From the Ashes Page 6

  “There’s nothing he’ll deny us after this.” Kyle swept the drunken men. Other than the small group of guerillas getting ready to roll, this wouldn’t be a battle–it would be a barrel-shoot, with sitting ducks for targets. Even the armed men wouldn’t stand much of a chance against Chris and Shawn with their grenade launchers. “And nothing will ever erase the stain.”

  Neil shared Kyle’s revulsion, but in this moment, he needed Samantha and his place more than he wanted a clean conscience. “For him, and for my new life, I’ll bear it.”

  Kyle’s shoulders straightened proudly. “As will we all.” He raised an arm. “One…and Go!”

  The two teams burst into Cesar’s muddy camp.

  The slavers didn’t see the threat coming. For six months, these men had lounged in complete safety on foreign soil. That changed as Kyle shot the first arm rising to fire, then the head that it was attached to.

  He spun, checking the right. Clear! Left? Fire!

  Bang!

  The guerilla fell at Neil’s feet, causing the trooper to spin around. He stayed his hand, realizing Kyle had saved him.

  Neil nodded and spun right. Clear! Left?

  It was a pattern of behavior that protected each of the men in their line of sight–one that always began and ended with a shout of ‘remember to look!’ during the training that Adrian demanded.

  “Down!”

  The Eagles dropped at Kyle’s roar.

  Bbrrrrr...

  The machine gun rattled across the filthy camp, hitting fleeing shadows, but none of the Eagles that it was aimed for. They knew to stay low.

  Billy quickly found the gunman and delivered a spray that sent him behind a tent for cover.

  The Eagles moved in, bullets ripping through the canvas without mercy.

  Three captive women were caught and killed by stray rounds, and one had her throat slit by a man trying to use her as a shield–his arm jerked as the bullet hit him in the head. The rest of the women and kids got out of the way.

  Shouldn’t they be screaming or something? Kyle wondered in a distant, store-it-for-later way as he fired again.

  The armed group gearing up to attack Safe Haven joined the gunfight, peppering them with slugs, but Chris was ready. He fired the grenade launcher with a leer. “Hell’s waiting, boys!”

  “And this is how you get there!” Shawn shouted, firing his own launcher from Chris’s right.

  The grenades exploded together, catching most of the scattering Mexicans and the two Eagles reloaded each other–Marc’s addition to their training. It allowed them to fire four shots in half as much time.

  Dirt and blood rained over the campsite.

  The slavers were helpless under the fury of Adrian’s Eagles. They’d come prepared, but more than that, the feeling of helplessness that these the Eagles had been smothered with for the last three days was finally being released. When it was over, these men would be expected to rejoin Safe Haven and act civilized, but right now, they were savage, killing any male that moved. They walked the camp without breaking ranks, and didn’t pause even when one of their own cried out.

  Billy grabbed Chris’s limp arm and hefted him over one shoulder as he advanced, gun barking.

  Kyle grunted as a slug hit his vest and went through, spinning him around. It was caught and held by the next layers of protection and he spun back, shooting and killing the man who had hit him.

  There’s nowhere else I’d rather be!

  “Eagles Fly!” he screamed, glad of the second vest, of this second chance at life that Adrian had given him.

  The V expanded, each man marching forward to form a single line of side-by-side walking death. Extremely effective, it allowed a better range of fire and gave the Eagles the final advantage. The slavers’ rampage was over.

  Kyle didn’t holster his weapon until they had walked every inch of the garbage and blood-filled camp. His Glock barked death sporadically, changing bleeding, begging slavers into mud-shrouded corpses.

  It was hard to look at, but little compared to the slaughter they’d left at the picnic area. His guilt was eased by each new horror they uncovered. There were tents full of feces, dead dogs, and bodies of women and kids piled in the brush behind the camp. Revolted, Kyle waved at Neil. “Get a bigger fire going. We’re not leaving this.”

  Neil didn’t like the chore, but couldn’t argue the duty. The corpses had been American survivors–members of Safe Haven that hadn’t reached its borders in time–and they deserved more than to be left behind some camp for the animals to drag away.

  “Movement in the rear row of trucks,” Neil passed the message from one of their men. “How do you want to handle it?”

  “Those are our damsels in distress.” Kyle motioned for Jeremy to handle their men. “Tell the boys to settle down.”

  Around them, the Eagles were celebrating their victory–the end of the feud–and their loud shouts and curses were scaring the slaves, Kyle was sure. They were used to being abused by rough, uncaring males, and he wasn’t looking forward to observing their fear on the ride home.

  “Tell them quiet is best. We don’t want to spook these women,” Neil added. “None of them will have a clue what’s going on, so make sure you talk to them. Try to pick out the strongest of them and we’ll have her take charge as much as we can.”

  Sure that Jeremy would have his hands full just quieting their teams, Kyle helped Jeremy at the trailers. He cut the padlock off the first trailer and shoved the door up.

  The dozen or so children inside began screaming, pushing toward the rear as they begged for mercy. They cowered there, moaning in terror.

  Horrified, Kyle slowly held his hands up, the lethal Glock back in his holster. “They’re all dead. Every one of them!”

  He gentled his words as their noises of terror quieted a bit. “We’re here to help you.”

  Behind him, Neil and the others slowly recovered from their shock. They hadn’t expected to see any kids here. Adrian would be delighted–and as revolted as they were right now to see the bruises, shrunken faces, and the other signs of abuse.

  Kyle held out a hand, assisting the fearful kids. They pulled away from his light touch the second their small feet reached the ground and he hoped they wouldn’t go fleeing into the night.

  “Get the supplies out, Neil,” Kyle ordered. “Get them fed and talking.”

  Neil and the others did as he instructed, savage men now shoved back inside their facades, but the children knew and shied away. Monsters were easier to spot in this new world–even the ones who didn’t recognize it in themselves.

  5

  “Here they come.”

  Jennifer didn’t respond to Lilly’s half-excited, half-fearful comment. She belonged to Cesar, too–all of the slaves locked in this semi to keep them unspoiled were his.

  They listened as the truck next to them was opened.

  “They’re all dead. Come on out.”

  Jennifer and Lilly exchanged glances, but not determined ‘we’ll make it together’ stares. These were eternal vows of hatred.

  “Don’t do it this time.” Lilly’s words came out in a low rush of terror-inspired courage. “Don’t make deals with them. If you promise, we won’t tell them about you.”

  Jennifer felt the support of the other women in their truck–they were all against her–and the terror of the children crammed in behind her. They were afraid that she would agree.

  Jennifer clenched her fists. “Let the new owners hurt the kids, so that you don’t have to serve. Is that what you’re asking me to do?”

  “No.” Lilly leaned forward, eyeing Jennifer’s big stomach threateningly. “I’m telling you!”

  Jennifer immediately punched Lilly in the jaw, making sure it split her lip. Those stung for days.

  Lilly hit the side of the truck, rattling their hanging belongings.

  “You don’t tell me,” Jennifer warned coldly. “I tell you!”

  Lilly picked herself up off the filthy floor
, wiping blood from her mouth as the other women scrambled to get away from them.

  Jennifer’s stomach was grotesquely big in the light of their flickering candle. Lilly stared at it, keeping her distance this time. “I mean it, bruja. No more deals for us or your baby won’t live.”

  The teenager stared back at Lilly without blinking, hating her. It never should have come to this. After a raid on a big city, the women in camp had sometimes numbered enough to overtake the Mexicans.

  “Are you challenging me...coward?”

  A cold chill invaded the semi–an ill wind that all of the watching women were scared of. They’d felt it before, and none of them were willing to step forward while crammed into this semi. Jennifer’s aim was too good.

  “No,” Lilly reluctantly backed down, but only as much as she had to. “Only your right to make us trade our bodies for someone else’s kids. We don’t owe them anything.”

  Fist raised, Jennifer lunged forward, ignoring the twinges from her gut. “Those kids are worth your life!”

  Lilly cringed back and Jennifer followed; sure this would be going very differently if they were outside. The other women might be just as scared, but together, they were all angry.

  “If you don’t take their place, you will be disobeying a direct order and I won’t tolerate that!”

  Jennifer pulled the fire back in, hearing the male voices coming closer.

  “And you’ll be the first one I fry in the fight,” she told Lilly ruthlessly. “I loathe you.”

  Lilly clamped down on an equally hateful retort as the door was shoved up, but her glare didn’t fade.

  “Come on out. They’re all dead,” the man at the door called.

  The women moved for the door after Lilly, and Jennifer gathered the children that didn’t shy from her gentle touch. They knew they had nothing to fear from her.

  “Come on out. They can’t hurt you anymore,” the man helping them down soothed.

  Jennifer took her time getting to the door, trying to decide what to do. She watched them carefully help the kids down, talking to them in low, comforting tones. Behind them, Mexican bodies lay strewn about the camp. Would these be better owners than the others? Did it matter? They would still be slaves.

  Until my baby comes, Jennifer reminded herself. Then I’ll take them away and we’ll start our own world where men aren’t allowed to be monsters.

  You’ll need help with that, the voice inside stated eagerly. Start with the leader of these killers and work your way up, as you did here.

  What if these men are just as bad?

  You have to keep those kids alive. Do what you can to that end.

  But they’ll want me.

  Yes. How else did you expect to pay for freedom?

  Jennifer guided the final child toward the man waiting at the tailgate, hating the decisions she was being forced to make. Lilly wasn’t the only one who was tired of serving.

  With no other choice, Jennifer let herself reach out in more ways than just physically when it was her turn to get out of the truck. “I’m the only one left.”

  Doing a quick visual check of the perimeter as the other semis were opened and emptied, Kyle extended a hand. “Good. Be careful, the step’s...”

  Kyle’s words trailed off as he looked up, attention instantly snared by the girl standing there. All he could see was her dirty face and a pair of the most amazing golden eyes. He couldn’t judge her age by them, not without more light, but he was instantly curious.

  His hand slowly lowered. Who is she?

  Jennifer stared back in fascination, thinking he was pretty. She had only seen Mexican males for so long that this one was beautiful to her, just for an instant, because he didn’t look like one of them.

  “I’m Kyle.” He peered closer, eager for her to step into the light.

  “Jennifer. Jenny, I guess if you like that.”

  This time, the sound of her voice hit Kyle like bricks going into water–thick and hard. He stared stupidly. Do I know her?

  Jennifer was almost immune to that reaction–it was what she had intended this time–but she wasn’t prepared for the way her heart picked up or how her skin felt grimier than usual. Who is he?

  Kyle was aware of Eagles and slaves watching them, but the strength radiating from those eyes was enough to hold him in place. She seemed so familiar!

  “I need to talk to whoever is in charge,” Jennifer requested lowly. “I have a problem.”

  Kyle’s chest automatically puffed out. “That would be me, right now. What’s the trouble, Jen?”

  His tone vibrated through Jennifer’s mind. He sounded so strong...and she needed that.

  The slave took a breath and stepped closer, letting him see her stomach and age. “I’m in danger and so is my baby. We need protection.”

  “You can go anywhere you want, but we have doctors and we follow the old rules. No one in our camp will hurt you.” Neil’s words floated over the huddling slaves.

  Jennifer slowly climbed down from the semi.

  Kyle would have helped her, but shock held him paralyzed. Not because of her youth or the pregnancy–he’d seen both before and after the war. It was the attraction smothering him in shards of need, making it hard to think, to breathe, that held him. He wanted her. Desperately.

  Kyle drew in air instead of reaching out.

  “Will you help me?”

  Kyle’s brain was riddled with fog and guilt, and he struggled to think around the confusion. “You’ll be safe with us. We won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “In our camp, you’ll have the freedom that was stolen. We’re Americans and so are you. We take care of our own.” Neil was aware of something happening with Kyle, but he was eager to be back in Safe Haven–to see Samantha. He had an awful feeling and no reason for it. She was well protected right now. Wasn’t she?

  “If you’re heading out on your own, we’ll give you what supplies we can spare. If you’re coming with us, be in one of the black trucks parked behind those rocks.” Neil pointed the way. “We leave in ten minutes.”

  Jennifer felt the hateful glares of the other females. She knew what they were planning–it was hard not to with Lilly rolling up the sleeves on her dress–but the man now staring at her with an open glaze of need was in the chain of command. That was handy information to have.

  “Please. You have to keep me away from them.”

  Kyle turned to study the small group of muttering females standing across the fire. “They’re the threat?”

  “Yes. I won’t make it to your camp.” Jennifer pulled his attention back with her note of panic.

  “Why do you need protection from them?” Kyle asked, confused.

  “I’d rather not say.” Jennifer looked away. “They’ll be happy to give it to you in full detail.”

  Kyle saw one of the filthy females start whispering to a nearby Eagle. He would know soon enough, but hearing it from Jennifer seemed important.

  “If you want me to guard you, I have to know.”

  Kyle was unprepared for the glaze of cold calculation that fell over her face at his insistence.

  “I kill on command,” Jennifer admitted bitterly. “It’s what I did for Cesar in this new world.”

  Kyle’s tormented soul fell at her feet, instantly bonded. “Do you, really?”

  “As top slave, I played God with all our lives.”

  She looked at him with eyes that said there wasn’t much she wouldn’t do to get her way.

  “Let’s go, everyone,” Jeremy called. “Just squeeze into the trucks.”

  The kids looked to Jennifer, and so did the other women. The adults would wait for her to make the choice and resent her, even while benefiting.

  “I’m going with them,” Jennifer told the kids she had come to love. “I’d like you to come, too. I’ll care for you the same as I always have.”

  The kids moved toward the trucks without needing to hear anything else, but Jennifer didn’t follow yet.


  “Is it okay to leave the fire burning?” Morgan asked, distracting Kyle.

  The mobster joined him, deciding.

  The adult females headed toward Jennifer, faces set–determined. If only they’d come together like this sooner! Jennifer understood their need to see her punished–she hadn’t looked out for their best interests. In fact, she’d sacrificed these cowardly bitches whenever she could.

  Jennifer braced her swollen ankles as Lilly and the others stepped over silently shrieking Mexican corpses to get to her. She looked at Kyle, locking eyes with him. She didn’t push or pull–just stared.

  Kyle broke into a light sweat, thrown into confusion once again. Her fear was hitting him in waves, demanding that he help, but Kyle didn’t understand how one little group of women could be dangerous to her. It wasn’t as if they were going to attack her or anything.

  Jennifer switched her gaze back to the approaching females, hoping the one moment with Kyle would be enough. If not, she and her unborn child might die here.

  “Hey!” Lilly led the confrontation. “You’re not going!”

  “Make it official, then.” Jennifer got ready, gathering what energy she had to protect her stomach. “I’ll have no problem killing you.”

  Lilly hesitated at the tone, but the others didn’t pause in their march forward, and she had no choice. “I challenge you for top slave.”

  “Alone?” Jennifer sneered. It would be a group fight and she wasn’t going to use the gun. She wouldn’t take the chance on shooting one of the kids by mistake and she shoved it deeper into her pocket. It wouldn’t help her here.

  “We’ve decided to share power.” Grace, another former rival for top slave, stepped forward. “Get her!”

  The slaps, kicks, and fists came from too many directions to defend against and Jennifer curled into a ball around her stomach.

  “Son of a...”

  Kyle and the Eagles rushed into the mob, shoving swinging women aside to reach Jennifer. There was too much blood-splatter on her dress and the ground to determine how injured she might be.

  “Get them loaded!” Kyle ordered, kneeling down. He picked the girl up gently, thick arms tense. Touching her was like standing on the threshold of the greatest dream.