“I’m sorry,” Beck said to his Irish friend in all sincerity.
“Me, too,” Liam murmured. “He was a good man who took his duties seriously. When he wasn’t working, he was quick to laugh and always had a joke. But he insisted on helping today, even knowing the risks.”
Beck swallowed tightly. “I hate that—”
“No.” Liam clapped his shoulder. “Don’t you be blaming yourself. I’d never seen the spark of excitement shine in Adam’s eyes like it did before he climbed that tree. Defending you—hell, all of us—made him feel young and vital again. Every human light on this planet should be so lucky to go out like that.”
Liam’s words pierced the veil of his guilt. Beck wanted to sob like a fucking kid but managed to hold himself together.
Easing to his knees, he smoothed Adam’s lids closed gently before he took the blanket from Seth’s waiting hands and covered the dead man from the neck down. He hated that he couldn’t repair the damage done. But unlike his crazy family, he knew no mortal on earth was divine enough to be God. This was the best he could do to minimize Ngaire’s trauma.
“I’m going to check on Heavenly,” Seth announced. “You get Dean ready for transport.”
Before they could, the FBI arrived. Jericho Waters, Dean’s fed friend, showed up with a handful of agents, took a look at the carnage, and started asking questions. They interrogated River and Buddy first so Dean could rendezvous with the medical chopper. A nice but no-nonsense female agent questioned the women. Beck paced the living room as he waited for his own inquisition to begin.
An hour later, Seth emerged from the study after his interview with Senior Special Agent Waters and sidled up to him with a grin. “They’re going easy on us.”
Beck whipped his head around. He’d been nervous as fuck. “Seriously?”
“They don’t give a shit what we killed these fuckers with. Jericho didn’t even ask me where we got the hardware and told me point-blank they don’t intend to search the house.”
“No shit?”
Seth’s grin widened. “Well, first, it’s clear Jed and his army attacked us. But The Chosen have been on the feds’ radar for years. They’re relieved not to have another potential Waco on their hands. We got brownie points for not annihilating them in Messiah City and being quiet enough not to alert cable news. We made their ‘little problem’ just—poof—magically go away.”
“I need to tell them there are still women and children in the compound who need saving. The elders—”
“They know. Zach has been with some of Jericho’s men for a while.”
“Thank God.” Maybe those poor people would finally be free from oppression and abuse. “And what about all the bodies outside?”
“The feds are calling in a cleaning crew. I passed Liam on my way into my interview, and he said he’s already been in touch with a local mortuary for Adam’s arrangements. Gloria is comforting Ngaire at her place until her children arrive, which should be soon. He also says he’s got a line on a construction company who can repair this place. So stop worrying.”
“I’m trying. He better fucking let me pay for this damage.”
Seth shrugged. “I’ll let you two fight that out.”
Zach trudged his way upstairs from the wine cellar and headed to the living room. He looked shaken and exhausted but resolved.
Beck approached him. “You all right?”
“Yeah.” Zach nodded grimly. “The FBI plans to raid Messiah City tonight. I’m sure they’ll arrest the elders and free the girls. I’m going to help end this madness. Maybe they’ll find Faith and Joanna, too…” He choked on grief. “They deserve a proper burial at least.”
As if speaking the words aloud somehow made their deaths more real, Zach finally broke. A sob escaped. Tears fell from his eyes.
“Fuck.” Seth’s voice was barely above a strained whisper.
Yeah, Beck felt sorry for the bastard, too. If Zach had found his own version of happiness sooner, maybe things would have ended differently. But he’d chosen his head over his heart—and it had cost him.
He glanced across the room at Heavenly again. She would always be his little girl, but now that she’d found the courage to make her choice, she had become his woman. And he was so fucking glad she’d picked them. He and Seth would spend every day of their lives making sure she never regretted a moment.
Beck pulled a business card from his wallet and handed it to his brother. “After you clean house down there, you’ll need help starting a new life. Call me. I’m here for you.”
Zach nodded. “Thank you.”
For the first time in two decades, he wrapped his arms around his brother and hugged him. Vaguely, he wondered when any member of his family had last given Zach affection.
“For the record, I always thought you would be our savior,” his brother said as he eased away. “Today just proved it.”