Resistance (Earth Evolution Series Book 2) Read online

  Then she and Walter had met up with Lily and her son Thomas and they grew to become a small little family. Kyle was grateful that these people had been so welcoming to Maggie. Maggie had become like Kyle’s own sister in his heart. He would do just about anything for her.

  Kyle knew he needed to get some sleep but he couldn’t put the diary down. It was like a window into Maggie’s soul. He learned so much about the tribe and about how the politics in the subway tunnels worked. What surprised him the most was that he could see similarities between Maggie and Rachel. They weren’t that different. Rachel was more sheltered and soft. Maggie had lost her childhood and toughened to become a survivor, a warrior.

  Each subway area had a small group of people in tribes with a tribe leader and a second in command. There was no real election held for the leaders; whoever had the power and the means could lead. But on few occasions tribe leaders could be deposed if the entire tribe supported that.

  There were certain laws established among the tribes and if someone did something horrible, they could be kicked out of the tribe. It was virtually a death sentence because it was the tribe members who took care of each other and hunted for food for one another. Without the tribe, those kicked out would be completely on their own. Other tribes tended to not want to take on troublemakers.

  The man who had hurt Maggie when she was still young had been banished from the tribe. He had followers, though, who left with him and because they were able to find one of the highly sought-after food storage areas in the subway system, many other tribes allowed them to stay with them for a while for that reason.

  Kyle had put the diary down after reading Maggie’s description of what had happened to her and how she lost her baby. It made him realize just how scared Maggie was about losing her and Liam’s child. Maggie’s words haunted him. “Every life is precious and could be taken away in a heartbeat. Loved ones should be protected and cherished always.” For someone so young, she had so much wisdom.

  Kyle couldn’t read anymore that night. He was overwhelmed with emotions. He wanted to contact his brother Liam and make sure that Maggie and the baby were okay. He also wanted to go by the subway car that Rachel was sleeping in and keep watch over her for a while. Just in case. It was too late to risk waking up Liam and Maggie, so he got back up and headed out of his tent so that he could at least keep one person safe that night.

  Chapter 6

  “Come on, that’s absolutely ridiculous,” Rachel complained to Kyle when he insisted that she have a security guard with her at all times. They had been there for three days and nothing dangerous had happened. He was totally overreacting.

  “That’s how it’s going to be. I’m in charge of the security detail.”

  “You may be in charge of security but you’re not in charge of me.”

  “You promised your mother and father that you would adhere to what the security entails, which means you have to follow my orders when it comes to…”

  “Follow your orders? I think not!”

  “Rachel, Kyle — let’s all settle down and not let our tempers get the better of us.” Rachel’s mom stepped in between them. She waited until both of them stopped staring each other down and turned their eyes to her.

  “Okay, let’s see if we can’t come to some kind of compromise.”

  Kyle stood up straighter. “I will not compromise the safety of the people I have been given command over.”

  “You do not command me, Lieutenant.” Rachel crossed her arms over her chest, which drew Kyle’s eyes toward her. She didn’t have huge breasts, but they were firm and perky, and at the moment, her nipples were tight and pointy. It was almost as if their arguing aroused her. That was...unwelcome. Not to mention awkward, since her mother was standing right next to her.

  Melissa sighed. “How about this ― we promise to have someone with us at all times, whether it’s a security guard or each other?”

  Rachel tried not to laugh as she watched a slight tick develop in Kyle’s cheek. He was trying hard not to argue with her mother. It was the funniest thing she had seen in a while.

  “Fine, as long as someone is with you at all times, I will relent on the security guard. But Thomas does not count — no one under four feet counts — got it?” He narrowed his eyes at Rachel.

  She just gave him a wide smile. “I understand and will comply with your safety suggestions.” She turned and walked back toward Lily’s subway car. She didn’t hear what was being said as she left.

  “That girl is driving me crazy.” Kyle growled out as he ran his hand through his hair. It was getting long again and he would have to cut it to make sure he met warrior regulations.

  “She’s young and not used to having to be careful all the time. It’s her father and I’s fault. We sheltered her too much. We thought we had lost Maggie and we kind of allowed Rachel free rein. She’s a good girl — she just hasn’t had the experiences that others have had. Sometimes I feel like I failed her just like I failed Maggie.” Melissa sat down on a crate. She looked sad.

  “Both your girls have turned out just fine. Maggie is strong, brave, and beautiful. Rachel is beautiful and stubborn, but she knows what she wants and stands by it. I admire that, even though she is frustrating beyond belief. Parents can only do so much. According to my father, my brothers and I did whatever we wanted no matter how much he tried to direct us. So, he said that he was just kind of there when something we did messed up or blew up, literally.”

  Melissa blinked a few times. “I don’t think I will ask about the blowing up bit.”

  He cracked a smile. “Probably best you don’t know. Why did Rachel come here?”

  “She wants to help. She doesn’t feel like she has a purpose and she needs that. Is it really so unsafe here?”

  “Did your husband tell you about the small hate group and their activities?”

  “Yes, a little bit.”

  “I haven’t encountered them myself, but yesterday there was a skirmish up top near the entrance to the subway station.”

  “Was anyone hurt?” Melissa felt concerned.

  He shook his head. “No one was injured. But the second load of supplies was almost completely demolished. We’ll have to replace that shipment.”

  “I don’t understand why they would keep food and supplies from coming down here to our own people who are in desperate need of it.” Melissa frowned as she tried to process what Kyle was telling her.

  “I don’t either. But from the worlds that I’ve visited, scared and ignorant people do not often do things that make sense.”

  Melissa nodded. “That’s true enough. I understand now why you are so concerned about our safety. I’ll have a talk with Rachel.”

  “Let me. I need to apologize for losing my temper. I don’t know why she seems to know exactly what to do or say to make me angry.”

  Melissa laughed. “She pushes your buttons, huh? It was like that for me and David when we were first met. He couldn’t understand why I refused to date him at first.”

  Kyle looked shocked. “I thought that the two of you were a love match.”

  “Oh we were, and still are. It’s just that he asked out one of my friends first . They had one date together but nothing else developed. But I was hurt that he had asked her first. I had always liked him from the moment I saw him. He was the best-looking guy in school but he knew it and was way too cocky. He thought every girl in school should fall at his feet and when I didn’t do that, he was knocked off his pedestal. But eventually he convinced me to give him one chance. I did and we have not been parted for very long since that first date.”

  “I am not sure I followed everything that you just said.”

  She stood up and smiled at him. “The point is that you and my daughter are attracted to each and you don’t know how to deal with that attraction. So you are annoying each other instead and causing more confusion than necessary.”

  “That can’t be right. Rachel doesn’t even like me.”

&
nbsp; Melissa snorted and then stopped herself before she started laughing. She did not want to offend the young warrior. “Hence the confusion. Word of advice for you ― be sure of your feelings for Rachel before you act on them. Rachel hasn’t had a lot of experience with men and I can tell you that she has never reacted to anyone else like she does you. But her father and I won’t allow you to play with her heart, so make sure you want a relationship with her before anything else happens.”

  Kyle had a hard time believing what Mrs. James was saying. He and Rachel fought like a cat and a dog, and there was nothing more going on. Was there?

  “Let me walk you back and I’ll go apologize to Rachel.”

  “Good luck with that,” Melissa chuckled.

  *****

  “So you see, that’s why we’re taking extra precautions,” Kyle’s cousin Quinn explained.

  “This happened just yesterday?” Rachel hugged herself, feeling uneasy. She wasn’t worried about herself but she didn’t want her mother to get hurt. Having gone through years of thinking her sister was dead, she was very protective of her parents. The thought of something happening to either of them made her anxious and worried.

  “Are we safe here?”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” Quinn put a comforting arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze.

  “Lieutenant, don’t you have somewhere else you should be?” Kyle growled from behind them.

  Rachel was startled. She hadn’t heard him approach at all. “Stop sneaking up on people!” She glared angrily at Kyle before she turned to Quinn and reached up to place a quick kiss on his cheek. “Thanks, Quinn, for talking to me like a normal rational person.”

  Quinn’s cheeks turned pink. “No problem. See you later, Rach.” He puffed out his chest as he walked past a glaring Kyle.

  Rachel wasn’t in the mood to get in another argument with Kyle, so she tried to walk past him. He reached out and grabbed her arm gently but firmly.

  “I need to talk to you.”

  “Look, Quinn explained what happened yesterday. I get it now so I’ll be more careful. I’m sorry for making such a big deal about it. You’re just doing your job.”

  “I’m sorry as well. It’s not just about me doing my job. I care about what happens to you.”

  She knew her mouth was hanging open but she was just so shocked that he would admit that to her..

  “What are you saying?” She asked with a whisper. She looked up at him and immediately recognized the expression on his face. Desire. Kyle Estro desired her, Rachel James.

  Kyle pulled her closer to him. He towered over her smaller frame. She could feel the heat radiating from his body even through their clothes. Her nipples tightened and she licked her lips. How was it that he could make her body react to him while barely touching her?

  “What I am saying is, I want you...to not flirt with Quinn anymore.”

  For the second time that night he shocked her. “What?”

  “Quinn is young and impressionable. He doesn’t realize that you flirting with him isn’t serious.”

  She stepped back from him and he dropped his grip on her, letting her go. “Quinn is only one year younger than you. And I wasn’t flirting with him.”

  “You kissed him. He had his arm wrapped around you.”

  “That was me thanking him for taking the time to comfort me when I was upset.”

  “If you need comfort, come to me, not Quinn.”

  She snorted. “I won’t be needing comforting if I have to depend on you to provide it. That’s not going to happen, buddy.”

  “Damn it, Rachel, come back here! I’m not done talking.”

  “Well, I’m done talking to you.” She walked away with angry strides. Kyle watched her until she disappeared inside the subway car.

  Fuck! He was supposed to fix things with her, not make them worse. But when he came up on Quinn with his arm around Rachel, he was filled with a jealous rage. It took everything in him to keep from striking out at his cousin.

  This was new for him. He never felt jealousy over a woman before. He and Quinn were often flirting with the same women. He had never felt possessive over any of the others, but with Rachel he was very possessive. He wanted her for himself.

  An image of Rachel naked underneath him made his cock full and painfully tight against his pants. This was not good. Rachel was old enough to date but her father would be a major problem. He needed to keep his emotions in check. He also needed to have a little talk with his cousin.

  *****

  Kyle found his cousin standing guard at the outskirts of the tunnel. “Hey.”

  Quinn straightened up his shoulders and saluted him. “Sir, nothing to report.”

  Kyle sighed. “Come on, Quinn, no one’s around.”

  Quinn didn’t say anything, just stood there staring off toward Kyle’s left shoulder. It made Kyle feel like a real ass. Quinn was as close to Kyle as his own brothers were and they were closer in age.

  “I’m sorry. I saw your arms around Rachel and I didn’t handle it very well,” Kyle apologized.

  “No, you didn’t. I was just comforting her. That’s all.”

  “I know. I believe you. But for a moment there, I couldn’t think rationally. All my instincts were fired up.”

  “Yeah, I got that impression. You’ve got it bad for her, don’t you?”

  Kyle sighed. “She drives me crazy. I swear she disagrees with everything I say on purpose just to make my blood pressure go up.”

  Quinn chuckled and relaxed his stance. “I can see that. She’s smart and beautiful, and that’s a deadly combination. Not to mention sexy as hell.”

  “Don’t talk about how sexy she is, ever,” Kyle growled at his cousin.

  Quinn held up his hands. “Easy! I might flirt harmlessly but I would never try to go after someone that you have fallen for.”

  “I haven’t fallen for her.”

  “Sure, go ahead and deny it. It’s written all over your face every time you see her. You really need to learn to cover up your expressions better, cousin.”

  “Just keep your hands to yourself.”

  “I have no control over her hands though,” Quinn joked. Kyle hit him in the back of his head. “Ouch!”

  “Don’t push my buttons, Quinn. Keep your distance from Rachel.”

  “Come on, just claim her already then you wouldn’t be all pissy all the time.”

  “Pissy? I think you are spending way too much time with the humans.”

  “Naw. Although the women are hot. I like their smaller size and fragile bodies. Makes me want to carry one off to a deserted area and bond.”

  “You need to have leave soon. You are starting to lose it. Don’t you think we’re too young to settle down already?”

  “You’re an idiot, Kyle. There’s a beautiful woman who can’t stop watching you and you keep putting off your feelings. I would give anything to find one person I can just be myself with. Someone who would look forward to having me come home to her every night or at least after every mission.”

  “Just keep your distance.” Kyle walked off. Maybe Quinn was right. It would be nice to have someone to come home to, to welcome him home and into her bed. Images of a naked Rachel waiting for him in bed had him readjusting his cock again. Damn. She was messing him up badly.

  Chapter 7

  “Good grief, how many boxes did you bring with you, Jared?” Rachel asked as she lugged a box that felt like it weighed more than she did. She plopped it on the ground next to the other boxes that were being brought in.

  “Just a few more. I am here for another week before I have to go back to the ship. I won’t be allowed to return for at least a month or two. My father thinks I’ve spent too many weeks down here. He wants me to take a break. He pulled rank on me and as commander, he has the final word.”

  She sat the box down and stood up, groaning. She rubbed her back. The box was heavier than she thought it would be. She knew that she would
feel the aches and pains tomorrow.

  “Wait, Rachel, don’t lift any more boxes. I told you there are plenty of men around to do that. Did you hurt yourself?”

  She shook her head. “Not really. I just ache a little. But I think that will be the last one I will be lifting for a while. What’s in there anyway?”

  “The boxes with blue labels have food, the ones with green labels have clothing apparel with shoes, and the boxes with the white labels have the medical supplies.”

  She frowned as she looked around and saw a mixture of blue and green labels along with the medical supplies. “Why are there food and clothing boxes mixed in here with the medical supplies?”

  “This used to be the tribe’s supply area but I’ve confiscated it to use as the main medical facility since it was larger and has a fountain with running water. The food and clothing will be relocated as soon as the tribe leader decides where he wants them to go. Everything has to be under secure area with a guard on duty at all times now because of the...security issues going on.”

  “It’s okay, I know about it. Quinn told me already. Though Kyle should have been the one to, but — anyway.” She blushed, realizing she had said too much.

  Jared raised an eyebrow as he looked down at her. “Is Kyle still giving you a hard time?”

  “Yes. It’s like he knows exactly what to do or say to piss me off.”

  Jared answered distractedly as he looked up and watched Lily walk in, carrying another box. “Yeah, I understand that completely.”

  Rachel folded her arms across her chest and stared up at Jared. When he finally stopped watching Lily, he looked down and blushed from having been caught. “What?”

  “How long has this been going on?”

  “How long has what been going on?” Jared stepped around her and went to open one of the medical boxes.