It had hurt, but Livy kept trying.
She was going to get her friend back if it was the last thing she did. Livy was biding her time.
“Yeah, she came back. Her and Ethan have reconciled. The media should be picking it up soon once they see them in the field together.”
“He’s working a case?” she asked.
“Yeah, he’s going to be profiling for her. Normally. I’d say he could do it from his office, but…”
“You owe him.”
“Yeah, I do. He held this place up by himself—even when his wife was gone. He could have said fuck it and went after her, but he didn’t. He didn’t bail on me, and I have crazy, mad respect for that.”
Yeah, so did she.
Gabe had been able to relax, get rest, and heal.
That was the best part.
“Well, I want to help.”
“What?”
“I know I’m not a Fed anymore, but let me help do research. I’m good at it.”
He knew that was breaking the rules. “Livy.”
“Bonnie isn’t a joke, Gabe. She’s a badass enemy, and Elizabeth has to be playing catch-up, and we both know it. She’d lost Ethan, and that had to kill her. Then toss in she was injured in the line of duty. Her heart and soul have to be battered to Hell and back.”
He was aware.
“If I let you help, you say NOTHING.”
She winked at him. “I won’t speak even if I’m interrogated. Maybe later, you can give it a shot. You know…test it.”
He liked that idea.
A lot.
“Okay, we’ll have dinner, and while I’m handling Ethan’s reports that are due to the President in the morning, you can start working on the first victim, the location, and Bonnie. She plays games. You’ll have to figure it out.”
“I won’t let you down,” she promised, rubbing against him. “I can make you very happy.”
He got it.
The innuendo hit its mark.
“Maybe before we eat we can do something else?” he asked, as she stared at him.
“Like what?”
He whispered in her ear.
It appeared her husband was back.
For that, she’d throw a freaking party.
Olivia Rothschild dropped to her knees. “Oh, Director, I think I can do that.”
And she did.
Twice.
Chapter Six
Thursday Night
Hotel
Restaurant
T hey were changed, relaxed, and were having a drink before dinner with the US Marshals. Elizabeth wanted to spend some time with her husbands, reconnecting. If anything, the last seven weeks had taught her a few things. She was no longer going to ignore her life.
As a mother, she was missing her kids.
As a wife, she was ignoring her happiness.
As a person, she was ignoring her health.
Leaving to go to Salem had reminded her that she couldn’t do it all. Chasing crazies was one thing, but dying to do it…it just wasn’t enough.
Elizabeth, even working, had to take a few minutes to smell the roses—Native ones, who smelled spicy, like a hot night, and cool, like a rainforest.
She needed these moments with her men.
“You look beautiful,” Ethan said, as she was nestled between them in the fancy Italian place. His wife was wearing a simple wrap dress, but it left nothing to the imagination for either men.
It was perfect.
She gave him a kiss.
“Thank you.”
“People are staring,” Callen said, as he rested his big palm on her thigh. “They’re thinking how damn lucky we are,” he admitted.
That made her smile.
“They’re thinking…Elizabeth Blackhawk is a train wreck. When are those men going to come to their senses and put her out to pasture?”
Ethan hated her talking like that about herself.
She was far from old, a wreck, or anything else. She was still gorgeous, smart, and theirs.
“I have something for you,” he said, reaching into his suit inner pocket.
“What?” she asked.
“One day a month ago, I was on a business lunch in some hotel. I don’t remember the name, since it all seemed like torture without you or Callen.”
She stared up into his midnight blue eyes.
“Yes?”
“As I was walking out, there was a jewelry shop there. It was this eclectic, hole in the wall place. It wasn’t a place I’d normally ever go, but I was drawn there.”
He held the pouch in his hand.
“When I went in, the woman was Native, and she focused on me. Before I could even say anything, she pulled these out of her case.”
Elizabeth opened the pouch that he handed her. Out of it slid three bracelets. Two made of leather, and one made of silver. Adorning all three were snowflake obsidian.
Elizabeth ran her fingers over it.
The crazy patterns intrigued her.
“There are no two alike,” he offered. “Obsidian can offer balance during times of change, and it offers serenity and peace in turbulence.”
Yeah, that was their lives the last few weeks.
“I don’t know why I bought them, since I wasn’t sure we were ever going to be a family again. Maybe it was hope, but I needed something to believe in while I was feeling so lost.”
She and Callen glanced over at him.
There was so much emotion in his voice.
“I was the worst human being ever,” Ethan said, continuing, “I don’t deserve either of you. I know that you’ve both had to deal with a shitload of my issues the last couple years, and you didn’t even tell me to take a hike.”
That was a miracle in itself.
He picked up the one black leather band and popped it open. He showed Callen the words.
‘To the man I wish I could be.’
“Ethan.”
“It’s true. You’re calmer, gentler, and you always try to hold us together, Callen. I’m blessed to have you. All those years you were grateful to have me…you were wrong. You were the gift. You saved me even back then, and not the other way around. I wouldn’t have made it without you. It’s still the same today. You’re my hero,” he said, taking his brother’s hand off Elizabeth’s leg to snap the leather onto his wrist.
Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears.
Here was the man she’d met all those years ago. Here was the gentle soul hidden beneath the tough exterior. After that first time they’d made love, she saw it.
Here was the real Ethan Blackhawk.
He was back.
Callen took his brother’s hand in his. “I will ALWAYS be here for you, Ethan. No matter what happens, you have me. Your anger will never make me hate you. You’re mine, just like she is. The weeks away sucked. I missed my brother, and my husband.”
Elizabeth wiped a tear from her cheek.
Her heart was healing in leaps and bounds. Ethan was making his way back.
She was going to kiss Callista Gaines on the damn mouth when she saw her.
She was saving his ass once more.
This time, for good.
She’d bet on it.
Ethan picked up the next one, and the gentle silver chain slid against his fingers as he opened it.
“Elizabeth, I know I don’t deserve you. From the minute I saw you, you took my breath away. Your love of life, your genuine need to be a good person, and the way you’ve always wanted me, Native mess and all, stole my heart.”
He held it open so she could read the words on the back of the silver band.
‘When you see her, you’ll know. I know.’
That touched her heart.
She knew too.
“You’re not a mess, Ethan. You’re mine. We’re not perfect, but together, we’re as close as three people can get,” she admitted.
He rested his forehead against hers, as Callen placed his hand on the back of his neck, connecting
them.
“I was lost without you. I never want to feel that again. There was such hopelessness as I woke up each day, only to find you gone. I couldn’t breathe.”
“I’m here now.”
He took a deep breath. “I wanted you to have this,” he continued, “because like the snowflake, you and Callen are one of a kind. You, my wife, are all I’ll ever need. I would never stray because there is no one out there who could ever be more perfect than you.”
“When she was hitting on you,” Elizabeth asked, referring to the incident that happened while she was helping Tori Littlemoon, “did you even consider it? For a second?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“She has nothing on you. If I’m going to share something so valuable as my body, it’s going to be with someone who has earned it, and deserves it. That’s you both—not some woman who wants to climb the ladder and build power.”
She saw the truth in his eyes.
From this moment on, that painful episode, that had played out in the media, was forgotten.
“She wasn’t you, baby. No one could be my Elizabeth. I hope one day you believe me.”
“I do believe you,” she stated. “And as soon as I kill that hussy, and bury her body in a swamp filled with alligators, I’ll be fine.”
He laughed.
As did Callen.
“I’m serious.”
They knew she wasn’t, but still…
With her, you never knew.
“Anyway, off the topic of killing people,” Ethan said, “I also got you these for one more reason,” he admitted. “When I see them, I’ll remember that loneliness. I am the darkness, and you both are the snowflakes that gave me peace. It’ll be my reminder to reel it in, rethink my words, and have faith in my spouses.”
She liked that.
If the bracelets would help him, so be it.
She wanted her Ethan back.
He slipped it onto her wrist and closed the clasp. It hung delicately on her newly freed wrist. “It looks perfect,” he said, running his fingers over it.
On her lap, Callen took his hand, and they were connected again.
“What does yours say inside?” she asked.
Ethan handed it to her with his free hand.
Elizabeth opened it.
‘Embrace the past. It gave you a beautiful future.’
It was true.
That was the miracle of their lives. What happened before had created what was now their lives. Sometimes, you had to have someone else help forge that for you. Chris Leonard had done that.
Ethan was over being jealous, and instead he was going to be happy.
“Ethan.”
“I’m sorry I made you feel afraid to tell me anything. That’s not good in a marriage. From this day forward, I swear I will not lose my temper when you tell me things.”
“No matter what?” Callen asked. “Because your temper is…scary.”
He got it.
If a man bigger than him was afraid of what would happen, how much had his temper frightened Elizabeth?
“I swear.”
They believed him.
Elizabeth helped put the leather around his wrist. With gentle fingers, she touched the stone.
Ethan’s heart skipped.
He’d earned back a second chance, and he wasn’t going to piss it away.
Elizabeth went to speak.
That’s when she heard it. It made her smile.
“Did you just hear wind chimes?” Callen asked.
Yeah, she had.
Ethan too.
“Granddad will keep us safe,” Elizabeth offered. “He’s around.”
Ethan believed it, and that’s why what he was going to say next was so important.
“I need to make a change in my life.”
They looked at him.
“A big one.”
“If you want to quit your job,” Callen offered, “I can support us until you find something you love.”
He smiled at him. “I appreciate that, but I think I’m where I need to be, minus one thing.”
“What?” Elizabeth asked.
“I need to embrace my heritage. For years, I’ve run and shunned it.”
“Uh, well, you’re still Native, handsome. You didn’t outrun that sexiness.”
He gave her a kiss.
“Thank God for that. I might have not picked up a hot Native-obsessed woman,” he teased.
Callen was curious.
“What do you mean then?”
“Elizabeth, while good at what she does, trying to teach our children our culture, is in over her head.”
“Hey!” she said.
It made him laugh.
“I think I can pull off Native. I know I’m surrounded by it!” she admitted.
While that was true, he knew what he needed to do.
“I’m going to take over for Granddad. I promised that if he helped me get my family back, that I’d build a giant tipi in the backyard and carry on the tradition of the Shaman. It continues with me.”
She stared at him.
“Holy shit,” muttered Callen.
“What?” he asked. “Don’t think I can do it?” he teased.
Oh, they believed he could. Ethan Blackhawk could do anything he put his mind to, and his life was a testament to that. She was just picturing it.
“It is a bad time not to be wearing panties,” she said. “I just pictured you all sweaty after a long, hard, vision quest in the tipi.”
Ethan started laughing.
Callen ignored the last part and focused on the words that really caught his attention.
No.
Panties.
“You’re kidding, right?” he asked.
She shook her head. “That was supposed to be the sexy surprise, but Ethan won this one. I just pictured half-naked Natives wearing feathers in a tipi. That’s one hell of a visual. I don’t know if my heart can handle it.”
He touched her cheek.
“I’m also going to be shirtless when I teach our sons to build their own canoes, and then I’ll start taking them hunting. Callen isn’t the only one who can drag home a deer for his woman.”
She began praying and she even crossed herself.
“What are you doing?” Callen asked, laughing at his wife. She was predictable. This is why he never worried she’d cheat. She had it bad for the Blackhawk boys.
Here was the proof.
“I’m thanking the baby Jesus for the bounty that I’m about to receive, and I’m apologizing for the vile, dirty fornication that I’m about to participate in when that tipi is up.”
That made Ethan chuckle.
“If you’d like to join me, Callen, I could use a partner in the job. It takes two men to fill Granddad’s shoes.”
He held out his hand. “I’m in.”
“Yes, this is a really bad time to not have britches,” she muttered. “Two sexy Natives and one horny, white woman in a pear tree,” she sang.
Ethan laughed and clinked his wine glass off his brother’s. As he was about to say something else, Elizabeth’s body language changed.
Both men went on alert.
They knew something was up.
Then they saw them. Crossing the restaurant were the two US Marshals, and they were each carrying a folder.
They held up their part of the deal—now it was their turn. It looked like playtime was over, and their personal issues were going to be put on the back burner.
It was time to get her FBI on.
“Have a seat,” Ethan said, when they arrived at the table. Ethan noticed that Sarah was giving Elizabeth the look.
This was interesting.
It was as if she were jealous, but of what? Elizabeth wasn’t interested in the man before them.
This had the potential to get ugly.
Chick fighting was always below the belt and dirty. It partially amused him that once more, the past was threatening someone’s future. It wa
s funny how that happened.
Ethan was glad it wasn’t just his issue.
Dakota was screwed.
“I have the information you wanted,” Dakota offered, pulling out a chair for his partner, and then himself.
That act alone spoke volumes to Ethan.
The man had it bad for the woman beside him—whether he knew it or not.
“Good. Let’s get down to business,” Ethan stated, raising his hand. The waiter rushed over and took all of their orders. “More wine, please,” he stated.
He waited for their guests to order beer.
When he was gone, Elizabeth got started. “Tell me what you have.”
Sarah opened her folder. “We have four dead victims. All were decapitated, and their bodies were left in dumpsters. We believe Bonnie wanted a place to hide them.”
Ethan corrected her. “If she left them in dumpsters, she wasn’t hiding them. She was leaving them somewhere they might be found. She does it for a reason. If she didn’t want them found, no one would.” he offered.
“If that’s the case,” Sarah asked, “why did she pick four people outside the same area? She worked her way around the outer ring of DC. She didn’t want them to connect.”
Ethan sipped his wine. “She didn’t care if they connected,” he stated. “Bonnie doesn’t work like that. She’s not about anyone figuring it out. She’s about the deed. Don’t read too much into it.”
It was easy to see Sarah wasn’t getting it.
She looked doubtful.
“How do you know?” she asked.
“I’m a profiler. It’s my job to know.”
She laughed. “You’re a suit behind a desk. Maybe you should read more into her.”
Dakota went to shush her, but Elizabeth was all over her attitude. While she could point it at her, the second she started making shitty-ass comments about one of her men, it was on.
“Actually, if you did your research, again, like we did, you’d know that when the US Marshals need a profile, or a police agency needs help, it’s Ethan Blackhawk they call. He’s so damn good at his job, that people offer him money to do what he does.”
She looked over at her partner.
He nodded, confirming what the woman had said.
Revenge has Come (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 19) Page 20
