From The Ashes (Life After War) (67 page)

She had their attention now, over personal concerns, and the Eagles outside the flap grinned and crowded each other for listening room.

Angela walked to the front of the tent, wiping her bloody hand down her jeans. “Tell them why Cesar's former slaves hate you.”

Kyle started to protest–he already knew the answer and could still barely cope with it. He wasn't at all happy about being here, either. When Jennifer had mentioned the Eagles, Kyle hadn't known she and Angela had already settled it.

Jennifer put a hand on his arm. “I want this.”

Beaten before the fight even started, Kyle stormed from the tent, scattering the crowd of men outside.

“
Tell them,” Angela repeated.

Jennifer used the steel she’d found while facing Cesar. “I was the one they came to when they got pregnant. They couldn’t do it themselves.”

“
Do what?” Sam asked reluctantly, a horrible idea forming. No way this girl had had the strength to do that to others and then still keep her own.

“
I made them miscarry,” Jennifer confirmed.

“
How?” Cynthia demanded, refusing to believe she’d lost to a pregnant 14-year-old girl.

“
The only way I could,” Jennifer revealed bitterly. “Cesar saw the bruises and assumed one of his men was responsible. And then he would slaughter whoever he thought was considering a take-over. I killed two birds with every baby.”

The tent was full of a thick, revolted tension that Angela fed with her next prompt. “And the ones who attacked you when you first joined Safe Haven?”

Jennifer looked around in defensive anger. “I cut them–the ones who didn’t ever want to have enslaved kids! They came to me, begging, because I managed to keep my hope when they didn’t! And even when I told them I wasn’t doing it to mine, they still came to me.”

“
You could have refused,” Crista offered quietly.

“
No, I couldn’t,” Jennifer refuted. “Those women had no power in Cesar's camp. Their kids would have been unprotected. They were better off never being born.”

“
And why do yours deserve to live?” Cynthia questioned in dislike, still not quite believing.

Jennifer’s chin went up further. “I never said those babies deserved it! I said they were better off.”

“
Tell them why,” Angela directed. She hadn't coached Jennifer on this moment, but their abilities were off-limits. If the teenager made a mistake on that, she would immediately be replaced.

Jennifer had already spent six months walking that line. “I wasn’t hurt by anyone but Cesar and the other slaves. His men thought I was crazy. They said I was the reason he couldn’t be killed. Our children would have been exempt as long as I kept them believing it.”

Now, there was complete confusion.

“
How did you do that?”

“
What the hell are you talking about?”

“
You have to be lying. The other slaves have never mentioned that.”

“
Yes, they have,” Angela interrupted the angry females. “It’s in their glances every time they walk by her, in their words when they run into her at meals and showers. They’re jealous, and scared that she’ll tell everyone what they asked her to do.”

“
I was a target with the women, but my children would have been left alone–at least until they were older.”

“
And by then?” Sam asked, sure she knew this time. “You hoped he’d be dead, right?”

Jennifer’s expression stretched into a hatred that each of them recognized as lethal.

“
I was waiting to feed him the poison until after the birth, so I survived the fight for control. I would have become the woman of whoever won. My place, and that of my kids, was set until I could get strong enough to find a way out. That’s why they hate me. I’m smarter, and I always play for the future.”

Angela leaned back as the other females eyed Jennifer warily, expressions full of dislike, but also respect.

Sam turned to Angela. “You’ve put a killer on your right!”

Angela was satisfied. That was what she needed them to understand. “Yes, and a pair of hard-asses behind her.”

Angela glanced at Cynthia’s shocked countenance. “If you guys can take the order.”

Angela strode back to Leslie, locking gazes. Her tone was rough. “I’ve never liked you, but Jeremy thinks you’re a hard-ass, too, and that it will swing the other
sisters
into Adrian’s light.”

Finding out that Jeremy had spoken up for her went a long way in soothing the woman’s ruffled feathers over her bloody nose. It also instantly created a rivalry with Samantha.

“
I’ve started to do it,” Leslie stated quietly. “Sam knows.”

Angela held out a hand. “Good. There will be more female teams to be filled in the future. The leaders of those teams could come from this tent.”

Leslie accepted the hand up, as the others murmured in surprise.

“
You have to make a choice, ladies. You've been rookies long enough to feel the magic. When I tell you that's nothing to being on the inside, take it to heart. If I absolutely had to pick between being an Eagle, and being Brady's woman, I'd arrange for one of the camp whores to console him.”

Angela didn't glance at Tracy. She didn't want to even consider that match. Tracy was one of the few women in Safe Haven that actually stood a chance with Marc. Tracy knew what men wanted, and that was extremely dangerous.

Now there was complete silence in the tent.

Angela went on with the half-truths, hoping Marc wasn't close enough to hear. She honestly wasn't sure which way she would go. Both meant the world to her. The only thing more important than either of them, was her son. “Until Jennifer is ready, Sam will cover that place. Keep in mind that I won't ever tell you all of my reasons for putting her there, or for anything else that I do. You have to be able to accept my choices.”

Those who knew Angie's secret felt some of their anger fade. If Jennifer was as strong as Angela, she belonged on the right–where she would be most useful.

“
A female team by itself is a group of women playing games, the same as with the men. Together, we're more. These female teams are being created to support the current army.”

Her words rang through the tent, capturing them. “Though the camp needs to think it for a while, I did not just pick you for my team. I've chosen you to lead your own.”

Angela looked at Jennifer, as the others muttered in surprise. She was careful with her wording. “Will you serve, even though it will take you away?”

Jennifer was honored. “You know it.”

“
And the rest of you?” Angela asked, sure of the answers. “Anyone want out now?”

Silence.

Angela smirked–a hard, cold expression that each of them would get used to seeing right before she had them do something important for the camp.

“
While I’m in Little Rock, think and be sure. I’ll expect everything from you, and then demand more.”

“
Who are you taking in… to watch your six?” Becky hesitated to volunteer, not sure if she had the sand yet.

Angela didn’t pause in her answer or her exit from the tent. “Adrian.”

2

“
You can go in tonight with the clearing crew.”

Silence fell over the center table at Adrian's words.

The clearing crew had been to Little Rock for the last three nights, making a road where one hadn't existed in six months, but it was far from safe. The camp was going by the city later today–set to settle down once they were out of sight.

“
We'll
be ready,” Angela said casually.

When Adrian didn't deny the request, Marc relaxed a bit. The females that had emerged from the tent on Angela's heels were currently wearing determined expressions that usually only Adrian could inspire. She had them in line now.

Kenn glanced up. The sky hung closer, clearly about to dump something on them. “Smells like rain.”

Angela played along. “About time. It's been...” She glanced over at Adrian. “Months!”

Adrian had been keeping track. “Not since the rest stop.”

“
We've had a couple chilly days and a few warm ones, but we've mostly hovered in the 60s for the last two months.”

Angela felt his concern and it made her consider the deeper implications. What she came up with scared her. “We're about to take a drop.”

“
She's finally running out of things to throw at us, maybe.” Kenn offered.

Adrian corrected the impression that Nature had a limited arsenal. “She's only used her energy store. This is the growing season. She'll rest through the fall. And come winter...”

Nearly everyone began working on it mentally, and Angela leaned toward Marc, smiling.

Marc knew what she was doing and let her. He was no longer above using her manipulations to get what he wanted. In fact...

Marc flashed a wild leer. “I'll be up.”

Angela flushed furiously, head dropping to hide her pleasure. She really did need to thank Adrian for releasing that tiger.

Adrian was studying the small line outside the hair-cutting canvas. He spotted Lee on duty outside the smelly tent and gave that tired man a hard look. It was clear that Lee still wanted Candy. Why hadn't he pulled her in yet?

“
He's making it clear where his loyalties lie now,
”
Angela sent. “
When he thinks she's got that, he will.
”

Satisfied, Adrian stood up. “An hour after Mess.”

Angela didn't waste the time. She pressed a fast kiss to Marc's cheek and went to their tent to gather her gear. After that, she would pick her girls and they would spend an hour or two working out before the run. Rookie nerves were nothing to be taken lightly.

Before she made it to the couples' area, Angela had a surprising pair of footsteps on her heels. She paused outside the flap, studying them.

Jennifer didn't bother to stand up straighter, the way Leslie was doing, but she did make sure to maintain eye contact. The chances of her being allowed to go were slim, but she wanted Angela to know she was capable of some duties now.

“
Consider it noted. And no. After.”

Jennifer left without the disappointment the others would have felt. Unlike most of them, she knew she wasn't ready.

Angela studied Leslie and her fat lip for a long moment, still not liking her much. “Can you be trusted?”

Leslie frowned. “With which secret?”

Angela snorted. No denying that. “All of them.”

Leslie hesitated, thinking her own skin didn't have the same glow as Angela, but at least she wasn't showing any gray yet. “I assume it's part of the job.”

Angela couldn't bring herself to accept that. “Next time, maybe.”

Leslie's shoulders drooped. “I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong with you.”

Angela blew out another breath. “That makes two of us. We'll both work on it.”

Leslie nodded, moving away, and Angela ducked into the tent before anyone else could spot her. She required a minute to decide who she
needed
to take. The rescue mission team was set to go into the city tomorrow, but she had to have the most serious of her team tonight–the ones who were already capable of killing. There was only darkness when she searched, and she had little doubt that Adrian knew trouble was coming, too.

3

“
You got all that covered?”

Marc slid the envelope into his coat pocket. “The Eagles will help me through it, I'd guess.”

Adrian leaned back, mental shield at full strength. Brady was in no mood for accidentally discovered anything.

“
Home by dawn?” Marc queried curtly.

Adrian didn't answer, mentally adjusting. When it came to Angela, Brady was sharp.

Marc pushed the chair back, and stood up. He didn't shout or accuse, or even speak at all. He only glowered in hatred.

Adrian let out a harsh sigh. “Shoulda known better than to keep you out of the loop.”

Marc folded his arms over his chest instead of lunging. “Tell me.”

“
The number of teams watching has increased each night–building up their numbers in plain sight while we clear. They're ready to attack, and I plan to use the chaos to slip underground and find my son. I need her along for that.”

“
Your what?!”

Adrian waited, letting it sink in. Brady was incredibly smart. He'd likely get it all.

Marc dropped heavily back into the chair as the pieces began to fall in place.
So many lies!
And none of that mattered to him now.

Marc locked eyes with their leader. “What if you can only save
one
of them?”

Adrian let the lie spill with no guilt. “I've already left him for dead. He'll expect it.”

And the truth? He loved them both, though it was something Brady would never be strong enough to hear. Adrian wouldn't abandon one or the other, but he would trade his life for either.

“
She's alone in Kyle's tent. I've got her doing make-work to settle her nerves. She needs to be fed before we go.”