The Price We Pay (Life After War Book 7) Read online

  “Someone clean that up,” he called over his shoulder, no longer worried about his orders not being followed.

  Philips stopped at the flap and looked back long enough to memorize the sight of his bitter enemy lying dead and to order, “Drag that one into a thicket and let him rot.”

  Most of the men here knew how Shillings had killed Philips’s son over a whore they’d found on a supply run and the order was obeyed without argument.

  Major Donner ducked into the empty mess canvas and dropped his rifle and kit onto the front table. Behind the bare racks, a dirty, sullen cook stood mixing something in a large bowl. The smell wasn’t encouraging.

  “We’ll start on plans in a bit,” Donner said. “For now, no more calls to or from base. Tell them we’re going quiet.”

  “Yes, sir, but won’t they send a plane to find us after a while?” Philips made himself ask.

  “Yes.”

  “Do you know when?”

  “Of course not,” Donner lied. “Well watch for it, no worries.”

  When the plane came, Donner would either order it shot down or use it to secure his own ride to the bunker for that attack. He hadn’t made up his mind yet and he certainly wasn’t going to let these unhappy soldiers know when it was coming so that they could plot a mutiny around it.

  Philips studied the hand-sewn patches and symbols on the Major’s kit. It appeared that the Butcher had traveled the world during his career.

  “I have,” Major Donner answered, facing the opened flap where half a dozen men were watching and listening.

  “You’re one of them!”

  “How else did you expect to defeat an entire group of descendants?” Donner questioned. “You guys didn’t stand a chance on your own.”

  Donner eyed them, making silent promises. “But I can’t kill them and take that mountain without all of you. Pass that on as well.”

  Philips was sure the men would feel better knowing the Major was powerful too. All of them had dreaded fighting Safe Haven after witnessing the destruction here. Their egos had prevented them from saying it, but the reason for refusing to fight had been clear.

  “That’s why I’m here,” Major Donner answered that thought, noting the empty dishes waiting for mess to be called for this side of the tent city. “We’ll lose a bit—don’t doubt it, but more than half will survive if they follow my orders. That’s better odds than a bunker now, right?”

  “Yes,” Philips answered easily. Survival rates below ground were under 35%. The government needed control of the land again if they were going to rebuild their evil empire.

  “We’ll get freedom after that? From you?” Philips found the courage to ask.

  Major Donner shrugged. “I’m the boss wherever I’m at and I like to have a wide space around me to roam. Any good man can stay with me and follow my lifestyle, or run for their tiny lives and stay out of my way. I couldn’t care less.”

  Philips didn’t care for the sound of all that, but not answering to the government ever again was enough to start with.

  “I’m in.” Philips ignored the surprised sounds from those listening. “What do you need first?”

  Major Donner grinned, brown eyes becoming solid black in his joy. “Hostages. As many as you can find. Any age will do.”

  In the silence, Donner pinned the surely cook with a hard glare. “Get out.”

  The boy didn’t waste any time, and Donner finally began the part of this job that Philips was familiar with.

  “Send out a hunting team to a small farm ten clicks due north. Bring back everything they find—alive. Then call them all together right here. I have things to say.”

  Donner took a map from his jacket and unrolled it. “There are two underground ammo dumps, here and here,” he said, pointing as Philips came forward to hold one side. “We’ll scavenge what we can and the head here.” He pointed again. “This is a stockpile zone and has likely gone untouched. We’ll be in the black on weapons by this time tomorrow.”

  The men were glad to discover the three areas were close by and it wasn’t hard for Philips to gather three teams to head out on those missions. They were quickly out of sight and Philips returned to Donner’s side, waiting for his next orders.

  3

  Donner stood on a stack of crates, rifle in hand as he addressed the troops. In only an hour, the rumors had circled the battalion and there was no need for a bullhorn the soldiers all strained to hear and then passed it back.

  Donner grinned. He knew how to set up a takeover. “Fresh meat for lunch!”

  The cheer from that was loud enough to send birds flying and get spies on their feet, notebooks in hand.

  “Fresh ammo for breakfast!”

  Another cheer, this one nearly as enthusiastic. Bullets were always needed.

  “I have promotions, awards, and a pass to give out.”

  Quiet fell as confusion took over and Donner stared at them. “I’ll let forty of you compete for the bunker pass. Who wants to go? See me privately.”

  The soldiers muttered, wondering what the chore was, and Donner filled in the blanks with a simple sentence.

  “Snatch and grab. I only expect a few of the forty to survive.”

  There were more mutters and Donner finished his address by pointing to a small dust cloud in the distance. “That’s our food rolling in. Pick the best three cooks and get them into the mess. Steaks for dinner, as rare as you want them.”

  He hopped down from the crates and strode toward the coming team and their cargo. The four cows running behind the vehicle didn’t look as good as they had when he’d flown over, but Donner didn’t worry over it. The fresh meat would be enough.

  He would gain their loyalty through the benefits he delivered, and when it all finally came together, south wasn’t the direction he would be heading. He’d decided on west, toward the skeleton crew of protection the government now had. It was the perfect time to take over the world. He just needed a few Docs to help him control things. After that, nothing would stand in his way.

  4

  “What are you doing?”

  Shawn didn’t answer as he handed her a kit and a heavier coat. He pointed toward the truck nearby that was already running and Angela kept a hand on her gun as she went to check it out.

  Around her, the camp was emptying and there wasn’t much for her to do right at this moment. She’d been planning to grab a shower and a snack.

  Angela opened the passenger door to find an envelope, a small purple flower, and a grinning driver.

  “What’s going on?”

  Greg clicked his mike once and looked pointedly at the message.

  Angela tore open the white envelope and read the small card.

  I’m naked, I’m alone, and I have chocolate. Get in the truck.

  Angela flush bright red, sensing her driver was aware of what it said. Greg was a great blocker. His thoughts were currently full of gun names, serial numbers, and the various gear for those weapons, something she never bothered to memorize. He knew it would distract her.

  Angela read the note again.

  Then she got in the truck.

  5

  Dog watched Angela leave camp and then scanned the rest of the camp. Angela had moved the weaker members of her pack, leaving only the strength and the magic. For Dog, who caught too many of their thoughts and often sought out Charlie’s one-track mind for relief, the change was stressful

  All the people here were worrying over the future, and so were the ants. Dog was trying to work with them, mostly to keep busy, and their thoughts were full of anger at the sacrifice being asked of them. They also held loathing for the soldiers and their communications were buzzing across the wolf’s brain.

  Dog padded into the middle of the struggling ants, sending a shout for silence.

  The ants around him froze for an instant, and then advanced aggressively.

  Do it!

  The insects weren’t used to challenging things larger than they were and D
og had no trouble shaking them off. He tried to be careful not to step on them, as well, but that was a lost cause as the ants attacked him.

  Bite too!

  The ants began nipping him, using their bodies to shove, and the wolf allowed them to tip him over, completing the run.

  Dog stayed laying down and sighed heavily. He would have to do the wet work. The ants would make an excellent distraction and he would be able to get close to his target. That would have to be good enough, because these insects weren’t fighters, despite their size and numbers. He was relieved that Angela was only counting on the surprise.

  Watching from nearby, Shawn joined Dog, kneeling down as the ants backed up.

  “Things okay?”

  Dog liked Shawn almost as much as Dale and he pushed up to nuzzle Shawn’s arm for a scratch.

  Shawn did it carefully, still not used to the big animal’s human qualities, and he grinned when the wolf groaned.

  Yeah, right there!

  Shawn rubbed a little harder, snickering a bit when the wolf began reacting to the urge to roll over and had to stop himself.

  Dog got up after a minute, sitting on his haunches to view the Eagle he often walked their perimeter with. I feel your unhappiness.

  Shawn’s false cheer fell and the wolf glanced toward the couple walking by. Charlie and Tracy were laughing and whispering, arms around each other, and both males watching them sighed heavily.

  “Yeah,” Shawn agreed, forcing his attention back to Dog. “But it’s just not our turn yet, you know?”

  That’s not my problem, Dog huffed, rising.

  It is mine, Shawn thought. He was happy for the couples here, but the loneliness was hard.

  “I need to do rounds. Come along?”

  Dog padded to Shawn’s heel. Yes. She only gave the ants training lessons today to keep them ready for tomorrow.

  “So it will happen then?”

  Dog nodded his huge head. Oh yes. Nothing can stop it now except fate, and I believe this was the plan all along.

  Shawn wasn’t comforted by that, but with nothing to do now except wait, he tried to put it from his mind. He and Dog would walk a while and then come back and surprise Charlie and Tracy.

  Dog caught the thought and blew out an amused snort. I’ll jump through the window if you want.

  Shawn chuckled. “That’ll kill their mood.”

  The pair made it to the rear of the newly shrunken camp, noting Jennifer and Kyle going into the training tent that was empty of people but not gear.

  Dog looked up. We’ll make it a two-for-one.

  6

  “Can I ask you something? You won’t like it.”

  Kyle nodded, bracing a bit. “Sure.”

  “If I were doing a…hit, what’s the most important thing to remember?”

  Kyle’s expression was thunderous and Jennifer was glad she’d waited until they were alone in the training tent.

  “Are you?”

  Jennifer nodded quickly. Angela knew they would have to release some details to the trainers. “More than one.”

  Kyle was instantly terrified and the fear stopped the anger and replaced it with concern.

  “At the same time?”

  Jennifer shrugged. “That wasn’t revealed.”

  Kyle’s face lit up and he spun toward the small hay room to take his rage out on the punching bag. He already knew yelling at her or Angela wouldn’t change anything.

  Jennifer winced when Kyle swung and blood splattered the bottom of the bag. He hit again, harder, and she forced herself to stay there and watch. She would be facing much worse soon.

  Kyle seemed to catch the thought, and before he could begin ranting, Jennifer shoved into his darkening mind. “Come kiss me twice and then teach me. I’d like to survive this.”

  Kyle was stunned with pain and desire, brain and body in opposition. “What?”

  Jennifer leaned against the haywall. “We’re alone and you keep thinking about kissing me. I said that you can.”

  Kyle was being led away from the danger line and he knew it, allowed it, but only because he knew there was no other choice. Angela would have her way and maybe Jennifer’s life.

  Jennifer paled a bit, but nodded. “If that’s what it takes, I’ll give it willingly, Reece. Wouldn’t you?”

  “It should be me!” he shot back. “You’re a kid, not a killer!”

  Jennifer stiffened. “I’m neither of those things, though I’ve been both. Now, I’m a mother and there isn’t a hell I won’t smother myself in to save her.”

  She went back to their setup and resumed firing at multiple targets as quickly as she could.

  Kyle watched without speaking, mind running through ways to stop this even though he knew there weren’t any. Angela’s warning was ringing in his ears as Jennifer rolled and fired smoothly. She was mad at him.

  “Yeah, a little,” she spit out, reloading. “You expect me to sit by when you risk your life, but I don’t get the same respect.”

  “It’s not what I want for you,” Kyle answered. “And I know it’s your life, your choice. I still don’t want it.”

  “Then we have a problem, Kyle,” she said, resuming her starting position. “If I survive this run, there will be others.”

  If you stay, he thought, before he could stop himself.

  Jennifer went through her run again and Kyle felt her waiting, teetering on the edge of a choice, though he wasn’t sure exactly what decision she was stewing over.

  “Us,” she filled in, firing too slowly for comfort. “I either have your support or I don’t.”

  “I’m afraid you’ll be killed. Or hurt.”

  “So am I,” Jennifer admitted, unhappy with her coverage of the two dozen targets scattered around the tent. “But I’m more afraid of hiding and letting everyone else die for me. That’s not the person I am-not after everything I’ve been through.”

  Kyle often forgot how much older she was mentally because of the hells she’d suffered. All he could see was a beautiful kid about to give up her life for nothing. In his mind, there wasn’t anything Jennifer could do to affect this war. At least not any more than Angela’s male fighters.

  Kyle was unprepared for her reaction to the thought.

  Jennifer shoved her gun into the holster and faced him with her hands on her hips. “Do you think she’s doing this so women can be eagles? Or to prove we already are? Do you really think she would ever send females to the front lines if it wasn’t needed?”

  Kyle hadn’t been able to come up with a reason and he shrugged. “Then why?”

  “Numbers,” Jennifer placated, knowing the biggest answer was one he couldn’t handle yet. “She gave us the numbers, Kyle. Our enemy expects to face an army of men. If that happens, we’ll lose our fighters, our protectors. Safe Haven will be exposed to every group of evil that comes by and it would take decades for those who survive to be old enough for any adult chore, like reproduction.”

  Jennifer stared toward where her daughter was currently napping in Angela’s tent, with a guard inside the open flap. “By using women and kids to lure those soldiers into traps, she will have saved us now and for the future.”

  Kyle accepted that answer only because he knew that it was the only one he was going to get. Jennifer had made up her mind. She was doing this.

  “Yes, I am.” She motioned to the target. “But I have to do better. My aim is great, but I have to hit them faster. Help me?”

  Kyle nodded, reluctantly moving back to the training position. “You only have one issue that I see.”

  Jennifer gave him a go-ahead gesture and Kyle forced the rest of it from his mind. She was doing it. He would help her.

  “Change the order of your targets. When you face a group, there’s a simple rule to remember. Packing, Possible, everyone else.”

  Jennifer raised a brow and Kyle explained, “Take out those with a weapon first. Second are those who might have a weapon out of sight. Then everyone else.”

&
nbsp; Jennifer stared at the targets, quickly picking out those details and she opened fire with the new order.

  It flowed better from the first shot and she was grinning as she finished four seconds faster. “Sweet!”

  How about that kiss now? Kyle thought, chuckling at her happiness.

  Jennifer moved straight to his side and slid into his tense arms. “Here you go.”

  At that moment, Dog lunged through the tent flap and slammed into the side of the haywall, knocking both of them to the ground.

  Jennifer landed on top of Kyle and his chuckle gave her the courage to lean down and deliver the promised kiss.

  Dog and Shawn stared in resignation at the couple-Dog snorting, Shawn shaking his head.

  “That’s not the reaction we got from the camper,” Shawn commented.

  I know! Dog whined. At least we got to see some cheek out of that one!

  Chapter Five

  1

  “Are you finished yet?”

  Tonya turned around to snap that she’d be out of the camper when she was done, and found Kenn standing against the closed door.

  Tonya noted that stare and those smirking lips and shook her head. “No way. I’ve got work to do.”

  Kenn flipped the lock on the door, aware of Shawn and Dog making rounds. “Come here.”

  Tonya giggled as Kenn chased her around the narrow area, both ending up in a stall without the water running, but still making steam rise. If the boss could steal down time, so they could they.

  Outside the camper, a shadow padded by. Dog hadn’t planned to bother Kenn, but the Marine thinking he had things covered by simply locking the door offended the wolf a bit. He slipped under the camper and came out at the rear, hearing the couple right above him. He slowly used his nose to raise the latch on the rear door to the camper, the one they only used during waste removal times.

  Dog nosed the door open.

  “Hey!”

  “Who did that?!”

  “Close the door!”

  The wolf casually padded away among the whistles and catcalls. There was more than cheek showing now.