Book 4, Adrian's Eagles

Angela had never been so sore.

"Uhh." She dropped down into the lounge chair with a pain-filled grunt and closed her eyes in concentration, knowing when her muscles relaxed, she'd get some relief. The workout on top of the fighting lesson had taken its toll on her.

The large steam tent was empty except for her, a dozen chairs and towels laid out,

and she sunk further down into the lounge style foldout seat as thick clouds of damp fog floated from the center ring of hot rocks.

Closing her eyes, Angela tried to relax as the sweat began to drip from her salty skin. She had done the entire workout this time, the one Kyle and Seth did five days a week. Compared to Marc, who worked out everyday, the Eagles were in better shape, hard as that was to believe. They were cut, strong, and she was looking forward to that too, wanted everything that came with being in Adrian's Army.

"OOhh." She shifted, wincing as she looked for a spot that didn't put pressure on her shoulders. The one legged pushups were the hardest on her. The Eagles had warned her she was doing too much and she'd assumed there would be soreness, but this....This was hell. Her thighs, shoulders, arms, and sides were foreign invaders intent on making her cry and every movement was torture. How long would this last?

"I don't know. You sure? He didn't send us."

"Yes." Voices outside the steam tent made her heart thump and her fingers slid to the gun at her side. Covered by her towel, it was a comfort she went no where without. 

She had on only a two piece bathing suit, exposing a lot of skin and when the two Eagles ducked inside, wearing only shorts, her eyes darkened in warning they couldn't miss, finger tightening on the trigger.

Slightly breathless from the sight of her, both men recognized the clear desire to be

left alone, and took chairs that were next to each other but not her.

"UUg." Seth's grunt had Angela hiding a smirk. He claimed he was passed that level, too hard to be made sore.

The men settled into the chairs, the steam flowing from the rocks in neat, soothing

waves, and Angela closed her eyes. If it had been anyone else, she probably would have left but these two took turns guarding her. She had nothing to fear from them. It was time she believed that.

"The others are coming." That got her eyes back open and the wariness that came

into her body had her tensing up and trying to hide her discomfort.

"You'll be all right. Seth and I will stay." Kyle's words sent reason back into her scared mind and she nodded, slamming her eyes shut. She was done running.

"Okay." Both Eagles had thought she'd leave. The amount of skin she had showing was enough to make a man think bad thoughts and the two Eagles kept their minds from it, not wanting her to pick it up. Adrian had sent her in here to loosen up and then sent the men in behind her to toughen her up. It was another lesson.

"Isn't everything?" She muttered, telling herself to relax as more voices echoed and Kyle nodded.

"Yes. "She shifted again, unable to stifle the short moan.

"Ohh. Good...I need it."

"Did you see that hit?" The voices were right outside the flap now.

"Amazing."

"Never seen a girl punch that hard."

"Woman." There was goodnatured laughter.

"You got that right. Marc's a lucky man."

The males began ducking into the steam tent, each of them freezing at the sight of

Angela laid back, nearly naked, and dripping sweat. Men bumped into each other and then became frozen, unwilling to look away, and Kyle and Seth got up, moved to the chairs that flanked hers, telling the others she had protection, even in here.

 Eyes narrowed at the clear challenge, testosterone flooding the tent.

"Stop it!" Angela hissed, not opening her eyes. "I'm so fucking sore my hair hurts. All I want is to burn some of it off. Sit down or get out!" 

Her orders, and that's what they were, were followed instantly, bringing reason back to the men but Seth and Kyle kept their seats on either side of her, just in case. The sight of those long, bare legs were enough to make a man consider doing something stupid, like running a hand along them to test their silkiness.

Angela opened her eyes to look at the Mobster for a very long moment, no words

exchanged, and he felt her scold in his heart but there was no way he could look at her as just one of the guys and neither could the rest of Adrian's Army. See her as more, they did. Not see that she was an incredibly good looking female? Not want her? Impossible. 

After a few minutes, small conversations were going, men ignoring her as best they could and except for the uncomfortable feeling of having eyes crawling along her exposed flesh, Angela felt no fear despite being mostly naked and surrounded by men that were the same. These were Adrian's soldiers. She was too. They would learn to be okay with each other.

"When's the next trip out?"

"Two days."

"Full sets or picked out?"

"Picked out."

"Hope I get to go."

"Pretty sure it's not the same."

"Yeah."

Angela listened to the words with half an ear, the tension leaving as the pill she'd

taken started to work, and she let herself fall into a light, healing doze. She'd never felt so unwilling to move, and when more Eagles came into the tent, she barely noticed.

Hard glares from those already in the sweaty tent had the lower level men quickly

sitting down, accepting her presence. The tent carried a protective air that made them understand they were a part of something bigger than themselves. Her being here was Adrian's wish, the blond's dreams and goal, and they would deny him nothing. She was one of Adrian's. She had a place here and anyone foolish enough to challenge that would find themselves on the outside looking in.

Kenn was looking for her. He'd started at the qz and worked his way across the camp, following her back trail. She'd started with a shower and coffee, stopped by the com truck, the livestock area, and then the kids campers. Like she was doing rounds and Kenn's gut had burned at the thought. After the kids she'd gone to lunch at the Mess. And then disappeared. No one had seen her in hours and Kenn was pissed. Who was she with? Brady was out of camp on a supply run. Had he snuck back to meet her?

Kenn nodded at the guard on the training area but didn't ask the blond if he'd seen

her. Billy was one of Angela's now. With anger burning in his stomach, Kenn entered the area. This was the only place he hadn't checked yet. He knew she'd come here a few times, helped with a training lesson, but despite what he'd seen and heard, he didn't really think she was joining the Eagles. She was just pushing him, seeing what he'd let her get away with. 

Finding no one, Kenn left the empty training canvas, heading for the sweat tent to ask who'd seen her, who her protection detail was. Soon, he would put a stop to her running around. She wouldn't have this kind of freedom when he was back in his place.

"Kenn's coming." Angela's words caused immediate tension. "He's been looking for me. I'll handle it." She gave a quick look around.

"Can you guys pretend I don't need your help? He too needs to see me as more." 

There were grins and nods at the tactic. Psychology had been one their recent lessons with Adrian and all of them were eager for the practice but more than that, they wanted her free too and were hoping this might be when it happened.

Kenn ducked into the sweat tent...and his eyes went immediately to the rounded,

creamy body splayed out provocatively between Seth and Kyle. Angela was in here with all these men. Alone. And in a skimpy bikini that might as well have been her bra and underwear. Heat began to fill his vision. The bra and underwear would have covered more. 

Rage began to take over and his military mind began sorting it out. When he went

for her, they'd go for him. How did he handle them all and live long enough to end her? He had just enough shots to take out all the unarmed men if he got those closest first.

Angela watched him through narrow slits, pretending she hadn't noticed the furious

Marine yet, and when she didn't respond to his menacing stare, they all felt his anger grow. The Eagles were giving him warning looks, telling him she was welcome here, and Tonya's words came to him again.

"So where does she rank?"

"She doesn't. In time, she won't even answer to Adrian."

She'd be the bug in the blond's ear, the voice guiding him and when she said no,

Adrian would listen. She would be in charge.

"You whore!" He muttered it in angry surprise, drawing scowls but when he headed for her, hands clenched at his sides, none of the Eagles moved, throwing him off a bit. They had to know he was ready to kill. Why weren't they protecting her? Surely they didn't think she could handle herself?

"Get up and get the fuck out of here." He growled the words at her, the menacing tone one that would have cowered her in the past, and she shook her head without opening her eyes.

"You get out." Fury broke over him in a thick wave and he snapped, lunging down to grab her by the neck.

Angela let him pul her up, thrusting the gun under his chin, shoving hard as his grip

tightened around her throat and she grinned, eyes like the dead.

"A little harder and I'll pull this trigger." Kenn's eyes were burning, struggling to control his urge to squeeze, to keep what he'd earned.

"I'll fucking kill you!"

"Not if I kill you first!"

The Eagles around them faded back and neither noticed the blond enter the tent and move closer, picking the explanation from their minds with no problem. She'd wanted to handle it. Could she?

"You have disgraced the Corp and I'll do my best to have you banished for it." Her icy words immediately sank into his brain, cutting through the haze, as she'd known they would.

"Isn't that what you told Marc?" Her tone grew pointed. "Chose carefully. Everything you are hangs in the balance. Your place, your future." She sneered despite the awkward position. "Not to mention your life." Kenn's hand was letting go before she finished talking but Angela didn't remove the gun, instead following him up with a neat move that drew admiring nods. She learned well.

"I could pull this trigger right now and none of these men would stand on your side at my trial. I'd be exonerated." Her finger tightened and she was gratified to see an edge of wariness fill his blue eyes.

"If I want you banished, they'll do it right now and maybe, just maybe, leave your body on the side of the road. "She felt him flinch and the tension grew as Angela's own rage rose up to lick her with flames of revenge. She wanted him to pay. Did she want him dead?

No, but she did want him to back off. She tightened her finger a notch, feeling the cold triumph of power when he flinched again.

"The next time I pull this gun on you, I'm using it." She let her finger tighten just a bit

further, feeling the hammer start to slide, and shook her head before he could react.

"I wouldn't. The Witch is running this show and she loathes you. Even if I die, she

won't." Kenn froze, stopping his fingers from going for his own weapon, and Angela

stared at him in concentration. What would it take?

"I don't want to kill you, Kenn." She slowly lowered the gun, sank back into the chair.

"But I will." She closed her eyes, showing only a relaxed, confident posture, and the

dread-filled Marine spun around to find Adrian's condemning eyes.

"You will present yourself at the moral board after Mess or we'll escort you from camp right now!" Kenn's face paled but the anger flared back into his eyes.

"I'll be there!" He snarled, shoving his way passed the men who'd stood up behind the blond, and there was a thick silence where everyone heard her sigh.

"You have to find a way to make a peace with him. He's still needed." She sighed again, answering the thoughts of killing him and removing the problem.

"I know and thank you but this is something I have to do. If you handle him, his blood is still on my hands and I'll never be free."

"You'll need to be there." She nodded tiredly at Adrian's words.

"I will but I won't press charges. It would be like signing his death warrant."

"There are enough witnesses. It's our choice." Kyle's quiet voice got nods of agreement.

"We can free you." She shook her head.

"The guilt will eat at me and the dreams Adrian has planned will fall. The camp will find out about me too soon and I'll have to leave. His death serves no purpose."

"He can't go unpunished." She shrugged at Seth's firm remark.

"Do what you will but mark my words. He's obsessed. There's not a chore you can give him that will make him stop and think."

"Fear of being banished will hold him for a bit longer." Adrian's words drew frowns.

"He deserves what we usually do!" Seth was pissed, as were most of the males in the steamy tent, and Angela nodded.

"Yes, he does but fate spared him because we need him." Her voice lowered.

"These sheep need him. We have to accept that." She sighed unhappily.

"I have to accept that." Her eyes opened and she looked around the room.

"Put him on probation, give him a code red, whatever will ease your own hearts but as the victim, his life belongs to me and I've chosen to spare it."

Author Notes:

This is a rough, unedited draft, that is subject to change. She might pull the trigger.