Before Emma had a chance to unleash whatever wrath coursed through her veins onto Alex’s body, he exited the room and let the rest of them talk it over. Regardless of their decision to include him, he would be tagging along one way or another. But it would be easier for him to find and kill Gordon with the resources of the United States military.
Luis was the first one out of the room, followed by Nelson and Admiral Frizen. All of them were silent, casting their judgments over Alex and of all the things he’d done.
“They want to speak with you alone,” Luis said. Alex stepped forward, and Luis put out his arm to stop him before he passed. “I know why you did what you did. But if I hear one decibel of something I don’t want to hear in that room, I will end you. Do I make myself clear?”
Alex nodded, and Luis lowered his arm to let him pass. Alex walked into the room and shut the door behind him, locking Emma, Todd, and Alex in the room alone together.
It was the first time the three of them had been together since the day Gordon strolled into the Wyoming community and revealed exactly what Alex was doing, without the context of why. Emma still had on the same face Alex remembered. The lines of pain and anguish had yet to diminish.
“You’ve got some nerve coming back here,” Emma said, her voice shaking with anger.
Alex twisted his fingers together, peeling off the dried dirt and blood that was still caked on his skin. He hadn’t changed or showered since the battle, and he hadn’t looked at himself in a mirror in days, so he could only imagine what kind of shape he was in.
“What I did to your family isn’t forgivable. And that’s not why I came here,” Alex said.
“Then what are you doing here?” Emma asked, her tongue slashing each syllable like a knife into his flesh.
“I’m going to kill Gordon. I don’t care how long it takes me or what it costs me. He’s going to die. That’s my promise to you, which is the only form of recompense I can give.”
Alex turned to leave, and when he placed his hand on the door handle, Todd spoke. “The boy from your community. What was his name?”
Alex released his grip on the handle and turned around. “Meeko.”
“I’m not going to thank you for saving me,” Todd said, “but I will thank you for saving that boy’s life.”
With those words, Alex could feel himself losing what small resolve he had left. He could see his own reflection in Emma’s face as she too began to break down. Simple words, yet so impactful. Alex stemmed the tears before they could grow any further, and Emma walked toward Alex and grabbed him by the arms. Her face was a mixture of rage, sorrow, and fear.
“Finish it, Alex,” Emma said. “For good.”
“I will.”