The Survivors

Day 2

1

Kenn strode through the camp to the heavily guarded quarantined zone. It was 5am. He was hoping to catch the man unprepared and be able to give him what he clearly deserved.

Rick’s eyes flew open when the crunching steps stopped in front of his flap. His grip tightened on the gun he always slept with.

“Hello in the tent.”

The voice was hard, as was the rapping on the flap. Rick grunted, rolling off the cot. He slipped on his boots, but waited for a second tap and call to convince whoever it was they had woken him up.

“Yeah! Hang on!” Rick didn’t bother buttoning his shirt. He shoved the gun into his waistband and fished for his smokes. “Come in.”

Kenn moved quickly, letting in a blast of wind that cleared a little of the reek. The Marine scanned the messy floor and even messier man, then flashed a sympathetic smile he didn’t care if Rick saw through. The man had only been here one day, but he’d already filled a tent with trash. It said a lot. “I know it’s early, but I’ll be busy later.”

Rick lit a smoke, and dropped into the chair. He lifted a brow as he adjusted the dirty bandana around his throat. He was glad the leader wasn’t coming. “Thought someone would be by sooner with all the security you guys got here.”

“Big camp, lot of shit to handle.”

Rick blew a disrespectful cloud of smoke in Kenn’s direction. If this dog tag wearing putz was all he had to deal with, he’d gotten lucky. “Is this the part where I get warned to follow the rules or hit the road?”

Kenn didn’t like Rick at all in that instant. “Yes. We always check out the new people, but you came from a known group of killers, so yes, we have questions to ask and things to say.”

Rick picked up a half full can of pop from the dirty floor. “Samantha told you everything we know.”

Kenn’s lips thinned at the flippant tone.

Rick cautioned himself to ease off a bit. There was a reason this man was second in command here, and it wasn’t because he liked to hit women. Though, in Cesar’s camp that might have earned him a high place too.

“We need to know other things, like where you hail from, what your career was, and why not one Caucasian male has been spared by that group. Except you.”

Rick tensed even though he was expecting it. “I was a janitor at a minimum security jail in southern Arizona.” Rick knew how to make Cesar appear less of a threat. He’d done this before. “When the power went off, the generators didn’t come on, and there was a riot. The guards were outnumbered. It was during exercise time, when most of the men were out of their cells.”

Kenn believed that. It had been the same across the country. Almost none of America’s prisons had held. Those that had were filled with bodies. “Where were you?”

“Hiding in the basement at first. Then I figured out I could get out if I could start the generators.”

Kenn’s words were sharp. “Yeah, you could go, after setting all the killers loose.”

Rick didn’t flinch at the accusing tone. He’d heard it too many times before. “Their crimes were minor. I wasn’t going to die for them. I had to get out, and I did.”

“You were caught?”

Rick’s chin lifted. “They let me live because I set them free. They owed me that.”

Kenn tried to pierce him with the hard stare Adrian used.

Rick finished his soda, not impressed. “I was the leader’s slave from there. If I had insisted on leaving, he would have killed me.”

Kenn was able to see the truth of that. “How did you two get away?”

Rick dropped his butt into the soda can and set it on the filthy canvas floor, controlling the nervous tremor. Instinct said they already knew. Why not use it? “His men think we escaped, but Cesar knows where we are. I gave him this camp for our freedom.”

Kenn’s gun came out of the holster as he stepped forward, anger blazing.

Rick fell over his cot in his haste to get away. He landed with a loud thump, hitting his shoulder hard. He held up a hand as the angry Marine came toward him. “That’s just what I told him to get away!”

Kenn hesitated.

Rick let fear bleed through his voice, knowing it was expected. “Come on man! I’m an American too! I said what I had to so we could get out of there.”

Kenn took a minute to pick the right response, but he didn’t relax or put away his gun. When he spoke, Adrian’s words flew out of his mouth. “A real American would have died before releasing them. Every life they’ve taken is on your hands!”

Rick flinched. He hadn’t heard that one before. It echoed in his head, even though he already knew he was damned.

“Will they follow you? What was the plan?”

Rick grunted. “Already on the way, I would think. He told me how to get here and to report to him in two weeks. When I don’t, he’ll know I betrayed him.”

“Don’t leave this tent for anything except the bathroom.” Kenn glared. “You already know to use the ones in here. If you need something, tell one of the guards, not the doctor or the people who bring your food. They won’t talk to you. Leave the quarantine zone for any reason and I’ll shoot you myself!” Kenn ducked out before Rick could respond. He marched straight through the sleeping people to Adrian. This guy was no good–from his pack of half lies to his insolent, smug eyes. Kenn would make it clear to the boss, but also to the guards. When Rick left that tent, he would have a dozen eyes on him at all times.

2

Angela headed to the livestock area as the dim sun began to rise behind the gritty sky. She nodded greetings to the surprising number of people also out and about so early. Inside, she was still fighting the urge to hide in her tent. Intimidated or not, these people wouldn’t see it. Not with so much at stake.

Angela had woken to a note on Charlie’s pillow saying he had to deliver trays. She understood he was giving her a teenager’s coldness because she had refused to make Marc leave. Charlie was afraid of what Kenny might do. So was she, but she couldn’t back down now, not when she was already making real progress. One day, they might both be free of him.

The rift between her and her son so soon after being reunited bothered Angela, but she knew it would take time for him to come around. She wasn’t going to push, and she wasn’t going to hide. She was building a new life. That meant showing she could do the dirty chores and work her way up. Her plan was to help the vet today and be close to her son. Hopefully, they would be too busy to talk, and she would be asleep tonight as soon as she hit the pillow.

Angela didn’t glance at the QZ or Marc’s tent as she went by, but she knew he was there and awake. It was a comfort.

She entered the dark animal area and went to the small tent in the far corner. The vet was sitting at a folding table just outside the flap. “I guess I’m all yours today.”

The vet glanced up from his lantern-lit papers, grunting. New girl got in trouble already. Doesn’t surprise me.

“I brought you a cup of–”

“Don’t drink coffee!” He went back to his paper.

Angela slammed the mug onto the metal table. “Good. I brought tea.” She dropped onto the damp ground nearby and lit a cigarette without saying anything else. She smoked and sipped her coffee. Her time with Marc had been everything she needed to handle being around people again, no matter how uncomfortable she felt. Whether this cool shield held all day though, was another story.

Angela hid a snicker when the vet put the paper down, anchoring it with his glasses.

“You just going to sit there? You’re supposed to work.”

Angela snorted. “You going to give me something to do? You’re supposed to teach.”

Chris blinked; he stood up with a wider scowl. “Come on.” He stomped into the shadows of the small zoo.

Angela noticed he took the mug.

They worked mostly in silence, watering and then moving the animals to different pens so those could be cleaned. She didn’t hesitate to get dirty, eager to lose herself in the labor. She was glad to be isolated as she listened to the sounds of the sprawling camp behind them. Pots banged, dogs barked, tents flapped and zipped. They were all sounds she’d missed, needed, and they were a comfort as she did what the sullen vet told her to, but they were also a source of tension. Marc was out there somewhere now; so was Kenn.

Charlie arrived not long after they started. Angela greeted his surprise with an eye-cross that got him to snicker. I love you. We’ll make it work somehow. I promise.

Charlie shrugged. How? He gets angrier every second you let that man stay here.

Angela sighed. There was nothing she could do about that. In fact, now that Marc was out of quarantine, the tension was only going to get worse. Try to hang on, for me, but also for yourself.

Charlie’s face tightened, but he didn’t reply with his first thought.

Angela knew, but he would see it in time. Marc would never hit her, and he would never hit Charlie. When they were finally free, her son would understand this mess had needed to be cleaned up so something beautiful could take its place.

3

Neil was at Marc’s tent at 6:30am, ready to wake him up. Marc’s lantern had still been on well after midnight, but there was no sign of him or the wolf in the foggy morning dimness.

Neil scanned for the nearest guard, then motioned toward the empty tent.

The Eagle pointed to an area outside the caution tape, where Adrian had netted off a bathing and laundry area.

Neil turned that way, uneasy. The forest was covered in a blanket of knee high, gray fog that he jogged through once he was out of sight of the main camp. Who passes up a hot shower for a frigid and maybe dangerous dunk in the open? Neil increased his pace. A man with something to prove.

Marine or not, Marc would need help today. He was about to learn… Neil crested the small hill of thick pines and stopped.

Danny, one eye a nasty shade of purple, along with two of his lazy friends, were huddled behind a mossy spruce tree. Wearing only boxers, all three men were shivering in the morning chill.

The trio heard his steps and looked up, but none of them moved.

The wolf sat a few feet away, while Marc, Seth, and Billy enjoyed a swim.

Neil burst out laughing. They’d meant to rough Marc up, and the wolf had made them into fools.

Dog’s rigid ears twitched at the cop’s arrival, but his eyes didn’t leave his targets.

Neil thought they were lucky not to have been bitten or worse.

“Tell him to call it off, O’Neil. We’re late for duty.”

“Yeah. It’s not funny. He’s getting us in trouble.”

Neil pushed his cover up to reveal amused scorn. “First, I think I want to hear how you got like that.” Neil wondered who’d beat on Danny yesterday. He knew from the coloring it had been at least eight to ten hours ago, and Marc had been in the QZ then.

“All right, Dog. Let ’em go.”

At Marc’s order, the wolf advanced on the tree instead.

The men behind it jumped, tripping over each other. They all flushed in embarrassment when the animal hiked a leg and let go of a long stream of urine.

“Dog says piss on you.”

Neil and the men in the water laughed at Marc’s translation.

Dog, who had been waiting for his turn to enjoy the water when trouble had started, trotted to the bank and jumped in.

He paddled toward Marc, who splashed him and swam away. They began to chase each other, diving around the two men in the creek with them.

Neil kept an eye on the sullen males dressing and casting furious glares at the animal in the water. Kenn had gained three weak allies. Hopefully Marc would do better than that today. “No one’s going to tell me what happened here?”

The tone of command was clear, even to Marc.

The three men gave the answer Neil had expected–silence. They obviously regretted it and just wanted to slink away but they couldn’t. His place here was too high to be ignored. “Get out of here, children. Try to play nice next time.”

The bored sarcasm made them move faster.

Neil stepped to the muddy bank, where lush green ferns and brambles lined the steep sides of the clear creek. “Well, you’ve met the welcoming party. Ready to discover how the other half’s been living?”

Marc slapped water toward Dog, who obligingly ducked it and slapped his own paws down, drenching his human.

Marc shook his head, cold water flying as the guards laughed again. “They gonna play any nicer?”

Neil snorted, watching the animal in pleasant surprise. “I wouldn’t count on it.” He exchanged a glance with Seth and Billy as Marc climbed out. He turned in time to see the tattoo on Marc’s hip as he stripped off his boxers and used his shirt to dry himself. Kenn had one like it on his arm. Except… Does that say Angie?

Marc slid on his jeans and guns, aware that the savvy cop had just discovered a vital clue. He waited for the questions with a cool facade.

“How long were you Recon?” Neil watched the wolf pad into waist high sticker bushes on the opposite bank, then disappear into the thick fog.

“Eight in Recon. Fifteen in the service.” Marc pulled on his socks and boots in seconds. When he knelt to tie, he was ready for the bigger questions he saw coming.

“You’ve been in longer than Kenn. You guys served together, right? Same unit?”

Marc used the lines he’d drawn last night–honesty as much as possible. “I was his team leader. We didn’t see eye-to-eye on most things, but he followed my orders, so it worked out.”

“You were his boss?” Neil gasped, mental alarms blaring. Kenn hadn’t told Adrian that, and even lying by omission was forbidden when it came to their leader.

The two men in the water were also staring in shock. Seth and Billy immediately made plans to pass the word.

“Just for the last four years.” Marc slung his wet shirt around his neck like a towel.

Neil added the clues quicker than anyone in camp might have given him credit for. “Kenn was your second?”

“Yep.” Marc adjusted his gun belts with practiced movements. “He was communications, explosives, organizing. He was the go-to guy. Like him or not, he always got the job done.”

Neil was a little surprised to hear Marc say something good about his rival. “He does the same here. All our CBs and radios have been installed or upgraded by him. He trained all of us on this new hands-free system.”

That was child’s play compared to the temperamental explosives Kenn had manipulated before the war. Marc volunteered nothing else, asking about their first stop instead.

Neil thought it was interesting to see Marc in the daylight without the long gunfighter coat, but those matching .45s slung low on his hips said not to be fooled by how normal he seemed in jeans and a camouflage shirt. Neil chuckled. “Self-defense class is next. You’ll need it while the wolf’s out roaming.”

Marc snickered as they strode back up the muddy path, giving eye contact and casual nods, but no conversation to the few souls also coming to brave the frigid water.

Neil led them through the cover of the thick trees and swirling fog, preferring to work behind the direct view of the camp for as long as possible. He was glad to only see six people at the defense ring when they arrived.

The large circle was made from double-stacked bales of straw and set up at a distance from the main camp to distort the noise and sometimes hide the intense training that took place here. Neil often wondered how many of the Eagles realized Adrian would lose command of Safe Haven if his secrets were exposed. The higher levels were very aware of it.

As the dim orange sun began to brighten the area, the two men settled on overturned water buckets to watch. Marc understood this was the teaching staff, gathered to practice before the students came.

Three men, all stocky and dressed in black, were lined up across from a hulking, redheaded man in a dirty vest. Towering over them by at least six inches, the giant wore dusty jeans and a black Harley Davidson shirt under his red vest. The big man appeared eager. Marc hoped they didn’t plan to use body shots. I’ve driven softer trucks.

The trio of men moved together, working as a team; they all threw solid punches that landed and had no effect.

The huge man nailed the center fighter in the neck. He dropped like a stone, struggling to breathe as the giant’s arm flew out again.

The big man spun.

The other two joined the first on the ground, blood dripping.

“You’re done. Get out.” The big Irishman wasn’t winded.

The two men picked themselves up and exited. The third was already back on his feet despite the hit to his throat.

The waiting challengers took their injured colleague’s places.

“That’s a rule here.” Neil explained things to Marc quietly, not wanting to interrupt the practice. “There is no shame in bleeding, only in not following the rules–especially against Doug. We want people to learn to defend themselves. When he’s the teacher, you’re all right, but only men with a death wish or something to prove will challenge or accept one from Doug. He’s brutal. Few here are better.”

Marc stored the information, automatically putting Adrian, Kenn, and Neil into that category of few. There was something about the way the cop carried himself that said he could be deadly.

“Maybe 4-1 next time, eh, boys?” The big man laughed as he stepped over them and left the ring. Doug had spotted Marc when they emerged from the trees. He went toward them now, frowning darkly. Why did Neil bring him here? “Did you come by for a lesson?”

Thunder cracked in the distance, as if in response to the menace in Doug’s voice.

Neil shook his head, surprised. “I’m showing the newbie around. Marc, this is Doug, unofficial fifth in command. Doug, this is Marc. He came in yesterday.”

“Yeah, with Kenn’s wife.” This had to be the man who’d hit her. Doug couldn’t accept that Kenn would do such a thing.

“Her name is Angela and she’s not his wife.” Marc didn’t back down from the giant’s glare.

The two men shook hands.

Doug lit up when Marc didn’t flinch or pull away from the harsh grip. “You may not need a lesson, Neil, but your friend does.”

Neil shook his head again, aware of the sudden tension and the five men watching. Even those who were injured didn’t want to miss what might happen. “New people get a few days to settle in, you know that.”

Doug smirked. “Yeah. The boss doesn’t wanna scare off the new sheep.” Doug gave Marc another glare. “I think home-wreckers shouldn’t be allowed in Safe Haven!”

There were murmurs of agreement from the others, but Neil was shocked at the hostility from the war vet, who was usually hard to rile. He and Doug were friends, but Neil wasn’t sure how to handle the situation.

Marc was. His first encounters in Safe Haven had been bad. Why should this one be any different? It was what he would spend the coming days and weeks doing–proving himself. Marc stepped forward suddenly, so the big man was forced to retreat a step. “What are the rules?”

Doug’s anticipation faltered a bit as he noticed the dog tag and recon emblem on Marc’s arm as he unstrapped his guns. The new guy was a Marine.

“Rules?” Marc was eager.

Doug felt he had to follow through. “It’s normally over when someone bleeds, but for you, Jody, it’s done when you agree to leave Kenn’s bitch alone and get out!”

“Deal.”

Lightning flashed again, closer this time. Marc handed his gun belts to Neil, ignoring his protest.

Neil was worried about the hard looks the two men were exchanging. Hadn’t Marc heard him say only men with a death wish or something to prove…? Neil snapped his mouth shut, almost certain Marc was in over his head.

Marc entered the ring. “What happens when I win?”

Doug snorted, trying to pretend Marc’s lack of hesitation didn’t bother him. Only one guy here had that kind of sand: Adrian, who had been able to bring him down. Even Kenn had been leery of the match. “Don’t worry about that, wife stealer.”

Marc’s fury was a hard pit of ice as he swept his opponent. He evaluated, chose, and got set as Doug joined him.

“Get ready, boy.”

Marc felt his violent streak flare up. He let it burn, vaguely aware of rain sprinkles evaporating on his hot skin.

Doug’s confidence faltered as Marc’s expression filled with the need for blood, but it was too late to withdraw the challenge. The big man lunged forward, making Marc jump out of his reach.

Doug sneered, confidence restored. “Leave now. Last chance.”

Marc’s response was calculated. “You talk a lot of shit, big man. Where’s the action?”

Doug’s advance was fast. Marc jerked his fist up as he sidestepped, catching Doug’s nose. He leaned his weight into it, but didn’t give the final, killing shove like he wanted to.

Marc felt the bone give way under his hand as the Irishman’s heavy hit glanced off his wounded shoulder in a painful thud.

Doug screamed as blood sprayed. He dropped to his knees, cradling his nose in his hands; he struggled not to cry out again or puke from the pain.

Marc leaned down.

Doug flinched back, unable to stop from moaning.

“Don’t ever call her a bitch again or I’ll finish this.” Marc straightened. “Kenn doesn’t own her. She’ll make her own choices.”

“She can’t if you keep hitting her!” Doug braced to be hurt again.

Marc stared in shock. “You all think I hit her?” He laughed, loud and hard.

Everyone who’d thought it immediately knew they were wrong. Doug wanted to apologize, and go kill Kenn, but the pain!

“Now that we have that clear, let’s get the rest of it out of the way. We are not sleeping together; she is not a whore. She needs protection. She wants to stay here. She won’t if she doesn’t feel safe.” Marc stepped out of the ring. He didn’t feel bad for telling them these things and creating more sympathy for her with the truth. If I can’t watch Angie’s back, at least these men will be there.

Neil handed Marc his gun belts back as the other men gathered around Doug.

Marc lit a smoke as he waited for someone to call Adrian or just throw him out.

Neil was thrilled. Even Adrian had taken a vicious hit from Doug, and he’d had to use both fists to win. The state trooper let out a cheer the other men wanted to echo but didn’t out of respect for Doug. That kind of skill was admired here. “Did you break his nose?”

Marc was relieved, but still pissed. “Probably. Angie can tell him for sure. Unless she finds out what he said, and then she might add to it.”

Thunder boomed, but the storm was missing them as it raced by.

Neil snorted. “You sure aren’t what you seem.”

“Neither is she. I hope she isn’t being treated to this kind of welcome. She doesn’t deserve it.”

“Adrian won’t allow it here among the females, but until she makes a public choice…” Neil let the words trail off.

“Until she chooses, they’ll try to get me to leave.”

Neil was sympathetic. “It’s a close group here, and most people like Kenn almost as much as they do Adrian. They view you as a threat to the only security they’ve had since the war.”

“All I want is her happiness. No matter who she’s with.”

“People will see that.”

Marc hoped Neil was right. His anger faded into frustration. One thing was for sure; it was all going to be just as hard as he’d thought.

Neil turned to the men who were helping a dazed Doug to his feet while listening. “Two of you get him to John. The rest of you finish setting up. Students will start arriving soon. Alex, you’re in charge.” Neil lifted a brow at Marc, knowing this story would spread like fire. “Ready?”

“You know it.”

As they walked through the woods, Neil made a mental note for his nightly report. Marc would be considered deadly with his hands. It was a classification only five men here had, and Marc had just dropped one of those with only a single hit.

“I’m going to ask a dumb question now.”

“Shoot.”

“How do so many people know so much? I was in quarantine, and I know Angie isn’t saying anything, so how do they know?”

“Kenn.” Neil shrugged. “His behavior changed. It says something’s different, and of course, there’s his mouth.”

“Damn. He didn’t waste any time.”

“Can’t blame him. I’d put up a fight too.”

Marc didn’t take offense. “She’s even prettier on the inside.” He lifted a brow. “So, what’s next?”

Neil grinned. “Single women and guns.”

“Sounds dangerous.” Marc laughed. “I’m in.”

They walked a short distance through the trees to a softball field. Men dressed like police were setting things up on home plate inside the fenced area. The guards were putting up targets and sharing smirks, but they kept their attention on each other and not the females lining the bleachers.

Except…they are making subtle eye contact. Marc realized Adrian only picked nice guys to teach this class. Probably everyone wanted to do it because the students were women and, Marc was guessing, all single. No need of a dating service here. Even the setting was ideal. Towering mountains and thick green trees surrounded Safe Haven. Marc realized it was that way through the entire camp. Not one remnant of the war was visible. He understood it was intentional, but he didn’t agree. The truth was always better. Right?

“Come on. We’ll talk to Billy first. He’s running the class this week. Then I want a seat next to little Becky.” Neil leered. “Her smell drives me nuts.”

Marc chuckled, matching Neil’s confident stride.

“Hey, Neil! Who’s your friend?”

The question came from a cute teenager with a firm, young body.

Neil threw a smile over his shoulder and kept walking. “We’ll stop by.”

The girl went back to her conversation with the other females near her, but Marc could feel her keeping track of them. As they headed toward the ponytailed man he had briefly met at the creek, Marc wondered if Neil knew how badly the teenage girl wanted his attention.

“Hey, Billy, got time for a level test?”

“Sure, Neil…” Billy grinned. “Yours?”

Neil snorted. “Funny. This is Marc. You guys met this morning.”

Their handshake was short, civil. Marc waited as the guard scanned him from head to boots before looking back to Neil.

“What level?”

Neil considered, letting Doug’s injury influence him a little. He had planned on a two. “Level four.”

There were murmurs from the women close enough to hear. Six was the highest level they had so far.

“You got it. Come on over here.” Billy gestured. “Marc, right?” They hadn’t spoken at all earlier. Everyone had been too busy watching the wolf corner Danny and his friends.

“Yes.” Marc followed, not sure what to expect as they stepped over to a small stack of hay bales littered with guns, ammo, hand wipes, and first aid kits. Smart, organized… It made him uneasy.

“First, take your gun apart as fast–”

Marc was already moving, hands almost a blur. Seconds later, he slapped the magazine back in and held it out, butt first, for inspection.

Billy hit the timer. “New record, though it won’t make the books without enough witnesses. Pass.”

Billy handed Neil a black handkerchief, still speaking to Marc. “We do one simple test for this level. You have thirty seconds to hit as many bull’s-eyes as you can, blind. Seven or more to pass to level four; a bulls-eye in the farthest target is an automatic go.”

Marc lined himself up with the roller-bound boards, then motioned Neil to tie the blindfold.

In his element if only for this moment, Marc fired once from where he stood. He gave his gun a single twirl, unable to resist. He could have made it from twice that distance with only a brief glance.

“Bull’s-eye! Farthest target!”

The women cheered loudly, now taking an interest in the new man.

Marc reloaded and holstered in smooth movements that drew more respect.

“Man, Kenn’s going to hate you being here.” Billy snickered. “Pass. Give him his paperwork, Neil.” Billy peered at the sheet on his clipboard. “All right. Class has started. Samantha, please. Adrian said you go first every day until you can hit seven of nine targets with one magazine.”

Neil was all smiles as Marc joined him. They stayed on the bottom row of the sturdy bleachers as the tall, skinny blonde moved toward the targets. She barely resembled the woman who had stumbled from a dying horse and asked them for a gun. She had cleaned up nicely.

Great eyes. Neil stared. Not like Angela’s, which were softer and changed color, but strong and attractive.

“Hey, Neil. Where ya been? Me and the girls looked for you at breakfast.”

Becky drew Neil’s attention back to her, automatically marking the new woman as an enemy.

Neil reddened. He waved at Marc as the women whispered and giggled. “I’ve been showing the new guy around.”

There were a dozen women here, all between thirty and forty-five, except for little Becky. They wore short shorts or tight jeans, bows, and flowery perfumes that made it clear they had come to snag a man. In Marc’s book, that made it time to go.

“This is Marc. He has trouble making friends.” Neil ignored Marc’s embarrassed protest. “Anything we can do about that?”

Becky glanced at an older woman Marc thought would fit into a Nazi documentary. “Hilda?”

Neil gave Marc a nudge. “Stop glowering.” He struggled not to ogle the bare thigh of the teenager in cutoffs next to him. Like the rest of their people, she was enjoying the warmer weather, but the sight of bare flesh was an instant draw in this camp.

Everyone was quiet, waiting for the older woman to speak. She reminded Marc of Adrian as she scanned him. That deeply evaluating look is going to wear thin.

“Is he useful?” Hilda paused, cracking a toothless grin. “Single?”

Neil was glad he’d thought to include her as everyone snickered. The old woman didn’t have any official authority, but when a better cook had come, Adrian had made Hilda a den mother to the new women. Those she had helped now followed her lead. If he hadn’t included her, she could have caused trouble. Neil knew she wouldn’t have, though. She was a Kenn-hater and not quiet about it. Still, with her support, Marc would have a better chance at winning over the rest of the camp. Keeping the females happy was a priority in Safe Haven. “He’ll be one of Adrian’s circle, I’d wager, and he keeps company with a wild wolf. As for the single part…” Neil shrugged. “That’s undecided, I think.”

“Then it’s true. He lusts for Kenn’s wife.”

Neil held up a hand, interrupting Marc’s anger. “They aren’t married. Kenn lied. Marc loves her. You know we don’t get to choose that.” Neil’s gaze flicked to Becky and back. “It chooses us.”

Hilda’s expression was hard. “You speak truth, but if they are already sleeping together–”

“That’s none of your business!” Marc broke in hotly. “What the hell gives you the right to …” He stopped at Neil’s horrified expression.

Most of the women were disappointed, sure he had just blown it.

Hilda waved it off. “Must be love. He is too tense to have been laid.”

Marc’s mouth dropped open as surprised laughter rang out; he was unable to keep from chuckling with them. Several of the females around the old woman were now silently offering to help him with that problem. He looked away, cheeks scarlet.

Hilda shifted on the hard seat. “The females will not follow Kenn’s lead on this. The man will be judged by his actions here.”

“Thank you.” Neil enjoyed Becky’s body heat as she subtly shifted closer. “Anything I should tell the boss?”

Hilda gave Marc another once over. “Tell our guardian he is not seeing the true value.” The woman lifted her voice to include the guards, who had come closer to listen. “When does this class end? Accidentally shot Kenn’s tire, my ass! Making me do this again is cruel and unusual punishment!”

“For the men running it.” Neil laughed with them. He leaned toward Marc as the women chattered and stared. “We’re done here unless you want to stay for the show. It will probably be funny. She’s in good form today.”

Marc shrugged, uncomfortable. “It’s your call. You are my agent.”

Neil didn’t deny it. “We’ll go. She doesn’t need a bigger audience to play for.”

Marc noted the satisfied glint in the old woman’s expression as they stood up; he knew he’d pleased her somehow. Because she saw Kenn for what he was and she was glad someone had finally come who could give him a run for his money? Marc sighed, nodding a polite goodbye. He saw Becky, while facing Hilda, hold up a hand to pass Neil a small note that he betrayed no sign of receiving. Ah. So that’s how it is.

“It’s been a pleasure, ladies.” Neil bowed, making them all laugh again. “We’ll see you at the contest?”

There were promises and more giggles. Marc was glad when they were out of sight of the hot, female stares burning holes into him. Angie won’t like this. He grinned suddenly, wondering if she would be jealous. “That was fun.”

Neil shrugged. “You’ll learn to use things to your advantage too, but first, you need a foundation here. That only comes from one of three ways. Adrian’s attention is the quickest. Working hard and fitting in are good, but slow. The last option is FND. Foot in the door. Add the women’s approval to any of them and it’s an almost indestructible place.”

Marc was a little confused, but he had no problem with what Neil was trying to do. He was glad he had a friend in the guard, who clearly had a lot of pull here.

“The parking area is next. I need to find out if Kenn got the other refer truck running. Adrian plans to butcher today, so we need to get a rig ready.”

They neared the area quickly. Marc hated to admit he was nervous as the lake of vehicles came into sight. He wasn’t afraid of Kenn, but with the exception of a few, these were definitely Kenn’s people. Everything that had happened so far confirmed it. The fighter inside didn’t like not knowing what to expect.

The wide area was filled with rusty, dusty steel. Almost every driver door sported a flag, with some cars covered in red, white, and blue. It gave the area a feeling of sad honor. It only took a few seconds for Marc to understand the vehicles weren’t randomly parked. Some were being shielded. It was hard to steal or destroy what you didn’t know was there.

Marc drew in a steadying breath as they neared the group of eight men standing around the front end of a faded blue semi with an open hood and two men sitting half inside the engine compartment. He hated being nervous, but this wasn’t like fighting the enemy. He needed to maintain his cold strength and still make friends–that was so much harder.

“Hey, guys. Any luck yet?”

Marc hung back as heads turned to Neil. Marc already knew anything he had to offer wasn’t welcome.

Cold attitudes slapped him. Kenn was one of the men under the truck’s greasy hood; the mood was already aggravated.

Seth was the second man inside the truck. Marc took a chance by nodding hello. Seth had protested when Danny started on him at the creek, but Dog had handled the problem before anyone else could.

Marc was relieved when the guard returned the gesture, then looked around for the wolf.

Marc shook his head, shrugging.

“Compressor’s shot on the trailer, and there’s a short in the engine wiring. We’ll have to strip it down.” Kenn answered Neil in short tones, glaring. What the hell is Neil doing with him?

Marc was a bit surprised at the responding challenge in Neil’s expression. The trooper knew Kenn was on edge. It looked like Neil was trying to push him over it. Adrian missed Kenn’s evil, but this man didn’t? It was hard for Marc to swallow.

“We’ll help.”

Kenn couldn’t refuse Neil’s offer. He wiped a greasy hand down his dirty jeans so he could light a smoke and suck in enough air to sound normal. “Chris is bringing the truck around. Adrian wants a count.” The Marine bent back over the engine, pretending Marc wasn’t there. Giving Tonya a workout had settled him a bit.

Seven of the other men tried to do the same while listening for every word the new man might utter.

Neil spoke to Marc. “Keep track of how many boxes and crates you carry. You’ll be asked for totals when we’re done.”

“Should I count each one out loud so no one can bitch when my numbers are good?”

Neil continued as if he hadn’t heard, but he liked it that Marc was telling them he was also irritated. Neil was hoping Kenn might be goaded into doing something that would get him in trouble, but he honestly agreed with Marc. She loved him and he loved her. It was simple. “We’re moving food. Crates of bread dough mostly, but we have some potatoes, cheese, and oranges. Adrian got most of it at big factories right after the war. A lot of what we find now went bad without refrigeration.”

Marc nodded. “It was smart to check the warehouses and plants. Most people wouldn’t.”

“That’s Adrian.”

“So you need more refrigerated trucks?”

“Yeah. The dust clogs everything up. We go through a lot of compressors, but we haven’t found a big enough auto store that hasn’t been destroyed or too looted to have what we need.”

Marc knew where one was. He and Angie had spent a night there a week ago, doing tune-ups. It was a small solution to one of this camp’s many minor issues, but Marc wasn’t sure yet who he would give his ideas to.

“You don’t happen to know anything about wiring or compressors, do you?”

The question came from Zack, Kenn’s right-hand man according to scuttlebutt. Marc hesitated before shrugging, aware that none of them, Neil included, wanted him to fix this right in front of Kenn.

“Very little.” Marc was already sure the loyal ally wasn’t going to let it go. Zack was hoping for an opening to a fight and he’d just given him one.

Neil tried to move on. “Okay, then. We’ll–”

“He didn’t say no.” One of the other men interrupted Neil before Zack could.

Neil shook his head, aware of camp members stopping to observe. Tension was noticed a lot faster now. “Don’t start shit, Jeff.”

The level two Eagle gave him a cold glare. “Shit started when he came here.”

The stocky man glared at Neil in a way that said he wanted Adrian to get involved. Neil understood he couldn’t stop it. Marc would have to handle this one on his own.

“So, how about it, Wolfman? Kenn won’t mind this time because it’s not behind his back.”

There were murmurs of agreement to Jeff’s taunt.

Marc snorted. “I’m sure he can take care of it on his own in either case.”

Jeff hesitated at the cold tone of warning, thinking of Doug’s nose, but Kenn was listening, waiting. Jeff pushed harder, eager to be the one Kenn thanked, not Zack, when the new man was made to leave. “Come on. What’s a truck compared to a wife?”

Marc kept his tone cold, but calm. “Once you turn your back on something for so long that you’ve created a whole new life, it no longer belongs to you but to the one who cared for it while you were gone.” Marc knew. He’d done the same thing to her all those years ago. It gave his voice a tone of regret the men were surprised to hear. “As for the truck, if Kenn says it’s done, then it is. No one was better at shit like this on my team.”

Marc lit a smoke, heart thumping with awareness that he was bringing to light realities Kenn didn’t want known. He waited for the Marine’s reaction with steady, ready hands.

“You guys talk more than women.” Kenn gestured. “Here comes Asswipe with the truck. Let’s get it done.”

Kenn’s tone betrayed none of his anger or embarrassment, but his red cheeks did. A few of the men began to wonder more than they already had been. They wanted to be loyal to Adrian’s XO, but only if he was worthy of it. Except for Zack, who didn’t have much of a moral line yet, but even he was forced to admit that Kenn had been keeping secrets and then telling lies to keep those secrets. If all that stuff wasn’t true, Kenn would have argued, right? In a heartbeat.

While the others went to the truck as it came to a jarring stop, Marc waited for Kenn to climb down, letting them get out of earshot.

The two men stared at each other in cool dislike.

Marc didn’t want to deal with the fight he saw in Kenn’s expression, not unless they could end it all right here. “Her choice, not ours. I won’t influence her.”

Thunder swept over Kenn’s face. “You already have. She’s changed.”

“You’re the one who changed her. This is how she should have been.” He shook his head when Kenn’s eyes narrowed with more questions. “I saw an undamaged AutoZone in Lincoln, Nebraska. It’s a super center, even still had glass in most of the windows. It should have some of what you need.”

Marc stepped by him. He was surprised when Kenn wrote it in a small, glossy black notebook with lettering on the front cover he couldn’t read. He hadn’t expected the sullen Marine to listen. He’d assumed he would have to tell Neil later, but he had to try to show these men he could follow the chain of command too.

The group of quiet, tense men began unloading bags, crates, and boxes. Marc was silent, shut out of their occasional jokes and taunts. As he kept pace, he wondered what Angie was doing and if she knew the price that he would pay every day he stayed here waiting for her.