“You wouldn’t.” She swallowed hard, the color leaving her complexion. “I know you. You have too much respect for law and order to break the rules.”
A rabid expression crossed his face and he leaned into her. “You don’t deserve the protection of our laws,” he hissed, twisting the knife, causing Aliyah to scream out.
“In the village of Malistan,” she breathed finally. “At the edge of town, there’s a roped off area, warning the residents of possible landmines. That’s where his body is.” A devious look passed her face. “If you’re lucky, you may find his body and his head.”
Ripping the knife from her stomach, he reeled back, his eyes wild. He didn’t do enough to come to Landon’s aid after the explosion, but he had an opportunity to make it right, to make sure justice for Landon’s and Mischa’s deaths would be served. He wasn’t going to let it slip through his fingers again. Alexander would never forgive himself if Aliyah ever saw the light of day again, only to terrorize another innocent child.
Letting out a loud grunt, he brought the knife back down, piercing her heart. She clutched onto his hands holding the knife, blood trickling from her mouth, then her body went limp.
He remained completely still as he stared at her dark, lifeless eyes, his hands still holding onto the knife with all his strength. Taking a breath, he closed his eyes, relief that it was all over flowing through him.
“I’m sorry, Landon,” he whispered, taking a moment to mourn his fallen friend.
On shaky limbs, he stood up, finally able to fully take in what had happened here over the past few hours. Two of his female agents who had been stationed to watch over the safe house lay slumped in the corner of the room, a pool of blood surrounding them. Selena was just a few feet from them, her eyes still open.
Pausing, he walked toward her body and knelt beside it. She had been through hell trying to escape the horrors she faced in her home country. This was supposed to be her new start, her chance at freedom. It wasn’t supposed to end like this for her, for any of them.
With a heavy sigh, he smoothed his hand over her eyelids, closing them, then stood up and headed toward the front door. Moretti waited just outside. Without saying a word, they exchanged a look, then Alexander continued down the steps, crime scene technicians hurrying into the house to begin their work.
“Daddy!” a voice yelled. Alexander swung his head in that direction, his eyes falling on Melanie clutched in Olivia’s embrace.
Relief washed over him as she dashed toward him and flung herself against him. He lifted her into his arms, kissing the top of her head, and walked toward where Olivia stood comforting Landon. Resting his forehead against hers, he closed his eyes, thankful to have his family back. For too long, he took them for granted…took everyone for granted. Never again.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
December 24
10:30 AM
OLIVIA AND ALEXANDER HELD Melanie’s hands as they walked up a cleared path. The sun was shining, and there was a happy and joyful feeling in the air all around town, children counting down the hours until Santa’s big visit tonight. Alexander usually loved celebrating the holidays with his daughter and the rest of his family. However, this year, it was bittersweet knowing one very important part of their family would no longer be at the table, would no longer be sitting on the couch by the tree, would no longer be doting on Melanie as if she were his own granddaughter.
In the four days that had passed since they were able to put an end to all the ugliness, Olivia and Alexander had been asked and answered more questions by Homeland Security and the FBI than he cared to think about. Even the Secretary of Homeland Security had shown an interest in the girls’ futures. Alexander didn’t know what was going to happen to them, but for now, they were still safe, returning to the lives they led before Mischa’s death as best they could, given everything they had been through.
He couldn’t help but see his wife in a whole new light, feeling a sense of pride in everything she’d done to save these women’s lives. If it weren’t for her, they would have probably all perished in their home country. Instead, they led the lives they always dreamed of, all because she did what she believed to be the right thing, regardless of the consequences. Something he should have been doing all along.
“I feel like I’ve spent all my time lately at churches or in cemeteries,” Olivia muttered, meeting Alexander’s eyes as they followed the long parade of people up to the open-air chapel in the center of the cemetery swarming with people. A lot of faces were familiar, many of them agents and employees of the security company. But there were some he had never seen before — men and women Martin had served with as a Marine. Decades had passed, but they still found it in their hearts to come and pay their final respects.
“That’s because we have,” Alexander replied with a heavy sigh.
This marked the third funeral in so many days, having already said their goodbyes to Mischa and Rayne. The two funerals had been on opposite ends of the spectrum. Mischa’s funeral had been a joyful event, a celebration of her life and accomplishments, attended by several hundred people, all lives she’d touched in one way or another during her time on earth.
Rayne’s was in stark contrast to that. Besides Olivia and Alexander, her parents were the only other people in attendance. It made him realize how one event could have a devastating impact on a person’s entire life trajectory. As he watched them lower her casket next to the son she had lost after only being on this planet for a few hours, he thanked his lucky stars for everything he had.
When Olivia insisted on attending the funeral, he thought she had lost her mind, given everything Rayne had done, but she reminded Alexander that Rayne wasn’t to blame. She was a woman at the lowest point in her life, eager to do anything she could to be happy again. She was depressed, vulnerable, and easily manipulated. He couldn’t help but think if he had pushed harder, if he had insisted on seeing her, she would have still been alive today.
“This way, Mr. Burnham,” one of his agents said as they approached a police perimeter.
Several agents escorted the family through the throng of mourners, doing their best to shield them from the cameras and reporters. Alexander shook his head at the audacity. Some reporters would do anything for a story, even showing up to a funeral just to get a soundbite or a few seconds of footage to air on the six o’clock news.