Homecoming (Dogs of War: Foxhole #1)

Chapter 1

ONE

December 2024

Aiden woke up out of a dead sleep, something jangling at his senses. It took him just a moment to recognize the room. It was his bedroom, and Angela was sleeping peacefully beside him, but something was wrong. Had he had a nightmare? No. There was no fuzzy-headed feeling. Instinctively, he turned to look at the monitor on the bedside table. A tiny black-and-white screen connected to the camera that watched Fallon’s bedroom. Fallon was quiet, but she was sitting up in bed, looking around like she was trying to hear something.

Aiden sent his senses wide, trying to discover what it was that had woken him. He’d almost given up when he felt the slightest presence at the very edge of his reach. It wasn’t really doing anything. It seemed to just be monitoring. But there was a shadow to the presence that he didn’t like. It felt… dangerous. And it was closer.

Fallon snuffled, and that was enough to make him swing his legs out of bed. Angela shifted. “You all right?” she asked, her voice sexy and husky with sleep.

“I’m fine. Just checking on something.”

Fallon was staring at the door when he walked through. She’d felt him coming. As soon as he was close enough, she lifted her arms to him. “Dada,” she said, her voice tentative.

Aiden picked her up, snuggling her close, and she burrowed in. She was a little sleepy, so he wasn’t barraged by a bunch of images, just a general sense of being unsettled.

The older Fallon got, the more refined her broadcasting grew. When she was littler, the residents of the Dog Pound would be blasted by general feelings of being uncomfortable. Sometimes the feeling was somatic. Stomach aches. Headaches. Hunger. Dr. Elizabeth had put out a memo for residents to report unusual issues, then she’d compared it to Fallon’s activities. They had all lined up. Anyone even minutely psychically sensitive in the building knew when Fallon needed changed or was hungry. It was one thing to teach grown men to control their emotions, but a completely different game trying to expect a baby to do it. She couldn’t even walk, at the time. As a parent, it put him on edge. Yes, she needed cared for, but he didn’t want to spoil her and jump to her every whim.

Who was he kidding? He did spoil her. Happily. She was a brilliant little star, and he was so infatuated with her. Caring for her was the most important thing he’d ever done in his life.

They’d also realized that Fallon’s ability worked in the reverse. She could broadcast, but she could also receive and broadcast, and it seemed like she did it without thought. Just yesterday, Aiden was hit with a strong need to see Haven. He’d no sooner exited the apartment door than Haven was running to meet him with some emergency. Since they were both in the Elton building, they could have spoken mind to mind, but Fallon had streamlined the process.

His little girl was a wonder, but she had a huge target on her tiny back. It was why they had a team on her, twenty-four seven, monitoring her mental well-being, even when they slept. Once they realized how strong she was, they’d had to develop ways to guard her, because if the men in the building could feel her, there was a strong chance enhanced soldiers outside the building could as well.

So, security practiced building a mental shield around her. It was difficult because of distance. It was one thing to build a mental shield against attack around yourself. It was a whole new set of worms to try to do one around someone else several feet away. Because he did not want men in his apartment. It was the only place in the building they could be a family and not be watched all the time.

Michael Vaughn and Carlos Diaz were outside their door now. Vaughn was Fallon’s full-time guard, and Carlos was an Elton guard. It was a ridiculous use of manpower, but it was what they had to do to keep her safe.

Are you guys feeling that? he asked mentally.

Yes, sir , Vaughn answered. Started about five minutes ago but hasn’t gotten any closer. I think they’re just pinging her.

Let me know if anything changes.

Vaughn was a good guard, and he’d been with Fallon for the past few months. He was one of the strongest men Aiden had ever seen, both physically and mentally. He’d been a Delta before Shu had gotten his hands on him, and he’d been given a later version of the Spartan drug. It had had remarkable effects on his physical body. Vaughn said he’d been strong before, growing up the son of a ranch foreman in Wyoming. After the drug, he could literally lift the rear of one of the SUVs. Aiden had only learned about that story after they’d had a few beers one night. Vaughn was still pretty young, and a little crazy, but he had a personal ethos like no other. Aiden trusted him to protect Fallon completely. And Fallon loved him.

Dr. Shu and Damon Wilkes had worked with the government on their super-soldier Spartan project, and they’d brought in other countries to supply test-subjects as well. The men had had camps all around the world where they tested on their subjects with a half-dozen variations of the drug. Shu and Wilkes were long dead, and the senator that had been backing the program was in prison. Aiden knew that former Senator Hall still had very dirty fingers, even though he was officially persona non grata.

The US government had disbanded the program, but they knew that the other countries were still actively following the tenets of the program. Aiden’s group, the Dogs of War, had taken in as many of the test subjects as they could, thanks in huge part to Dr. Elizabeth Wilkes, now Terberger, and her deep pockets. She had taken over the Silverstone Collaborative, Damon’s company, and refocused the company’s interests on legal pursuits. And she had vowed to take care of any man her husband had had a part in testing upon.

The Elton building housed more than sixty men now, with about twenty more down in North Carolina building the Foxhole.

Aiden knew there had to be a lot more men out there being tested upon that they hadn’t found yet. Shu’s information was spotty at best, and it seemed like he had to go along with the connections that Damon had brought and that the military suggested he work with. They all wanted to be the strongest, and they didn’t care who they injured. Least of all their own military men.

It was a constant struggle, taking in men they recovered. The building’s hospital levels were always full, and Elizabeth, a general practice doctor, was running ragged. He knew Wulfe worried about her. They’d hired a significant medical staff to take care of the men, but it didn’t always seem like enough. There were a few men that were so deep in their pain that they took a whole staff to themselves.

They were making headway, though. Over thirty men were on Joint Task Force Omega, now, with more in training. The Elton building was packed to the gills with testosterone.

And babies. Potentially enhanced babies. They’d just learned that Nurse Raine was pregnant with Noah’s baby, and Angela thought Jordyn could be pregnant, though she hadn’t come out and said. With every new life they created with the enhanced soldiers, the building became more of a target.

“I think she’s asleep,” Angela murmured, brushing his arm.

He hadn’t even heard her come in, he was so lost in his thoughts. Seems like she was always creeping up on him. She was one of the very few people that could. He wasn’t sure if it was because of her Marine and law enforcement training, or because he didn’t register her as a threat.

Very carefully, he lowered Fallon back into the crib, pulling a light blanket over top of her. Then he turned to Angela.

In the glow from the nightlight, he could see her gentle smile as she looked down at her daughter. Her arms were crossed, like she was keeping herself from touching her, but her shadowed blue-grey eyes shone with pride as they looked down at her. Angela had been more than beautiful to him before, but motherhood had given her an extra something that he couldn’t describe.

Aiden turned her toward the door, and they crept out.

Once they were back in bed, she looked across at him. “Did you feel them again? Is that why you’re so tense?”

“Yes,” he said, his voice raspy. “Just on the edges.”

“They’re going to move on us again,” she murmured, and he knew she was right. The desperation was building.

Unknown groups had attacked them three times now. Two groups had spoken English, but the other group had spoken something more guttural, like Russian. One of the attacks had taken place when Lilly, Donna’s daughter, had been kidnapped and they’d been spread thin trying to rescue her. Five of their men had died in the attack on the underground parking garage, though they’d managed to take out nine of the attacking force. None of them had made it through the security checkpoints they had on the building, but it was only a matter of time. If they wanted the baby bad enough, they would attack in force, and people were going to die. Again.

Aiden knew exactly why they wanted Fallon. She was the first offspring born to an enhanced soldier.

“How is she ever going to have a normal life?” Angela asked softly. “It’s almost Christmas, and I can’t even take her to see Santa. Get her pictures taken. Let her see lights at night and drink hot chocolate.”

Aiden sighed, struggling with the same thoughts. “I know. I’m sorry, babe.”

She rolled on her side, toward him, and wrapped her arm over his chest. “It’s not your fault. It’s Shu’s fault, and Wilkes’, and Hall’s. And all the evil, greedy men that have perpetuated this mess.”

They had wracked their brains, trying to come up with a solution. Krammer was always analyzing and surfing through the dark web, trying to find more men and the groups that were testing on them. Officer Kevin Rose, the Joint Task Force Omega liaison from the CIA, was doing everything he could on his end to try to find who was after the baby. But the groups were so well hidden. It was literally like chasing ghosts.

And now they had a new foe. Senator Hall’s sister, an iron-haired woman with a kind face and a very dark heart, had taken over some of Hall’s contacts. Krammer and the CIA had dug into Francesca Hall’s background, but they were coming up empty. A lot of people mysteriously died around the woman, though, and she always seemed to come out of the situation smelling like roses.

“I feel like if we’re in this building, we will always be a target. From what Fontana has been saying, I think the Foxhole is ready enough to house people,” he said carefully, watching to gauge her reaction. “We could head down early. The pictures he’s sent look incredible. You may have to rough it a little, but it sounds like it will be safer for Fallon. Krammer hasn’t picked up any chatter on the dark web about the property down there.”

Angela drew in a deep breath. “I’m not gonna lie. I’m pretty sick of being inside this building. I stay for Fallon, and you, of course, but there are only so many concrete walls I can look at.”

“Yeah, I get it.”

He’d seen her roaming the halls and worrying at her fingernails. Little tells that she was unsettled. They were deeply in love, but he could see and feel the anxiety that had built in her over the past two years. She’d quit her job as a police detective to move with him to Arlington,Virginia, just outside of DC, and then to stay with the baby. She’d taken a job helping Krammer in security, but that was only when he needed an extra hand monitoring.

Something had to change, and he suddenly realized he needed to be the one to make the move. “So, let’s do it, then,” he said, jumping in with both feet. “I’m tired of the waffling. Let’s get out of here and see what the great big world of North Carolina has to offer.”

Angela leaned up on her elbow. “Are you serious? Don’t tease me or I’ll smack you.”

Aiden chuckled. “I’m serious. It’ll take a few days to get everything arranged, but I don’t think anyone will say anything about us going down early. I know we were shooting for spring, but if you don’t mind the cold and snow…”

She snorted. “I’m from Colorado!”

“Then let’s do it,” he said, pulling her down for a kiss. “We’ll just drop off the grid and try to live the best life we can for Fallon. From what Black and Fontana say, it sounds pretty idyllic.”

Angela buried her face against his collarbone, her fists tightening against his chest. There was a wash of emotion from her, and he tightened his arms around her. “It’s okay,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head as she fought her tears. “I’ll make sure Fallon gets to experience at least one normal Christmas.”

He glanced at the monitor on his nightstand and made the same promise to his sleeping daughter.

Angela looked around their apartment and wondered how the hell she was going to get it all done.

They were moving in two days and she had to have everything essential packed within that time. She was allocating six hours to their stuff, and twelve hours to Fallon’s stuff. Were they taking her furniture? She wasn’t sure. Aiden wasn’t sure. He had no idea what was in the cabin they were being assigned. He promised her he would contact the site manager, a somewhat dour man named Owen Black. She’d met Black a time or two, and he seemed very competent. Never spoke much, but he had that assured, quiet intensity, a man-who-could-move-a-mountain mentality. And he literally had had to move a mountain, she thought with a laugh. His voice had been damaged in the camps, so he spoke with a gravel rasp that sounded painful sometimes. Aiden said he was one of the most intuitive and detail oriented men he’d ever met, though, which was saying something. The only men Aiden met were intuitive. And he said Black’s mind worked at a crazy level.

The amount of logistics that went into creating a secure, self-sufficient compound on two mountains spread over thousands of acres had to be massive. She couldn’t even begin to think where to start. She knew they had running water because it was all mountain runoff. But she did not know what comforts they would have. Black must believe the accommodations were sufficient to house a baby. He would have said something if not, right?

There was a knock at her apartment door, and Angela crossed the room to swing it open. Raine grinned as she caught sight of her and leaned in for a hug. “Oh, honey, don’t get overwhelmed.”

Angela felt tears well in her eyes. Leave it to Raine to see what she was going through. The woman was an amazing nurse for a reason. She was an even more spectacular friend.

Raine set her back with her hands on her shoulders and smiled at her. “Do you have enough boxes?”

Angela nodded and waved a hand at the stack of black containers with yellow lids. “One of the guys just brought me those, and he’s bringing up another load in a few minutes.”

Raine nodded as she walked in, surveying the apartment. Angela had started on towels and bedding, and she planned to move to their bedroom next. They had a few momentoes from dating that she’d packed, and some food from the pantry she didn’t think she’d be able to get down there. She loved her unique seasonings.

Then she started doubting herself. It was just North Carolina. It wasn’t like she was moving to Africa…

Raine started peering into her boxes. “Looks like you have a decent start. Where do you want me to work?”

Where did she want her to work? “Um, I don’t even know. Maybe let’s work in the kitchen.”

They moved into the kitchen, and when Angela handed her dishes, Raine wrapped them in newsprint.

“How are you feeling,” she asked the younger woman.

Raine grinned, and her cheeks lifted. Her thick golden hair was plaited in a braid that hung over her shoulder, and her blue eyes glittered with happiness. “I feel pretty good. The nausea seems to be easing. Donna helped me out one day because it was so bad. Noah was about to lose his shit. He just doesn’t know what to do for me.”

Angela nodded her head, so appreciative that Donna was on their side now. Donna Frame, formerly known as Belladonna when she was forced to work with the former senator, had the ability to sense maladies and heal. Angela knew without a doubt that Fallon wouldn’t be here if Donna hadn’t helped her out with her own pregnancy.

“Stay close to Donna,” Angela said. “The woman is amazing.”

Raine nodded, her grin tipping up on one side. “And now that she’s with Haven, I can’t get over the change in her.”

Donna used to be incredibly uptight. She’d been abused by the company and by Senator Hall as much as any of the men they’d taken in. Possibly more so. Senator Hall had kept Donna’s daughter away from her, and under threat if Donna didn’t do exactly as the Senator wanted. One of Donna’s first abilities was being able to tell which men the drug was going to work on. She’d weeded through the test subjects, letting the doctors know which ones were salvageable. It had been a terrible situation, and she carried a lot of guilt for working for them, even under duress. Many men had died at the shake of her head.

Since she’d fallen in love with Haven, though, her demeanor had completely changed. She was more open, and she smiled easily. They even teased her sometimes, and her cheeks would turn pink. She showed a vulnerability and an openness that she’d never shown before. It was like she was relearning how to be a woman.

Angela glanced at Raine, alarmed to see tears swimming in her friend’s eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m not gonna lie. I’m gonna miss y’all.”

“Oh, Raine,” she breathed, and leaned down for a hug. “We’ll keep in touch, and at some point, you may have to come down with us.” She nodded at Raine’s tiny baby bump. “Noah’s baby will probably be enhanced as well.”

Raine swiped at her cheeks. “I know. I’m trying to prepare myself for that. I just remind myself how much I love Fallon, and most of my worries go away. I love my job here, but I’ll be happy to get out of the city when the time comes. I’m a farm girl at heart.”

Angela grinned, pulling back. “At some point, most of us may be down there. This building isn’t getting any bigger, and if we keep finding men like we have, they’re going to require care. And space!”

They both fell into a thoughtful silence until Raine looked up with a grin. “If you have thermal underwear, you’d better be packing them. And I doubt you’ll take them off for the next four months. You and Aiden are gonna have to find new ways to get busy.”

Angela cringed. “I really hope you’re wrong.”

Raine shrugged as she put another plate in the box. “Just in case I would pack everything warm you have. And hand and toe warmers. Tea. Blankets. Anything to fight the cold. You may be in a shed in the woods.”

Angela didn’t hate the Elton building, but a long time ago she’d decided if she had a chance to leave it, she would. And this was her chance. She just might have to rough it a little.

Her baby would be safe, though.