Choices will Destroy (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 14) (41 page)

Hoover Building

As they were pulling in, Gabe sent a text. He wanted to talk to them in private. Elizabeth called Callen, asking him to meet them upstairs.

She didn't know what this was going to be about, but she hoped it wasn’t bad news. With her luck, she was getting fired and wouldn’t have health insurance.

Who knew at this point?

As they headed upstairs, Ethan ran into his old partner. Jay Melrose looked like shit.

“I've been looking for you.”

“We were working in the field.”

Ethan went to walk past him, and the man grabbed him by the arm.

“I said I was looking for you.”

Elizabeth prayed he’d stay calm. Ethan’s temper had a way of getting the best of him at the worst times, and they didn't need it popping out now. If that happened, they’d all be fired.

“Listen, Jay, I get that you’re upset, but I have shit to do. We have a third body in just as many days. I don’t have time to hold your hand.”

Jay went red. “And that’s why I asked to be transferred as your partner. You’re cold, Blackhawk. You don’t have an ounce of heart in your chest. I don’t get how you stay married. She must like men with hearts of stone.”

Ethan took the barb.

He was right.

Before Elizabeth, nothing mattered. It was all about the job and bleeding blue and gold for the FBI. He really couldn’t argue with the man.

But…Elizabeth could.

She stepped in front of her husband, and she was pissed. She wasn’t one to hold back in good situations, let alone ones where the men she loved were being insulted.

“Listen up, jackwagon. We get that you lost your partner and lover. We feel for you, but you’re not our only priority. While you’re accustomed to one or two cases at a time, he’s carrying about four hundred. He’s running FBI West from his phone, sleeping about two hours a night, and surviving on coffee and my fucking rays of sunshine, so back off.”

Jay looked surprised.

“Ethan may look like he’s cold, but he lost a woman he considered his surrogate mother today. He’s hurting, and you’re an asshole to go at him like this in the middle of your workplace. We’ve just been called to Gabe’s office, and we have shit to do, so back off, shut up, and give him an hour to handle the things that are on the list in front of coddling your ass!”

He closed his mouth, spun on his heel, and walked away.

Livy started laughing.

Hell yeah!

She missed this.

“Blessed Baby Jesus on a crispy bacon cracker,” muttered Elizabeth. “Are people out of their minds? Do we look like some burger joint? It’s not your way right away!” she yelled after him. “Take a freaking number and relax.”

When she turned, Ethan, too, was laughing.

It was the first time all day that some of the clouds had lifted from his eyes. “Okay. That was hot.”

Livy agreed. “I wanted to kiss her on the mouth.”

“Me too,” Ethan admitted. “I’m squirreling that one away for when I need some fantasy to get me through a long business meeting,” he teased.

“It’s good to see that you haven’t lost that hair trigger on your temper,” Livy added, fist bumping her partner.

“Well, I get bitchy when people pick on the men I’m shacked up with. It riles me up.”

Callen approached. “Why is she red?” he asked.

“She just told someone off.”

“Did she curse?”

Ethan nodded. “Oh, yeah. Did you know the blessed baby Jesus likes hanging out on bacon crackers?”

He stared at her. “That’s definitely a new one. Then again, I probably don’t want to know. I have a feeling my blood pressure will spike, and one of us has to stay calm. We all know who that won’t be.”

Elizabeth rolled her neck. “Blame the hormones. Now, let’s go get our asses chewed out by the boss man. It’s the whipped cream on this crazy, serial killer sundae.”

She stormed away.

Everyone was thinking the same thing.

God help Gabriel.

He was about to have his hands full.

Once at the big man’s office door, Gabe stopped his wife. “You can’t join us. This is official work.”

She looked disappointed that she was being excluded. That was until Gabe whispered in her ear. Immediately, Livy’s eyes lit up.

“Okay, I’ll be down in autopsy.” With that, she headed away.

Once inside, they sat. Elizabeth was positioned between them, and none of them looked happy.

Then again, he’d had two out of the three in his office before, and it was generally for mayhem and jackassery.  He didn't blame them for looking worried.

“What did we do now?” she finally asked.

“Did something happen at FBI West?” Ethan inquired. “Did my staff blow the place up?”

Gabe started laughing. “It’s funny to see this from my side of the desk,” he admitted. “Ethan is worried about work, and Elizabeth is worried that she broke the rules. It’s funny that this finally took fifteen years to happen. I want to savor this for a little while.”

Callen laughed.

They all glanced over.

“Hey, I’m on the injured list. I’ve been doing research and behaving. I didn't do anything, so he’s not going to yell at me.”

He had a point.

“What’s up, Gabe? We have a million things to do, and no time to do it,” Ethan asked.

“I’m officially offering you a job.”

“Who?” they all said together.

He laughed even more.

Yeah, he wanted them in this building more than anything. Maybe it was selfish, but he had to have them there with him.

“I was referring to all of you.”

They didn't speak.

“FBI West has been running for almost five years now. I just checked in, and it’s handling itself. Other than papers to sign off on, you have no issues. You’ve created a well-ordered machine, Ethan.”

Yeah, he did.

They all knew why there were no issues. Ethan ran a tight ship. He didn't take any BS, and he expected exemplary behavior from his people when he was there or out in the field.

“They know better,” he stated.

“I want to officially offer you the position of Deputy Director. You’ll answer to me, and you’ll handle half the nonsense that goes on here.”

Ethan took the paper he was handed and the three of them checked it out.

Callen whistled. It was more than Ethan made now, but along with that number came the stress to match.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, I’m not done,” he said, pulling out the next paper. “Here’s where it got tricky. I know damn well that the three of you have to work together or you’d never accept my offer. I had to find a way to pull that off.”

Elizabeth stared at him. “I hate to burst your bubble, Gabe, but if you try to break this team up, we don’t work. We can’t. We each bring something to the table.”

“I’m aware, Lyzee, so hear me out.”

They could do that.

“Callen, you’re still iffy. We aren’t sure about you yet.”

They all tensed.

“
BUT
I do have a position here. I don’t need a full-time Native Liaison, but I may need your services occasionally. When that happens, you’ll have to pull double duty.”

He waited.

“This is all contingent on you passing recertification.”

Still, he said nothing.

Gabe was amused. They were three peas in the pod.

“Elizabeth, you have this unbelievable skill that I’ve not seen come along in all my years here. You excel at solving things. I’ve always seen it in you, and you’ve consistently proved it by having the highest closure record of any agent.”

“Team,” she corrected. “I don’t do it alone.”

“I’m aware. That’s why I’ve created something custom for you. I think you’ll like it.”

She waited.

“We have cases that are deemed top priority and hard to solve. They’re the bloodiest, most gruesome, and most twisted ones out there. If you take this offer, you’re going to head up the violent crimes department. You’ll pick your own people, and you’ll work it your way.”

Ethan stared at him. “That sounds dangerous.”

He shrugged. “She picks her team. Callen is available when he’s not mediating, and you’re available to profile.”

Ethan thought about it. “How am I going to do that if I’m playing Deputy Director here?”

He laughed. “Son, I don’t need a Deputy Director. I run this place like it’s a battleship. What I need is some help now and again when I’m tied up, busy with the president, or just need the day off.”

“So, it’s a title on paper and nothing more?” He didn't like that. He ran FBI West, and that place rivaled here. He made it a force to be reckoned within its own right.

“No. It’s not just a title. I want to teach you how to keep the SS Titanic afloat. I’m retiring in a few years, and I get to pick the person who replaces me. That’s going to be you. I know you think FBI West was hard, but this place? It’s a circus and these are all my clowns. You’ll work hard to learn it all, and in the process, you’ll still work with your wife and brother.”

He glanced over. “Elizabeth?”

She stared at her boss. “I pick my team? You mean my agents, my ME, my freaking secretary?”

“Yes, yes, and if you have a good one, can I borrow yours? I get the feeling Livy hates mine.”

She thought about it. “I might let you borrow mine, if you’re not yanking my chain. Let’s face it, Gabe, you like to screw with your people. Are you doing it now?”

“I’m not.”

“Why?”

He steepled his fingers in front of his mouth and thought out his answer.

“No, Gabriel. This is family to family, not dickwad boss to his employees.”

He laughed. “I’m a masochist.”

She waited.

Gabe glanced at Ethan. “There’s talk that you’re being wooed.” When he saw Elizabeth look worried, he clarified, “I meant as a leader in the Federal government. Ethan has impressed some higher-ups, and the offers are going to start coming in. I don’t want to lose him, or you.”

“Me?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes. We all know where Frick goes, Frack and his brother are right behind. When I gave you FBI West, it was a test. I wanted to prove to the world that you could do it, and that I was right to hand it off. So, the test is over, and I want to lock you in.”

Ethan studied him. “So, you really want me here?”

“Hell yes! I want all three of you here. That’s why I’m offering you the job. If the CIA scoops you up, I’m going to be pissed. I’ve had to deal with the two of you for fifteen years. I earned the next ten.”

Ethan grinned. “We did run you hard.”

“Tell me about it,” Gabe said, pointing to his gray hair.

“I have a question,” Elizabeth said.

“Shoot.”

“I get that he’s going to be Deputy Director, but what’s my role and title?”

He knew she’d eventually ask, so Gabe slid the paper across the table. “It stays the same, as does your salary. It’s a lateral move. You lose no money, no time, no prestige. This new department is going to be self-contained.”

She read the paper. “Yeah, because I’m in it for the prestige,” she said sarcastically.

He laughed. “I said that too. Now I just want to get home at night.”

“What about Callen?”

Gabe pulled the paper. “He, too, keeps his title, and he’ll be a field agent.”

She stared at him. “No. He’s not going out without us. I told you…”

“Stop. Breathe. Think.”

She listened, only because he’d said that many times, and she was trained.

“Livy is going back into the field. When she does, God help me, she’s going to need a partner. I know better to put her with you all the time. You and Callen will switch off. She’s going to be working local cases, and if Callen is on a liaison job, you’ll go out. You’ll flip. If you’re working a case that needs backup, Callen will be your man. It looks like my wife got her wish. She’s sharing a man with her best friend.”

Elizabeth thought about it.

He leaned back in his chair. “I’m not breaking up the team. I’m simply locking in that Ethan will take over for me one day, that you’ll have people watching your back, and Callen will not be out in the field alone. I need you to trust me on this one. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt any of you.”

Elizabeth opened her mouth.

Ethan cut her off before she started saying things that couldn’t be taken back. Gabe was notorious for screwing with people.

They had to be sure this was on the up and up.

“Before we make a decision, Gabe, we need to talk about it first. Can we have a few minutes to discuss it and make a call?”