From The Ashes (Life After War) by Angela White Read Free Book Online Page A

Exhale and hold… let go. He pulled the trigger.
    The guerilla jerked at the impact, breath suddenly gone in a powerful blast. He hit the ground with a heavy thump.
    Marc lowered the rifle and stepped forward. Now, one to the head.
    Around him, the Slavers were trying to flee and running into the advancing perimeter guards. Again, Adrian’s men had been more than a match, and Marc was sure the remaining camp would be about the same. He had thought to go over the plan again with Kyle before the mission team left, but there obviously wasn't any need.
    Radios crackled again.
    “ Rollin’ out, Boss,” Kyle called.
    “ No mercy.”
    Kyle’s tone was just as hard as Adrian's. “You know it.”
    “ Meet up with us at the new place when it's done,” Adrian ordered.
    “ Copy.”
    Vaguely listening to the radio conversation, Marc stayed in the shadows as he moved closer to the body. He saw the blood, the open, glazing pupils set deep into weathered Mexican skin.
    “ Brady!”
    Instantly distracted, Marc keyed the mic before she could become upset. “5-by and close, honey.”
    “ Now, please?”
    “ Yes, Ma’am.”
    Bang!
    A minute later, Marc joined Angela inside the cool vehicle, saw how she instantly softened, warmed, when he took her hand.
    Marc lowered his lids, not wanting her to read his determination. He remembered so many of the things she needed, liked, and he had every intention of using them. Angie would want to be with him as much as she wanted to be an Eagle, and it would always be him, no one else, that she craved. There were ways...
    “ Should we pick a new place?” Zack asked, worried by the newest attack.
    “ No. Too much traveling,” Marc denied, getting set to cushion Angela from the bumps.
    Settling back into his strong arms, Angela met Adrian’s gaze through the lowered window. “The camp calls for you–for us.”
    “ I know.”
    “ Something's about to happen.”
    Adrian gritted his teeth against the twinge in his chest. “I’m going.”
    Angela closed her eyes in relief and huddled against Marc’s strength. “Drive now, Zachary. He won't leave until he knows you guys have me tucked away.”
    It was an order that the trucker immediately obeyed.
    Adrian watched until they were out of sight, hating it that they were split up, but confident in Kyle and Brady. They would both get their jobs done.
    “ We have a survivor!” Seth shouted from the room where they'd kept Angela. The threat should have been over, but all the bodies around them were Slavers. Seth was sure Adrian wanted answers.
    Adrian came quickly, glad to see the man's injury was grave. He didn't think the guerilla would know there were only minutes left, though, and gestured toward John. “Our doctor will help you, but I have questions, first.”
    The man nodded painfully. “Si.”
    “ What were you trying to do here?”
    “ Kill your leader,” the man gasped out, not realizing who he was talking to. “Please, it hurts!”
    Adrian frowned, numb to the enemy's panic after what he'd been forced to put Angela through. “Cesar is dead. Who gave you that order?”
    The Mexican stared at John's scowling face in longing, starting to understand that no help would be given.
    “ Richard , before he left.”
    Rick.
    Stunned, Adrian grabbed the man's tacky shirt, jerking him up as the Eagles shouted and cursed. “Where did he go?”
    The Mexican laughed and groaned through bloody teeth, feeling the shadow of death turn his way. The cold chill was terrifying, and he lashed out in hateful defiance. “Safe Haven–to get his woman back!”
    A single shot silenced the pain-laced laughter, but it didn't erase the mocking grin from the Slaver's face. It said Adrian had made a grave mistake. He hadn't accounted for Rick.
    Adrian waved an abrupt arm. “Get us rolling–now!”

Chapter Three

    Just after Midnight
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    Help!
    Through the gags, it was too muffled to be heard.
    Samantha bounced against her kidnapper's shoulder