a different deal, and it wouldn’t be with you!”

Peggy and Hilda exchanged satisfied nods as Kyle left. He would love Jennifer, and they would have the support of the top Eagle in camp.

The two females looked up in surprise when the camper door immediately opened again.

Doug limped inside, hand up to cover his view. “Everyone okay in here?”

Hilda opened her mouth to answer, and Peggy stopped her with a quick head shake.

Understanding what would happen, Hilda quietly grabbed her towel. She’d thought Peggy had a spark for the big Irishman, but hadn’t been sure.

Doug cleared his throat, not hearing anything but running showers. What had Kyle done?

“
Hello? Hilda? Ms. Peggy?”

Steadily running showers and silence…

After the way Kyle had stormed in and blocked the door, then stomped away without answering him, Doug knew he would have to look. He slowly lowered his hand, braced to see anything.

Anything, but beautiful breasts being lovingly washed without a thought for his shock.

“
Son of a...”

Peggy snickered, making sure he was getting her best angles. Age hadn’t been unkind to her, but it wasn’t exactly generous either. “We’re fine, Doug. Thank you for coming to make sure.”

The German woman didn’t approve of the way Peggy was letting him know she was interested, but it was amusing to see Doug’s jaw drop and his eyes grow dark. Hilda hid a grin.

The big man nodded, gaze glued to Peggy’s chest. In the halls below, shifting began. “Yeah, um, it’s my…”

Doug trailed off, aware that he was staring, but that tone! It said if they were alone, more might be allowed!

Peggy slid under the water, studying him from under lowered lashes as his eyes lit up like the bonfire. She was enjoying the rush. “Was there anything else you wanted…
needed
, maybe?”

“
Aye!” It was almost a growl, and Doug tried to snap out of it. “I mean, no! I’ll go now.”

He didn’t budge.

Peggy thought of her late husband, of the way he’d been so big and quiet. Was it okay that she liked the same things in Doug, was drawn to him because of it? She hated his dreads, though. They would be the first thing to go.

Peggy swept his faded red vest and army jacket, seeing how raggedy both were becoming after so many hand-washings.
Bet there’s a story attached to them,
she thought.
Other than just a symbol of his time in another war zone.

Hilda stayed quiet, waiting for the kind giant to be gone so she could dress. She had enough to do with the things Adrian had her working on. She didn’t need to add man-trouble to it. She was perfectly happy being Safe Haven’s top Den Mother, thank you very much.

Peggy arched a sexy shoulder at Doug as she rinsed. “It would probably be best if you left now.”

Doug forced his feet to work. What had he come in here for?

Behind him, both women cackled.

2

Wanting Kenn in on this run, Adrian slowed down as he neared the small, neat tent that Tonya had put up herself. Right in the center of the female canvas area, she wasn't able to get away with anything.

Tonya's convertible had been traded in for a sturdy truck, the fake accent was gone, and that shorn hair had drawn attention. The camp now knew what Kenn was trying to do, and to the Eagles' surprise, they were helping. When Tonya went against an unspoken rule, camp women were taking the time to correct her. It wasn’t always gentle, but it was effective–mostly because she was listening. Tonya’s reform was a learning experience.

“
Do I have to?”

“
No.”

“
What happens if I don’t?”

“
You’ll lose progress and have more work later. Up to you.”

Kenn didn’t sound like he was being hard-assed, and Adrian changed directions, sure they were discussing how she was running the pharmacy. Kenn’s transgressions were ones to rival Tonya’s, and it was uplifting to have them both trying so hard.