Deep Dark Mire (An FBI Romance Thriller ~ book four)

by Kelley, Morgan

  “What if I ruin your life, Lyzee?”

  Elizabeth moved to sit in front of him and took the bottle from his hand and took a sip. “How can love ruin my life? It can only make it better. Before you, life was damn near perfect, and then you walked into FBI West, became my best friend and made me fall in love with you. Now I have absolute perfection.” She took his hand in hers. “In my dream, granddad told me that Desdemona had to happen in order to build the bridge to connect us. You didn’t ruin anything. You created us, Callen.”

  “What if you decide one day you’re tired of me?” His eyes filled with tears, at the mere idea. “I know I won’t ever leave you, but what if you stop loving me like everyone does?”

  She hurt for the man. “It’s never going to happen. When you love someone, then you trust them. From this moment on, I’m giving you complete trust. I believe you’ll stay. Not because we have a piece of paper, but because we love each other. I’m asking you to trust me, Callen James Whitefox. Believe in me.”

  He stared into her eyes and saw nothing but truth.

  “Granddad, give him a sign that he’s not making a mistake, and that he’s on the right path.”

  Callen stopped moving and listened to the burial grounds, suddenly the wind picked up and the beads on the graves shook, the flowers danced and the wind chimes tinkled in the breeze. As quickly as it started, it all came to a stop.

  “When granddad first brought me here to meet Ethan’s mom, he told me that when the wind blows, that means the spirits are with us. I have no doubt that Timothy is here and will always be here. He left me in charge to keep you and the family intact. I’m asking you to believe in me and trust that I won’t drop your heart, but hold it as the treasure it is inside here,” Elizabeth touched her heart. “It has a home alongside Ethan’s.”

  Callen’s eyes filled with tears.

  Elizabeth leaned forward and pulled his lips to hers. The kiss shared everything that she felt for him. Slowly, she could feel him letting go, and then he began kissing her back. What was between them wasn’t just lust or need. What they shared was something so much more important.

  Love.

  The wind suddenly picked up wickedly and the burial grounds came alive with sound and motion.

  Elizabeth broke away laughing. “I do believe that was granddad telling you to stop mauling me on his grave.”

  Whitefox grinned. “Will you go with me to granddad’s house?” he asked suddenly. There was something he needed to do, and it felt just right.

  It was a long time coming.

  “Okay.” Elizabeth stood and held out her hand. Their fingers twined together, automatically. They walked across the burial grounds and through the woods to the path to Timothy Blackhawk’s homestead.

  Callen took his keys from his pocket and unlocked the front door. Once inside, his heart skipped in his chest, and Elizabeth squeezed his hand reassuringly. Grabbing the throw off the couch, he led her out the back door and through the yard to the tree house the boys shared as kids.

  “Will you come up with me?”

  Elizabeth grinned. “And pass up an amazing moment with a very sexy man? Never!” She remembered the time when her husband brought her up to the tree house. She was his last conquest in the Blackhawk/Whitefox den of iniquity. Now the other man wanted to offer the same promise to her.

  “I never brought any woman here that I loved. I want you to be the first and last.”

  “Let’s go.” Elizabeth started climbing the ladder to the top. Once there, she climbed through the window and waited for Callen, her heart skipping a beat, as he climbed through after her. Yeah, her heart was complete, and she was the luckiest woman alive.

  Whitefox spread the blanket on the floor and sat in the middle, opening his arms for her.

  Without hesitation she moved to him, going into his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck.

  “I can’t believe I get to score with the most beautiful woman in the world up here,” he whispered, and then kissed her. The need washing through him, as his mouth took ownership and control of hers.

  Elizabeth went along for the ride, letting it heal the man who held her. Nothing in her life felt more right than sharing her future with Ethan Blackhawk and Callen Whitefox.

  Who knew that her path would split, and there would be a parallel journeys with two of the most amazing men ever? Two years ago, everything was vastly different in her life, and now everything was right where it needed to be.

  Elizabeth was complete.

  The world tipped and Elizabeth found herself beneath him. Reaching up she freed his long brown hair. “I have a thing for hair, so sue me,” she said, laughing and then kissing him lovingly. She lured him in and kept him captivated for the entire kiss, and when they broke apart, the buttons on his shirt were undone.

  “You’re fast,” he said, looking down as her fingers nimbly unhooked his belt buckle. Watching her while she undressed him was making him incredibly excited. The only sound in the room was their breathing, and then the slide of the zipper. Then, his breath caught in his chest, as she slid him out.

  “I love your body, Callen,” she whispered, sliding down so she could worship him with her mouth. When she took him in, the moan from his lips turned her on, making her incredibly hot.

  Whitefox believed he died and went to heaven. No one worshipped his body quite like she did. Watching her, his blood began to boil at the eroticism. When she licked the length of him, he felt his control shake and slip. Then she cupped him and he wanted to erupt right there in her very warm mouth.

  “Angel,” he whispered, pulling her back up and rolling with her body so she was on top. “I need you,” he whispered. “Heal me like only you can.”

  Her eyes filled with tears, as she stood and stripped. Elizabeth would do anything for the man in the tree house. When she was completely naked, she straddled him, and watched his face as she slid him home.

  “Oh God,” he whispered, enjoying the feel of her on his body. Yeah, he knew why his brother liked her on top. It was an incredible view. Gently, his fingers touched the bruise on her chest. “Please let your hair down. I love it, Elizabeth.”

  Elizabeth sat perched above him, doing what he asked. Shaking out her hair, it rained down across her shoulders and back, the wispy ends brushing over his legs, erotically.

  “I have a hair thing too,” he whispered, as she started moving, achingly slow. His hands went to her hips and he guided her up and down. “Christ, this is like heaven,” he muttered, watching her body and how amazing she looked naked and above him.

  “I love you, Callen,” she gasped, as she felt him fill her and then leave her body.

  “I love you, Lyzee. I always will,” he whispered, as she quickened the pace. Now it was stealing his breath, as this miracle occurred. The woman of his fantasies and dreams fulfilled yet one more for him.

  He scored with the hottest chick in the tree house.

  Elizabeth dropped her head back as the pleasure filled her and she knew she was incredibly close.

  “Harder Lyzee,” he mumbled, nearly going insane when she did exactly like he asked. Then he knew he wasn’t going to make it much longer. “I need more!”

  “Callen!” Elizabeth slammed down one more time and felt his body erupt with hers. Together their bodies shook, as hers joined his in the bliss.

  Lowering her to his side, Callen tucked her against him, enjoying the peace.

  Neither spoke for a few minutes.

  “Come home with me, Callen?” she asked, hoping he’d say yes. “Ethan’s waiting for us, and we have a life to begin together. Today is the first day of our story.”

  Whitefox looked down at the naked woman lying against him. “I’ll follow you anywhere, angel, and I can’t wait to write our future.”

  Callen Whitefox found his way home, and into the heart of a woman that he only dreamed that he could catch.

  Nothing could ruin it now. He’d found the path to happiness and to family.
<
br />   Thank you Timothy, where ever you are!

  * * *

  She took the pregnancy test off the counter and stared at the readout, unable to believe her eyes. It said she was pregnant, just like the last two she took. Now she had confirmation on top of confirmation.

  Well holy shit!

  Now what was she going to do?

  In her mind she began calculating when and how it could have happened. There was no doubt who was the father, she’d only been with one man in the last seven months, and she’d been on the pill.

  As a doctor she knew it was a possibility. Birth control could fail, and this time it did. But the woman in her was still caught between horror and incredulousness.

  Crap!

  As she stared at the calendar she knew when it happened. That meant she had to be about three months. There was a few seconds where she wondered what she was going to do, and then she just came to the conclusion to own it.

  She’d gotten pregnant by a man who didn’t love her, and while she knew he’d come back out of obligation to a child, she didn’t want that. What her heart needed was love of his own free will, and she knew that wasn’t a possibility. Another woman owned his heart and always would.

  All that was left were two options.

  End the pregnancy or be a single parent.

  Callen Whitefox wouldn’t ever know he was a father. He’d made his choice and this was his Karma. Desdemona almost wanted to laugh at how bitter her heart had become, as the hate overcame her. She fed the anger and allowed it to swallow and grow in her.

  Doctor Desdemona Adare made the choice to hurt the man she once loved. Now all that was left was hate and the desire to break his heart too.

  With her choice she set fate into motion.

  * * *

  Two weeks later

  The Blackhawk three sat in the tattoo shop facing each other, as they all got their tribute to the man they lost. Timothy Blackhawk was a part of each of them and now would be immortalized on flesh forever. A common tattoo would be shared between the three of them, the native language of the man and a symbol of their tribe.

  It sealed them together more, as brother to brother, wife to husband, and lover to lover. All three were a unit, and they were going to commemorate together as one entity.

  The last two weeks had been bliss, and the three were genuinely happy to be home. No assignments had come up, and they liked it that way. They traversed and navigated the new journey the three all began willingly.

  Family and love saved them all. Ethan could be the man he always was, and be proud of the balance between FBI and personal life. Elizabeth could love two men openly, and keep her promise to Timothy, by holding the family together. Callen finally felt safe, finding acceptance and love, not as the third in the unit, but part of the foundation of their family.

  Blackhawk spoke to his brother in the language they were all trying to learn. Callen laughed and so did his wife. “What?” he asked, sincerely believing he said ‘this hurts like a bitch’.

  Whitefox shook his head. “You conjugated that word really badly, bro. But hey it was a nice try,” he added, grinning at Elizabeth. She’d been in the one tattoo artist’s chair for a long time, and he didn’t understand why. By now she should he completely done.

  “Well, what did I just say then?” Blackhawk was getting frustrated at trying to learn their native language, but at least he kept at it.

  “You just told us that you wanted to be hurt by that bitch,” snickered his wife. “I am so going to own that warbonnet when this is over. Cal’s my only competition, and he’s easy to bribe.” Elizabeth blew him a kiss with the hand that displayed their rings.

  He grinned wickedly. “I’ll negotiate anytime you want to, angel. I think you know my demands.”

  Blackhawk started laughing. “Oddly, I may need to use that phrase more often,” he said, winking at his wife. “Who knew?”

  Callen shook his head. The last two weeks of his life had been almost heaven. Construction had started at Fort Blackhawk and a new garage was being built. Above it was Wyler’s new place, and he was excited to be off the Rez since his father’s passing.

  His fondest memory to date had been right after they came back from their last assignment, Wyler had walked into the house to find Elizabeth trapped on the couch beneath Callen. His father lost it, nearly beating his son within an inch of his life. Elizabeth had to stop him, all that while laughing hysterically. When Ethan had walked in from work, he sat his father down and reassured him that everything was fine, and this was a choice they’d all made.

  There was no judgment from him, only a grin and one sentence. “Timothy would be slapping the hell out of you boys if he knew about this.”

  No doubt, but growing up they always liked to push the limit with rules, why be any different when it came to love?

  Callen had moved all his things into the house. His cabin on the Rez was now completely empty, and he was contemplating selling it, or donating it to a needy family.

  He knew that he wasn’t ever going back again.

  Now, he bunked down every night in bed with the woman he loved and his brother.

  It just felt right.

  Granted, he had a bedroom of his own, but he was never in there. Why bother? He knew where he belonged.

  On his left hand, he wore his grandfather’s wedding band, as a symbol of his dedication to one woman. When he and Elizabeth came home from his tree house adventure, she pulled it out of the safe, slipping it onto his finger. Granted, they would never be legally married, but he took it as a sign of complete commitment from her as their grandmother’s ring sat beside the one Ethan had given her. The same dedication that she had towards his brother was now his too, just minus the paper.

  Who needed a piece of paper anyway, when you had love?

  “Christ Lyzee, are you making the guy go extra slow because of the pain?” inquired Whitefox, standing and looking at his completed tattoo in the mirror. His tribute to his grandfather was done, and it looked amazing.

  “She is just a girl,” teased her husband, knowing she could kick both their asses if so inclined. Blackhawk stood and inspected his tattoo, too. It was his twenty fourth, and most likely the last- but who knew?

  “I’ll have you know that I had a bigger project than you two girls,” she teased back.

  When the tattoo artist turned off his gun she looked over her shoulder at him. “Am I finished?” she asked.

  “You're golden.”

  Elizabeth walked over to the mirror and looked first at Timothy’s tattoo and symbol and smiled. Then she saw the other completed one.

  “Hey Callen, come tell me how it looks,” she called, winking at her husband. He knew exactly why her tattoo took longer. It was something they both decided together to cement them as a family.

  Whitefox buttoned his shirt, walking towards her. “Okay, turn around.”

  When she did, he scanned her back and it took time to finally register. Across her back was her husband’s name, on one shoulder was the tattoo for Timothy, but on the other was a very familiar tattoo. In fact, it matched the one on Callen Whitefox’s shoulder, except instead of initials the heart held his full name and beneath it;

  ‘Forever My Love’

  “Elizabeth!” he stared, unsure what to say.

  She turned and smiled at him. “Do you like it?”

  He didn’t have words, but he opened his arms and pulled her against his body.

  Elizabeth went up onto her toes and whispered into his ear. “You aren’t temporary. You’re like that tattoo, permanently with me forever. Ethan and I love you and wanted to give you this gift.”

  Blackhawk walked over to his family. Despite the stare of the people around the shop, he threw his arms around them. All three rested their foreheads against each other. “The Three Musketeers are unbreakable.”

  There was no doubt.

  Callen James Whitefox found his way to where he needed to be.

  And noth
ing ever felt this damn good.

  * * *

  Meanwhile….

  The match was lit and tossed onto the gasoline soaked clothing. As the fire engulfed the woman’s prone body, he stood there smiling wickedly. His whole body rejoiced in sheer delight.

  Watching the skin crackle and burn like a tree branch, he waited for his favorite part. As soon as the skin would split and the subcutaneous fat would ooze and catch flame, he’d be in heaven. The hair on her head was curling up and the air smelled like burning human meat.

  Before she was even fully engulfed, he began fantasizing about the next one. There was nothing more delicious and erotic than watching life drain from a body, and then watching the flames devour them whole.

  It was amazing.

  It was the perfect release.

  Now it was time to plan the next one.

  He smiled into the night as he walked away, mentally adding up the bodies he’d purified in the flames. The count was three, but he was certain there’d be many more.

  After all, the Fire Burns Hot.

  Dearest Reader;

  After writing True Love Lost, I got quite a bit of push back on the relationship between Callen and Desdemona.

  It was obvious to the reader that their love wasn’t one made in heaven, but built on lies and ulterior motives. From the day I sat down to pen that book, it gave me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t possibly do the entire story in one book, so I had to split it and wrap it up in Deep Dark Mire. But from day one of Callen’s introduction in Sacred Burial Grounds, I knew who he was going to love and that they would figure it all out.

  Like many of you, I LOVE A HAPPY ENDING!

  When I write a book, it’s to give the characters a connection and a little spark that gives them what we all long to find.