“The movement is Samantha’s team coming in.” Charlie turned to regard him. “I didn’t know you had kids.”

  Morgan was instantly glad for the opening and took it. “George was a good boy. A little hotheaded when he found a cause, but still good. He was shot by draft soldiers who were stripping our garden.” Morgan sighed. “I was at work when they came. After I buried my family, I set out to kill every soldier I could find.”

  Completely distracted, Charlie frowned. “I’m sorry. I guess we’ve all lost someone.”

  “And managed to survive,” Morgan pointed out. “Some of us had rougher days or nights than the others, but we haven’t given up. Like your Tracy. She’s a good girl.”

  Charlie waited for more, realizing this conversation was preplanned. He could tell by the way Moran kept judging his reaction.

  “You blame her? Mad at her?”

  “No, I’m not,” Charlie denied, and then realized that he was. “Well, maybe a little, but she has to tell my mom no. She should have said no.”

  Morgan studied the boy, trying to remember what it had been like to be so young and full of fire. “None of us will do that, son. Your mom is why we’re here, why we’re alive and free, and we need you to understand that.”

  “I can’t,” Charlie stated harshly. “And I won’t forgive her, so don’t ask me to.”

  “What does Tracy tell you when you say that to her?” Morgan pushed.

  “She says I’m wrong, that my mom didn’t know it would happen. She’s covering for a liar.”

  “Son, you should listen to her. She went through it. She probably relives it every night. If she doesn’t blame your mom, you shouldn’t either.”

  Morgan wanted to add more, but knew it wouldn’t sink in. Charlie would have to keep sorting through this one until he concluded what everyone else already had. Tracy’s abuse had served a purpose and Angela hadn’t let it happen lightly. Despite her hard shell, they all remembered the Angela who cared deeply about them, enough to give her life if it was called for.

  “In time, you’ll see her the way we do,” Morgan promised. “Until then, at least try not to hate her. It solves nothing.”

  Charlie refused to answer and went back to scanning, but in his mind and heart, a battle was still happening that only concerned his own desires. He still loved and wanted Tracy, but after what she’d been through, he had no right to ask her for more than friendship and it was heartbreaking because he still wanted a future with her and that wasn’t possible now.

  6

  “Oh, you traitorous bitch!” Vlad swore lowly from his cover of trees. “You killed Jack!”

  There was no way that Vlad could go to the body and try to heal him without drawing attention and he was forced to retreat after the remaining members of Jack’s crew, with vengeance burning brightly in his heart.

  “I’m gonna make you pay, baby,” he promised, leading his horse away. “The rest of our men are on the way and you are gonna die a horrible death for this!”

  Vlad’s thoughts went to Adrian. “I’ll have a taste of your pain now.”

  7

  “There’s the signal. Move in!” Kyle ordered.

  He and his team had been watching Jack’s camp since dawn and they rushed in with weapons drawn, even though Adrian was the only one there.

  It only took a moment to swing the unconscious man up onto a horse and ride away, but Kyle didn’t like it. He didn’t want to save Adrian. The traitor didn’t deserve it.

  The team was quickly out of sight and Kyle shifted so that he could dig a syringe from his kit. He spurred his mount to reach Adrian’s and he jabbed the medication into the former leader’s leg. He then dropped back to watch the effects. If fate were kind, Adrian would wake up off balance and fall beneath the hooves of his horse.

  Adrian jerked into alertness and instinctively held onto the fast running mount he was lying over. Pain squeezed his head and he retched as he hung on, stomach protesting.

  “Figures.”

  The angry voice clued Adrian in to who his rescuers were and he shut his lids as the ground flew by. When he thought he could, Adrian carefully lifted a leg and straddled his horse, sitting up. Dizziness assaulted him and he allowed Whitney to keep the reigns while he tried to recover. Being hit with triple juice and jerked out of it with a counter-drug was rough on a body.

  Adrian’s heart gave a nasty thump in agreement and he fumbled for a nitro from the hidden pocket that he’d sewn into every shirt he owned.

  Kyle hardened his emotions, not wanting to feel sympathy for Adrian’s weak heart or the abrupt waking. For all he knew, it was another trick.

  Adrian waited for his heart to settle into a normal rhythm and then began rooting through the saddlebags of the thundering horse, holding on tightly with his right hand. If he had an episode, the left hand would go numb. He knew that from experience.

  Kyle watched Adrian, letting Whitney and the others lead the way. Angela’s message had said they would have a short time to grab their target and then reach their destination before the rest of Jack’s men would arrive. Kyle didn’t intend to be late and he urged his mount faster, forcing the others to keep up. Every second saved now was a second that could be used later.

  As they rode, Adrian felt his strength slowly returning and found a moment to be grateful that Angela had provided for him again. She could have left him there to face Vlad’s wrath or be picked off by a predator while unconscious. He owed her more than he could ever repay.

  Kyle, sensing Adrian’s thoughts had gone to the boss, said,” She has orders for you, if this goes well.”

  Adrian knew from Kyle’s tone that it wasn’t good, but he didn’t waste his mental energy trying to puzzle it out. “What is it?”

  “She wants Zone C thinned out–regularly.”

  Adrian blanched. How low I’ve been placed.

  Kyle understood the feeling, the awful contempt it would give Adrian to do such things, and let it go for now. He wanted to enjoy this hit before he delivered any more.

  Adrian swallowed it and pointed to a long, rusting building coming up on their right. “That’s it. Give me the bag.”

  Whitney passed a heavy duffle bag to Adrian and then split off to the left to allow Adrian room to go by. Kyle’s team wasn’t staying to help, but each of them rotated on their mounts to watch the former leader jump the gate to the rail yard. If he were successful, they would hear it. If there was silence, Kyle planned to turn around despite his orders not to. Jennifer and Autumn were in Safe Haven and these new descendants couldn’t be allowed to get that far.

  8

  Adrian was placing the final charge when he felt the first vibration through the rails. Hurrying, he left the explosive area and hoped he was dim enough to those on board.

  Instead of stopping to watch the show, Adrian kept running for the horse now grazing in the small thicket across from the rail yard’s main building.

  As he jumped on the horse, a new sound came and his heart thumped unhappily. Someone else on horse was flying toward him and Adrian was forced to go west. He disappeared into the thicker woods as Vlad topped the final rise.

  Drawn to the approaching train, Vlad dismissed the shadow and headed for the waving men and women.

  Out of thought range, the noise of his horse was covered by the squealing of the train’s brakes, and Adrian urged his mount faster.

  The passengers on the train had no warning as the C-4 was triggered and exploded. The engine rose into the air, flames engulfing it, and the fireball raced through the terminal.

  Another brick of the explosive detonated, tearing through the passenger car and bodies flew through like screams.

  A third explosion rocked the train, causing it to roll slowly backwards and the heavy noise of grinding and ripping metal drowned out everything else. When it finally stopped, there was only the sound of hot debris burning, cracking, and shifting.

  Vlad gaped at the destruction. He’d jerked his horse to a stop at the first explosion and now he examined the wreckage for any signs of survivors. He was a healer, but there had to be at least a little life left for him to help.

  Vlad eased closer to the inferno, noting the main terminal was on fire and burning hotly. It wouldn’t stay up long.

  Vlad dismounted and ran toward the passenger car, swiping at flaming wires and wood that showered him in hot sparks.

  “Help!”

  Vlad rushed toward the voice and shoved his way through the flaming boxes to discover a familiar face.

  “Vlad! Heal me!”

  Vlad did as Jack’s son commanded, sweeping the area for other survivors.

  The boy’s wounds weren’t bad and Vlad left him coughing to get closer to the flaming passenger car. Thick smoke blinded him and Vlad brought up his shield as it got hotter.

  “There!” Jay ran by him to grab the shaking body of a thin woman. Her hair was on fire and the boy slapped at it while Vlad sent a light current of healing power through her to calm the seizure.

  The roof over the area was in full blazing glory and pieces began to fall on them.

  “Get her out of here!” Vlad shouted.

  Jay threw her arm over his shoulder and stayed with Vlad as he approached the passenger car that was on its side.

  “Get in there!” a voice called. “Help them!”

  Vlad recognized Kranten’s voice and kept going into the burning car. He found one other survivor and he had to drag the bald man outside before he could heal him. As he passed under the archway, the entire roof collapsed in a hot shower of fire, covering the passenger car. Blankets of smoke rolled over them as Vlad used the last of his energy to heal the man he’d brought out.

  The other survivors gathered around Vlad and kept watch out for another attack. They didn’t speak or cry, or show any emotion except for the rage-filled orbs that stayed crimson.

  Chapter Twelve

  1

  Loud cheers echoed through Safe Haven as those in the small tent watched the train being destroyed. The Eagles that were around Jeremy and his laptop passed the word that Jack’s friends weren’t coming and the camp slowly resumed the work of getting everyone settled in the caves.

  After being attacked, the members were okay with sleeping underground while the labor continued and Angela was happy to have them there. It was the safest place they could be, even with constant construction that brought moans and creaks in equal measures.

  “Is that it for them?” Marc asked her when they had a moment alone. “Or is part one finished?”

  Angela sighed, loving his sharp mind. “One of three.”

  Marc grunted his unhappiness, but didn’t give her static over it. Keeping Safe Haven alive and together would always be a full time job. If it weren’t these ass-hats, it would be some other group trying to make a name for themselves.

  “Is it something I can take care of?” he asked, hoping for a yes.

  “It’ll have to play out this time, Marc,” Angela informed him tiredly. “But we now have a break, so that’s something, right?”

  Marc nodded. “I can accomplish a lot in a short time.”

  “Good. I have lists.”

  “I kinda figured that,” he joked. “When will I get them?”

  Angela gestured to Greg, who handed Marc a thin notebook.

  “It’s all in there–all the details on what’s coming and my suggestions for handling it. Do the best you can.”

  Marc watched her go to their tent and hoped she would be able to sleep now. The bags under her eyes were more pronounced than after her rescue from Donner.

  Eager to chase down whatever it was that she had missed, Angela collapsed on her bed without removing her boots and fell into a thin sleep a few minutes later. When Greg took up his post outside the flap, she didn’t notice. There were train stations to be scanned and survivors to be trailed.

  2

  “We’re not getting any water from there.”

  Neil didn’t answer Tim’s comment. The water plant below was the scene of an ongoing battle and Neil was busy trying to estimate the threat. Safe Haven needed that precious liquid.

  “There’s another plant a few miles from here,” Donald stated. “We could try there and leave these idiots to their fighting.”

  Gunshots echoed, along with shouts for surrender, and Neil studied the area. These people were on the edge of Safe Haven’s site. Eventually, their battle might spread and Neil didn’t think Angela would be very happy with them for letting it sneak up unmonitored.

  As they observed, the group outside the plant tried to ram a jeep through the reinforced main gates. It slammed into the sturdy barrier and came to a sudden halt without doing much damage to anything but the jeep. Smoke billowed from the wreck and men stumbled down, bleeding.

  “That wasn’t very smart,” Tim said.

  Neil agreed and it helped him make the choice. “These people aren’t intelligent enough for us to leave them alone. How long before they try to charge our gates the same way?”

  “But we don’t know who is in the right here,” Donald protested lightly. “What if those on the outside are the good guys?”

  “There’s a lot of brass on the ground. We can’t leave armed combatants on Safe Haven’s hearth.” Neil insisted. “There’s one way for us to know who has to go. We’ll make contact.”

  None of the men cared for that, but didn’t argue. Being Eagles meant making the hard choices and Neil was right about armed groups roaming unmonitored. It didn’t provide a comforting feeling.

  Neil motioned for his team to stay close and led them down the winding road. Thin sunlight glinted off the small town and Neil lowered his shades, wondering if the smoke rising from the west was related to Becky’s mission. He wasn’t as concerned now. The radio signal for all crews within two miles to quietly come in and surround camp had calmed him. Angela had found a problem coming and covered it. That was her job.

  And this is mine, Neil thought, easing his horse into a slightly faster walk as they reached the flat ground.

  As Neil’s team neared the intersection, the group outside the water plant noticed them and reacted by pointing their weapons.

  Neil stopped, hand coming up, and his Eagles neatly surrounded him.

  The tension surged and Neil gave the expected order, “One shot and we wipe them out.”

  “Go away! This is our water!”

  “We’ll shoot you! Get out of here!”

  Despite the hard words, the voices were full of dismayed nervousness and Neil was glad to hear it. He hoped it meant they weren’t ready to have a third party enter their struggle.

  “We’re from Safe Haven,” Neil called, hand still up. “Send someone to talk. Now.”

  The faces of the two-dozen men fell and they muttered to each other. It was clear that they’d heard of Safe Haven.

  Neil slowly walked toward the group, spotting faces behind the fences. “Tell the people inside who we are. If they shoot, we’ll end up killing you anyway.”

  “Hey! Inside!” one of the outer men shouted. “They’re Eagles. Don’t fire!”

  “Fuck you, man! Liar!”

  “Great,” Neil grunted, coming to a stop out of range of the handguns he could see. He hadn’t spotted any rifles yet, but there was a sense of being in a scope and Neil made sure he didn’t sound worried as he shouted, “Inside the gate! Send someone out to talk!”

  “No way!” came the reply. “They’ll shoot us!”

  “I’ll come and get you!” Neil shouted and heard his men mutter unhappily.

  “You really Eagles?”

  “Tell your sniper to inspect our clothes,” Neil stated, waving at the outside man to pass the word. He was done shouting. “I’m Neil, a level seven Eagle with the authority to order all of you killed.”

  The men in and outside tensed, hands tightening on their guns, eyes darting for a safe place to fight from.

  “We can all die right here,” Neil stated calmly. “Or you can send two people out here to talk me.”

  “We’re sending someone out!” the inside man called. “If anything happens to him, we’ll come out shooting!”

  Neil confidently gestured for his team to stay put and went forward as the fence inched open.

  A thin man wearing a white coat was shoved out and the gate slammed shut.

  Neil raised a brow at the outside men and wasn’t surprised when the translating man came forward.

  “Let’s go over here and chat,” Neil instructed, leading the two glowering men to the base of a large tree. His team moved to be between Neil and the rest of the strangers, and they stayed alert. Now would be a bad time to let anyone sneak up on them.

  Neil studied the two angry men for a brief moment. He couldn’t let them argue or the information would be too confusing. Instead, he used his police training and took the upper hand from the first sentence.

  “Safe Haven wants this water.” Neil let their mouths open and then cut them off. “We’ll take it if we need to. In three hours, this place will crawl with Eagles. In five hours, we’ll be loading the water and the birds will be eating your eyes.”

  “Hey! You guys aren’t thieves!”

  “Yeah,” the inside man agreed. “You’re supposed to be fair!”

  Neil sighed heavily. “Damn. I knew that was going to be a problem.”

  Confused, the two men stared and Neil hunkered down between them. “You can agree to split the water and go your own way, or I’m calling my boss. Any guess what she’ll say?”

  Neither man spoke, and Neil told them, “She’ll say to kill all of you and bring the water. She has no patience left for people who can’t get along.”

  “We were here first!” inside man argued. “We don’t have to share.”

  “We only wanted enough to get to the next town,” outside man explained. “Why won’t they help us?”

  Neil sighed, lowering his glasses. He pinned the inside man with a dark glare. “You told them no?”