The Survivors

Chadron, Nebraska

March 30th

1

“I really didn’t think I’d see her again; at least not alive.”

Kenn watched the couple as they slept, ignoring the unpleasant feel of the ash tree between his legs and the angry animals padding below. The beasts sniffed and pissed, trying to find a way into the truck he’d parked up against the thick trunk.

Kenn had found the ranch house just before dawn, hitting shapes in the fog that were either dogs or coyotes as they attacked his tires. He’d taken up a high vantage point as a dim, foggy morning lit up the area, sure she was in there. His starlight scope had penetrated four barred windows, and then he’d found them.

Covers tangled, limbs entwined, it looked like a night of passion had worn them out. The woman wore a sleeping shirt that barely covered her thighs, flashing white panties as she stirred. The man, the wife-stealing, walking dead man, had on a pair of green boxers the intruder recognized even from a distance. They were military issue.

Kenn’s grip tightened on the rifle in his hand, nails digging shallow grooves into the stock as he spotted a dog tag, familiar tattoos, and a quick scan upon waking that every Marine did.

Then he saw who it was.

Dread and cold rage formed a thick knot in Kenn’s gut. Sergeant Marc Brady was Angela’s show of force. He was one of the few people Kenn had ever felt threatened by. He was enraged all over again as he remembered Angela’s mental calls for help. He’d heard the name she called for, but he hadn’t made the connection.

The Marine struggled with himself. The old Kenny wanted to aim and fire; the new Kenn didn’t want to kill without justification.

He chose to wait and see just how close his wife and former team leader really were.

2

Curled against Marc’s back, Angela woke all at once; she tensed, sensing danger.

He is close.

Her eyes snapped open.

She glanced at the window and tried to focus. It’s coming from that direction.

“Are you all right?”

After a minute of nothing happening, Angela told herself it was just nerves. She would be reunited with her son today…and Kenn. At least it’ll be Easter and not All Fools’ Day. “We should get moving soon.”

Marc stretched, loving the feel of her pressed tight against him. She hadn’t moved away yet; he wasn’t leaving the bed until she did. “You regret it?”

“No.” Angela lingered. “You?”

“A little. It wasn’t what I had planned.”

Angela’s cheeks turned red. Watching him had been a blast from their stolen past–­one she would replay in her mind for a long time. “As hot as it got in here, I’m surprised it didn’t go all the way.”

Marc rolled over, sliding an arm around her tense waist. “Don’t go back to him, honey. Please. We’re so good together.”

Angela was tempted. The time they’d spent together was seared into her, but her first emotion upon waking had been fear. “I won’t make a promise I might not be able to keep.”

Marc knew that wasn’t good, but he lowered his lips to hers anyway. I’ll take whatever she lets me have.

3

Kenn couldn’t take this.

Rage exploded in his mind as their mouths touched. When she let out a moan Kenn couldn’t hear but still felt, blood pounded in his brain. How many times had that sound brought him to a thick, instant climax? A hundred? A thousand?

Kenn kept his finger away from the trigger by sheer will. If he killed them now, like this, he could never return to Adrian. Those sharp eyes read the blood on a man’s hands.

He had to do something, though. He couldn’t just sit here and let her betray him, not while he was armed and in range.

4

Angela pulled back as another swell of fear interrupted a moment that she didn’t know the ending to.

Even the wolf was tense, fur bristling.

Marc lifted a brow. “Problem?”

She hesitated, aware of him lying mostly on top of her. “Just wolves, I think. We should get up.”

Marc sighed when her arm slid off his bare shoulder. “It didn’t happen, right?”

Angela flushed in the cool morning air. “For now.”

Marc sat up.

Angela rolled out of the bed.

5

Kenn lingered. Her creamy flesh was enticing as he studied them from a quarter mile away. The rifle was across his lap now that she was out of the bed. He had yet to find a woman whose body called to him as strongly or promised as much. Weak, Angela was, but she was also hot. Always had been.

Kenn saw a clear moment below and took it, pulling the string to open the hatch of the sunroof. He slid down the slimy tree, rifle over his shoulder. He was inside his truck with the roof latched before the hungry predators reacted. They lunged onto the truck anyway, but it did them no good.

Kenn plowed into the animals, seeing everything through a red haze. He wasn’t going far, just back to the two Blazers he’d found and searched. The pictures of Charlie had told him who they belonged to. He had until the couple returned to figure out how to get rid of Marc so he could give Angela what was coming to her. She had brought a dangerous man he’d hated long before the war. His thoughts raced with fury and fear. Coincidence? I don’t believe in those. She’s been keeping secrets.

6

“Will we have to fight our way out of here?”

“No. She heard us last night; she knows she was wrong.”

To Angela’s surprise, Marc flushed. “That bothers you?”

He considered. “I might have been quieter.”

Angela laughed, tossing her small notepad onto the bed where he was tying his boots. “That makes two of us. Page seven is what I agreed to trade and what I got for it.”

Marc picked up the small notebook, observing her as she moved around the room, getting ready to deal with what was coming. She left her hair down, braids mixed in. When she tugged her jeans up over a creamy cheek, Marc forgot to breathe.

“Well?”

He mentally snickered. “Looks good to me.”

“Max said to leave it at the barn. The wolves don’t come out until dusk. I also agreed to have you check their venting system while I give the kids a checkup. We’ll probably be here until midafternoon. I wanted to ask you first, but she’s set in stone on this women in charge shit.”

“Works for me. I’m well trained, remember?”

The amusement was forced, the room tense. Marc wasn’t sure how to begin. There were things he needed to know, things he needed to say. “What do you think about Safe Haven? Do they feel okay?”

“They seem organized. Careful.”

“They’re his people. Whatever he’s told them, they’ll believe.”

She shrugged. “Beyond grabbing Charlie and running, which you already know I don’t want to do, we’ll have to hope they’re good people who can recognize the truth.”

“So, you do plan to stay with them.”

“Plan? No, but I’d like to try. What I won’t do is pledge my loyalty to some asshole who thinks he’s God just because his nuts still work. I want to try being with other people, but I’ll be picky. I’ve just gotten my freedom back. I won’t give it up.”

“How do you want to handle it?”

She sighed. “I need to get Kenn alone, if possible.”

Marc frowned. “I meant about me.”

Angela’s eyes softened. “You’re a good friend who helped me, a lot.”

He strapped on his Colts. “Most of the problem is solved if you tell the truth. We’re family.”

“That would mean you can’t claim Charlie.”

“It’s probably for the best anyway, right? At least until you decide what you want.”

Angela shook her head. He’d been too good to her. She wouldn’t allow him to make that sacrifice. “You’re a good friend.”

“Okay. Just tell me beforehand, so our stories match.”

She scowled. “You make it sound like I plan to lie.”

He stared back. “Don’t you?”

“Maybe. I’m not sure yet.”

Marc was always impressed with how she chose to be honest first and lie second. “I understand. Say what you have to. I’ll support it.”

She warmed. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, honey.” Marc’s attention dropped to her shoulder, to the scar showing from under her tank top. How it had got there was the only unanswered question he still had at this point, though he would insist she get it all out. It would be one less thing for her man to use against her. “Did he give you that?”

“…yes.”

“As a punishment?”

“As a reminder.” Her voice dropped to an ugly mutter. “He’s the boss.”

Marc held in his anger to get the full story. “Will you tell me about him?”

“Why?”

Marc grunted. “Because we’re a day out and all I know is he’s a Marine, a bastard, and a dead man if there’s any justice, but that’s not enough. There has to be something I can use. Profile him.”

Angela was quiet for a minute, considering how much honesty she wanted to give. You had to know your own mind when you dealt with Kenny or he would rip you apart. Marc did need the information. “You won’t find anything. At least, I don’t think you will, but I’m only going to go so far. I can’t relive it during the day too.”

Marc thought her nightmares had gotten a lot better since their night around the fire, since the morning she had woken in his arms.

“He’s strict on everyone but himself; he’s obsessed with appearances. He can’t admit it when he’s wrong. He had a bigger shoe collection than any man should. He hates to be dirty, unshaven, or out of style in any way and he demands the same of those around him. He’s manipulative; he really believes what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

“Good.” Marc locked eyes with her. “Now, really tell me about him. Get it over with.”

Angela stared at the foggy bedroom window. “I knew he was dangerous when we met; I knew I couldn’t trust him, but I thought I could hide it. I thought if I was careful and did what he wanted, I could have the same connection that…you and I had.” Angela perched on the window ledge. “We dated for a few weeks before he invited me to live with him. When I said no, bad things happened.”

Marc’s face darkened. “Like what?”

Angela couldn’t believe she was about to tell her shame to the one person whose respect meant more than anyone else. “My babysitter’s daughter was hurt in a hit and run accident that required her to be there while her child went through therapy. The sitter’s mother, who was already a heavy drinker, suddenly had an endless supply and stayed too drunk to talk, let alone care for an active one-year-old. I had to call off, miss classes. Stress built up. Kenny found me crying on my smoke break one night. When he offered again, I accepted so I could keep my son.”

She sucked in a calming breath to keep speaking. “I couldn’t apply for welfare because I was underage, and I didn’t know if the family had reported me as a runaway. I always assumed they didn’t care, but I wasn’t taking the chance after having my baby for all those months.” Angela paused, voice sad, heart breaking. “Charlie was my only joy.”

“So you moved in. Did he know then, about what you can do?”

Her tone grew cold. “I don’t know that for sure.”

Marc was certain her man had known exactly what he was getting into. “When did he find out?”

“He kept up the act for almost a year. I was…content. I began to doubt he was the threat I’d first sensed. It made me careless. I would reach for the phone when it rang, stare toward the door before someone knocked. Sometimes…I’d respond to things I picked up from him.” She forced herself to continue. “I met the real Kenny in our bedroom a little after our first anniversary. We were about to make love. I picked up an image of him with one of the teenagers at the recruiting office.”

“And you didn’t hide your anger.”

Angela gave a bitter laugh. “I went nuts. It got bad fast. After I’d slapped him a couple times, the police knocked on our door. I was arrested, and he kept my son!”

Her voice was rough with hurt and anger. “He left me there until the court date. Five days. When we got in front of the judge, he told them I had a violent temper and he was considering filing for custody because he loved my boy, but he didn’t want me. I was put on probation. 241-Kids opened a file. When I got out, he let me find my own way home and made me wait outside the door until I’d pissed on myself before he would let me in.”

“Son of a bitch!” Marc’s fury broke through his control. “Why didn’t you kill him?!”

Angela didn’t react, stuck in the past. She continued as if Marc hadn’t interrupted. “When he let me in, Charlie was at his mother’s house. I knew I was in trouble, but it was too late.” She sighed heavily. “I don’t even remember there being any neighbors home.”

Marc sucked in air, forcing himself to finish this ugly moment. “What did he do to you, Angie?”

She turned slowly, pulling up the sleeve of her shirt. “He marked me as his.”

Marc repeated his question. “Why didn’t you use your power on him?”

“I couldn’t. Between the Child Protection people, his mom’s money, and my age, I would have lost my baby. Even if the court ordered Kenn to give him up, he wouldn’t have. Kenny would have sold Charlie off on the black market first. He told me so. He said he wanted control of what I could do, and then things could go back to the way they were before I fucked it all up.”

“Back to him being in charge and you being his slave.”

“Yes, but he didn’t count on the witch inside. She decides who we use these gifts for, not me. When I would have given in, the witch locked it all up. It went away and there was nothing he could do about it.” Her voice shook. “He was so mad…” She closed her eyes against those days of living through hell.

Marc unclenched his fists, angrier than he had ever been.

“He didn’t believe me at first. He tried to make me use it to defend myself. That’s how I got this.” She tilted her arm so he could see it was indeed the letter K. “After he cut me and…raped me, he made me stitch myself up and then I was his.” Her voice lowered. “Every hit he ever gave me after that was because I let the witch deny him what he wanted most–my power. Deep down, he always suspected I could access it again.”

Angela took a deep breath and brought herself back to the present. “I think maybe he did give up after a while. As long as I was defenseless against him, he was content with that as revenge. In time, I learned that I could have some of what I wanted if I was willing to pay the price. His affairs continued. I was the perfect woman. The witch stayed asleep. Until the war, I hadn’t used my gifts in over a decade.” She let the pain bleed into her voice. “I lost who I was to keep him from getting it.”

“You should have called me!” Marc was full of fury and guilt that he didn’t know what to do with. I should have been there for her!

“…Kenny was my punishment for our love.”

Awful hurt filled Marc; his rage crumbled. “That’s not true! I was the one who should have been punished!”

Her sadness grew. “Because we were wrong to give in. Our love is a sin.”

Marc gestured. “No. Because I let them keep us apart. Our love wasn’t wrong, honey, it was meant to be. They were wrong for getting in the way.”

Angie was afraid to believe him. “You mean that?”

Marc opened his soul to ease her pain. “Yes, even when we were apart. I stayed away to give you a chance at a better life. I’m sorry you paid for it. I’m sorry I was too weak to recognize the trap. I let them keep us apart! I’m so sorry.”

Angela fought not to cry. She’d longed to hear that from him.

“We should have run together. If I could do it over, I wouldn’t leave you twice.”

“But you will if I…choose to stay with Kenny?”

He shook his head. “Not until you’re happy.”

She stared at him sadly, already sure Kenn couldn’t give that to her.

Marc needed to be done with this conversation. It hurt too much. “What’s the first thing he’s going to do or say when we pull up?”

She gasped. “He’ll demand to know who you are to me!”

“Yes. He’ll force your choice right away. Tell him we’re family and let him cool off.”

“If I do that, when it comes out that you’re Charlie’s dad, people will think he was born in incest.”

Marc shrugged. “We’ll tell the rest of it at that point, but if you just say we’re good friends, they’ll think there’s something going on between us.”

“Isn’t there?”

Marc was caught off guard and then stunned by her next words.

“I don’t want to ruin any chance we might have in the future, Marc.”

Hope and love filled him, but he controlled himself, replaying her words. Had she found a way for them to be together? “I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Yeah, I haven’t made a choice yet. I can’t until I get my son back. I’ll handle the rest after that.”

“But you’re thinking about it…about us?”

“Even more after last night.” Angela blushed at her own boldness.

Marc smiled. “I won’t push. You’re in charge.”

“I know better.” She put the last of their things into the two kits. “It’s all spinning faster now. These are our last hours together before the collision.”

Marc bared his soul. “I love you, Angie, so much it hurts. I want us to be together if you can forgive me for all the hell you’ve survived. I don’t blame you if you can’t, but you can count on me now.” Marc leered, trying to lighten his somber words. “I’d also agree to be your man toy, but I can’t wear leather. It gives me hives.”

His joke surprised a laugh out of her. “Thanks. That’s another beautiful picture in my head.”

The tension thickened as they stared at each other. When he advanced, she stayed still, afraid of what it might lead to.

He nuzzled her jaw. “Just this.” Marc pressed his mouth to the corner of her lips.

Angela sent her arms around his neck with a sigh of pleasure that he responded to. Angela felt him tense when she deepened the kiss, tongue touching his, breath mingling.

Angela pulled away, eyes wide with fresh desire.

Marc let her go. “It’s going to work out somehow. You have to believe that.”

“It may take a while.” She locked down on the loneliness already trying to overwhelm her heart.

“I understand. We’ll handle things as best we can, and maybe there will be time for us later, when things are...safer.”

There will be, Angela vowed. I won’t give you up twice.