Ducking the haymaker, Angel stepped in and under the blow. She got her right leg behind Sammy’s right leg (on her left side) and shoved. Off balance, Sammy went staggering backwards, not quite tripped. Seeing movement, Angelica jumped to the side just as Doc Khamenei snapped another kick at where she had been. Sammy cursed and charged, getting between both.
He ate the palm strike that was meant for Angel. The man who was choking on the partially crushed windpipe managed to get a hand on Angel’s ankle and pulled her down. Her air left her in a rush as she hit flat on her back. Fighting to get it back, she kicked out, hitting the agent who’d shoe stringed her, in the head once, twice. Sammy tried to fall on her, but she’d shook her ankle free and rolled to the side, getting to her feet.
Doc Khamenei snapped another kick at her, opting to go for speed over power. He got through and the force of it was almost too much for Angelica. It hurt, and the breath she’d managed to get back went out in a rush. She backed off, putting her back to the van as the three men who remained in the fight started closing in on her.
“You’re going to regret that,” the creeper who she’d kicked in the nuts said.
“Hey assholes,” two agents said, walking up. “Just fucking shoot the bitch. This ain’t Cobra Kai. We can’t let the fucktards in the building get any ideas.”
“Back off,” Sammy snarled as he threw another punch.
Again, he over-extended and Angelica got out of the way. His knuckles crunched as they made impact with the van, denting the sheet metal. He pulled his hand back in surprise, the fingers of that hand spasming. Angel moved quickly, pulling the agent's good arm behind his back in an arm bar, and pressing up on his wrist. Sammy screamed as something in his shoulder popped.
“You’re right, I should just shoot the bitch…” Doc Khamenei said to the cursing guards.
“But you’re not going to, right?” Angelica said, getting the agent’s sidearm halfway out of his holster.
Something hit the side of her neck. Pain exploded and she let go of the arm bar and brushed the side of her throat. Something warm and wet was dripping down her skin. Angel pulled the gun out just as her body hit the ground. She hadn’t had the opportunity to pull the trigger, but her sluggish brain was trying to fix that. Angel struggled to get the Glock pointed. The DHS agents were close, so close. She let out a breath like Rob and Anna had taught her, and tried gently pulling the trigger.
A swift kick knocked the gun out of her hands and a kick to the head was the last thing she saw before the darkness took her.
Thirteen
It took two days for Daniels’ information to come through. No new prisoners were being sent to Fort Smith. They were using that area for testing only now. With military transport closer to it, it made more sense to usher scientists in and out along with their materials. Likewise, none of the bases near Fort Smith were taking anybody in. That left Kelso. The rumors Daniels had heard were that Kelso was where the hard cases were sent. He relayed all of that to a very busy Kerry.
“Thanks babe, I’ll let them know,” Kerry told him. She was standing at the front gate, guarding the market.
“I’ll let them know, I have to do some shopping myself,” Jeff told her and gave her a goofy grin before getting lost in the crowd.
“You know, I’ve never known you to keep a gentleman around for any length of time,” LeBaron commented to her.
It had been a more and more common occurrence that Kerry, Goldie and LeBaron made up the groups ad-hoc membership committee, because they literally knew everybody that lived in the area. The problem they had been having, was others outside of the area had heard about the farm and the markets that actually had food.
“He’s a good one. Although you’ve yet to dip your toes back into the dating pool,” Kerry teased.
“That you’re aware of,” the old solicitor just laughed and watched as Daniels made his way to Dante.
Roscoe was worried. His big alpha was in pain. Instincts told him that made him vulnerable, but the big dog didn’t think any challenges would be coming, from anybody. The big hairless monkey smelled of anger, whiskey, and blood. He rarely spoke to Roscoe lately since his mate hadn’t come home. He didn’t think he’d done anything wrong, but he had been busy. The big green machine and truck that caught the yellow stuff had been running almost nonstop, except for today.
Ranger walked up to Roscoe who was watching people and rubbed the side of his head against Roscoe’s. He returned the gesture, ensuring all canines and hairless monkeys alike knew they were pack. Then he stretched. Ranger looked at where the eggs were, and Roscoe followed the look. The man in the uniform who smelled like the bang sticks was talking to the rest of his pack.
Ranger chuffed, nudging Roscoe, and started the walk over there.
“Where’s Rob?” Daniels asked Leah.
“He’s working on some projects. He might be out later.”
“I think I have a lead on our missing friend,” Daniels said softly. “Tell him Kelso. I’m almost sure of it.”
“How almost sure?” Leah asked.
“My contact said the camp near Fort Smith isn’t taking anybody in who isn’t a part of the virus studies, and all political cases are
