Lethal

Epilogue: Beach

One month later

Xavier Vitali's phone rang, effectively breaking the silence in his office.

"Any word?"

"Unfortunately, no sir." came Jamal's answer.

"Let me know the second you find something."

"Sir, I honestly don't think we will."

"Excuse me?"

Jamal sighed on the other end of the line, "Sir, it's been a month. We haven't had any time to recuperate from the war. Our resources are being used up by this nationwide manhunt. If they didn't want to be found, maybe searching for them is fruitless."

"I gave you an order Jamal, and that was to find out where the two of them are hiding." Xavier replied with authority in his tone, "I am not asking for your opinion. So, get your ass out there and find them."

He hung up with a huff, burying his head in his hands and sighing loudly.

His mind traveled back to a month ago, and he recalled every second since he had safely transferred his daughter to the car and was intent on going back to help Alexandra.

"Boss, you there?"

Xavier pressed the device in his ear and answered Aaron's query, 'I'm here."

"Boss, Alexandra's down."

He stiffened, his fingers halting around the gun he was loading, "Come again?"

"Alexandra Vitali is down! Three gunshot wounds to the abdomen."

Xavier's happiness at finding his daughter was short-lived. He gave Ever a quick kiss on the head and then proceeded to direct the soldier to guard over her with his life, following which, he proceeded to run back to the estate.

Halfway through, he met Ozias who was carrying Lexi's limp body in his arms, and an injured and devastated Alistair stumbling after them.

"She has a pulse! Hospital, NOW!" Ozias shouted.

A car was called and Alexandra was carefully placed inside. Alistair sat on one side, his own pain forgotten with the rush of adrenaline, as he cradled her head in his lap.

"Hang in there, Alex." he cried, "Please, just hang in there. We're going to get you help."

The ride to the hospital was a fast and dangerous one. Jamal maneuvered through the traffic as an anxious silence loomed in the car. Ozzy sat in the passenger seat, with Xavier and Aaron hanging in the back. Even the ones who didn't believe in a higher power prayed their hearts out.

There was a series of loud instructions and rushed actions when they finally reached the hospital. Ozzy jumped out before the car had even stopped and was yelling for a doctor and a gurney. Xavier watched with despair when Alexandra was carefully transferred out of the car and then rushed to the operating room. He looked through the small round window as the doctors set to work on possibly saving her life.

Alistair refused to move from near the operating room until he got an update. His wounds were treated sitting on the very bench by a scared-looking nurse who wanted nothing more than to get away from the bunch of bloodied and armed men he had been surrounded by.

More and more soldiers began stopping by the hospital to check on Lexi. Such was the crowd that having given up on seats, people had started sitting on the floors in groups. Several rounds of coffee were made and those who were tired, slept sitting up on lying on the tiled floors.