Promise Me Light (28 page)

Instinctively I took a step back, knowing this guy was trouble. Gavin
immediately stepped in front of me, blocking everyone’s view.

“Whatcha hiding from, girl?” the man asked with a smile that was
meant to be genuine but was anything but friendly. He held out a hand
for me, wiggling his fingers. “Come here.”

I shrank away from him, something I wasn’t proud of - but I had
been through enough since the EMP. Plus, I had a baby to protect. I
didn’t want this man touching me. Something about him felt…off.

“Come here, I won’t bite,” he said smiling, his hand waving me
forward. His lips split apart, showing teeth that might have been white
at one time.

I had two options; either cower behind Gavin and have this man yank
me away or face him on my own accord. Either way, I knew this man would
get his way. My gaze moved nervously to Ryder as I made my decision. He
looked ready to rip every last man apart as he watched me step in front
of the leader. His eyes burned cold, staying on me like no one else
existed but the two of us.

The tension in the yard became as thick as the snow coming down. The
wind picked up, blowing my hair in front of my face and obscuring my
view. I brushed the strands away and glanced down, trying to control the
fright that wouldn’t go away. My eyes landed on the leader’s black
combat boots a few feet from me. They were covered in melted snow and
mud. A tingle raced up my spine. These men were trouble, much more than
a few punches and bloody noses. But I didn’t have much time to wonder
what they wanted. The leader started barking orders, his voice full of
authority.

“Take those horses to the barn and get them unsaddled!” he
demanded, pointing to our horses.

Resting a hand on the gun riding low on his hip, the leader turned
his attention to Gavin and Cash. “You men check them for weapons?”
he barked out, indicating us.

“No, sir,” one of the men answered.

The leader sighed, his disappointment with his men apparent. “Paul,
get over here and search them,” he said with irritation.

I watched as a soldier marched to Cash with a stiff-legged gait. He
was short with dirty blonde hair and a body built like a wrestler. Mud
and something that looked suspiciously like blood was smeared across his
dark green jacket. The semi-automatic he held made me nervous. He seemed
antsy, as if he was unsure of what he was doing. I just hoped his
trigger finger wasn’t as shaky.

He started searching Cash, his movements brisk. Professional.

Like an obedient captive, Cash raised his arms above his head and let
the man pat him down. The soldier searched Cash’s pockets, beneath his
jacket, and patted him down to the top of his boots.

As he searched Cash I surveyed the area. The snow was now
accumulating on the ground around our feet. Off in the distance, I could
see nothing but the wind picking up snowflakes before setting them
gently on the ground.

No longer could I feel my extremities. My toes were completely numb
thanks to my soaking wet socks and thin tennis shoes. My fingers were
cold and my face felt frozen, the muscles impossible to move. I knew I
was far from hypothermia but that didn’t mean I wasn’t freezing
cold.

I glanced over at the two unfamiliar trucks sitting a few yards away.
They were older model vehicles, early 1970s if I had to guess.

The truck tires sat directly on the road that led from Janice and
Roger’s home to Ryder’s. Weeds and grass had overtaken the tire
tracks, hiding the well-worn path like it no longer existed but the men
had found it. That meant they had already been to Janice and Roger’s
home.
There might still be soldiers there.
I
prayed that Roger was safe, unharmed by these men.

Frightened at the thought that Roger might be lying somewhere hurt, I
glanced back at the soldiers, catching a few of them watching me. I
turned my face away from them, not wanting to make eye contact with
anyone.

“He’s clear,” Paul said, turning away from Cash after finding
no weapons on him.

Gavin was next. Paul seemed more wary with Gavin than he had with
Cash. I couldn’t blame him. Gavin was tall, all lean muscles. He had
no expression on his face, just an indifference that I had seen so many
times on Ryder’s own face. But Ryder was more unpredictable, more
deadlier than Gavin ever thought of being. They were both fierce
fighters but I knew which one would fight for my life. For me.

The one staring at me from across the yard.

I met Ryder’s eyes, willing them to turn soft as they glared at me.
They never did. Instead, his stare cut right through me, leaving a path
of destruction in their wake as he glowered at the soldier standing
guard behind me.

Paul ran his hands over Gavin’s chest, checking for any bulges
beneath his jacket that would indicate a hidden gun. Finding nothing, he
patted down Gavin’s waist next. Coming up empty, his dirty hands ran
over Gavin’s hips then down his legs.

I saw the twinkle in Gavin’s eyes as Paul started patting back up
his legs.
Oh, no!
When one of the Delaney
brothers got that look in their eyes, people better run for the hills
and take cover.

“A little to your left and you’ll find what you’re looking for,
pussy boy,” Gavin said with a smart-ass smile.

What was he doing, trying to get himself
killed?

Paul’s face turned a beet red, filling with rage as he scowled at
Gavin. But behind his anger was embarrassment. Being trash-talked in
front of his fellow solders was a worse blow than if Gavin had taken him
by surprise and gotten a punch in.

“Shut up,” Paul spluttered, trying to hide his embarrassment.
With a hard shove, he pushed Gavin back a step but Gavin caught himself
easily, keeping the grin on his face.
That grin alone
will get him killed
, I thought.
What the hell is
he doing?

With redness on his cheeks and embarrassment burning in his eyes,
Paul ignored Gavin and turned to me. His eyes darted up and down my body
with a mixture of appreciation and vengefulness. Grinning like he was
about to enjoy a tasty meal, he sauntered toward me. I tried to hide my
fear behind a blank expression as my heart rate tripled.

He continued to look up and down my body as he circled me. His jacket
sleeve brushed against my body every few steps, probably on purpose. I
took a step away from him but he just ambled closer, leaving me feeling
slimy and icky. Despite wearing a coat and layers of clothes, I still
felt exposed as he assessed me.

“Now I get to search her,” he said, the corner of his thin lips
lifting in a smile.

Knowing compliance was my only option, I copied Cash and Gavin,
lifting my arms above my head so Paul could search me. But when his
hands touched my shoulders, I jumped with fear. Gavin shifted to his
other foot, turning his body toward me as if he might charge the man
patting me down.

The soldier standing behind Gavin raised his gun, aiming it at
Gavin’s back. Slowly, Gavin raised his arms over his head, his gaze
never leaving me. I saw the message behind his stare.
Stay calm and do what they say.

I nodded my head just a tiny bit, enough to let him know I
understood.

“She doesn’t have any weapons,” Gavin announced, glancing at
the leader.

“I’ll make sure of that,” Paul retorted from behind me. His
hands ran down my arms, patting me through the thick material of my
jacket. Trying to block out the feeling of a stranger’s hands on me,
my gaze went to Ryder, seeking the one person that always gave me a
sense of safety.

But his eyes weren’t on me; they were on Paul’s hands touching
me. From the expression on his face, I knew that any minute now Ryder
might tear across the yard and be on Paul in seconds. Blood would spill
and heads would roll if he got loose.

I closed my eyes and tried to block out the terror, but it only
increased when Paul’s hands moved to my waist. My pregnancy was hidden
beneath my jacket but with one touch, the soldiers would know. When he
stroked the front of my stomach, right over where the baby rested, all
the blood left my face.

“Don’t touch her!” Ryder roared.

I opened my eyes, frightened when I heard the rage in his voice.

Ryder took a few steps toward me, fury on his face and deadly
coldness in his eyes. Two soldiers grabbed his arms, keeping him
immobile. He struggled against them but they held him tight, refusing to
let him move an inch.

“Hey, this one’s pregnant,” Paul said, ignoring Ryder. His hand
stayed on my stomach, his arms wrapped around my middle from behind.

I felt sick. I wanted this man’s hands off of me but I was afraid
to move. Afraid I would lose what was left in my stomach all over the
ground at the leader’s feet.

The leader smiled and glanced over his shoulder at Ryder, watching as
he struggled against the men. Fighting to get to me.

“Guess we got another American baby on the way,” the leader said,
laughing. “God bless the U.S. of A.”

I’m going to be sick.
His voice crawled over
me like a dirty disease, filling me with disgust.

“Continue patting her down. I don’t trust women,” the leader
said, his earlier humor gone.

Paul’s hands left my stomach and went to my hips, his touch more of
a caress now than a pat.

“You’re one dead motherfucker!” Ryder bellowed, struggling
against the hands that held him. “I’m gonna rip you to
shreds!”

Paul’s head snapped up, his eyes rounded with surprise as he looked
at Ryder. But apparently, he wasn’t scared enough because his hands
stayed on me, lingering too long.

“Hey!” Gavin shouted, grabbing his attention.

I watched as Gavin reached down into his boot, his gaze staying on
Paul. A second later, a long and deadly knife appeared in his hand. He
flipped it open, sunlight reflecting off of the shiny blade.

That’s when chaos broke out.

Gavin shouted, gaining every soldier’s attention. He slashed the
knife through the air, barely missing a man’s stomach. When another
soldier came at him, he ducked, flipping the knife in his hand to stab
at his attacker. He missed seconds before three men rushed him, tackling
him to the ground. Paul shoved me out the way, charging over to help the
men pry the knife out of Gavin’s hands.

At the same time, Brody raced across the yard. One man tried to step
in his path but Brody let loose with his fist, landing a solid punch to
the man’s nose. Blood sprayed as the man’s head whipped back.
Another soldier met Brody, his fist snapping out to bury in Brody’s
ribcage. Brody stumbled and doubled over. Eva let out a scream along
with Janice as more men rushed Brody, taking him down while he was
weakened.

As the men flung Brody to the ground, Cash saw his opening. The man
next to him got an elbow to the side of his jaw, followed by an uppercut
to his head. Wobbling on his feet, the man’s eyes rolled back into his
head. Cash faced the next man barreling toward him. This one was bigger,
wider, and had about a hundred pounds on Cash. But it didn’t stop Cash
from doing some damage. With one punch the man was flat on the ground,
out cold. Game over.

I watched everything in a fog. Our worst fear had come true. For
months we had been left untouched, unscathed by the madness. Not
anymore. Now the war was on our soil.

As Cash raised his arm and let another fist fly, I saw my opening.
No one is watching. It’s the perfect
moment.

I took off running. Skirting around the leader, I ran across the
clearing. I heard the man yell but couldn’t decipher his words. The
wind was too strong and the blood pounded too loudly in my ears to hear
him.

Amid the sounds of struggling and shouting, I ran, slipping but not
slowing down. Not until I got where I wanted to be.

I watched with fear as Ryder elbowed the man beside him in the
stomach. The guy doubled over, clutching his belly in pain. Before
another soldier could stop him, Ryder took him out, nailing him in the
nose with his knuckles. When he was free, Ryder started running straight
for me.

“Maddie! Run!” he yelled, his bound hands pointing off into the
distance.

I headed the direction he indicated, not wanting to leave him behind
but knowing I had to protect our unborn baby.

Ryder ran behind me, taking out a man that was close on my heels. I
glanced over my shoulder, watching as his knee landed in the guy’s
crotch. He yanked another man off his feet, stopping him from sprinting
after me.

I was so busy watching Ryder fight off the men that I never saw the
soldier. Out of nowhere he appeared, grabbing my upper arm and wrenching
me around. I yelped as his fingers bit through my jacket.

“NOOO!” Ryder bellowed, watching as Paul yanked me away. That one
moment of distraction cost him.

Feeling hysterical, I watched as a soldier tackled Ryder, sliding
both of them across the snow-covered ground.

As I watched Ryder struggle to escape, Paul picked me up off my feet
like I was a sack of potatoes. I started fighting like a crazy woman
until he dropped me to my feet but he kept a firm hold on my arm.

I shrieked, yanking my arm away from him. Instead of letting me go,
he stared down at me with a frown. There was malice and hate in his
crazed eyes, nothing else.

“Paul! Bring her to the house!” the leader demanded from the
porch.

“Come on,” Paul’s gruff voice said, jerking me forward. His
hand clasped my arm tighter, daring me to argue.

I looked to Ryder, needing reassurance that everything would be okay.
I should have known all I would see in Ryder’s eyes were fierceness
and murder. Two soldiers hauled him to his feet, one on either side of
him. The muscles in his shoulders and arms were strained, waiting for
the right opportunity to break free and injure a few more unlucky
bastards.