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

roughly, kicking and slamming her hands against his legs. He didn't stop or slow.
    She'd been grabbed from behind as she stepped from the camper, and the blows had come hard and quick. There hadn't been time to yell.
    Sam screamed against the gag again, wriggling furiously, but got no response–not even a tightening of the grip he had around her waist. Left with nothing else, Sam curled her nails into the man's skin and tried to slice him open.
    She hit the ground a second later with a muffled thud that took her breath and left no time to avoid the dirty fist he swung.
    Dazed, Sam sprawled awkwardly at the man's filthy boots, looking up into a face that she'd hoped to never see again.
    “ Miss me?”
    Sam shook her buzzing head, filled with fear.
    Rick chuckled, drawing back. “That's okay, 'cause I did you!”
    The second hit was harder than the first, and Samantha slumped to the dirt.
    Deep in the cover of the trees around the crowded parking area, Rick dragged her by the arm and hair, grinning in cold satisfaction. Once again dressed as an Eagle, it had been no trouble getting to her.
    Rick pulled the mask over his face and hefted Samantha into the passenger side of the truck, adjusting her to look like she was sleeping. Casually, he closed her door and moved to the driver's side, taking stock of the chaos as Safe Haven got ready to flee. Word had come from their lookout that the Mexicans were gearing up to attack. It looked to be a dawn ambush, and Kenn had ordered a bug-out. The camp was in panic.
    Rick grinned, pulling into the shortest line of vehicles being sent out. They were gassing them, but not checking the passenger lists, and Rick felt it was the best place to be. A single truck leaving would be noticed, but blending into the herd was genius.
    Rick spotted Becky lingering around the parking area. Staying out of the way, the teenager looked lost–abandoned.
    You won't be alone long, little girl. Neil still wants you, Rick thought... and immediately changed his plans. He couldn't leave the trooper anything except his life, and in the end, even that might be too much.
     
    2
    “ Kenn to the QZ.”
    “ Copy.”
    Ignoring the steady drizzle, Kenn changed directions. A QZ call usually meant someone had come in, and now was a bad time for new arrivals. Both of Safe Haven’s doctors were out at the moment.
    The camp was still sequestered in the Mess, tightly surrounded by circles of both stationary and roaming Eagles, but it was clear that the sheep were about to stampede. It was move them now or lose them.
    Kenn ducked under the swaying caution tape to see John and Adrian climbing from a mud-splattered van–Jeff and Seth also, and Cynthia, who Kenn was surprised to see with them. He'd thought this might be the time the reporter was 'accidentally' caught in the crossfire.
    “ Look out!”
    Kenn jumped back as a wagon of women sped by, just missing clipping him with the mirror. He was sending them out in groups of five, hoping they’d stay together, but the odds of it were low.
    John stalked by, looking like he hadn't slept the entire time he'd been gone.
    “ She’ll live.”
    The doctor's curt words were thrown in a rush of anger as he headed for the other side of the QZ parking area. The Marine filed them away as proof that things had been as rough as he’d thought.
    Kenn was surprised again, though, when the haggard man climbed into the passenger seat of the ambulance and shut the door. Wasn’t he going to find Anne? Or check on his patients? John did a lot of behind-the-scenes work–the doctor even had a weekly meeting with Adrian. About what, Kenn didn’t know, and that told him John was part of the chain of command, though no one else appeared to know it yet.
    Bang! Bang!
    The wind-muffled gunshots came from the Slaver camp–the lack of word certainly wasn’t causing them concern.
    Seth gave Kenn a cool nod, and then searched for the nearest ranking guard. He was aware of his slight limp, legs like