Page 51 of Radar (Iniquus Certified Cerberus Tactical K9 #2)

Xander

Monday

Sainte-Mère-église

“Xander,” Anna gasped, looking pale and haunted as she stared into the camera on her laptop.

“Elyssa, this is my cousin Anna. Finley’s fiancée, and the reason that we met.”

“Thank you,” Elyssa said.

“Good work. Much appreciation to both of you. It’s hard to believe that it’s over. And I mean really and truly over.”

Xander knew that all he had done was buy them a short window of time.

Months at most. The Zorics had the science to rebuild their destructive machine.

And if what Elyssa was saying about the study of revenge addiction, the Zoric family would come at the world hard and fast. Xander wasn’t sure how he could keep Elyssa safe.

But right now, he was confused by Anna’s tone, by how pale she was.

So he just came out and labeled what he saw. “You look like you’re in shock.”

“That’s putting it mildly. I … there … It …” She put her hand on her forehead, then bent at the waist and blew out hard.

“Take your time, Anna. Sit down on the ground before you fall down.”

She picked up the computer and sank to the floor. From the new angle, she must have her laptop balanced on her knees. “Adele just called from Singapore. There was an explosion.”

“Breathe.”

“The Family was on a ferry boat at what was late afternoon in Singapore, about the time you were on your boat in the Seine. That ferry was bringing The Family to Davidson Realm.”

“An explosion?”

“The family was bringing auxiliary boats that held the servants.”

“An explosion, Anna?”

“Adele had someone tracking The Family as they crossed so she would know when The Family landed and what happened next. They were set up like a fishing boat, and they were filming. I’ve seen the video.

” Her voice squeaked, and Anna clutched at her heart, much like Elyssa did when she was in pain.

“There was a cigarette boat. It was aimed at the ferry and was going super fast. The video was very clear. Very crisp. On board, two people, dressed in full scuba gear, held underwater propellers. The driver pushed the throttle forward, aimed at the center of the ferry. Then the men jumped into the ocean. They went underwater and disappeared. But the speedboat.” She gasped. “Oh god, the speedboat.”

“Take a breath. Take your time,” Xander said. “Is that a glass of water beside you? Take a sip.”

“The speedboat was full of boxes. It went straight into the side of the ferry. And when it did, there was an explosion. It was so big that the blast wave flipped some of the pleasure boats that the Zorics were having shuttled over. The person filming was thrown backward, and moments later, he was back on his feet, filming again. He filmed as the captain of his boat made a circuit to pick up the living people in the water. Without much space, I guess that’s all they could do.

They left the dead.” Tears were running down her face.

“The live people from the water were the servants. Adele says her person thinks he got all of them.”

Xander hugged Elyssa closer to him. He was trying to wrap his imagination around what Anna was saying. “The Family?” he whispered.

“Gone.”

“How many are gone?” Xander asked.

“All gone. There’s nothing left of the ferry. It exploded then sank. The speedboat was a bomb. The assailants didn’t put the bomb on the ferry because the Zoric security team did sweeps to check for explosives.”

“Gone,” Xander’s tone was hollow.

“Gone,” Anna said.

Xander shook his head. He was looking for that drug-like sensation that Elyssa had described that addictive personalities experienced when they got their revenge. And he had cotton. He had smoke. He was numb. “That’s stunning.”

“Yes.” Anna snorted and ran the back of her wrist under her nose.

“The babies and children, that’s a tragedy.”

Anna’s face crumpled into a mask of pain.

“Yes.” She panted then sniffed. “All wiped off the face of the Earth except for the Zoric family members who are huddled in their Washington prison cells.” She flicked her hand like she was trying to rid them of some substance.

“I’m in shock. I don’t know what to do with myself. ”

“Have you told Finley?” Elyssa asked softly.

“He was on the call with Adele. He’s said he’s getting on the first flight to come to me.” A heavy breath and a grimace of deep pain. She panted and sniffed. “All those people. They were people .”

“I know,” Xander said soothingly.

“They were bad, terrible people, and for me, the death of many of them, this is a blessing—the biggest, most joyful thing. The most miraculous, wonderful thing that could have happened. It’s such a conflict in my body.”

“The families. I know,” Xander said. “Anna, you’re human. You ate at their tables, you cuddled their babies. It’s a devastating blow, and you should not be alone. Tatiana. Can you go to Tatiana and stay with her until Finley gets there?”

“Uhm, no. No. I can’t be around anyone at all.

I can’t put up a front right now, and I’d have to, the attack hasn’t been on the news yet.

This is such a horrible sensation. Half of me is jumping up and down, screeching with joy.

Orest, Medved’, and Melina all wiped into oblivion, never to hurt anyone again.

The world is a far safer place without them.

But Natasha was on the ferry, and she was always so kind.

Criminally culpable but not death sentence worthy.

Joy and horror are such strange bedfellows.

” Anna wrapped her hands around her ribs.

“I think I might explode. Or vomit. Something. Hold on, it’s White, I’ll bring her on. ”

He waited a while.

Anna came back on the line. Her face was red and tear-streaked. “She sent Grey to support me until Steve can get here. Grey is pulling up now.”

“The CIA has confirmed Adele’s report?” Xander asked.

“White didn’t have time for a conference call.

I have notes. White saw the video and was able to verify its authenticity.

Next, she said York is doing well and has been moved to a private room, and they expect a full recovery.

So that’s good news. She said to let Elyssa know,” Anna pulled up a piece of paper.

“Meat, cheese, and squirrel were all on a pleasure boat and survived without injury. They are on their way to the U.S. Embassy.”

Elyssa crumpled in Xander’s arms, and Radar, whining, crawled over, thrusting himself into her lap as she sobbed.

“So that looks like relieving news for Elyssa,” Anna said.

“Absolutely.”

Anna lifted the paper again. “White told me that Adele also had tape of exactly who loaded. I’m reading this from Adele.

‘Medved,’ Orest, and two hundred and forty-eight other family members boarded the ferry along with four ferry workers and six caterers.

All two hundred and sixty souls are gone.

The coffin has been nailed shut. Our job protecting the world from the Zorics is over. ”

And in the back of his mind, he wondered if Elyssa would have been on the family ferry had she gone with Orest as he’d asked.

Had Elyssa’s ethics in living up to a promise she’d made to a friend saved her life?

Right now, Xander’s heart was full to bursting.

Just having Elyssa in his arms was euphoria.

She’d survived the dangers. And so had Anna. “Anna, you’re free.”

“At what cost?” Anna looked to the side. “Someone’s ringing my bell. Stay with me while I look out—John Grey’s here,” she called.

Xander kissed Elyssa’s head as she lifted it to his shoulder. He smoothed the damp strands of hair out of her face and rocked side to side to soothe them both.

What a hell of a twist.

“Ender,” a male voice said from off-screen as Anna found her place in front of the camera. “I’ve got some shit to tell you.”

“Listening.” Bracing.

“John Green was out in Singapore tag-teaming with Adele. While he was there, he caught sight of William Davidson without his family and wondered what that was about, so he kept an eye on him. William Davidson was at a restaurant overlooking the harbor and watched the family getting on the ferry.”

“Any chance that was by happenstance?”

“None. Davidson had military-grade binoculars up as he watched in the exact direction of the explosion moments before it occurred. He continued to watch in that direction for approximately five minutes, then threw his head back and laughed so loudly that it brought the entire restaurant to a standstill. Green had no idea what the hell was happening. After Davidson sobered. He lifted the field glasses again and watched for quite a while. He received a single phone call that he put to his ear but did not reply to, then hung up. He paid his bill, and his driver took him to the airport. There he loaded onto his private jet and flew to his retreat in Tanzania.”

“As the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served cold,” Xander said. “It seems he ate his fill.”

“Anna,” Grey said from off to the side. “How are you holding up? Don’t answer that. I can see you’re struggling. Do you want me to light the fire and get you some tea?”

“Yes, please. I’m just saying goodbye to Xander and Elyssa."

“Well done, both of you!” Grey called out. “Heroes!”

“Goodbye, Anna,” Xander said. “When you get home to D.C. The four of us—you, Finley, Elyssa, and I—are going to dinner to celebrate your freedom.”

“At least from that threat,” Anna said, “we’re all free.”