Choices will Destroy (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 14) (14 page)

Livy leaned over the desk. “Newsflash, honey. I was an agent before I was his wife, and I’ve given him six babies. You don’t get tougher than that. He’s sure I can handle it.”

The men all knew better than to say a word. Instead, they headed into the office to avoid being pulled into the mêlée.

“Yes, Mrs. Rothschild.”

The women followed. Immediately, the door was closed. Gabe dropped down in his chair and closed his eyes. “I have a really bad feeling about this. If I was doubtful before, I’m pretty sure I’m going to regret this.”

“I can handle having a badge,” Livy stated.

“I’m more worried that you’re going to slap the stupid out of people with it. I already have one person, who shall remain nameless, doing that.”

Elizabeth and Livy grinned.

Ethan shook his head. “I’m with you. Livy’s got that look on her face. Elizabeth gets it too. It’s usually before I have to fill out paperwork, or profusely apologize to someone.”

“Great,” he muttered.

Callen knew they better get working. “How about we get this started? The sooner we find this killer, the sooner we can get home.”

Elizabeth moved around Gabe’s desk and pulled open his drawer.

“Hey! Boundaries, Elizabeth!”

She laughed as she found his secret stash of candy. “I’m starving, and I have a second person to feed. Boundaries disappear when you try and stand between me and food.”

She sat on the corner of his desk as she unwrapped the absconded candy bar.

“I can see that. By all means, help yourself and sit on your boss’s desk. He doesn’t mind.”

She grinned as she bit into the chocolate. “Callen’s right. We need to get to work. I suggest we split up.”

The men in the room started laughing.

The women—
not so much
.

“I’m being serious. We need someone to do the research. We have searches to run on the director, his phone, and his financials. Then we have autopsy to watch, and someone has to search his house. If this is a copycat killer, he’s going to move fast, just like the original.”

“How fast is fast?” Callen asked. He was the only one who wasn’t around fifteen years ago for this.

“The last time we had roughly one a day. He dropped the first three in three days, and then took a day off.”

“Shit! That’s insane! How do you keep up with that?” Callen asked.

Yeah, you didn’t.

Instead, you buckled up and prayed that you made it out alive. They were likely going to have another body by morning.

“I’ll handle the searches,” Callen offered. “I’ll be the paperwork monkey on this pleasure cruise.”

They all glanced over.

No one expected that.

“Let’s face it. In the field, I’m not going to be as strong as the rest of you. I can protect what’s ours, but she’ll be worried and focused on me. I don’t want Elizabeth distracted. I’m not the best choice for bodyguard.”

Elizabeth couldn’t love him more than she did in that moment. Callen got that she didn't need the distraction. She didn't even have to fight.

This proved it.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, angel, but stick close to Ethan, please? I don’t want you worrying, but I know I’m going to be a freaked out mess.”

“I promise I’ll be safe,” she reassured.

“I’ll keep her protected, Cal,” Ethan promised. “I won’t let anything happen to your child or our woman. I swear on my life.”

He believed his brother. Ethan was just as fiercely protective as he was, and there was no doubt he’d sacrifice his life for the woman they loved.

“You can use my office and my administrative assistant. She’s incredibly helpful and always willing to do anything you ask,” Gabe offered.

Livy crossed her arms and gave him one hell of a look. It wasn’t pretty. “Gabriel! Really?”

The tone said it all.

“What? Wait! I didn’t mean that, Livy. You can’t possibly think that I would…that I meant…hell!”

Elizabeth snorted. “Oh, Gabe, give up while you can still use your appendages.”

“I’m serious. She’s not my type.”

Livy didn't have to say a word.

He knew he was screwed if he kept digging.

Instead, he knew they needed to get working. “I need coffee,” Gabe said, buzzing his secretary. “Does anyone need some caffeine?”

They all raised their hands.

“Elizabeth gets decaf,” Callen stated.

She gave him a look.

Gabe finished ordering the coffees, and then he got down to business. “Well, Elizabeth? What’s first? This is your show. Lead it.”

She could do that.

“Ethan and I are going to head to the deceased director’s house. You and Livy get autopsy.”

“Denied,” Gabe stated. “I lied. It’s not really your show. It’s mine, and that plan isn’t going to work.”

“Why?” she asked, confused as to why he was giving her a hard time.

“If I don’t let Livy go out with you, she’s going to drive me bat shit insane. We’re all going to the house and then autopsy. The director had a huge home. It’ll take you two days to search it on your own.”

She was fine with that, and from the look on Ethan and Callen’s face, they were grateful. Come to think of it, she was pretty sure that was Gabe’s plan.

She was being babysat.

Elizabeth let it go.

Once
.

“And I didn't even have to say a word,” Livy stated. “That’s a good thing.”

There was a knock on the door. “Sir, your coffee is ready,” said Paulina, wheeling them in on a cart. “I also got you some Danish. I know how you like something sweet for your morning break.”

Livy opened her mouth, and Ethan covered it. She was just like his wife. Nothing good was going to be coming out, so why chance it?

“Thank you, Paulina,” Gabe said. When she was gone, he glanced over at Ethan. “I could kiss you.”

He removed his hand and laughed. “You owe me. She bit me.”

Elizabeth snorted. “Good for you, Livy.”

Instead of commenting, they all grabbed their coffee.

“Let’s get the search done,” Gabe offered.

As they got ready to leave, Callen approached his wife. “Angel, please be careful,” he whispered, leaving a gentle kiss beside the curl of her ear. “Keep our son safe.”

She hugged him, clinging to his body. “I’ll be okay, my love,” she promised. “You have nothing to worry about.”

Oh, she was very wrong,

Callen had everything to worry about, and he knew it.

He, too, had that sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. This whole thing rattled him. The last place he wanted his woman was out playing tag with some crazy.

Unfortunately, this was her job.

Setting her free, he hugged his brother. “I’ll find you something,” he promised.

“If you need help,” Gabe offered, “just have Paulina pick an agent for you. Anything you need, you can utilize.”

“Thanks.”

Callen watched them walk away. His heart was pounding in his chest the entire time. All he could do was put his faith in his brother.

Their child’s life was in the balance.

Outside, Gabe made a trip to HR. Once there, he turned in the paperwork and acquisitioned his wife a badge. It was a horrible idea, but he didn't have a choice.

If he wanted Livy to get over this, he had to let her do this her way. Over the years, she’d given him everything she had and never once complained.

He owed her.

More importantly, he owed Elizabeth, and Gabriel Rothschild always paid his debt.

In the vehicle, no one spoke. Elizabeth was busily scanning information on her phone. She’d made notes on the jet, and she was trying to figure out what they were missing.

Something didn't feel right, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

As Gabe drove, Ethan began working on a profile. His wife would be asking for one later, and he didn't want to fail her. There was still a part of him that felt horrible about his first profile for her. Also, a part of him wished that he’d taken the time to meet her.

His hostility could very well have screwed him out of ten earlier years with an amazing woman. He was so hell bent on being a tough agent that he’d passed up working with the woman who owned his heart.

He’d been a fool, and he knew it.

It was all coming back to him now. He recalled the scent of her perfume those couple of times he’d picked up a whiff of it. Now he knew what it was.

Then, he was clueless.

All he knew fifteen years ago was that it was alluring. The way she smelled like cookies called to him all those years ago, and it still did.

Ethan started to laugh.

“What’s so funny, Cowboy?” she asked.

“I can’t help but think about this case. When we were both starting out, I did that profile and before meeting you, I think I knew I loved you.”

Gabe glanced over. “Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you, son?”

He shook his head. “I dropped that initial profile on her desk, and I could smell her perfume. It made me…”

“Horny?” she teased.

“Hungry. I kept thinking how delicious it smelled. It touched on something I didn’t know existed. I know now that it was my heart.”

Elizabeth reached for his arm and ran her fingers over his suit jacket. “I’m amused that we almost met.”

Gabe laughed as he drove through the crowded DC streets. “You have no idea.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.

Ethan prayed Gabe wasn’t going there. He wanted to have this conversation in private.

Then, his hopes were dashed.

“I called Ethan into my office after I returned from my honeymoon. I wanted him to dump his partner and be yours. I nearly got you two together.”

She glanced over at him. “Really, Ethan.”

“Yes.”

He wanted to be sick.

“Why didn't you?” she asked her husband.

Ethan was immediately ashamed of his initial reaction. “I told Gabe I didn't want a liability. You ‘blew’ the case, and I didn't want to attach myself to someone who couldn’t do the job.”

Gabe glanced over. “Ethan.”

“No, I’ll own it. You brought it up, so I might as well be honest. I passed on being your partner.”

“I see.”

Ethan heard the hurt in her voice.

“I was a fool, and it cost me ten years without you, Lyzee. It’s probably one of my biggest regrets. I put the job first, and I lost out.”

She wasn’t angry. “I get it. I was in a bad place anyway. I wouldn’t have been able to give you my heart. I was too busy trying to prove something.”

Gabe glanced up in the mirror. “Did you ever manage to prove it?”

She laughed. “Not at all, Gabe. For a while, I thought I did, but I realize now I was reckless and stupid.”

Ethan pulled out his phone and began typing.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m putting this on my calendar. You just admitted to being reckless. This may never happen again. I know in thirty years, I’m going to want to look back and remember this day.”

Livy was closer, so she hit him in the arm.

“Shit! You too? Come on!”

The women laughed.

“I played fast and loose with my life, and I created a mess,” Elizabeth admitted. “If I could go back and change it, I would.”

“I wouldn’t,” Gabe admitted. “You broke the law, but you did it for a reason. Life is seldom black and white. There are a plethora of gray areas, and in them, you have leeway.”

“I guess.”

“The important thing is that you are fixing it. We all screw up. Look at the mess I created with Oracle. I dug a deep hole, and I hurt the people I love. Now that she’s dead, I feel horrible. I let someone innocent be destroyed. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Ethan glanced back at his wife.

They shared a look.

It was the only tell Gabriel needed. He knew both of them fairly well.

“What?” Gabe asked. “I saw that. What did you just convey to her without words?”

Elizabeth laughed at his paranoia. Sadly, it wasn’t misguided at all. He should be freaked out. “If I tell you, then we have to kill you.”

Gabe didn't relent. “This is a new phase in our relationship for us. We’re a family, and we’re not going to have lies. Isn’t that what you wanted? I know you think I haven’t been there for you, but I am. I want a chance to prove it, but you have to let me in. I’m not just your boss.”

She was aware. Instead of saying anything, Elizabeth glanced over at her husband. Again, they shared a look.

Ethan shrugged.