“If you weren’t Ian’s enemy,” Alex challenged angrily, beginning to feel tears welling up in his eyes, “then why did you kill him?”
Yassen paused, as if deciding what to reply. Alex was sure the man wasn’t going to answer. Then Alex was shocked by what Yassen said next.
“I did not know he was the man who was in that car.”
“What do you mean, you didn’t know?” Alex asked loudly, his voice rising in volume to match his growing anger.
“I mean that…” Yassen sighed, running his hand through his hair, then continued. “Sayle called and said that one of his security guards was a spy, and that he’d found out about the Stormbreaker virus. Sayle described the car that the guard was driving, and I ambushed him…and killed him. I am sorry, Alex. I did not know the guard was Ian.”
“I don’t believe you!” Alex shouted. “You’re lying to me. Why are you lying?” Alex hadn’t noticed when he’d balled up his hands into fists, or that he’d started to cry.
“Alex, I’m sorry. It’s true. If I’d known it was Ian, I would have found another way to stop him. I never would have hurt - ”
But before Yassen could finish, Alex lunged forward, and with all his might, hit Yassen along his left jaw.
Yassen took a step back to steady himself, but Alex was too angry to stop now. He struck out again, but this time Yassen grabbed Alex by the wrists. Alex continued to struggle, the hatred and anguish fueling his fury. It was as if he’d become an icy tornado, storming over Yassen like the winds of a winter blizzard blowing over an unprepared city, attacking relentlessly.
“I hate you!” Alex cried. “I hate you! You took everything away from me. Ian was all I had left in this world. He was my only link to my parents, and now I’ll never know anything about them because of you! I hate you!”
Alex continued to fight, kicking and hitting at Yassen, screaming in misery and despair, until finally, his strength gave out. Exhausted by the flood of emotion released by the collapsing damn that had been holding back his grief, he fell to his knees on the ground, sobbing into his hands.
Strong arms wrapped around him, holding him tightly and rocking him back and forth. “Shhh, Alex. It’s okay,” Yassen said, tenderly pulling Alex’s head against his shoulder. “You need to let it out. It’s okay to hate me. I know it’s my fault. I’m so sorry I’ve caused you all this pain.”
Alex couldn’t stop his tears, and he didn’t even care that it was Yassen he clung to so desperately.
~*~
Yassen continued to hold Alex, rubbing him gently along his back, sometimes petting his hair, until Alex had cried himself out. Yassen pulled a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and wiped it over Alex’s face. Alex felt so young, so small, more like a little boy than a teenager.
“Alex,” Yassen said softly, “do you feel better now?”
Alex felt embarrassed for breaking down like that, especially in front of Yassen, but he did feel surprisingly better. “Yes, actually I do. Thanks.” He wasn't sure what else to say.
“Do you know what the 1914 Christmas Truce was about?” Yassen asked.
Alex was startled by Yassen’s question. It seemed so out of place. “The…what?”
“During World War One,” Yassen explained, “the British and German troops stationed along the Western Front called a truce, beginning on Christmas Eve and lasting through Christmas Day. It showed that even so-called enemies could get along, at least for one day. I am proposing our own Christmas Truce. Neither one of us has anyone to spend Christmas with. I’m staying here in London right now. I want you to come back with me.”
Alex felt numb. He had to be dreaming this. “You want me to go home with you? Tonight? Why?”
“Because no one should be alone at Christmas.”
Alex looked back sadly at Ian’s grave, considering Yassen’s request…well, sort of request. It wasn’t exactly as if he’d framed it as one. Alex was tempted to say no, just to see if Yassen would force him to go along with him.
On the other hand, Alex had wanted to question Mrs. Jones about the reason why Yassen refused to kill him. Once again, right now, Yassen had had a chance to do it…and chose not to. If he went with Yassen, he could ask the man directly to his face.
“And if you come with me,” Yassen said, as he helped Alex up from the ground, “I can also tell you about your parents.”