Choices will Destroy (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 14) (39 page)

“Callen James…”

“Just watch your back while you’re out there playing cowboy. I don’t want you getting into a fist or gun fight while my baby is on board.”

She laughed, despite her mood. “Yes, Dad. I think I can manage.”

Callen headed toward his brother, ignoring the reporters who were asking him personal questions. When he turned around, he blew her a kiss.

She caught it.

Then Elizabeth glared at the weasel-y reporters as if challenging them to say a single word.

They didn't.

“Are you ready, Livy?” she asked, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves.

“I sure am.”

Elizabeth glanced over at her. “Are you sure you want to come back to this hot mess?” she asked.

“What? And miss this glory, fun, and excitement? I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I’ve missed this job.”

Yeah, she said that now.

Eventually, the shine would wear off.

It always did, especially when someone was trying to kill you.

                
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

Chris was bundling Bethe up to take her out to play in the snow when he saw the Denali drive past his house. As he looked out the window, his heart lurched.

For a second, he hoped it would be Elizabeth stopping by to talk. Instead, it went right past his driveway and up the hill. Curiosity got the better of him, and he watched it come to a stop.

When the two agents got out, scanning the area, he knew why they were there.

They were on guard duty.

Something was going on.

He pulled out his personal phone and began typing. Then he realized he had no right to bother her while she was working. He’d walked away, and that life was over.

Instead, he had to turn his head and focus on the here and now. It was still morning, and Chris didn't know what else to do with his child.

How did Cyra do this mindless nothingness all day long? Don’t get him wrong, he loved his family, but there was nothing there for him to challenge his mind.

Chris sighed and pulled on his coat. “Come on, Bethe, we’re going to get some air.”

He grabbed his keys and headed out.

Day one and he was already on edge.

This didn't bode well.

At all.

 
                        
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

When they knocked on the door, neither Brody nor Johanna knew what to expect. As soon as it opened, there was a gun pointed at them.

“Badges.”

They didn't go for their guns, solely because the man looked like an older Ethan Blackhawk. When they held them out, he grinned.

“Sorry, Ethan told me to shoot first.”

Yeah, that sounded more like Elizabeth, but who were they to question it?

“Welcome to Fort-Whitefox-Blackhawk part two,” Wyler offered, leading them in.

The second they hit the living room, the chaos erupted around them. There were two large dogs and four kids running, playing, and vaulting over the furniture. If that wasn’t bad enough, the boys were beating the heck out of each other.

Johanna laughed. “Oh, I’m so glad I can’t have kids.”

Brody snorted. “Yeah, no offense, Mr. Blackhawk, but this would make me insane.”

He grinned. “It’s Wyler, and there are days I wonder about my sanity. I keep asking for more kids. After you’ve already lost your mind, what’s the point?”

A little girl walked over to them. “Who are you?”

Brody got down to her level. “I’m Agent Seaton, and she’s my partner Johanna.”

“She’s pretty.”

He grinned.

“I think so. Who are you?”

“Kitty Cat.”

Johanna crouched down. “You’re a kitty cat? Where are your ears and tail?”

She glanced over. “You don’t need to worry about my tail. You should worry about my claws.”

Then she took off.

Wyler laughed at the conversation, wiping his eyes when they filled with tears. “Sorry, but Catherine is just like her mother. Cat is a handful. She’s going to give the world a run for its money.”

Yeah, he could say that again.

“Coffee?” he asked, putting his gun on the top shelf of a closet, after he popped out the rounds.

“Uh, sure, if it’s not too much trouble,” Johanna replied. “We worked late last night. I could use the caffeine.”

“We mainline sugar and coffee here—or at least I do. It’s how I make it through the day. It doesn’t faze Cindy.”

“Who is she?” Brody asked.

“She’s the housekeeper. She’s doing laundry upstairs. She won the coin toss.”

Two foam darts flew by, sticking to the cabinet right above Wyler’s head. “CJ and EJ, do you want to sit in time out until mommy comes home?”

“NO!”

He smiled. “She’s the enforcer. They are afraid of her. When in doubt, throw her name down,” Wyler offered. “Oh, by the way, how long are you two staying?”

Brody wanted to laugh at all the chaos. This was a perfect assignment. They could chill and drink coffee with Ethan and Callen’s father. “Well, we’re here until the boss tells us otherwise,” Brody stated.

“Well, I hope you don’t mind noise. It gets worse as the day goes on.”

Johanna couldn’t help herself. She shook her head in amusement. Now she got why the boss lady took very little seriously.

She couldn’t.

Her sanity depended on it.

 
         
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

Hunter Kelly’s

Home

On the ride there, Ethan was quiet. Elizabeth knew what he was thinking about, and there was no way in the world she’d be able to get his mind off it, so she decided to use his focus.

“Date night tonight?” she asked.

He glanced over.

Even Livy gave her a look from the back seat.

“Uh, you want me to take you out on a date tonight?” Blackhawk asked, a little confused.

“Yes, I do. I thought we could get into our finest loungewear, and then we could cuddle up with pizza and a very sexy whiteboard. Want to have a foursome?”

He laughed. “Thank you, baby. I needed that.” He took her hand in his and kissed her on the knuckles. “Today, I needed to lean on someone, and you had my back. There was a reason I fell head over heels in love on day four and married you.”

“Here I thought it was because she was easy,” Livy quipped.

“Hey! You should talk. I’m not the only hussy in this ride. Let’s revisit your dating, shall we?”

Livy opened her mouth.

“You stalked Gabe to a park, nearly jumped him in a restaurant during a meeting, and then asked him to marry you two days later. One of us was pushy, and it wasn’t me. I was the ask-ee not the asker in our proposal.”

Livy raised her hands in surrender. “You win. I’m guilty on all counts. I couldn’t help it. My husband is sexy. Do I need to bring up his energetic…”

“Stop!” Elizabeth blurted. “Please. You win.”

She laughed.

Ethan knew what they were doing, and it was appreciated. Still, he couldn’t hide behind his wife forever. So, he took a deep breath. “We’re going to talk about the killer tonight. I’m working on something in my head. I don’t know if it’ll be enough, but I’m trying.”

She was aware.

Honestly, that’s all she could ask for.

“I’m sorry about Mrs. Feinstein, Ethan. I know you were close,” Livy offered.

He glanced back at her. “Thank you for that. She was an important part of my life. I know I slacked off the last few years, but she’ll always have a place in my heart.”

“Mine too,” Elizabeth offered. “I’ll never look at a red velvet cupcake again without thinking about her.”

Ethan got quiet.

“What are you thinking, handsome?”

“I have to do the notify, and that’s not going to be fun. It’s going to be hard to face down her family. I feel responsible.”

Elizabeth leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “Actually, you’re off the hook. As we speak, Gabe is doing the deed. He knew you’d want it done right, so he’s handling it for you. He’s not sending some agent. He’s giving Kay respect by delivering it himself. Her family will know she mattered.”

Ethan was grateful.

His family had his back.

“I appreciate it. I didn't want to do it. I mean, I did, but it’s horrible when you know the person.”

Elizabeth squeezed his fingers in hers.

“I think this is it,” stated Livy, pointing at the house ahead.

Ethan pulled into a parking spot before glancing over at his wife. “Do I need to warn you?”

She snorted. “Come on! This isn’t my first day! I think I can manage to not wear someone’s bull’s-eye.”

Yeah, he doubted that.

She was a trouble magnet.

“Do you need me to pinkie swear?” she teased.

Oh, he had something far better in mind.

Grabbing his wife by the back of the head, he slammed his mouth to hers in one hell of a kiss. It was heated, full of lust, and sucked her right under.

Tongues did battle.

Hands sought and found hair.

When he set her free, they were both breathing heavy.

“Holy shit! That was hot. Where’s my husband when I need him?” Livy teased. “I may have had an orgasm by osmosis,” she teased.

She was promptly given the look. “Don’t feed the ego beast. Once it gets out of control, there’s no stopping him. He already thinks he’s the sexiest thing on two feet.”

“You mean I’m not?” he asked, faking horror. “When did this happen?” Ethan asked before winking at her.

“See?”

They headed toward the house. When the door was opened by a petite blonde, Elizabeth began the spiel.

“I need to speak to Hunter Kelly,” she said, pulling her badge.

“My husband is working in his office right now. Is it important?”

“And you are?”

“Belinda Kelly.”

“Yes, it’s important. Can we speak to both of you? It’s regarding a case related to his deceased sister, Missy.”

She nodded before leading them into a family room.

“Have a seat. I’ll get him. Would anyone like some coffee? I was just making some for my husband.”

“I would love some,” Livy said. “Thank you.”

The Blackhawks passed on the offer.

When the woman left, they looked around the room from their spots on the couch.

“Someone makes a decent living, and the little woman looks like she’s a stay at home wife.”

“I wish I had one of those,” Ethan said, right before Elizabeth punched him in the side. “Shit. Sorry. I changed my mind.”

Livy grinned. “She hits hard. I recall getting a few of those.”

“Yeah, yeah. What did Callen’s research tell us about these two? My research monkey usually digs deep.”

Ethan pulled up the details in their shared files on his phone. “Hunter is a writer and the wife…” He searched. “No mention of her. Callen dropped the ball. I’m your favorite again.”

She rolled her eyes.

They heard the man and woman returning.

“Can I help you?” he asked, checking out the people in the room. The minute he saw the woman, recognition dawned. “I know you. You’re the Agent who worked my sister’s case. I saw you on the news.”

“Yeah, that’s me. Aren’t I just lucky?” She braced for the onslaught of hate. It happened already with the other family members, so she wouldn’t be shocked if it happened again.

“Thank you.”

She stared at him as if he had three heads.

“For?”

“Reopening this case. I know that justice takes time, so we have to be patient. I didn't doubt for a minute that one day this would happen.”

They stared at him in shock. Had they just found a sympathetic family member who didn't want to lynch them?