“Every man knows that when a woman says no presents, she doesn’t mean it. It’s always, forever, most definitely a trap. I may not be good at the opposite sex thing, but I have sisters. Momma didn't raise no fool.”
Ethan pointed at the younger man. “See.”
“I swear that all I want is a little intimate birthday party with my family. Make me dinner, let me kiss on my babies, and we’re all good.”
In that moment, he had an idea. She’d just released it wide open to interpretation, and he was going to go there. “How about I get you a day of pampering at the spa? While you’re off getting your girl on, I’ll make you dinner, and we’ll have a party with the people you love most.”
“Deal,” she said. “See? That was easy.”
Oh, she had no idea. He was going to give her a birthday that she’d never forget.
“I don’t see anything,” Elizabeth said. “We can have the techs sweep. I don’t think he was up here with her. Our perp must have caught her while she was downstairs and took care of her there.”
“I agree.”
Callen exited the bathroom. “She liked her vibrators and let’s leave it at that. Other than some waterproof toys, nothing stands out in there.”
“Great.”
He had a question. Since he was the newest one at this, he was curious. “What did she see? He took her eyes. That has to be significant.”
“Maybe it was all the sex she saw every day,” Ethan suggested.
“I think we need to dig into her life,” Elizabeth said, calling for her agent. When he popped his head in, she gave him his instructions. “I want to know everything about her sex life and all the other details that you can find. Leave no stone unturned.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he stated.
“How about we head out of here?” Ethan suggested. “We might have enough time to grab some lunch and eat it before autopsy.”
Since Charlie didn't make her queasy in autopsy and kept her calm, that sounded like a good idea. “That works for me. You two are buying. Charlie and I accept your lunch date offer.”
Heading out, Ethan was working on two things. Toni Michelle’s death, and his birthday surprise for Elizabeth.
Both were equally important to him.
After all the death, they’d need to celebrate the living.
* * *
He watched her leave.
Oh, he knew where they were heading. It was either back to the sheriff’s station, or that little cabin they called their base. In the bowels and dark recesses of his mind, he knew that there would only be one shot.
One bullet.
One chance.
He couldn’t sneak in to get her, so he’d spin the wheel, take the chance, and go for it.
What’s the worst that could happen?
He might get to kill the Fed playing bodyguard.
It really wouldn’t matter.
His heart pounded as he followed them. Once they got to where they were going, he’d hide the vehicle, gather his courage and just do it.
God would give him strength.
This wouldn’t fail.
When it came down to it, he was getting his revenge for screwing around with his plans. All his victims were meant to stay buried for years.
It was how it was supposed to be.
Then, and only then, they were to be unearthed, giving him credit for being God’s angel.
Well, the Almighty had other plans. For now, he’d follow and not question it.
How could he?
He was simply the messenger to the highest power.
Now, he’d be delivering one to the FBI.
They weren’t safe.
No one who broke God’s law was.
* * *
Devil’s Lake might be small, but they certainly had quite a few places to eat.
Finally, Elizabeth, no make that Charlie, decided on a place which served burgers. Since she was starving and skipped breakfast, Elizabeth was going to fill up the tank.
She had a feeling it was going to be one hell of a long night.
Sitting there, she rested between the two men. When Callen got a phone call from Chief Molala, he excused himself from the table. In his absence, Elizabeth dropped her voice to discuss something important with Ethan.
“I want something for my birthday, but I couldn’t bring it up in front of Callen.”
He looked over, surprised. They had a no secret rule, and it wasn’t like Elizabeth to break it. This had to be big.
“Okay, lay it on me, baby. If I can pull it off, it’s yours.”
“I want to change my name.”
He stared at her. Ethan wasn’t sure where she was going with this. “Uh, to what?”
“Callen mentioned earlier that he would have loved to give me his last name, but can’t. I’d like to fix that. I’d also like to make sure the children I have with him feel like they’re part of me.”
“You want to drop Blackhawk?” His stomach flipped. Never did he think he’d be hearing this from her. She was the epitome of their family. She was the protective raven.
In fact, she deserved the Blackhawk name more than him.
“No, handsome,” she said, stroking his cheek. “I could never not be Elizabeth Blackhawk. You’re my husband, and I’d never give up your name. All I’m asking is to squeeze Whitefox in there, and maybe toss in a hyphen. So Cat, EJ and Callen know they’re part of us. I hurt when I think they’ll grow up and ask ‘why does mommy have a different last name’?”
Now he understood, and as always, her love for their children gave him so much peace.
“So I was thinking that maybe Elizabeth Whitefox-Blackhawk would be a perfect fit. At work, it would remain the same, but for Callen and our kids, they would know that we’re one cohesive unit.”
In all honesty, Ethan never thought about this. Now, he understood what she wanted and wasn’t surprised. While his wife was tough on the outside, she was soft and mushy in the middle. Of course she was going to ache for her babies. It’s one of the things that made him love her that much more.
“Are you okay with it, Ethan? If not, I won’t bring it up ever again. That’s why I waited to do this in private. I wouldn’t want you to think that I don’t love the gift you gave me of your name. It means everything. The day I married you, you offered me your family and heritage. I’m beyond grateful.”
He softened. “Oh, baby, how can I be mad or upset? They’re my kids too, and I never saw it as a problem. Since you picked up on it, we’ll fix it. I want Cat and EJ to know they’re part of this. We’re all one family, and if Callen’s name, plus a little hyphen will show them how much we love them, so be it.”
“Really? You’re not upset?
“Hell no, baby. If anything, I’m more in love with you. Our kids and Callen are so lucky. You are the one who will protect them the rest of their lives. Granddad was right turning this family over to you. He chose well, just like I did.”
Elizabeth moved closer into his body, holding onto the lapel of his suit. “You know, I’m glad you’re back in your grotesquely overpriced suits. While entertaining to see you dressed down, I think I like you all spiffy and boss-like. It’s a big turn on.”
“Oh, is it now, Elizabeth?” he asked, his lips finding hers. Although they were in a public place, he still kissed his wife. As his hand traversed lower, it came to rest over their little one, growing in her body.
“I walk away for five minutes and already you two are going at it,” Callen said, sliding into the circular booth. When he took his place, immediately Elizabeth’s hand came to rest on his leg, joining them.
“Welcome back, Cal,” Ethan said, releasing her mouth. He couldn’t wait until later. He was going to be enjoying more kisses just like that one.
Blackhawk added her birthday wish to his list of things to handle. He’d get all the paperwork done and have her sign it. When his brother found out, he was going to shit himself.
“What’s going on?” Elizab
eth asked, cuddling between the two men in the booth.
“The Natives are restless, that’s all. He wanted an update on if we’re any closer to wrapping this up. Apparently, you pissed them off, and they want us to move along on our merry way.”
She found that amusing. “Yeah, I can’t wait to get the hell out of here too. Unfortunately, we have a wackadoo who is still on the edge.”
Ethan agreed. “He’s not only escalating but evolving in his killing methods. At first, he was controlled and methodical. What he did to Toni Michelle showed that he’s losing it.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” said Elizabeth, as her lunch was placed in front of her. “This all makes me very wary.”
The men were with her on that.
“He’s getting sloppy. We might have a fighting chance on this one. I still get this feeling like we’re missing something so obvious, that it’s ready to bite me in the ass.”
Blackhawk had a suggestion. “We need to start pouring through all the small details and background information. There has to be a way to connect them all. Maybe we missed something small, and it will open up the door for us.”
God, she hoped so. In all honesty, Elizabeth wanted to get out of there and head home. Wyler and her children were her utmost concern.
“How are we on the housekeeper front?” she asked.
Ethan took a bite of his burger and pulled out his phone. “I have four potentials,” he stated. “Three women and one man.”
Callen choked on his soda. “Are you out of your mind?” he asked. “You’re going to bring a man into our home? Isn't there enough testosterone floating around?”
Elizabeth asked, “Is he Native?”
“No.”
“Cross him off the list. What fun is that going to be? I only wanted to throw another Native into the mix to screw with you both. Now that won’t work.”
The men laughed.
“I’ll start the interviews once we’re back. I’ll be doing searches so deep, we’ll be assured that the next person isn't going to be dangerous or risk our children,” Ethan reassured.
“We can always get nanny cams,” suggested Callen. “And if it records us having sex with our woman, we can watch it over and over again. I’ll even make the popcorn.”
“Bum chicka bum bum,” sang Blackhawk, in his cheesiest nineteen seventies twang.
She elbowed them both at the same time, thoroughly enjoying when they gasped. “Yeah, you do that.”
Callen spoke up, “When we get back, maybe we should give dad a break. He’s been going nonstop for almost three years.”
They agreed.
“Where would he want to go?” Ethan asked.
“Well, maybe he could go on singles cruise. You know, help him get out there again. What’s the worst that could happen?” Callen added.
“Well, he could fall in love with a woman younger than us and bring her home,” stated Blackhawk.
“He could then marry her and we would have to call her mommy,” stated Elizabeth laughing.
Callen joined in. “That would be priceless.”
“We should do it.”
It was going to be their next plan.
Glancing down at her watch, she knew it was time. “We gave the tech team enough of a head start. We need to get there and see what they dug up. We three have a date with the whiteboard and some details tonight.”
“Yeah. Can we do it nekid?” Callen asked. “I’m off babysitting duty tonight. Ethan is riding solo at the other cabin.” When he wiggled his eyebrows lecherously, all three laughed.
“Here, I hoped you’d forget,” he stated.
“Yeah, why would I be thinking about getting our woman naked as I chase her around a cabin? That’s so out of character for me,” Callen teased.
This time, it was Elizabeth who choked.
What was she going to do with these two men?
Oh yeah. Keep them.
* * *
Tony got them back to the cabin and safely inside. Once there, he began making Jaxon something to eat. Where she’d been distant the other days, today, she was right by his side.
It was like a switch had been flipped, and she was coming around.
There was no doubt in his mind that it was a damn good thing. When this was all over, he’d begin working on keeping her with him. If she couldn’t stand the FBI, then Jaxon could live with him until she worked it all out.
Either way, she wasn’t leaving.
As Tony made them soup and sandwiches, she watched him. He was incredibly sexy. The way he moved around, did everything with precision, and just looked damn hot doing it, made her want to run her hands all over him.
“What are you thinking about, Jaxon?” he asked suddenly.
“I’m trying to figure out why you want to be with me.”
He glanced over his shoulder at her in surprise. If anything, her direct approach caught him off guard. Where he was a smart man, he was obviously missing something.
“You’re intelligent, incredibly handsome, and one hell of a catch. Why are you trying so hard to have something so messy with me? You really could have any woman in the world.”
He wanted to laugh at the irony of that statement. No, he couldn’t have just anyone. While sex was easy, love was turning out to be one hell of an uphill battle.
“I’m attracted to you. There’s something on a deep level that makes me want to be with you. You could call it the lure of something ingrained in us to find a mate and seek them out, or you could call it…”
Love.
Yes, he was madly in love.
“Go on,” she said.
Tony knew it wasn’t the time or place to whip out that word. “Attraction. Something about you makes me want to be with you, Jaxon. I think you’re overthinking all this. We met, there was that chemistry, we’re together. It can just be that simple.”
God, she wished it was.
“When this is over, I know you’re leaving the FBI, but what about us?” he asked.
Her heart sank. “I wouldn’t worry about it, Tony. You’ll move on.”
Those meager words were all it took. His control snapped. Slamming down the soup spoon, he spun toward her. “NO! I will not move on!”
She stared at him, mouth agape. His anger was shocking.
“This,” he motioned to the two of them, “is not going to go away. So, the further you run, the harder it’s going to make it for both of us. What do I have to do to prove to you that I’m not just pollinating another female flower in the garden of life?”
Moving toward him, she recalled her promise. She’d stay as long as she wasn’t hurting him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she rested her head on his shoulder. Immediately, he relaxed and dropped his chin to the top of her head.
“I didn't mean to upset you,” she said. “I’m sorry if I hurt you with my words. I really didn't mean it.”
He sighed, forcing the tension from his body. Tony knew this was going to be a battle, but like Callen said, he needed to dig in and show her he was going to follow through. No matter what, he was going to stick and chase if need be.
“It’s okay.”
Looking up, she went to her toes and laid a gentle kiss across his lips. It was soft, tender, and very loving. Jaxon was crazy about him, but she was worried. When this was over, what would happen? Could a burial rat and a refined doctor make it work? Yes, they both loved anthropology, but they were two sides of a large spectrum.
Tony brought his hand to the back of her hair. “You’re worth something to me, Jaxy. How can I show you?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Wasn’t that what she wanted? Her whole life, she only wanted to matter and come first to someone. Here, he was offering her everything she always craved.
It was hard to miss her emotion, and he wanted to keep it light. “Let’s eat, and then maybe we can curl up on the couch and relax for the rest of the night.”
She wouldn’t mind that at all.
Ca
rrying their food to the coffee table, they each sat down. Jaxon tucked her feet up under her as she smiled at the man. He was sweet and gentle. There was that little glimmer of hope that she could do this with him every night, even if she quit her job.
“So, tell me about your family.”
She laughed. “My brother, Jagger, is bad ass. He’s this big scary Marine. I have no freaking clue what he does, but I think he’s good at it. His dress blues have all these pretty medals. When I ask him what he does, he tells me, ‘if I tell you, I’ll have to kill you’,” she replied.
He laughed. “Good to know. Is he going to kick my ass for touching his sister?”
“Oh, probably, but it will only hurt for a little while.”
Tony didn't expect that. Where he hoped she’d say no, he still found it funny. “Good to know. I better get ready then.”
Her heart skipped. Here, he was willing to get beat up, just to be with her.
“No siblings?” she asked.
“Nope. My mom was incredibly young when she had me. She was still in high school. Back then, that was a huge no-no. After she gave birth, my father bailed. He told her that he was going into the military, and instead never came back. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead.”
“Do you want to talk about your parents?”
She laughed. “Oh, where to begin?”
“I would start at the beginning. That’s where all important stories start.”
Jaxon stared at him. “I guess you’re right. Growing up, I never realized that my dad was a murderous bastard. In fact, he was just dad. I think I was about five when I figured out we weren’t a normal family.”
He sipped his soup.
“We had bodyguards. My guy was named Trey. He was bigger than Director Whitefox. I called him uncle all the time because at four, how was I to know? He was a really nice man. One day, I was at the park with him and another guard. Well, someone tried to kill me. Trey put himself in front of me and died to save me. The other guard got me out of there, but I was changed.”
He couldn’t imagine.
Redemption is Here (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 9) Page 43
