He appreciated that.
Chris hung up his cell and began packing up his bags.
Tony, who had been busy with the beetles and body finally spoke up.
“What are your plans for tonight?” asked Tony as he cleaned up his tools.
“Nothing. I’m going to eat and sleep. It’s been a long day,” Chris admitted.
He glanced over. Tony was checking the box where the critters were beginning to have a nun snack.
It was time to take the woman to her bones.
“How about you?” Chris asked.
“I’m going to pick Jaxon up at the university, cook her dinner, and call it a night. A pregnant wife…”
He laughed. “I know. It’s a whole other beast. Make her happy, and you’ll reach the finish line with your ass in one piece.”
While he was joking, Tony could still hear the tone of his best friend’s voice.
He wasn’t okay.
“Hey,” Tony said, touching his arm. “I’m sorry about Cyra’s brother. I know you weren’t close, but…”
He didn’t want to think about it.
Chris wanted to forget.
“Yeah, thanks, Tony. I appreciate it. No one should die like that. At least he didn’t suffer.”
There was that.
“How are things between you and Ethan?” he asked, trying to get his friend to open up. “He didn’t look pissed when we saw him.”
“He’s over it. We talked.”
“He’s not pissy over you dipping your doctor tools in the sexy babe?”
He snorted. “Tony…”
“What? I can’t help it. I missed you. I’ve been trapped here almost two months while my two best friends were gone. Elizabeth only took one call from me, and it didn’t sound good. You wouldn’t even answer your phone. I thought you went underground.”
He picked up his medical kit.
“I know, Tony, I had to get some space between everything. I hope you understand. We were all...we were all in a bad place.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re back,” he said, securing the lid to the plastic coffin where the beetles were having a snack.
“Want to come over for dinner?” Tony asked. “Jaxon and I are doing low key, but I know you’re a big fan of pasta.”
He appreciated it.
He really did, but he wasn’t in the mood.
Chris walked with him toward the door, waving to Amir, who was working late. If the man followed procedure better, he wouldn’t have to spend more time there. Soon, he’d been gone, and that was a blessing for him.
“Maybe a raincheck, Tony. I promised Callen I’d help him go over some things tonight. While Elizabeth is trying to piss Bonnie off, it’s all hands-on deck.”
He patted his friend on the back. “God help her next victim…”
Yeah, he was aware.
“You can say that again,” he offered.
At the elevator, they waited. When the doors opened, they got in and pushed the button to the main floor. Chris and Tony would head outside where most people left their rides. If they went underground, to the garage, it was a hassle getting in and out. Security was a bitch.
“HOLD THE DOOR!” someone shouted.
Chris did just that and peeked out. It was Doctor Michaels, heading their way.
They stepped back as the older woman entered. She had to be in her late fifties, and was head of the Forensic Anthropology department.
She was tough.
She didn’t take any BS.
And she hated Elizabeth Blackhawk’s team—especially since they’d all come back from FBI West and booted her out of Autopsy Suite One.
It was the coveted spot with all the updated equipment. She also hated that Tony Magnus had been Ethan Blackhawk’s pick to run that anthro lab.
Tony greeted his boss.
He liked the lady, but she was a tough old bird to be pleasant to on a good day. On a bad day…
Yeah, no.
“Hello, Doctor Magnus. I see you’re wrapped up in another media spectacle with that woman.”
They both knew who she meant.
Someone hated Elizabeth.
Big time.
“Yes, ma’am, I am. It’s fascinating.”
Everyone knew she could be on the team, but Doctor Michaels was stubborn. Her dislike of Elizabeth gave Tony the position to be with his friends.
“I didn’t get your reports,” she said, not even looking back at Tony. “I have to send mine in to the Director tomorrow.”
There was his warning.
He pulled out his phone and sent them.
Her smartphone beeped.
“Thank you. I wouldn’t want to have to file a complaint with your other boss.”
He tried not to laugh.
It was a useless threat. Elizabeth didn’t consider Tony one of Doctor Michaels’s minions.
She owned him.
He was hers.
If this woman complained, it would fall on deaf ears, and that’s what pissed her off the most.
They rode up in silence, Tony making faces at Chris, trying to get him to laugh.
It wasn’t easy to be an adult when Tony was around.
Ever.
If there was one person, who always got him in trouble, it was this man.
As the elevators opened, they all headed past security, out the door, and into the parking lot.
“Have a good night,” Tony said to everyone, as he headed, alone, toward his ride.
Chris waved, and Doctor Michaels said nothing.
As usual.
“Doctor, have a good night,” Chris offered, heading in the opposite direction.”
“Sure. You too.”
Then she was gone.
Chris simply shrugged. Miserable people were their own worst enemy. He refused to be like that.
Besides, it was time to go home.
And that was the best outcome for that shitty day.
Bonnie watched from her spot between two cars. She knew the schedule of all the people on her list. Oh, if Elizabeth thought she could screw with her, she had another thing coming.
It just meant the next person on the list would pay.
Dearly.
“I want you to stay hidden, and not out in the open. If they get you on camera, we’re screwed,” Bonnie admitted.
Lizzie listened.
“Bring the car we stole and get ready for my signal. Once I give it, we’ll be ready to go.”
She could do that. This was Bonnie’s plan, and she was willing to do whatever it took to make it work.
“I’ll bag the doctor, and we’ll be on our merry way. This is going to be fun.”
Payback always was.
Lizzie scurried away, and Bonnie moved closer to the doctor. This was going to be cake. Yes, the security cameras would see her, but did it matter?
By the time anyone got there, she’d be gone and with the doctor in tow.
This was about showing Elizabeth who was boss, and who was going to be laughing last.
Ducking behind a pickup truck, Bonnie waited.
It was time.
They had a doctor to torture.
And it would be bad.
Real bad.
Approaching their vehicles, none of the doctors were paying attention. Tony was calling his wife, leaving her a voicemail that he was on his way.
Chris was flipping through the reports that Amir had just sent, ensuring that he had them all before he headed home.
Doctor Michaels was trying to find her keys in her purse, oblivious to everything since she was pissed off.
It was dangerous for all of them.
Distraction would be Bonnie’s key.
As the specific doctor approached their vehicle, Bonnie stepped out and waved.
“Hi!”
There was a gasp, and then the feeling of ten thousand volts from the Taser.
The doctor hit the ground with a thud.
Bonnie didn’t waste any time. She k
new she had to move fast.
“Well, that was easy,” she said, motioning toward Lizzie in the waiting ride.
Her partner floored it and got there.
Bonnie hefted the downed doctor into the trunk, giving her victim one good shot in the head to ensure compliance.
Her victim was contained.
It was time to go.
Lizzie hit the gas, and they escaped.
There was a scene to set.
And it was going to blow Elizabeth’s mind.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Gabriel and Livy
Rothschild’s Home
When they got home, Amy was sitting at the kitchen counter—like always. If anything, she was predictable.
She was working on some homework when they strolled in, just like she was supposed to be.
“Hey, ‘rents,” she called not looking over at them.
Neither spoke.
That had her attention.
When she turned around, they were both staring at her. It was the look.
Her father could turn people into pillars of salt with his angry glare, and it was directed at her.
“Uh oh. What did I do?” she asked, putting down her pencil and protractor.
She knew something was up.
“Why don’t you tell us?” Gabe asked, employing some of his techniques he used to break renegade agents.
She swallowed.
It was time to own it.
“I swear it’s only a scratch, and I was going to tell you about it when you had some wine,” she admitted. “Tonight, after dinner!”
Gabe looked at Livy. “What is she talking about?” he asked.
She had no clue and shrugged. “You got me. This was your interrogation. Have at it.”
Gabe would do just that.
“Amelia Elizabeth Rothschild, explain. NOW!”
She jumped at the tone in his voice. When her dad was mad, it was best not to screw with him.
“The car. I didn’t mean to scrape that drive thru window…”
He held up his hand. “Wait. You hit something with the car?”
“Kinda.”
Jesus!
No one told him the teen years were likely to kill him. He’d beaten cancer, but this…?
Yeah, death by hormonal youth was going to do him in—there was no doubt about it.
He was sure.
“I was going through the drive thru and…”
Gabe stopped her. “Don’t. We’ll save that for later. That’s not what we are here to discuss. We want to talk about your letter writing skills.”
Gabe saw her flinch.
Oh, his wife was right.
Their daughter had screwed with someone’s life, and that couldn’t be tolerated.
No.
Freaking.
Way.
“What did you do, Amy?” Livy asked. “How could you put yourself into this position? We raised you better than that.”
The girl tried to look confused.
She was failing miserably.
“Here, let me try,” Gabe offered, taking her cell phone and keys off the counter. “You’ve lost driving privileges, your cell, and you’re going to be DRIVEN to school by security. You get a year of chauffeuring by my guys!”
She gasped. “DAD!”
He shook his head. “Now, how about you confess before I take the electronics from your room too. No tablet means no talking to your friends. No cable means no interaction with the outside world. I see a slew of classic novels in your future—specifically ones on betrayal, backstabbing, and trickery—and any movies you see will all be on VHS!”
She swallowed.
And here was why her father was the head of the FBI.
He was sadistic.
Livy spoke up, “Why did you do it, Amelia?” she asked. “Why did you put that note on Uncle Ethan’s car?”
She stopped looking afraid.
Instead, she looked defiant.
“Amelia?” Gabe stated. “NOW!”
Fine.
She was caught, so she might as well own it.
“I was protecting my mother. Elizabeth hurt her, and I was angry. I wanted to hurt her back for making Mom cry. Elizabeth was mean, and she deserved it.”
He snapped.
It didn’t happen often with his kids, but this was a little too sneaky and underhanded for him. It screamed of her real father, and how he’d been vicious and nasty.
Gabe always swore if he saw that in her, he’d nip it in the bud—if it was the last thing he did.
He slammed his fists on the counter, and both women jumped.
Livy forgot that this man was a force to reckon with outside the house, and he was pissed.
“You nearly destroyed someone’s marriage. What gives you the right to do that, Amy? It better be something logical that comes out of your mouth or I’ll lose it.”
“I told you. She hurt mom. Instead of being here when Mom needed her, she turned on her. I wanted to help Mom get revenge.”
Livy’s eyes filled with tears.
And here it was.
It had been Livy’s fault. She’d told her, she’d let her kid see her crying, and she’d pointed her at Elizabeth.
“You always taught me people get what they deserve. She got what she deserved. Only, I saw they are fine. I guess I failed.”
Gabe erupted.
“Jesus H Christ!”
Livy tried to calm him down. “Let me, Gabriel. I caused this. You have to let me fix it.”
He paced but let his wife handle it.
“Mom, I did it for you.”
How could she be mad at her kid for defending her? She couldn’t, but she could be mad at herself.
“Oh, Amy, I hurt your Aunt Lyzee so many times. I never had her back. I was a horrible friend. That’s why she tossed me from her life. Elizabeth didn’t hurt me. I wasn’t crying because she damaged my heart. I was crying because I hurt her. For years, I used her when I needed her, and I never gave her anything back for it. I’m the bad one here, not your aunt. She didn’t deserve this. I did.”
Amy’s lower lipped quivered.
“I went to her house drunk, and I punched her in the face. I put my hands on her in front of your Uncle Ethan and Uncle Callen. I said horrible things to her. You took revenge on the wrong person. You should have aimed it at me.”
Gabe hated getting mad at Amy. Truth be told, he took it easier on her because she wasn’t biologically his. He felt she’d had a rough start, and deserved….
Shit.
He’d made this mess too.
Some FBI bigwig he was. He’d screwed up his family. Well, that softness ended here.
“I’m sorry,” Amy stated. “I thought you were crying because she dumped you.”
Livy shook her head.
“What can I do to fix it?” Amy asked.
Gabe had an answer. “It looks like tomorrow, you’re going to be stopping in to see Elizabeth and Ethan. You’re going to apologize and own what you’ve done.”
She gasped. “They’ll hate me! Daddy! You can’t make me do that! Can’t we just say nothing?”
Nope.
Not in his world.
“If you do the crime, you do the time,” he stated.
She began protesting even more.
Gabe refused to let her off the hook with excuses. It wasn’t happening.
“Welcome to real life, kiddo. This is what happens when you do shitty things. You own them and make amends. It looks like you’re going to be fixing this for a long time.”
Amy began crying.
Gabe walked away.
He needed to clean house.
His own.
Chapter Eleven
Nine P.M.
Official Function
B eing his date was a beautiful thing. Once enjoying the evening, Elizabeth’s nerves were finally settled. The entire time they were there, Ethan took the time to introduce her to everyone he knew
at the function.
Every time, it was always as his beautiful wife.
He knew what people were thinking. She did, too, but it didn’t matter.
While they all gawked, and stared, no one dared to bring up what they had heard in the media.
No one dared question his fidelity as they stood hand in hand with matching wedding rings on their fingers. It was clear in that moment that Ethan wielded so much power in DC that they wouldn’t push his buttons.
“Want to dance?” he asked, offering her his hand.
“Shouldn’t you go schmooze with the Director of Homeland? He keeps looking over at you.”
Ethan had noticed.
Only, he didn’t give a shit.
Blackhawk was with the most beautiful woman in the room—his woman, his wife—and he didn’t care if they wanted his attention.
It could wait.
And it would.
“Oh, him? He’s checking you out, not me. Trust me when I say that man is presently ogling my girl’s ass. I have been too. It’s spectacular,” he admitted, and it didn’t bother him in the least that other men were checking her out.
Go ahead.
They’d weathered the storm.
They came through the other side.
Ethan was secure now that she was back in his life. From here on out, it would be about getting Elizabeth to see that he loved her so very much.
“I like dancing with you,” she admitted, pointing at the few guests who were taking advantage of the orchestra playing.
Well, if his wife wanted to dance, then so be it.
She could have anything she wanted.
“Want to show them what we’ve got?” he asked.
“If you’re not busy, Deputy Director.”
He grinned wickedly at her, and then placed his mouth by her ear. “I can undress you in my head and dance at the same time. I have excellent multi-tasking skills.”
Her heart skipped.
“So I’ve heard,” she offered.
“Then make my dreams come true and let me hold you on the dance floor.”
She could do that.
Elizabeth passed her champagne off to a waiter walking by her, and she took Ethan’s hand in hers.
He led her to the center of the floor, between the Senators and their wives. He stayed focused on her, ignoring the speculative glares.
Revenge has Come (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 19) Page 35
