Hard Lesson
April 19th
Near Arthur, Nebraska
1
Angela ducked into the tent with no signs that her shoulder was throbbing from the quick workout she’d just put in. It had been four days since Dean’s attack and while the wound was healing, it was slow and painful.
“Good morning.”
The eighteen men mostly returned her greeting, but the nasty cut across her windpipe and then the bandage over her left shoulder had their attention. It was still bothering them to know that she’d been hurt.
Angela tried not to be annoyed, but they needed to get over viewing her as a helpless female. She couldn’t take much more of it.
“We’ve covered sanitizing and wound reactions. Today, we’ll learn to care for the wound and then move to stitch removal.”
Feeling the tension rise, she got busy laying out the supplies. “Most wounds like this one should be wiped clean once a day, and then medicated and covered lightly. Wounds that leak or develop an infection require more care.”
She gestured at their kits. “Get your journals out and come up. Tell me something about the wound, and then keep taking notes. These journals should become a part of your emergency kit so that every injury you learn to handle will be at your fingertips for comparison during a mission or emergency.”
Under Marc’s dark glare, Angela slid out of her sweater and hung it over the chair. She carefully pulled the tape up on the scabbing wound and held out the stained gauze. “Observations?”
It was hard for the protective males to ignore the crusty stitch-line that was ugly black against angry red. They were used to injuries on each other, but to view it on a female felt wrong.
“Nothing green yet.”
“There’s only a little yellow.”
“Which means?”
“There’s no sign of infection on the bandage.” Jeremy’s answer was curt.
“Good. You come up first.”
Jeremy moved a little closer, studying the leaking wound. “Brighter than yesterday.”
He wrote it in his journal, trying to ignore the stares boring into him. “It’s still bleeding.”
“Which means?”
“You need more stitches.”
“The stitches are loose?”
“It means you’re not taking it easy like you should be, so that it can heal.”
Angela motioned Marc forward, ignoring the accusing tone. “Very good. Observations.”
Marc gritted his teeth, still furious she would use herself this way. “It stinks.”
Impressed and stung, Angela asked, “Which means?”
Marc wasn’t sure what she had told them. He’d been too angry to do more than show up that first day, but he didn’t need this class anyway and she knew it. “There might be an infection. You need antibiotics.”
“Excellent.” Angela waved Daniel forward before Marc could disrupt the flow.
“Observations?”
The amazingly good shooter was the quietest man on Neil’s team and his words were short. “You haven’t taken a pill today.”
“Tell me how you know that and why it matters,” she demanded sharply.
The Level Five Eagle squared his shoulders automatically. “By your tension and the way you clenched your jaw when you took off the sweater. You’re in pain.”
Angela waited, not about to let them use her weaknesses.
Daniel’s voice hardened in recognition of her silent order. “It matters because you have to be careful about mixing medications.”
“Good. If the patient already has something in their system, you need to know, but they may not be willing or even able to tell you. Check for the signs.”
She chose Jax, one of the rookies on Marc’s team, next. “Observations?”
Angela went through them all, handling it like someone else’s medical problem to be tended, and they responded by paying attention and following her lead.
“Okay, so what do we know?”
“You might have an infection.”
“The top stitch is coming loose. Again.”
“There’s fresh dirt you need to clean out.”
Angela settled herself on the stool with only a tightening of her lips. “We’ll clean it, and then retie that stitch or put in a new one.”
Knowing from the first class that none of them would volunteer, she gestured. “Alex will do the cleaning, and Neil, the stitch. Everyone else, come up and take notes.”
Half an hour later, Angela couldn’t hide the pain as Neil tugged too hard, sending fire racing over her shoulder.
Neil paled even more. “Sorry.”
“Come on man, get it right!”
The other Eagles were getting upset that the cop couldn’t make his big fingers do what he wanted them to. Angela tried to sound patient, shoulder throbbing. “You’re doing fine.”
Neil sent his hands back to the thin thread, trying to be gentle, but his large pads with almost no nails slipped again, this time hitting her wound directly.
Angela flinched, smothering a curse.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t stop!” her voice lashed out against his guilt. “If I were bleeding it would be a lot worse, but you have to keep moving. Get it done.”
Neil had flushed at her pain and the shouts from the Eagles behind them, but her words were exactly what he needed and he managed to get hold of the stitch this time.
“Good. Now like a shoe lace without the bow.”
The top stitch had come completely untied and they’d all caught Neil’s cringe as he removed the loose thread. To see someone so admired be reduced to butterfingers, was something of a surprise to his team. It had them all crowded around, smothering her with their hard male bodies.
Angela met Marc’s pissed glare over their shoulders. You’re next. Settle them down.
It wasn’t an order or a request, it was more of a plea in his mind, and he gave a short nod, but didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure he could yet, without it causing a fight. The anger was too thick.
“Very good. Now we’ll have Marc come up and slap some medicine and a bandage on it. John will give me the antibiotics when he checks it tonight.”
Marc came through the suddenly clear path with stiffly set shoulders under his gun-fighter coat and crisscrossed gun belts. Tension crackled.
“Use the Bacitracin ointment. Put a light layer over everything, including the stitches.”
Her skin was hot under his chilly fingers and he frowned as he smeared the white cream over her injury. “You knew this would hurt. Why didn’t you take a pill first?”
Angela braced for more anger as she said, “Because most of the victims they’ll treat won’t have taken anything either. If they can handle my pain, what’s a stranger’s to them?”
“And if we hate the sight of it and want to give a painkiller?” Daniel asked quietly, distracting before Marc could start a fight. They were in his corner now, but that could change if he kept interfering.
“It’s up to the patient, not you. Their wants and needs come second only to their life.”
It sounded so much like Adrian that the two teams of men relaxed.
She had settled them down on her own. She and Marc realized it at the same time. Angela didn’t glance at him.
“Next, we’ll put on a tight bandage. Who can tell me why it’s not a loose one to let in air?”
“Because you’ll get it dirty if it’s not tight enough,” Marc stated, voice pointed.
“Exactly. Always judge the person a bit when doctoring. It matters. Grab that box of gauze and roll of tape and we’ll–”
“Oh, gross!” Becky was standing inside the flap. “You’ll never be able to hide that.”
Offended, (What is it with the redheaded females here?) Angela put a hand on her hip as she fired. “Like, why would I hide it, when I can disgust sooo many people?”
The men snickered at her mocking tones, even Marc cracking a grin, and the teenager snapped her mouth shut.
“John sent you?” Angela asked normally.
“Yeah, he said to try to help you for a while.”
“He couldn’t take any more,” one of the rookies muttered lowly, causing fresh laughs.
“Have a seat,” Angela instructed, mentally rolling her eyes. Great. “We’ll let you know if we need something.”
Becky immediately pranced to the empty chair next to Neil, making every member of his team tense.
Angela noticed it and made a mental note not to have the girl here again while this set of Eagles were. None of Neil’s backup liked her.
“Cut or tear a strip of gauze and try to keep it sterile. Place it over…a bit higher so the tape won’t touch a stitch. Good, now use one hand to hold it in place and the other to get the tape.”
Marc struggled to pull the sticky strips free without placing weight on the wound and was glad when it was done. This feels so bad!
“Once the injury has been treated, then you can take care of the patient’s comfort. Medication, clean clothes, warm blankets, whatever you can do for them.” Her voice sharpened again, “If they want that sort of care. Some people honestly don’t need it. You wouldn’t rush to coddle a senior Eagle, would you?”
Someone behind Neil smirked, “Yeah, that’s what they should have given Chris when he got trimmed in Cheyenne. Warm blankets.”
Grunts and cackles filled the tent and Angela chuckled. “Exactly. Some people want to be left alone. Pain means very little to them.”
“Well, I’d want meds,” Becky offered, waving at Angela’s shoulder. “Bet that would really hurt right now if you hadn’t had a pill before the lesson.”
There was silence–long enough for the teenager to realize her mistake–and then Jeremy said, “You mean like Samantha.”
He went on as if Becky hadn’t messed up, but his words were a warning to the embarrassed girl. “She took a hell of a recoil slip and didn’t even go get the stitches she needed.”
Alex, also the best natured of Neil’s team (which was good considering his skill with a firearm), supported his XO with, “She was great with that gun yesterday. Never thought Adrian’s extra piece would ride that well against a sweater!”
There was another round of laughter, but it was harder, meant to drive in the differences between the two females.
Like Neil couldn’t tell after the mud throwing, Angela thought, but didn’t say anything to stop it. She agreed with their assessment too much. Life as Becky’s mate would be full of chaos and distraction until she grew up, something none of these men wanted for their team leader, but it was also something the camp could ill afford with Neil being so high in the chain of command.
Unless the girl suddenly switched her affections to someone else, she was set on Neil. Which was unfortunate for him, because she was clueless as a nurse and more than a little annoying with her bad timing and unthinking reactions. Doctoring definitely wasn’t her forte.
Angela gestured at the realistic severed arm lying on the table. “John and I put twenty stitches in that prop last night. You’ll each remove one. Let’s get started.”
All of the men did okay, especially Neil, who was determined to make up for his earlier clumsiness, and Angela motioned Becky over reluctantly a while later. The girl had clay hands, but she’d sat quietly for nearly an hour and deserved a reward.
“You take out the last two.”
Becky did all right until she tried to pull the final stitch free. It was stuck in the fake blood Angela had been sending down the gory wound to test their nerves and reactions.
Becky pulled too hard, yanking the prop as Angela hit the button, and the girl picked the arm up to reset it on the tray.
Fake blood squirted wildly and Angela sighed in resignation as fresh crimson dotted her cheek and clean bandage.
“Oh!” Becky quickly swung the arm toward the ground, sending another shower over the Eagles.
“Damn it!” Marc’s shirt was streaked in slimy red. “Put it down!”
Becky let go, retreating. Her face was the color of the thick gel and she moved toward the flap. I can’t do anything right!
The girl fled and those who’d been snickering allowed themselves to explode, drawing in the others.
“Looks good on you, Brady!” Neil teased.
Marc let out a sigh, not thinking. “Better than what I got from the other teenager.”
The tent filled with warning gestures and glances, and Marc realized his screw-up too late. Their thoughts rushed over Angela, full of her drunken son.
Marc hadn’t told her.
“How could you do that to me?”
The tent went silent at her disbelieving glare.
Before he could form a response, Angela grabbed her sweater and stormed to the flap. “Class dismissed!”
If she didn’t get away from him now, there was no telling how bad it might get. He’d kept something like this from her and then had the nerve to get an attitude over her open actions? Who the hell did he think he was?
Marc ignored the call from Neil to give her some time, hurrying to catch up. “Angie, wait.”
Angela drew attention that she ignored as she stormed toward the training tent. The fake blood made it appear as though she’d been hurt again, but the guards would have to get in line behind her rage.
The fury of betrayal was ugly, dangerous. Did he know how many beatings she’d taken for that boy? Had he bled, birthed Charlie? Was it Marc’s heart ripping apart as the bombs fell? She increased her speed, holding in the pain. She didn’t want to hurt him. How could she get rid of him until she cooled off?
The training tent came into sight and she broke into a run. She would use the Eagles to her advantage; let them give him a quick lesson on how she felt about shit like this.
Not speaking, Angela hurried straight to the hayroom with a fast glance over her shoulder that told them whoever she was running from was still chasing her.
The men inside the tent took in her upset state, the fresh blood and running feet, and rushed to help. The next body to come through the flap was knocked down and dragged inside to be hit with blow after blow, before he was recognized.
The Eagles had expected Kenn and there was shock to discover someone else on the bottom of the pile instead.
Marc let Seth help him up, tone rueful. “I shoulda been expecting that, I guess.”
He shook off the bells, wiping real blood from his nose and mouth. “It’s what I get for not tellin’ her.”
Understanding filled the men, realizing what had happened. She couldn’t hit Marc right now and hope to do any damage. So, she’d had them do it.
“Hell of a mind on that one,” Doug commented, pulling on his army jacket.
Marc tried to joke through the throbbing and the heavy feeling of doom settling over him. “Not a bad temper at all.”
Doug chortled. “Adrian will settle her down. Maybe you should wait and talk to her afterwards.”
Marc’s countenance hardened. She hadn’t come here by chance.
“Good idea,” he muttered, turning toward the flap. She’d run to Adrian. What did that mean?
His stomach clenched with fresh waves of anger. Damn this place!
It was colder again and the darker skies were a complement to his mood as he exited. When she needed something now, it was clear who she would go to. She’d replaced him.
Marc’s gut was burning with injustice. Nothing was turning out as he’d hoped. Even Kenn is still here! Marc couldn’t believe they’d let that piece of shit return. She’d been hurt, before and after coming here, and they were giving him a pass because he had taken advantage of a prime opportunity. It was so wrong! They’d almost been free of him!
Marc’s mind was full of the anger he’d been carrying for the last week, but now despair had begun to creep in. Unless he could get Angie away from here, he’d lost her.
2
Angela had leaned against the hayroom wall, arm tensed to greet Marc as soon as she heard his steps, and Doug’s words to him had her swiveling. Adrian was in here?
Adrian stayed still, taking it all in. She’d set Marc up by leading him here and was now ready to give a vicious temple hit meant to disable. How had she planned to deliver enough force with a hurt shoulder? Her gun.
“I wasn’t going to kill him, you understand.” Angela’s tone was conversational. “Just get my point across.”
Adrian’s expression was unreadable, but she could feel his pleasure. Even emotional, she reacted like one of his men.
“He doesn’t understand how much I want this.”
“Yes, he does,” Adrian refuted. “And that’s the problem. On the trip, teaching you was fun. Here, it’s serious and he recognizes the danger you’re about to be in. It’s eating at him.”
That fell into place and she put the .357 away. “Yeah, Brady doesn’t like feeling helpless.”
“None of us do,” Adrian stated. “How about a lesson?”
Angela agreed right away. Other than standing duty over the kids’ area and her first aid class, they hadn’t been letting her do much. “Yes.”
Adrian came from the shadows and kept his distance, despite the urge to discover if any of those bloody streaks needed tending. “Why did you come here?”
“It was the best place to ambush him, get some space.”
Adrian raised a brow. “And you would have followed through?”
Her nod was fast, but her voice was heavy. “And probably hurt him if he hadn’t realized what I intended.”
“After the first greeting he received, you hoped he would back off or keep coming?”
“Both.”
Adrian gestured at the cracks, where eyes suddenly disappeared and Angela felt the anger grow deeper. She needed a workout that her shoulder couldn’t handle. Brady lied to me!
Adrian handed her the knife he’d pulled from the target. “Practice and we’ll talk.”
Angela felt her anger flare higher. He should have come to me right away!
She threw the sharp blade with little thought and Adrian wasn’t surprised when it stuck in the center.
“What should I talk about?”
“Versailles.”
Angela flinched, retrieved the blade. “You’re the boss.”
3
“New arrivals in the QZ.”
“Copy.”
No changes in plans were mentioned and Jeremy listened for the next call to come across the radio, along with everyone else who knew.
“Angela to the QZ.”
“Copy.”
At least she sounded calmer now, Jeremy thought, impressed with her reaction. Kyle’s full team was on duty at the QZ today, but Jeremy had little doubt a few other off-duty Eagles would quietly show up, too. None of the higher levels who took turns guarding her liked the idea of her being so close to strangers who might be sick or dangerous, especially with the bandage on her shoulder that the Eagles still felt bad about.
Jeremy took a quick check to verify their full team was now in their perimeter spots on the garden area, ending with Neil, who had come through the tent area to join them. Jeremy recognized the need and gestured in response to his leader’s silent question. Do you have this covered?
Neil was another shadow who would be around the QZ anytime Angela was, and Jeremy was glad the tight-assed cop would be there. In a fight, Neil was the only one he wanted on his six. Neil was ruthless.
Jeremy scanned the stalk-covered area again, slower this time. They were still on doubled duty; no sign of the slavers was making them all worry. Most of their team was on this side of the tape, scattered around the livestock and parking corner, and each of them gave Jeremy a motion of disappointment as the trooper left. They’d volunteered to be here because of the new garden being put in, eager to observe their team leader as he protected Samantha.
Jeremy made a motion with his hands. He’ll be back.
Jeremy scanned the crew now emerging from the trees. Samantha was in the lead, loaded down with gear and appearing eager to start her first project for Adrian.
Jeremy came forward when she peered his way, and was rewarded with a smile that he returned openly. She was cute. Neil had good taste in adult women.
Men behind him shifted uneasily as Jeremy said something that made Samantha giggle. Did he want her, too? It was something none of them had considered. A fight over the new woman would be as bad as Neil taking little Becky for his legal mate come October.
“I’m pretending to be in love with you today. Do you mind?”
She put her bag and box on the ground, feeling his hot gaze slide down the front of her shirt.
“I guess not.” Samantha blushed a bit. She wasn’t immune to the appreciation she read. “You got a role in mind for me too?”
Jeremy chuckled, thinking she’d probably been a great secretary or something. He could easily imagine her in an office. “Got three spots open for the day’s scenes; the screaming shrew, the confused bachelor, and the slightly willing bachelorette.”
Sensing a ring of truth, Samantha shrugged, voice cooling. “Games are fun until people lose. You got that covered?”
“Not yet.”
Samantha studied Neil’s right-hand man intently, ignoring the group of women waiting curiously just out of hearing distance. After adding up the clues from the gun lesson and the babysitting, she had realized Neil’s team was matchmaking, but Samantha still wasn’t sure if she was okay with it.
“It’s just for today?” she clarified, not wanting to be involved in any drama.
Jeremy almost caved, but held out. She’s so smart! “That’s up to you.” Neil had spotted her first… By their unspoken Eagle rules, he had first claim.
Curious and more interested than she wanted to be, Samantha gave Jeremy a slow, sultry smile that had his team tensing again.
“Just pretend, right? I need that part clear upfront, especially if you plan to play the other guy.”
There was a note of curiosity in her voice that Jeremy let himself answer honestly. “I can’t promise that, Samantha. He may not see your worth yet, but I do and I’d be honored.”
Jeremy left the pleased blush on her cheeks, ignoring the reporter staring at him in shock from the parking area. Cynthia refused to let anyone know about their relationship, saying it would hurt his place under Neil. Over the last weeks, since Angela had come, it felt more like the reporter was only with him for the information supply and that wouldn’t do. Neil wasn’t the only one who would get a wake up.
And if you get hurt in the process? his mind asked. Jeremy answered bluntly, Then, it’s what I’ll deserve for chasing her, too, when I know she belongs to Neil.
Angela caught the thought as she passed by the area, but she didn’t react, sure Jeremy didn’t want to own Samantha, only care for her. As for Neil…she wasn’t sure. The trooper was hiding a possessive streak that was very similar to Kenn’s, but it was something for Adrian to handle if he needed to.
Fake blood mostly cleaned off now, Angela was more nervous than she appeared as she approached the QZ. She even managed to keep her expression blank when Doug held up the tape for her, drawing murmurs from the small group waiting near a beaten-up RV.
Doug motioned at a small table under a long green awning, still amused at her tactics. When would the other women here act that way? “We’ll be around.”
Angela sat down without acknowledging the small group of refugees, feeling them out. John only needed one form to get them registered and it wouldn’t take long with these people, she was glad to discover. The little girl on her father’s hip was busy whispering her favorite story to him while they waited. It was about hunger. As soon as Angela mentioned food, she knew they would be convinced to stay.
Satisfied they weren’t hiding anything big, she smiled in welcome. “I’m Angie, one of the doctors here. Come on over and fill out a paper, and then we’ll get you all fed and settled for the night.”
“Where do you want me?” Charlie asked sullenly as he joined her under the canopy. Braced for a reprimand, he obviously knew she and Marc had been fighting about him.
“In your tent tonight so we can talk.”
Charlie caught her off guard by sneering, “My dad already handled it.”
Angela felt the flames go up, but instead of being nasty, she slid into a comfortable position in the hard seat. “It’s good that you two are getting along.”
Not sure what to say, the teenager reacted with the only emotion he seemed to have for her these days–anger.
“Someone needs to protect him from being hurt.”
The wounded mother snorted, shoulder throbbing mercilessly. So much for peace. She was fed up with both of them.
“Marc always lands on his feet, boy. Look at the current problem. He lied and gets your support. I, on the other hand, give you the truth to every question and still get shit. It appears that you have the same double standard as your father.”
Leaving him speechless, she surveyed the curiously waiting people. “My apologies. Even the war couldn’t destroy teenage angst.”
Moving by the over-patrolled QZ, Adrian heard the sharp remark and smothered his amusement and approval. You could only have a light touch for so long and then a heavier one was required. Adrian got a gesture of things being fine from Doug and kept going. It was Angela’s first time meeting the new arrivals without John there to direct her or alert the sentries to any problems, and all the Eagles were nervous about it.
Waiting until he was out of sight of the area, Adrian waved Kenn over, aware that the Marine was ready to leave for a shift on road clearing. Things were far from fixed between them, but the much quieter man was working on it. Kenn had spent most of the last week out of camp, gathering food, water and fuel. Tomorrow evening, he, Zack, and a small team would leave on a slaver recon. In their case, no news was not good news, but a sign of danger.
“I need photos this time. If you get the op.”
Kenn knew he would make the time. On this, he and Neil agreed. The Eagles were ready, but until Kyle put his vote with theirs, Adrian wouldn’t budge. There was complete trust of the mobster’s judgment there and it bothered Kenn as much as it always had, only now there wasn’t a struggle inside to hide it. His true nature, surly and quick to spark, was on view for all to witness. Kenn and the camp were both slowly adjusting.
“Main men, special spots and weapons?”
“Everything. Their chain of command, captives, blood–get it all.”
Adrian’s voice had hardened with a frustrated anger that told Kenn the leader wouldn’t be able to ignore the threat much longer. Kenn wasn’t sure why it was so important to get it now, but anything was better than being here and seeing Angela welcomed by the Eagles for her determination and strength. He’d tried very hard to crush those things.
“Marc, wait up!”
Neil’s loud call drew attention and Kenn spun away from the parking area as if he’d been burned. He may have to accept the changes and he would, but it didn’t make the need to kill Brady any easier to deal with.
“Hey, Marc!”
Marc couldn’t keep ignoring Neil, like he had been for the last week. After witnessing the way Angela was so set on being an Eagle, he wasn’t even sure he was angry about the Kai lesson anymore. A couple of shoulder slides were nothing compared to witnessing the clumsy trooper put in that stitch.
Waiting, Marc saw Charlie sitting next to Angie, Dog at their feet, and felt his heart clench. His happy family…except they weren’t his anymore than they were Kenn’s. After this morning, Marc wasn’t sure if the small hope he had held for them still existed. If Angie wouldn’t give up being an Eagle, he would end up leaving and it was that thought that stopped him from doing more than nodding at his son when Charlie glanced his way. It will be easier on him if there wasn’t a bond yet, he thought, and realized he had expected the teenager to be upset that his mom now knew their secret. Instead, there was only sympathy in a quick message.
Don’t sweat it. She’s sharper now.
Marc’s mind flashed to the morning’s fresh set of bruises. Tell me about it.
Neil was glad Marc hadn’t embarrassed him by refusing to stop. “Can we talk a minute?”
Marc shrugged wryly. “I’ve got the time if you do.”
Neil gestured toward the small wooded area outside the tape. “Let’s take a short walk.”
The two men slipped out with only a few witnesses. One was Jeff, the guard on the area and that man hesitated. Those two weren’t as needed as Adrian. Surely, they didn’t need a tail too? Jeff was the only man on Seth’s team who hadn’t swung to Marc’s side yet and he turned toward Safe Haven in defiance. He and Zack had been from the same Texas town before the war. When the horror had destroyed their lives, they’d set out together and it was a bond not easily broken. What Zack thought was best…Jeff intended to go along with.
Of the other two witnesses, one was hoping the guard might feel that way and the other never considered the danger of following three grown men out of Safe Haven’s perimeter.
Neil led them to a secluded area before stopping and then he did what Marc expected least. He took his hat off.
“I’m sorry. I hated it. I only did it because–”
“Of Adrian’s orders,” Marc tried to finish.
“No. Because of Angela. She pushed me too, hard.” Neil sighed, dropping down on a nearby boulder. “She wants it, Brady. Neither of us has the right to stop her.”
“And when she gets killed?”
“We won’t let that happen.”
“Bullshit! If not for me and Kenn, the brother would have already ended her.”
Neil didn’t answer, couldn’t. It was true.
Marc wanted to stay angry, but the sadness was too consuming and he let Neil off the hook. “I’m done. It’ll be her choice from now on.”
Neil sighed in relief, missing the wording. “Good. Now spend some time with her that doesn’t involve an argument.”
Marc let out a snort. “No problem there. I doubt she’ll even speak to me.” He tried not to be bitter when his friend laughed.
“She’s as dangerous as the rest of us, only in different ways.”
“Yeah.”
Now perched carefully in a nearby tree, Becky’s attention was pulled between the talking men and Rick. Clearly, the new guy was spying on Neil and Marc, like she was, but why? Was he a slaver in disguise? A delicious chill shot into her gut and she forgot to breathe as the suspected traitor turned her way.
Rick’s vivid stare held her, saying everything she wanted to hear, and yet nothing. He was an exotic, foreign mystery to her slowly awakening female body, and when he went back to spying, the teenager flushed happily. He’s letting me stay!
Not sure why she hadn’t already alerted someone to the new guy’s odd behavior, Becky studied him. He had acquired a uniform somehow and gave the appearance of being an Eagle… The same Eagles that were adamant about Adrian’s age rules.
Rick wasn’t. She could see it in his hot glances and feel it in his body language. If she offered herself to him, there wouldn’t be any hesitation. He would be between her legs before she could change her mind.
As if hearing the thought, Rick surveyed her again. The open need in his gaze had her mind sending up flares of alarm and her body tightening under his perusal. Suddenly feeling shy, she switched her attention back to the conversation, but not before a small smile of invitation crossed her young lips.
“Are we okay?”
Marc answered, glad that he could. “Yeah.”
Neil’s relief was obvious. “Great.” He did a quick sweep. “You ready to get back?”
“After you tell me what’s up with you and Samantha. I thought you wanted–”
“Wait.”
Neil’s tone was sharp enough to stop Marc.
“I heard something.”
Becky froze as Neil swept the area she and Rick were hiding in. But neither of them had budged, she realized, and let herself draw in air as the trooper scanned another direction. He didn’t know they were here.
“What was it?”
“Like a…growl?”
Marc’s mind flashed to Nebraska and the wolf battle that he and Angie had fought to get here. “Let’s go.”
Both spies held their breath as the two men walked right by them without noticing. When the Eagles were ahead, their shadows followed silently, keeping track of each other’s progress and the conversation.
“Can I ask you something?”
Marc chuckled as they neared the caution tape. He hadn’t repeated his request, waiting to see if Neil wanted to talk about it.
“Samantha, no question.”
“That apparent, huh?”
“You need more than a game or a chase. Samantha can give you that.”
“I know, but I–”
“Want the other one, too.”
Neil reddened. “Yeah.”
“The problem there is that she won’t stay young and flirty, and you’ll be stuck with a woman who doesn’t have a clue what she wants,” Marc stated as they stopped outside the perimeter tape. “With the other one, it’s different. She’s been through enough, learned what matters. True survival hasn’t even crossed Becky’s mind. She’s a cute kid, I’ll give you that, but in the end, cute fades and you have to be able to live with what’s left.”
Neil’s own common sense and the comments of his team had been telling him that all along and the cop spoke firmly. “I have to be an Eagle first. My woman would need to understand that.”
Marc chuckled. “Good luck there.”
“You too.”
Marc’s amusement faded. “Yeah. We have the gun class together tonight. Should be tense.”
“She’s pissed,” Neil commented, not telling him that he’d heard Angela arrange to switch-off that duty.
Marc didn’t answer, his attention swinging to the woods behind them. Had he heard Neil’s growling noise?
“You gonna try to talk to her?”
Marc swept the trees harder, now sensing a shadow and he berated himself for the lack of awareness.
“Probably. You knew we had a tail?”
“It’s Becky.”
“You allow it?”
“Yes.” Neil brushed away a small fly, thinking for being so small, they bit like mosquitoes. It was early for them, but the vet already had a stockpile of salve for the animals’ ears.
“And what about the things she overhears?”
“I didn’t say anything bad. You did.”
Marc laughed and they ducked under the tape feeling like friends again.
Behind them, rage was boiling from both of those listening. Their fears of Neil and Samantha were founded. Instantly bonded by their anger, when Rick sidled over, Becky held still. He would help her keep them apart. And in return?
His expression was one of a wolf about to have a meal, going over her young body with blatant lust.
“I’ll think about it,” she muttered lowly, perched in a tree fork and Rick slid his hands to her small waist to help her down.
“Don’t!”
His hands snapped back as if she’d slapped them and her tone remained sharp. “Never without permission!”
Rick’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “May I?”
Satisfied he knew the rules, she refused. “I have plans later. I can’t smell like you.”
Rick’s sexy grin made her knees go weak.
“Lucky guy.”
“Yeah, wish he thought so.”
The traitor admired her slim curves again, producing an actual jolt of awareness that had her blushing.
“His loss.”
Becky kept eye contact as she marched by him and Rick retreated, aware of how much he liked the sneaky girl. So far, she was the only one who had noticed he was out of his tent without a guard. Maybe when this camp fell, Cesar would let him keep her too. Then he would have both of the females Neil wanted.
Neil’s mind was full of Marc’s words as he joined his team. He wasn’t sure enough to try to claim her, but he hoped Samantha felt like talking about things. He needed to know if the attraction was there for her. The lust he felt for Becky had been sharp for a while, but the need to know Samantha had overpowered it. When he took himself in hand these days, it was cornflower blue eyes and platinum hair in his fantasies.
Struggling with the change, Neil entered the new garden area and stopped in shock at the sight of Jeremy and Samantha entering one of the supply trailers, alone.
We have a problem, he thought, hands clenching.
4
Samantha jumped as the radio on Jeremy’s belt crackled.
She asked the overloaded guard, “Do you need to get that?”
“No, what else is on the list?”
Samantha surveyed the neat shelves, comparing with her list. They were getting things started for their own food source, and tomorrow, they would get a lesson in planting. “A first aid kit, another rake, 2 hand-shovels…”
For Earth Day, she’d been instructed to plant all the trees they had found during the last supply run. When she’d asked Adrian why, his answer had pleased her. It’s for those who come after us.
Jeremy followed Samantha willingly enough, arms already loaded down. He had volunteered to cart supplies, still running on the instinct that said Neil would check up on her. Good call.
“Would you like to know what one click on the radio means?”
Samantha stared at him in surprise. “Sure.”
“Someone’s coming.”
It took her only a second to guess who and put the clues together. “Act one, scene one?”
Jeremy didn’t think he had ever been so close to personal betrayal in his life at her continued flashes of extreme intelligence, and it was hard for him to laugh as if it didn’t matter. He wanted to steal her from Neil!
“Confused bachelor confronts slightly willing bachelorette and smitten XO. Take one.”
The door flew up, flooding them with light, and Sam gestured with her hand. “Action!”
They both laughed.
Neil took in the scene with surprise. Had he waited too long?
“Oh, it’s Neil.”
She sounds like I caught them doing something wrong, the trooper thought.
“Hey, boss. Just offering some help to the lady.”
Neil wiped his face clean, shoved that rarely witnessed part of him into the cage. “Good.”
He flashed a tight smile toward Samantha. “I have an hour free after mess?”
Samantha beamed, moving his way. “You think we’ll get to do it this time?”
Neil’s stare was intense “Even if I have to post a sentry. For that hour, I belong to you.”
Samantha blushed as hot images swung through her mind.
“Unless Becky calls, anyway.”
Jeremy’s mutter reminded her of the role she’d agreed to play.
Neil swiveled to scold his right-hand man for continuing the dangerous matchmaking game, but couldn’t at the challenge in Jeremy’s stance. His XO meant it.
Determined to do the right thing, Jeremy carefully climbed out of the truck. The tension was thick when he gestured at Samantha. “Take five.”
He left with the supplies and Samantha let him go with confusion and regret. The jealousy in Jeremy’s tone and body language was very convincing.
“He likes you.” Neil’s voice held surprise.
“He’s nice. Attentive.”
Neil felt his anger fading. Attentive. That’s what she would need and Neil wasn’t sure he was capable of giving it. She intimidated him too much.
“Can you do me a favor?”
Neil braced to be reduced to a message boy between them.
“Sign me up for third shift guard duty and maybe some personal time. Like what Angie’s getting, only quieter.”
“I’d be happy to handle that.” Realizing how much grovel was in his tone, Neil snapped his mouth shut.
“Great.” She rotated back to the shelves. “Thanks. See you after mess.”
“Yes…okay.”
Neil left in confusion and Sam realized Jeremy had their roles pegged perfectly. So was Becky really a screaming shrew? She was much too young to play that part.
Samantha shrugged. They would find out. It was time for the evening meal now, and it was the big one Adrian liked to schedule occasionally to show them all how large Safe Haven was becoming. That meant twice as many people. Lovely.
Samantha straightened her kinked spine, thinking she wasn’t caving and sitting with the other females tonight. She didn’t want to chat and if she had to sit alone to avoid it, she would.
5
“Can I sit here?”
Angela peered up from her tray with an uncensored welcome that made Marc’s heart thump.
“You know it.”
Her words, however, made his anger flare higher. She sounded more like these people every day. “I’d like to talk to you about something that’s bothering me.”
“What’s up?” Angela answered distractedly; glad the pill was finally calming the heat in her shoulder.
Marc sat across from her and braced himself, suddenly certain it would go badly. “I don’t think you should be an Eagle.”
A breathless sort of shock slid over her, but Marc didn’t stop. “I’d like you to resign, find something else. There has to be a safer way for you to help him.”
“I see.” There was only ice now. “And your reasons?”
Marc felt the ambush coming, tried to intercept. “There’s a lot you’re not considering and it might get you hurt. These people don’t want you to do it, not even the women here. Just you and Adrian.”
There was a sneer in his tone that bothered her. He still didn’t trust or even like Adrian.
“That’s not true,” she argued, thinking of her shower visit from Hilda and Peggy. “There are a few.”
“Trained lapdogs don’t count.”
His voice gentled, became almost patronizing to her wounded ears.
“And none of them really think you can either. When the first cage match comes and no one hits you, everyone will see the flaw in his plans.”
Angela knew she should be furious with his lack of support, but she’d already noticed those things hadn’t she? Marc’s beef wasn’t the Eagles at the moment, but Adrian. “You’re jealous.”
It was a fact being stated. Marc couldn’t, wouldn’t deny it.
Sadness hit Angela in waves. “Why can’t I have both?”
“What?” Marc had been bracing for her anger, not a compromise.
“Both. You and the Eagles.”
Marc didn’t know what to say to that and she leaned forward. “I have the room and I’ve been working on it from the moment we got here. I want both.” Angela’s voice lowered to a plea. “I need both. Please don’t make me pick one or the other.”
Marc hated it that he could feel himself turning into Kenn. “How does that work?”
“You have to let me do what I am meant to. If I get hurt in the process, that’s life now. I’ve been held back for so long!”
She noticed the nearest perimeter patrols changing, making contact with the shadows. “And there’s so much I can do, so many ways I can help if I’m an Eagle.”
Angela surveyed him with flecks of steel. “I will be one of them, in every way. I’m almost free of the past, but this can’t hang between us. You’ll have to decide if you can let me live my life the way I choose. If you can, I’ll share it with you, openly.”
Her tone became icy. “But that means accepting me as an Eagle.”
“And that’s firm? No room to bend?”
Angela sighed at the stiffness in his voice. “What if I said okay, Marc? I’ll haul my stuff into your tent today and resign, be a doctor. Is that what you want?”
She had tried hard for casual, but the pain was clear and Marc shook his head. “Yes.”
Angela’s nostrils flared. He wouldn’t force her, would he? “I’ll go pack. You tell Adrian and our son.”
Marc’s eyes flashed and she gave him a hard stare, pushing away from the table. “I owe you, right? It’s time to start paying off that debt.”
Was she bluffing? Did it matter? He could never follow through. “I’m leaving soon. Get ready for it.”
Angela stood up, voice scornful. “I was ready for it when you found me in Indiana. Surprised you’ve stuck around this long.”
Before he could respond, their attention was drawn to loud voices from the long line still waiting to eat.
“She’s not an Eagle.”
“Adrian says she is.”
“He’s carrying this women’s lib shit too far.”
“You watch your mouth!”
“Make me!”
Angela spun away from the coffee line where the two men were now brawling. The shouts were drawing more spectators and she was glad Doug and Kyle were rushing to break it up. It was happening a lot. Yesterday it had been two women arguing during evening mess, and last night, Kyle had punched a rookie for a nasty remark about Adrian. Now, yet another fight. Her joining was causing problems and unless she could find a way to fix it, Marc would get his wish.
Female Eagles were a big part of Adrian’s plans. She could feel that clearly, knew he needed her to be accepted, but how could she? She wasn’t a man, her magic was off limits for this, and as far as these men were concerned, she was already being given special treatment, even before the cage match. They had tryouts and tests to become an Eagle and it had just been given to her…
Angela stopped, barely breathing as the solution came.
Would that succeed? She stood there, surrounded by Safe Haven’s light as she considered. Yes. All of it will matter, but if I can stack that one moment…
Angela changed directions, absorbing the fear and she stiffened her chin into that set line as her target came into view.
Kenn stared at her stupidly a moment later. “You want to what?”
Angela willed her nerves to relax. She and Kenn hadn’t exchanged a single word since the sauna scene that had shown his true colors, and she made herself sound confident. “I want to take the real level test with my team.”
Kenn laughed unpleasantly, missing those flecks of steel in his relief over her demand. He’d been expecting something else. “You? In the cage? Yeah, that’ll happen.”
He let out another bray of hard amusement and Angela made a fast choice she wasn’t sure of. She ducked, threw out a leg sweep and used her free arm to shove him onto his ass in the dirt.
“Sign me up, Marine. I mean it!”
Kenn was surprised to feel admiration and a strong wave of attraction instead of the anger or embarrassment it should have brought to be put down by a female; by this female.
“There’s no way he’ll let you take the real test.” He stood up, brushing himself off and he was careful to stay still so that none of the approaching Eagles would think he was a threat to her. “Can’t hit a woman here for any reason.”
“I got through Neil’s class. I want to be one of them, Kenny. And there isn’t anything I won’t do, anyone I won’t destroy, to get it,” she insisted pointedly.
The complete honesty was a change for both of them, but more for Angela, who had spent so long carefully censoring her words.
Kenn was aware of how pleased Adrian was that she’d been keeping up. He conceded reluctantly. “I’ll mention it to him, but it’ll hurt his plans, if you fail.”
The warning was a surprise to her, showing his caring for the dreams. She’d thought he was only so loyal to Adrian because it gave him the XO slot.
“I won’t.”
Kenn scowled, still hating her new confidence and dreading the hard months he would have to endure while earning what he’d thrown away. “If he says yes, it’ll be on your schedule. Now get to the kids’ area. Your shift starts in five.”
Angela snapped a salute and nodded at Jeremy as he strode by determinedly. She sighed at the images running through his mind. The crowded mess was about to get another show. Encore!
6
Samantha had monitored Marc and Angie’s fight with sympathy, but would have gladly traded places when Jeremy ducked under the canopy.
He found Neil first, settled comfortably at Adrian’s center table, and then her, sitting alone in the rear of the mess.
His scowl was threatening and Samantha couldn’t stop herself from responding to the righteous anger on her behalf. She gave him a raised brow and a short wave, offering him the seat across from her.
His expression lit up and everyone in the area stared in surprise at the happiness he didn’t try to hide.
Jeremy joined her quickly, but before any conversation could restart from those around them, his words echoed softly.
“Scene 2: the screaming shrew.” His expression darkened. “I’m sorry for this. The location was a write-in.”
Sam was expecting Becky and she sneered, “Little girls should be careful who they challenge.”
Coming up behind them, Cynthia drew up short at the clear warning…then the reporter shrieked, “I’ll show you a little girl! Who the hell do you think you are? I’ll–”
Caught off guard, Samantha lost her temper fast and she jumped up to put herself in the woman’s space. “You’ll what?”
The tone was soft, menacing, and Cynthia realized she had made a mistake.
Samantha slowly gave the expensively dressed woman an insulting once-over. “Be a shame to get blood on Gucci. It won’t come out…or so I hear.”
The reporter flinched at the word blood, now trapped. She couldn’t shout that Jeremy was hers without the camp discovering their affair, but she wouldn’t ease up and lose him either. His connection to Adrian was too good to give up.
“Cynthia.”
Adrian’s tone knew, was patronizing enough, and the reporter shot a last lingering glare at Samantha before leaving the mess.
Sam sat down, not looking at Jeremy. He and Cynthia had something going. Whatever she had felt from the helpful guard could have been great acting to make Neil jealous.
And Cynthia, she added a little bitterly.
“Are you mad?” Jeremy questioned.
“I’ll have to get back to you. I didn’t expect that shrew and I’m not a fan of surprises.”
“I can try to explain, if you want.”
“I’ll pass.”
There was silence for a minute and then he flashed a charming smile. “Ready for scene three?”
Samantha snorted. “Depends on what it is.”
Jeremy leaned in, aware of being the center of everyone’s attention. “Scene three is where apologetic bachelor number two becomes scarce so the slightly willing bachelorette can cool off with still very confused bachelor number one.”
“And you’re one of the players, not an actor, right?” she asked, slightly upset “Another alpha male who wants two mates instead of one.”
Jeremy reddened, but he didn’t deny it. “That scene comes later in the story.”
Samantha snorted again, flattered and wary. “Guess I need a copy of the script.”
“I’ll see what I can do about that.” He stood up, taking his untouched tray. “Try to have fun with Neil tonight. He’s a good man.”
Samantha was aware of the surprised, uneasy people around them as he left. Jeremy had to know how this would end. He would be left out. As nice as he was, there was no way that Eagle would ever be able to break through the wall of ice around her heart.
Samantha’s gaze slid to the center table and found Neil staring at her. There was enough heat there to melt an iceberg and she dropped her gaze. There was little choice between the two, but she wasn’t sure if she even wanted one of them yet. She didn’t have enough of her self-respect back to be in a relationship. All she wanted from either of them right now was friendship and training. Everything was secondary to surviving the slavers.
Adrian’s table was much quieter than usual. Kenn tried to keep the conversation going, knowing the boss didn’t like the tension, but with Neil distracted, Doug on sentry in the QZ, and Kyle still angry that Kenn had been allowed to return, there was little cooperation.
“I’ll catch you guys later.” Neil left the table and let his feet go where they wanted instead of where they should.
“You ready?”
Samantha jumped when Neil dropped onto the bench across from her.
His tone was defensive and she responded sarcastically, “Shouldn’t we wait and let Becky have her say, too?”
Neil followed Samantha’s line of sight to the teenager staring at them furiously, frozen in place.
The line around her advanced and Becky forced herself to do the same. She did her best to clear her expression, female mind flying through suitable retaliations. She could ignore them and keep up the act that there was nothing going on with her and Neil. She could also cause a scene and force him to claim her early, but she knew both of those options would lose her his affection.
Becky spotted Rick sitting by himself in a far corner and hoped he wouldn’t mind, but didn’t hesitate to carry her tray to his table. Take that!
“Talk to her. Tonight,” Sam ordered and Adrian’s gesture demanded the same.
“I will,” Neil answered them both. He glanced at Samantha. “Let’s go now, okay?”
Samantha was glad to escape the attention, but her mind was on Rick and Becky. At this point, not telling the girl some hard truths would be more dangerous than keeping quiet.
The sight of the training tent had Neil’s stomach twisting. He didn’t want to do this, but the thought of Seth (or Jeremy!) alone in there with her was enough to make him follow through.
“So, are you ready to fight?”
“Sure,” Samantha responded shakily to the joke.
Neil held the flap for her, and ducked inside after a quick glance around verified only one bitter guard lurking in the shadows. He had no idea how this might go. The fewer witnesses, the better.
Samantha waited by the flap for Neil to light a lantern and lead her into the canvas room. When he took them inside the large area made of hay bales, she held her nervousness in check and followed him without a protest. She’d asked for this and he was breaking the rules to give it to her. She wasn’t an Eagle or in official training, so they had to be somewhere private.
This fits the bill, she thought, taking off her gun and placing it next to his. It was so quiet in here, it was almost like they were alone.
Neil kicked off his boots, stalling as she did the same. He was hoping to spot cold feet that he could respond to. If she would give him a sign that she didn’t want this–
“So what’s first?”
Eager. Damn it! “I’ll show you the basic moves and we can go from there.”
“No, Neil.”
“What?”
“I want exactly what you gave Angie.”
“You’re not ready for that yet.”
They found Adrian in the doorway and Neil hid a sigh of relief, grateful.
“Angela was already a level fighter when Marc got her here. You’ll need to build up to that.”
Samantha could feel how much happier Neil was as Adrian left them alone. He hadn’t wanted to give her the lesson. Afraid to hurt her? Maybe. Afraid to be caught was more likely and she didn’t stop herself from reacting.
Neil was unprepared for her swing and took the full hit.
Samantha saw the blood run from his split lip, and waited nervously for his response. She needed this and if she had to push him to get him to do it, she would. As for Adrian’s rules, well, he hadn’t said anything about a workout.
“What was that for?” Neil questioned, ears ringing from being caught unprepared.
“Lying, pretending, and screwing around with my mind,” Sam stated coldly. “Take your pick.”
“But it was Adrian’s choice,” he protested as her fist clenched again.
“He did it for you. He felt your fear.”
Neil opened his mouth to argue and found he couldn’t lie to her. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not. Now show me.”
Neil stared at her, more confused, if that was possible, than he had been before. She had a hell of a swing.
“Later. Let’s do a workout first. It’ll settle you down, let you concentrate.”
Samantha raised a brow. “Who says I can’t now? As I’m sure you know, anger is great for that.”
Neil laughed and knew it was a mistake when her fists clenched again.
“I challenge you!”
He had time to think she’d picked up a lot in her short time here, and then she swung and he tried not to fall down.
Thud!
For the fifth time, Neil landed with a hard thump, blood dripping, and Samantha retreated.
“Why are you letting me beat on you?” she demanded, almost yelling.
Neil winced, but didn’t answer. There was a method to his madness. Telling her wasn’t a part of it.
Rolling to his feet, Neil rushed her, dropping under her wild swing and he took them to the ground with his hand braced under to keep her from hitting too hard.
“Ankles!” he ordered sharply.
Sam did as he’d shown her, using the force of her locked legs to gain leverage. She slammed his ribs with quick, hard knuckle punches, and used her head to connect with his nose.
Grunting, Neil rolled over and off to keep from spraying her with fresh crimson and they stayed on the floor, breathing hard. They’d been at it for almost their allotted hour and Neil was hurting. He’d given her the perfect workout. He let her hit him repeatedly.
“Be at the self-defense ring at dawn,” Neil stated, running on instinct.
“You’ll clear it?”
“No. It’s important for this to appear like your idea. Only the teachers are there so early. Go to Doug and challenge him. After, demand to be signed up for the level classes, not the crap we give the sheep. You’re way beyond that.”
And she is, he thought. She was clumsy and had bad habits that would have to be broken, but she also had a fury Neil wasn’t sure even Angela could match. Samantha had an endless supply of rage to draw from and every hit she’d delivered had been solid. When she was ready, Samantha would follow Angela into the Eagles. Neil was positive of it.
“You okay?”
Samantha sighed, sitting up. “Thinking.”
“Yeah.” Neil examined his feelings on being in the background while she went through what Angela already had and found he could understand completely why Marc had been so upset. If he witnessed a man hit Samantha, he’d react. It was that simple.
“Can we do this again?” she asked, her voice pointed. “But without the passive teacher.”
Neil hesitated, still not sure about anyone, including himself, hurting her even for lessons. Sending her to Doug would make it so he didn’t have to see it until he’d had more time to adjust.
Samantha waved a hand. “If not, no big deal. Jeremy will probably–”
“I’ll do it!”
Samantha only felt a little guilty for using his jealousy. “Good. You’ll let me know when?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Thanks, Neil.”
“Adrian sends ‘em and I beat ‘em.”
“But Adrian didn’t send me and you never hit me. Wonder what that means?”
Her thoughtful voice had his lids flying open.
“Might be nothing,” he warned.
She gave him a sharp tone that cut through his indifferent façade. “I’ll keep that in mind when Jeremy asks me out. He’s very nice.”
Samantha retrieved her gun. “See ya, Neil.”
Neil was fast, on his feet and then right behind her in an instant.
Samantha stopped, waiting. She’d pushed him tonight, in more ways than one.
“Please.” Neil’s voice was ragged, tortured.
“Please what, Neil? Don’t tease you about Jeremy?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Samantha hadn’t turned and the trooper was able to give her the honesty that the sight of her face would have locked up. “I need…time.”
Samantha’s heart jumped. “For?”
She heard the tremor in her voice as clearly as he did.
Staring at her stiff shoulders, Neil felt his caged need spring forward and he smothered the urge to spin her around and demonstrate his desires. “To be sure.”
Samantha let that sink in, understanding she was now firmly in contention for him with Becky.
“I won’t play those games, Neil. And I’d never share.”
She rotated slowly, let him view her indifference. “Plus, I don’t know if I’m even interested.”
A dark flush slid up her cheeks and Neil slammed his hands into his pockets. He wanted desperately to expose that lie. “Ouch.”
“Sorry. Long day.”
“Long life full of pain.”
Samantha’s voice lowered. “And it’s not over. Things are happening too fast for me.”
“Did you tell Jeremy the same thing at mess?”
Sam swung to him. “No. I don’t need to. He understands that without being told.”
Before he could respond, she slipped out of the tent, unable to help a shiver at the immediate darkness.
“Hey, there.”
Jeremy’s voice was unexpected and Samantha’s hand went for her gun.
“Easy. I’m the guard he posted.”
Sam cringed at those words, thinking Jeremy had been able to hear them.
“I wouldn’t do that to you. I’ve been in the shadows and on patrol. I heard nothing.” His smile widened. “Saw some vicious swinging shadows though. Good workout?”
Samantha realized he knew of Adrian’s visit and what it meant. “It helped.”
“You gonna have another lesson?”
Samantha heard the familiar tones of jealousy and her voice was cool. “That hasn’t been decided yet.”
Jeremy fell in step as she took the path toward her tent, wondering what she was thinking.
“He wants me to wait,” Sam blurted suddenly, horrified to hear it fall out so bluntly. “Until he makes up his mind.”
Jeremy scowled. “He what?”
Samantha instantly wished she hadn’t told him.
“He’s not sure,” she stated, letting him see how stung she was.
Jeremy responded to her need without hesitation. “Come here.”
Samantha let him surround her with his big arms, surprised at the way she enjoyed being held. The tears were rare for her and she was glad when only a few rolled down her cheek to soak into his jacket.
“He’s an ass,” Jeremy stated harshly, not caring that Neil had emerged from the tent and stopped in shock. “It’s not your fault he’s stupid, baby. That’s on him!”
Jeremy glared at Neil and then led them away from the training area, fighting the urge to say something nasty to his team leader. What the hell was wrong with Neil that he couldn’t recognize the differences like everyone else? Was that little tart worth his place?
Samantha let the concerned Eagle take her into the darkness, thinking she would have to seal up these feelings that she now had for Neil. If this continued for long, it would hurt her and she couldn’t allow another man to do that.
Neil’s heart thumped with guilty anger. Jeremy would be a better mate for her. Clearly, he was more attentive, as Neil hadn’t even realized he’d hurt her until he’d witnessed the tears when Jeremy led them toward the shadows. But…that male part of him, the side that his dad had built from the ground up, was insisting he could give her more.
What about Becky? his body asked and Neil grimaced uneasily. She was in the shadows behind him and Neil didn’t hide it. “Becky, we need to talk.”
He waited until he heard her behind him.
“Hey, Neil.”
Her tone was cool and he sighed resignedly. It just wasn’t his day. “I’d like to talk to you about your new friend.”
Her clenched fists told him to brace himself. He had also learned something tonight.
“And don’t forget your new friend, Neil. We’ll have a talk about her, too.”
Neil started toward the tent he’d left and Becky sneered angrily. “You know nothing about women, Neil. Do you know that? I don’t want to talk in there, where you were with her!”
“You need to stay away from Rick…and stop following me.”
Becky froze, heart thumping. He was doing it now.
“Did you hear–”
“I heard you! Anything else? Like October isn’t happening because you’ve found something better?”
Neil winced. “It’s not like that. I…I need some time.”
Becky grew red. “To pick.”
He gave a short sigh, realizing she deserved to know the truth, too. “Yes.”
“Well, then I don’t see a problem with my spending time with Rick while you spend time with Samantha. Maybe someone as a comparison would be a good thing.”
Becky spun away, tearing up, and Neil was ashamed at his first thought. He already had a basis for comparison, but wasn’t sure how he now fared against Jeremy in Samantha’s estimation.
“I’m sorry.”
“Slam you!” floated through the stillness.
Well, that went well, Neil thought sarcastically. He glanced in the direction Jeremy and Samantha had gone, and went to the showers instead. What he wouldn’t give to hear that conversation.
“Try not to let it keep eating at you. He’ll come around.”
“I’m not a second prize, Jeremy. It’s already too late for that.”
Ignoring how his own heart responded, the Eagle said, “Neil’s wired differently than most of the people here, Sam. It’s a cop-thing.”
The storm tracker became cold. “I’m not interested.”
That was supposed to be the end of it. Jeremy heard the tone, but the need to make his team leader and this soft, furious woman happy was stronger than her desire to be left alone.
“Give him a little time, baby, like he asked for.”
Samantha’s weathered face held no trace of the tears that had brought them to this secluded part of the camp. Showing misery was a luxury she refused to indulge in. There was just too much of it. “And in the meantime?”
Jeremy let a brief glimpse of his feelings show, unable to deny her the comfort she wanted and the hope his heart needed. “In the meantime, we’ll get to know each other. If he waits too long, it’s his loss.”
Samantha sighed restlessly, thinking again that this man would never hurt her, wasn’t dangerous to a woman, and that was why it wouldn’t succeed. She needed that edge of unknown. Still, at least she wouldn’t be walking through her days completely alone. “Okay, for now. How long I’ll last in this play, I don’t know.”
Jeremy understood completely. “Same here, baby. Same here.”
7
Still running through the dark trees in a wild rage, Becky hit a hard body and came to a jarring stop. They fell in a tangle of limbs and the crying girl’s sobbing increased.
“Slam this place!”
“I don’t think so much of it either.”
Rick was amused, and Becky didn’t get off his chest. The tears were still coming and she shuddered when he slid an arm around her.
“Sshhhh…”
Rick comforted her easily and enjoyed the feel of her young body against his. If not for the guards… He pushed himself up, gently hauling her along, and though he left his arm around her, he put clear space between them. Too bad he wasn’t on his own time right now, but sneaking around had to be done carefully.
“It’ll be okay. You’ll think of something.”
Becky sniffled against his hot arm. “And you’ll help me with it.”
Glad her voice had been barely audible, Rick said soothingly. “Yes. In a little while, they’ll all be too busy to think about her.”
The shadows observed tensely, hoping Rick would cross any line, but the suspected traitor only offered a little more comfort and then gently pushed the teenager toward camp. It would be reported, but without an actual crime, Rick was safe.