Choices will Destroy (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 14) (54 page)

Elizabeth slowly closed her eyes, knowing she’d be safe in his arms. As he held her, she slowly drifted into sleep.

Callen watched her succumb to exhaustion. With gentle fingers, he stoked the hairs from her cheek.

“I love you. I always will.”

She mumbled back.

He simply smiled.

Callen rediscovered his peace.

Ethan found them in bed a short time later. Keeping his voice down, he glanced at his watch. “We need to get her fed.”

Callen knew he was right.

He couldn’t recall her eating at all. They’d been going nonstop all day.

“We should wake her,” he said.

Ethan stopped him.

“Don’t. Elizabeth needs to rest. While she’s asleep, we’ll swing over to
‘Bubba’s’
. Dean liked to drink there. They’re open now, and we can ask around.”

Callen stared at him. “We’re leaving her here? Alone?” he asked.

Ethan scribbled a note on paper and placed her gun beside it. They were in a hotel, so she should be safe.

He hoped.

It was a risk, but they needed to worry about her health. As of late, Elizabeth looked more and more pale.

Blackhawk was worried.

“Yes. In this case, I think it’s best for her to get some sleep. She can skin me later for making the choice.”

Callen slid his arm and hair out from beneath her body as Ethan covered her with a blanket.

“We’ll bring dinner back. She’ll like that.”

He could deal with that. “Works for me.”

The less she was out in the open, the better. Callen was worried too, but more about the killer taking another shot. Pulling on his clothes, he leaned down to give their woman a kiss.

“Ready?” Ethan asked.

Callen could see the tension just beneath the surface. “Yeah, let’s go.”

They headed out.

Callen knew there was another storm brewing. His normally calm brother was anything but…

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

It didn't take long to find his home. With a little digging, a few personnel records, and some luck, it all fell into place.

What wasn’t expected was the little gem that was also discovered. Just the basic surveillance gave it away.

The Blackhawks had sold their home and moved a few doors down.

How convenient.

After the media had plastered it all over the news, they ran for the hills, and no one could find the new place.

Well, that was until that very moment.

Doctor Leonard had given them up. When he walked over with his wife in tow, the well-kept secret was revealed. The armed agents and Native man gave it away.

Pay dirt!

The Blackhawk’s rat hole was uncovered, and they didn't have a safe place to hide.

This made it a million times easier. The Blackhawks were no longer safe.

Their cozy little nest had been discovered.

This made it entertaining.

More importantly…

This made it easy.

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

Bubba’s Bar

Ethan hated this place.

Not just the bar, but the surrounding reservation too.

In fact, he hated everything about this case. It pissed him off to no end. When his family was targeted, it put fear in his heart. He couldn’t protect them, and that scared the shit out of him. The thought of losing them, and not being able to stop the killer, made Ethan feel like he was less of a man.

It pissed him off to no end.

How did you stop someone who left behind no clues?

How did you trust a ghost who was yanking your chain?

It was hard to swallow.

To make it worse, as they headed toward the bar, where Callen had first encountered his abuser, his brother was quiet.

“Cal?”

“What?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I am, but I was waiting for you to start this conversation. I knew it would happen sooner or later.”

Ethan didn't know what to say. “I’m sorry.”

Callen glanced over. “For?”

“For resenting you as a child. When I first found out about Dad cheating, I was angry. For a while, I blamed you.”

Callen listened.

“Now I blame me for not keeping you safe. I feel like it was my fault that Dad didn’t try to find you. I feel like I stood between you and a decent life with people who loved you. I’m sorry, Cal. I’m so damn sorry.”

Callen recalled what Doctor Gaines had told him. Everyone mourned in a different way, and Ethan being angry was part of his process. He needed to let his brother get it off his chest.

“I want to destroy something.”

He touched his brother’s arm. “Ethan, you have to let this go. You can’t carry this. We didn't create this. We’re just players in the game. Our past happened, and we can’t be held responsible.”

“I feel responsible. I feel like I failed you.”

“The only one who failed me was Charlene. She was supposed to protect me. I appreciate how you’ve always been the big brother, but you have to stop. It’s making it harder for me, not easier.”

He glanced over. “What?”

“I need to stumble in order to get back up. I have to be tested to make sure I’m able to handle anything. I love you, but stop babying me with your sympathy. I don’t want you to feel sorry. I just want you to love me. That’s it.”

He laughed. “I do love you. I love you more than I ever thought I could. I don’t love you like a brother anymore, Callen. It’s progressed beyond that. I love you like a spouse. When I see you, I think…soulmates.”

He listened.

“It feels…I don’t know...”

“You think I’m sexy…” Callen tried to make him laugh.

“Shut up.”

Callen snorted. “I’m kidding. I know what you mean. You love me.”

“I do. Somewhere along the line, I stopped thinking of you as my half-sibling. You’re more than that. As for you being sexy, uh, yeah, you’re not my type. I like outsiders.”

Callen patted him on the arm. “That’s good to know. If I catch you checking me out…”

“Shoot me if that happens,” he teased.

Callen relaxed.

“I guess what I’m trying to get you to understand, Cal, is this. If Elizabeth was hurt or damaged, what would you do?” Ethan asked.

He didn't have to think about it. Callen went with his gut. “I’d protect and heal her. Isn’t that what a husband does?”

He waited until his brother got it.

“Oh, I see. You’re just doing what you would for her.”

“I’m not feeling protective because you’re my blood. I’m feeling protective because you’re my choice. You and Elizabeth are mine to love, just like I’m yours and hers. I don’t pity you over this. I love you. There’s a big difference.”

Callen got it.

As they pulled into the bar parking lot, he grinned. “Want to kiss me now?” Callen teased.

“Sure.” Then Ethan punched him.

Hard.

Like a brother would.

“Hey! That hurt!”

“Love is a bitch. You know that. I taught you that when we were teenagers.”

The two men laughed as they headed in to do their jobs. They needed to figure out how the hell the killer found out about Dean Quinlan and Callen’s secret.

The mystery got deeper.

The plot got thicker.

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

Hotel

When she woke up, they were gone.

Shit!

A pregnant girl closes her eyes for twenty minutes and her sexy Natives make a break for it. She made a mental note to kick their asses when they got back from their little adventure.

There was no doubt in her mind where they’d gone. If she didn't fall asleep, she would have headed to a certain bar to dig around in the local gossip.

They had better not get hurt, or she was going to be their worst nightmare.

While she had some down time, Elizabeth opted to call Wyler and check in. Pulling out her tablet, after she was dressed, she took a seat on the couch.

When she pinged him, it wasn’t his face but Cindy’s that came online.

“Hello, Director. Your father is feeding Charlie.”

“Thanks, Cindy. How are things there?”

“Chaos,” she replied, laughing. The woman smiled gently at her. “We had Bethe until her parents picked her up. She and Charlie were having a blast. It’s as if they have their own language. Wyler took a video, so I’m sure it’ll be coming your way soon.”

She was glad.

She missed her kids.

“Are the agents there?”

Cindy turned the tablet. Not far away, she could see Johanna and Broderick, and they were playing board games with their kids. It amused her that they were still wearing their guns.

At least they got the point.

This was an important assignment.

“Here’s Wyler.”

Cindy handed him the tablet.

“Hey, Dad! How are you?” she asked.

He took a seat and grinned at her. “I’m in heaven. All the laughter and insanity makes me feel young.”

She was glad.

“You don’t look well, sweetheart. Are you okay?”

She touched her cheek. It was warm.

“I think I’m coming down with a bug. I feel like crap, but don’t tell your sons that. They’ll have me at a hospital to get a checkup. They’re irritating like that.”

“Just take it easy.”

“I am. They’re out working, and I’m in the hotel.”

“When are you coming home?”

“Soon.”

Elizabeth wished the chitchat was why she called.

It wasn’t.

She had to ask him something, and she needed to cover their bases. Just in case.

“Can you go somewhere private?” she asked.

He didn't hesitate.

Wyler went into their office. “What is it, sweetheart? You look stressed out.”

“We need to talk about something, and I don’t want you to be offended. It’s my job, and I’m covering my bases.”

“Okay, Elizabeth. What’s on your mind?”

“By any chance, you didn't leave the house in the last two days, right?”

He lifted a brow. “No, why? I thought you told me to stay in and watch the kids.”

“That’s what we told you. I have a sticky situation here, and I don’t want you to feel like I’m interrogating you.”

“But?”

“I am.”

“I can see that, Elizabeth. Just say it.”

“You didn't take a trip, right?”

“Uh, only to the mailbox. Why?”

In cases like this, it was best just to say it. “Dean Quinlan was hacked apart.”

Wyler’s eyes went cold and angry at his name. “I wish it was me, Elizabeth, but it wasn’t. I pray that he suffered.”

“Oh, he did.”

“Good. I hope he wanders the reservation as a spirit and can never find peace.”

She let him vent.

“Okay, well, I had to check.”

Wyler calmed down. “I understand, sweetheart. You’re doing your job.”

“I wanted to kill him too.” She didn't tell him about the pictures. She couldn’t.

He softened. “Thank you for loving my boys. They found the ideal woman with you. You protect their hearts.”

“Well, they better protect the family jewels. I’m getting them fixed after this baby.”

He laughed. “I can’t say I blame you. Honestly, you’re looking like the crazy one. Who in their right mind wants to have five kids, all under six?”