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“I love you,” I whispered as we broke apart before kissing her forehead and the side of her cheeks. “You alone give me a million reasons to keep staying alive and keep going.”
“Living to one hundred and one,” she said, lifting her pinky up to me. “We agreed, but we didn’t seal it officially.”
“Yes, because the pinky is very official,” I said, linking pinkies with her. “One hundred and one. You and me, old and wrinkled.”
“Nope, just you.”
I smiled, finding a little energy within myself to rise off the ground before helping her up as well.
“Come on, we will argue about it later. Right now, you need to rest here while I—”
“Are you going somewhere?” Her grip on me tightened, and I saw panic flash in her eyes.
“I’ll stay in the palace, don’t worry. The moment lockdown is over, however, I’m going to have to get changed to address the nation in unison with the prime minister. People died today, Odette. People are not having happy reunions, and people will be scared or confused, especially with what has happened to me. I have to show them I’m all right.”
“I’ll go with you.”
She looked worn out, almost as if she’d been there, too. “Odette, you—”
“I’ll stand off to the side or sit off to the side. But wherever you are going, I’m going, too.”
I didn’t get to argue back because there was a faint knock. Opening the bathroom door, I walked out into the bedroom hand in hand with her.
“Enter.”
“Sir,” Thelma said as she came in and bowed her head. “The lockdown has passed. The palace is secure. They are waiting for you. Everyone is free to go back up to the residence.”
I inhaled through my nose. “Do you have any word on Balduin and Layland?”
I pushed the image of them on the ground out of my mind.
“Mr. Balduin only has a concussion; he wasn’t hit by anyone, but in the shuffle, he must have hit his head and blacked out. Layland…he is in surgery, sir.”
I nodded. “Thank you. We will be out in a moment.”
When she left, Odette was in front of me, squeezing my hand. I knew exactly what she wanted to ask.
“They were all trying to protect me,” I whispered. That’s how Layland got shot. He used himself as a shield.
“They will be okay.”
She didn’t know that. She didn’t see it. His body over mine. She didn’t even realize I changed shirts with a member of parliament who was with me, just because I was worried how it would look if they saw the blood on me.
Today was horrific, and I had protection…a bunker. The people did not.
I needed to face them.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter 37
We didn’t have all the facts yet. I had just gotten changed into a new suit to speak on the facts we did have. All I was waiting for was the prime minister…waiting so we could both show a united front. No matter our differences, we were one country, and we’d all suffered this together. We all had to show we were together. It had been the way we always did things in this country after a national tragedy. He knew that. And yet…instead of being here at the palace, arm, and arm, with me, he was wearing his ripped-up, blood-covered suit, standing in front of rubble, speaking to people, alone.
“Today, my fellow citizens, it is with a heavy and distressed heart that I must tell you what you already know. We were attacked. This government, our people, our way of life, was attacked. Something we all thought was secure, protected, and safe was shaken to its core today. I do not have a prepared statement because I did not have time to prepare one. I and many others will be helping colleagues, friends, and neighbors rush to safety. You have to forgive me for being this way.” He cleared this throat and eyes and paused. “Today was dark. Today we suffered numerous losses. To those families, I do not just offer my heart and prayers to you. I give you this promise. There will be justice. We were attacked, we were knocked down, but we are still here. Because we are great and strong people. And we do not take attacks lightly. The terrorist who did this to us, those who come here and tried to destroy our way of life, they will pay for it tenfold! That is my solemn oath to you as prime minister.”
“Prime Minister, do we know anything about the attackers?” a reporter questioned.
“So far, all we know is that two were refugees and three others were homegrown. I cannot share any more than that at this time until all local and national authorities conduct a full investigation,” he answered back.
