“I wish you could erase my memory.”
Elizabeth did too.
“This will kill her.”
She agreed.
“Why are you telling me this, Lyzee? Is this some way to torture me for all the years I busted your ass?” he asked, hoping she wouldn’t hurt him this way.
She closed her eyes and let out an exhausted sigh. “No, Tony. You're my friend. If you end up with her, you’re going to always have to watch your back. No matter what, there’s always that chance you’re going to get in the way and lose your life.”
He laughed. “I’m perfectly safe.”
She touched his cheek with the palm of her hand. “I love you and Chris. I don’t get attached to many people in my life, because I generally lose the ones I care about. I don’t want to risk you.”
“You could lose your job,” he said, placing his hand over hers.
“Yeah, but I’d rather lose that than you. Even Ethan and Callen are attached to you. You’ve been to our home. You’ve held our kids. You’re part of us, Tony. I can only protect you so much, and now you have the knowledge to keep your eyes open. It might save your life.”
“You’re not saying something.”
Elizabeth was honest with him. “I wish you’d let her walk away. A selfish part of me wants to keep you safe, and if she’s gone, you’re not going to get hurt.”
“I can’t, because if she does go, I’ll die inside.”
“I know, and that’s why I’m giving you anything I can. I’m also going to keep my ears open with the Irish mob. If anything pops up, you’ll be warned. If I can just build a little bubble around you, I will.”
He was touched and hugged her. “Beside Chris, you’re my best friend. We’ve been through a lot. Thank you, Lyzee.”
She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Are you sure you want to do this, Tony. You’re not in too deep yet.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I am.”
Elizabeth held his hand, unsure what to say to that. If their roles were reversed, she’d never walk away from Ethan or Callen either, so she got it.
“I never wanted to be part of a relationship or have a girlfriend. Then, she strolled into my life. I want so much more, Lyzee. I want to marry her. I want to have a family, and most importantly, I want to keep her safe, now more than ever.”
“Sounds about right to me.”
“Is this how it feels? When you look at Ethan and Callen, what goes on in your head?”
Elizabeth thought about her answer. What she felt was so encompassing, there really weren’t words.
“Please share with me. I need a light on this very shadowy path. I’m confused as hell.”
“It’s different with both men. When I look at Ethan, I feel safe. He’s been the strong one for over four years. When I’m afraid, or rocked to my core, he’s who I run to.”
He understood.
“Then, he was hurt. I lost my bearings and felt out of control. Life had no color, food had no taste, and nothing mattered.”
“What about Callen?” he asked.
“Oh, he’s my humor and light. You talked about that shadowy path. He’s my beacon. When I found him, something clicked. Now, when I have a doubt or Ethan loses it, I run to Callen. He’s just as strong as Ethan, but he approaches things differently. He is like a cocoon infused with calm. When I’m freaked out, he sooths me.”
He waited.
“Being in love needs both those things. Your partner has to fulfill everything for you. Not to say they don’t to some degree, they just do more as two different people. It’s magnified.”
Tony got it.
“What does she do for you, Tony?”
“God! Where to begin? She makes me smile. It’s something about her impulsive behavior. There’s this overwhelming need to keep her handcuffed at my side. For the first time in my life, I feel something. I’m not lost and empty.”
“You’ll find your mother’s remains one day. I know you will.”
He hoped so. “Now, it’s not as important. I have Jaxon, and I feel good. Plus,” he began and then paused, “I’m going to talk sex, so beware.”
“Yeah, I might be offended because I’m a pregnant virgin.”
Tony offered her a fist bump. “Nice.”
Elizabeth grinned wickedly. “I’ll survive. Spill it.”
“We just work. She’s more laid back, and I can be more of myself. It’s perfect and explosive.”
She knew what he was saying. “I think you should do whatever it takes to be with her then.”
“What if I have to leave the FBI? She’s not sticking around, Lyzee. I can feel it in my gut. All I have to do is give her a minute to think, and she’s in the wind.”
Elizabeth squeezed his hand. “Well, if she takes off, there’s one solution.”
“And that is?”
“We hunt her down.”
That made him laugh. “You’re bad ass, Elizabeth Blackhawk. I’m glad you’re my friend.”
She stood. “I love you, Tony. You’re the brother I never had,” she stated.
“Uh, you have a brother.”
“Yeah, but he’s crackers and a homicidal maniac, so that doesn’t count.”
He started laughing. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or insult.”
“Yeah, neither am I.”
* * *
Ethan offered her a drink.
When she took a seat, it was obvious that she was nervous as hell.
“What did I do?” she asked, taking the can of soda from Callen. It was hard to focus. All she could think about was that these two men were the ones described in Tony’s paper on fraternal polyandry.
It fact, it was making her curious.
“Nothing yet, but I can see that you’re thinking, Doctor Armstrong,” offered Ethan. “Why don’t you share?”
“I know I probably shouldn’t, but I need to know. I’m curious about Tony’s paper in the journal. I’ve only read about fraternal polyandry and never seen it in action, so it makes me want to ask questions.”
Callen laughed. “Yeah, you and just about every other person on the planet wants to talk about it.”
“What specifically do you feel compelled to ask?” Blackhawk inquired, watching her. Ethan was well aware that scientists were an inquisitive bunch, and more importantly, they accepted things far more easily than others.
“On paper, it shouldn’t work. How do you do it?”
Blackhawk pointed at his brother, warning him.
Callen began laughing. “She gets it from you.”
Jaxon blushed. “No, I meant, are there separate rooms? A schedule? How do you arrange private time? I’m sorry, but I ask a lot of inappropriate questions for the sake of science. I once studied a tribe in Tibet. Their burial plots showed that they were buried in threes. Although, they would sometimes kill the other two if the alpha of the couple died first. They’d be curled around each other in the grave.”
Ethan laughed. “Sucks you be you and Lyzee if I go first,” Ethan teased.
Yeah, his brother was delusional. “Last man standing gets the babe, bro. I also find it funny that you think you’re the boss in this relationship. If she hears you, she’s going to scalp you.”
Jaxon watched in fascination. “This is freaking awesome. I bet Tony had fun writing the paper.”
Ethan got serious. “We don’t have a schedule, Doctor. We have one bedroom and a very large bed. Elizabeth sleeps in the middle, and pretty much private time is a luxury. We have three children and one on the way. We have to go away on an assignment to get time alone.”
She grinned. “You know I’m going to ask about your kids, right?” Jaxon said, leaning forward.
“We have two a piece.”
The men were amused as she giggled and leaned forward in her seat. She was like a kid on Christmas Day.
“I've always wanted to know about the relationship between the brothers and the opposite male’s children. You don’t get to meet many couples w
ho will speak openly about it.”
“We don’t often. So, what you learn here needs to remain here. Think of this as Vegas.”
She agreed. “Talk children to me.”
Callen grinned. “Well, I have Catherine and Ethan Jackson, and he has Callen James and a baby on the way.”
Looking back and forth, she was enthralled. All her fears were gone. They appeared to be laid back and open. “So, you each named your primary son after your brother. That speaks volumes about your emotional attachment to the other person.”
They didn't disagree. What they had was stronger than titanium. They were blood.
“Well, I think it’s beautiful that you three can persevere over the naysayers and make something so anthropologically important work.”
Now, it was Ethan’s turn. He’d allowed her to get comfortable. It was their turn to learn about her.
“So, why the FBI?”
She was at ease now as she pondered the question. Ethan had been doing this long enough and knew how to study his subject.
“I woke up one day and needed a change. I was approached by someone in the FBI and given the opportunity to use my grave digging skills for something good.”
Well, that explains it. The FBI recruited her to hide her in their ranks. They gave her a shield, and he didn't mean a gold shiny one. She’d been set up from the start and didn't even know it.
“I think digging up remains has to be very hard,” Callen said.
“Yeah, it’s really difficult for me when they have flesh. When they’re just bones, I can see the wounds, the tale they tell, and the history. Once someone gives them a face, like a forensic artist, I lose my objectivity.”
Ethan understood. Not everyone was cut out to play with the dead. Some needed that distance to stay objective.
Jaxon Armstrong was one of them.
He had news for her. This was the wrong place to be. Their dead were generally fleshy first, and then turned into bones in order to solve the crime.
“How do you like it so far?” Ethan asked, sipping his own soda.
Jaxon took in the man before her. He was icy and emotionless. She could tell that he was perfect to run the FBI division under him with an iron fist. While he might not say much, letting Elizabeth be the speaker of the group, she saw the error in believing he was powerless.
The dark eyes seemed to stare right through her, and the lack of any sign of him being happy or angry was off settling.
“I hate it.”
He smiled. “Thank you for the truth, Doctor. Had you lied, I would have lost respect for you.”
She let out the breath she was holding. “You’re scary.”
Callen laughed. When Ethan gave him a look, he finally spoke, “What? She said it, I didn't.”
Just as they were about to continue their conversation, the door opened and Elizabeth strolled in.
“Am I missing all the fun?”
Jaxon took that back. This boss was far scarier. The way she stared through her, it made her feel like she was going in front of the Spanish Inquisition.
“We waited for you to arrive,” Ethan admitted.
“Howdy, Doctor. Are you having a good time with my partners?” she asked, sitting in Ethan’s lap.
“Yes,” she squeaked.
“Good. What were y’all talking about?”
“How I hate this job.”
She started laughing. “Well, I’m glad to see I jumped in at the right time. If you don’t mind, I do have a few questions for you,” Elizabeth said, stealing a sip of Ethan’s soda.
“Sure.”
“What’s your intent with my friend?”
She stared at her. “He’s my boyfriend.” It was all she could come up with at that moment. It was like this woman froze up her brain and made it hard to think. She was pretty sure it was the icy blue eyes.
Elizabeth analyzed the woman before her, and the simple answer. Okay, she could work with this. “Don’t break his heart, or I’ll hunt you down and make you suffer.”
Jaxon swallowed.
“Now, why don’t you tell me about Michael O’Banion, and how the daughter of a mob boss is working on my FBI team?”
The soda can she was holding slipped from her fingers. “Shit!”
Callen grabbed some paper towels to wipe up the spill.
“Damn it. You’re right to the point.”
She tipped her head. “I’m technically your boss. I make it my job to know my team. If you’re all going to be with me in the field, I want to know what I’m up against.”
Jaxon wanted the cushions to come alive and swallow her whole. “You obviously know who he is.”
“Oh, I’ve been in the FBI for a long time. I’ve run into him and his goons a time or two.”
Well, she might as well spill her guts. “He was a bastard, and I don’t care that he’s gone. He ruined my childhood, killed my mother, and hurt more people than I could even count. As far as I’m concerned, he can rot in hell with the rest of his cronies. When he died, I never even went to his funeral.”
She hoped it would speak volumes. There was no love lost between her and the deceased sperm donor.
“Well put, Doctor Armstrong. Now, let’s hop back to my friend. What are your intentions?”
She couldn’t get her footing. The woman before her was shaking her up like a can of soda. Any second, she felt like she’d explode all over the place.
“You’re very blunt.”
“Yeah, I’ve been told that a few times in my life.”
“I happen to care about Tony. For the first time in my life, I’m Jaxon Armstrong, not Michael O’Banion’s kid. When I’m with him, I feel amazing. You don’t have anything to worry about, Director. They day I hurt him, I’ll leave on my own. You won’t have to run me out of town. Tony matters to me, and I want to be with him.”
She saw the truth in the woman’s eyes. Immediately, she softened. “Elizabeth. You can call me by my name. Tony’s like a brother to me. He’s family.”
“Thank you, Elizabeth. If it matters, I think I’m in love with him.”
She grinned, getting up to get her own soda. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Elizabeth would hold onto the hope that this woman despised her father. Hopefully, if it ever did get out, Jaxon wouldn’t give a rat’s ass if he were alive.
“So, is he why you do this job? It’s obvious that you don’t like the dead. Puking today at the crime scene gave that away. Why do you torture yourself with looking at countless victims?”
She shrugged.
“Not good enough. I’ve stood in pits with bodies. I know the impact that has. Now, try again.”
“My father was a killer. I’m bringing justice to those who were dumped without regard. Yeah, sitting in a pit sucks. Looking at dead children, genocide, and all the atrocities eats away at a piece of me. Each day I get up, I do it again and again, trying to wipe the slate clean. While they were covered in dirt, I sat in a mansion being treated like a princess. I had wealth and anything blood money could buy. Now, I find all I want is to wash my hands of the stains my fucked up family left behind.”
“I can appreciate that.”
“Can we try to be friends?” she asked, not sure what her tenure would be like in the FBI, but obviously the woman before her had an emotional attachment to Tony.
It wasn’t like she could blame her.
He was pretty freaking awesome.
“I think that we can arrange that, Doctor,” she stated. “I have a few qualities in my friends I appreciate. They don’t lie. They try their best, and in their hearts, they mean what they say.”
She sipped her soda.
“So, you won’t kick my ass?”
Callen laughed. “She’s madly in love with us, and we’re not free of that. Good luck.”
She pointed at him. “You’re lucky you’re sexy.”
Jaxon laughed. Yeah, she saw the dynamic.
“So, any more questions?”
She
thought about it. “Yeah, just one…”
* * *
When he heard the knock on the door, he assumed that Elizabeth had somehow locked it on her way out. Poor Jaxon was trapped outside. He was a little giddy knowing she was coming back. He was going to make her dinner, spend some time on the couch, and maybe even make love to her in the bedroom.
Then, he was going to tell her what was on his mind.
He was madly in love with her.
The grin on his face said it all. Yeah, it was only a few days into their relationship, but honestly he didn't care. He was going with all the advice from his friends. In fact, he made a mental note to call his best buddy, Chris Leonard, and introduce them. It was akin to bringing her home to meet his family.
Yeah, this felt damn right.
Once at the door, he pulled it open without looking outside first.
It took a second for recognition to dawn before he realized his mistake. Tony was startled by who stood there, and the gun in his hand.
It couldn’t be.
Something was wrong.
Before he could make a sound there was an ear shattering pop.
Then came the pain.
Wave after wave of anguish swallowed him.
Tony fell as the man took off into the dark. As his hands went to his chest, he could feel the wetness. Then his senses were assaulted by the familiar scent of blood.
The light wavered as he held on. His only hope was that Elizabeth, Ethan, and Callen had heard the shot and would arrive. Then, there was fear.
So would Jaxon.
“Oh God,” he whispered as life ebbed from him. The puddle below him grew as time shortened.
Tony Magnus was taking a trip to the morgue.
Just not to work…
~ Chapter Nineteen ~
The sound made them jump.
While this was the Rez and surely there were hunters, none should be that close to the cabin and firing a gun. Plus, it wasn’t a rifle, but the distinctive pop of one of their handguns.
Jaxon jumped from her seat before racing toward the door. Elizabeth, Ethan and Callen were right behind her. In fact, they raced past her, all three of their guns drawn.
Redemption is Here (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 9) Page 46
