Choices will Destroy (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 14) (64 page)

He agreed.

“Tori is pregnant. I don’t need this one on my shoulders too.”

His face softened. At first, he really believed that she was going to fight. “Sure thing, baby. I can do that.”

Elizabeth crossed the room and kissed Merry on the forehead. “You’re the best. I think you may be better than Christina.”

She grinned.

“Anyone abandoning ship, get your transfer papers to Ginny ASAP.”

She stopped at Zane. “Are you sure?”

He nodded. “Yes, Director. I’m assuming Doctor Leonard is going with you.”

“He is.”

“Then you’ll need this place to stay on its feet. I’ll keep it running for the new director.”

She gave him a hug. “If you change your mind, I’ll make room for you on my team.”

He was shocked, and Zane wasn’t sure if it was from the hug or her willingness to include him.

“Thank you for all you do,” she said. “You’re a damn good ME.”

He grinned. “Thank you, Director.”

Then she turned.

“All of you watch your backs. She’s a bitch, and she wants to make me bleed. She’s watched us in the field, and she knows how to take a person down. I don’t want to see your body on this table.”

They saluted.

Elizabeth smiled and headed out.

She needed to get home.

There was no doubt in her mind that the war was coming. They needed to be ready. Lily Sanderson would come out of her hole soon.

It was only a matter of time.

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

Salem

Saturday Mid-Morning

When he rolled out of bed, he planned on heading to the lake to take a break. He and Chris Santana were taking a well-deserved day off. They were going to catch up on guy talk, do a little fishing, and chill.

He needed it.

All week, Tony Morel and the rest of the deputies in Salem upheld the law. It wasn’t exactly hard work. Salem was quiet. Nothing major ever happened there.

Well, they had two serial killers once, but that was solved. Now, he wanted to solve the mystery of how many fish could he catch.

Since giving up drinking, and getting out of rehab, Tony had to fill his time with anything that wouldn’t remind him of Elizabeth or beer.

It was better this way.

He was trying to move on, but life wasn’t easy when you loved someone you couldn’t have.

It was a bitch.

As he headed out of his small house in the woods, he immediately noticed something out of place. On the windshield of his truck, there appeared to be some sort of note.

It was tucked beneath the one blade.

He was confused. It wasn’t there when he got home from work last night.

Who could have left it?

Crossing toward his ride, he cautiously picked it up. When he opened it, his heart skipped.

‘Tony,

I’ve left Ethan for reasons I’ll explain later. I need you to meet me tonight. Don’t tell anyone. Ethan will have people looking for me. Please meet me at ‘The Wayfarer’. Come alone. I really need your help. I’ll explain later.

Don’t tell anyone. I need you to hide me out.

Elizabeth.’

He had to read it twice.

Elizabeth was here? Looking around, he scanned the area to find her. There was no trace.

This was odd.

Then again, she left her husbands. Maybe she was scared and on the run.

As he read it a final time, one thing came to mind.

Callen.

What about him?

The note didn't say anything about him, and the last time they were in town, she’d told him they were a threesome.

She had also signed it with her full name. That never happened. In the birthday cards, notes to say hello, and any correspondence, she always signed it ‘Lyzee’.

Why the change?

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Something didn't feel right. He needed to think about this. Pulling out his phone, he called his buddy, the mayor.

“Hello?”

“Chris, it’s me. I’m taking a raincheck. I have something I need to do today.”

“Are you sure?” Chris Santana asked. “It’s good fishin’ weather.”

Tony Morel thought about it. “Yeah, I am. I’ll call you tomorrow,” he promised.

Then he hung up.

Going back into the house, he opted to shower and get ready. He was going to see what was going on.

If Elizabeth needed him, he had to go.

Only…

She didn't give him a time.

Yeah, something was up.

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

Lily watched from the trees.

When he came out, there was a wicked grin on her face. The plan was working. This man was just as stupid as she recalled.

He was the epitome of Podunk.

Killing him was going to be simple. If Elizabeth had a clue, she’d already be onto this part of the plan. Lily had left enough hints along the way. If that shot to the light above her head didn't scream
‘showdown in Salem’
, nothing did.

After all, this was where it all started.

This was where it would end.

This backwoods hick was just more collateral damage in the war against Elizabeth.

Tony Morel would bleed for her, and then he would be victim number seven. He was the last pawn in the game. After he was dead, Elizabeth would follow.

Then, Ethan Blackhawk would suffer. He’d be a shell of a man, and he’d want to die.

Problem solved.

They’d both be dead, and that was a beautiful thing.

She mentally crossed another person off the list. Lily almost wished she could have added Doctor Pressman and that lab twit, Carol Spade, to the body count. Elizabeth was definitely responsible for their deaths, but they didn't work into the plan. 

They were research and nothing more.

If she didn't have to pump them for information, they might still be alive. Oh, the ME had been useful. The tech…she was a waste of time. The only thing she knew was that Chris Leonard was still in love with Elizabeth.

Any idiot could figure that out.

Alas, she needed someone on the inside, and Carol was someone she knew from years ago.

Epic fail on her behalf.

Well, except for the cell phone. That was genius on her behalf.

Lily laughed.

She bet the Blackhawks were scrambling to find the woman. That was priceless.              

Lily focused on the man reading the note. He looked like he was happy. Oh, she knew how to lure the bait into the trap. This man was madly in love with Elizabeth Blackhawk.

The dangled prize of her was more than enough to make him fall for it.

Then he pulled out his phone.

She froze, ready to kill him now if need be. As she listened to the conversation, she relaxed.

He’d bought it.

Hook.

Line.

Sinker
.

That was perfect.

When he headed into his place, she knew she needed to get to the location where she would be hiding.

It was perfect.

No one would look there.

As she walked back to her hidden vehicle, Lily was thinking only one thing.

This was going to be perfect.

She was going to end that bitch’s life.

Painfully.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Fort Whitefox-Blackhawk

When they arrived back at the house, the men weren’t taking any chances. They were both in Kevlar and waiting for the worst-case scenario.

They knew that Elizabeth was the end game, and neither man was willing to take that chance. While they normally parked their work ride outside the garage, they instead pulled in.

When the door was safely closed, Ethan still pulled his gun.

It made Elizabeth laugh.

“I’m not taking any chances. If she jumps out, I’m going to shoot her.”

Callen had been sitting in the back with Elizabeth the entire ride. His hand was soothingly moving back and forth across her belly while she had more contractions.

While she didn't react, trying not to worry him, he could feel it.

His son was getting squished in her womb.

“You look freaked out,” she said, running her hand up his thigh. When she went all the way up, his body reacted.

“Angel,” he murmured while his brother cleared the garage. “I feel like it’s been days since you put your hands all over me.”

She grinned. “Well, Gabe said to rest. He didn't say we couldn’t go upstairs, get naked, and have some fun. Technically, resting is done in a bed. Horizontally.”

He started laughing. “Oh, that sounds perfect to me. You know how I love to follow Gabe’s orders. I’ll be a good soldier.”

As his mouth met hers, their tongues tangled in a kiss. When the woman who owned his heart let her hands wander up, and into his hair, Callen was in heaven.

He actually forgot he was sitting in the backseat of the Denali until his brother opened the back door.

“Uh, we’re home. You could have helped clear the garage,” Ethan teased.

“She’s horny. I was getting her warmed up so we could sneak upstairs and have sex.”

She laughed. “I’m glad you two have your priorities straight. First, I have to check on our house guests.”

“We can do it here.”

She smiled. “No, we can’t. I need to tell Chris about the ID on his wife, and we need to prep everyone with pictures of Lily. If she comes here, we need them all to know her face.”

He got it.

“Then I’m going to molest my woman.”

“Our,” Ethan corrected, offering her a hand out of the back of the vehicle.

Elizabeth took it, and when she was out, Ethan swept her up in his arms. “Hello, baby. This is nice.”

She smiled. “Yeah, it is, Deputy Director Blackhawk. I love a man with a title. It makes me all hot and bothered for the obvious reason.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Later I’ll let you be my minion. I’m sure you can find ways to make me happy.”

“Seriously?” Callen asked. “I got you warmed up, and he’s getting the sexy looks?”

She laughed.

There was no doubt in her mind what they were doing. Both men were trying to distract her from what was coming. She was about to destroy Chris’s heart a little more.

“You can take turns. He carries me in, and you carry me upstairs. I’m sick of carrying babies in my belly. I can’t wait until I have my little love muffin.”

Callen grinned as his woman crooned to their unborn baby. It made him want to giggle like an idiot.

As his brother carried her in, he was right behind.

Immediately, everyone looked over.

Chris and Tony were up, checking to see if she was okay. “She’s not hurt, is she?” Chris asked.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “No, I’m not. The men are just taking turns being Neanderthals. I’m beginning to like it. I must be getting old.”

Jaxon moved over so Elizabeth could be placed on the couch. As soon as she sat, Chris was beside her and waiting.

They all knew what he was expecting.

It broke her heart.

Elizabeth really hated doing this.

“Well?” he asked, finding her hand with his. As he clung to her, Chris knew she’d tell him. All morning, he’d been waiting for the confirmation.

Now it was time.

“It was her,” she said, wiping the tear from his cheek as it slid down. “I’m sorry, Chris.”

He rested his head on her shoulder as she tried to offer him some peace.

“Tell me everything.”

How he got that one sentence out, he’d never know.

Elizabeth told him all she’d learned. She couldn’t bullshit him. He was an ME. Instead, she opted to lie to protect his heart. When Chris braced for it, she told him.

“She was dead before the fire.”

There was an audible sigh of relief from him. It still hurt, but at least his wife hadn’t suffered.

“How?”

“She had blunt force trauma to the head. She was dead before it ever started.”

The tears came. “I hope you find whoever did this, and you make them pay. I want her to bleed.”

She took the risk.

“We know who it is.” Then she told them.

They all gasped.

Chris sat up, and he stared at her. “Then we have to find her. What are we doing sitting here?”

She kissed him on the cheek. “
We
have to find her.
You
have to stay here until we do.”

“What’s the plan?”

Ethan took over. “We don’t have one yet. We have BOLOs out for her, and we have to give it some time. She’ll pop up, and we’ll catch her.”

“I want to be there.”

She stared at him. “Christopher.”

“Lyzee, I need this. In order to heal, I need to be included in this. I want to watch her die. I want to stand over her and see her suffer. It’s wrong, but I need it. Please. I need you to promise that when you find her, you’ll take me with you.”

She stared at the men in her life. This friendship thing was messy. Taking Chris into the final fight was dangerous. The man didn't even carry a gun.

Ethan knew that he would have needed this too.

The men couldn’t fault him for that. So, he let his wife decide. This had to be up to her.

Blackhawk shrugged, signaling his decision on it.

“Okay. When we find out where she is, you’re in, but you have to listen to us. You can’t go off halfcocked. She’s killed six people, and she knows her targets.”

“She’s killed more than six,” Ethan stated. “She used up Doctor Pressman too. He was a means to an end for Lily.”

“Yes, you’re right. She needs to pay for his death and Carol’s too. I know we’ll catch her.”

They knew how.

Elizabeth was the bait.

“Thank you.”

Chris kissed her on the cheek and then crossed to the two men he now had watching his back. Chris did something he never saw coming.

He hugged them.

Ethan patted him on the back, hurting for him. Chris Leonard was a good man, and he respected him. Not because he played in the dead all day, but because he’d always protected Elizabeth.

Callen hugged him next. When they were pressed together, he whispered into Chris’s ear. “She’ll kill her. There’s no way Elizabeth is going to let this bitch go. Trust her to end this.”

That offered Chris a lot of peace.

He didn't doubt that his best friend would end her life. He just wanted to see it happen. Chris wanted to be the one who signed her autopsy report.

He wanted to yank her organs out and toss them onto a tray. Normally, he respected the dead. Now he wanted to revel in death.

He needed this to move on.

Wyler came toward them, Charlie in tow. Bethe was asleep, and Elizabeth looked like she needed some tea. “Here you go, sweetheart. You look like shit.”

“Oh, Dad, you sweet talker, I know where your sons get it from.”

He dropped a kiss to the top of her head.

She felt warm. “Do you have a fever?”

Those words were enough to put Callen over the edge. “What? Fever is bad in pregnancy, isn’t it?”

Chris touched her face. “You’re warm.”

“I think I’m coming down with a bug.” Elizabeth didn't tell him about the contractions, or the leaking amniotic fluid. She wanted Lily Sanderson on a morgue slab.

This job wasn’t done.

“You’re going to bed,” Callen stated.

Before he could reach her, Elizabeth’s cell rang. It was Tony Morel, and normally, she’d let it go to voicemail and call him back, but she needed to distract the men.

“I have to take this.”

Both men stared at her. 

“Tony, how are you?” she said, trying to buy herself time. The husbands looked stressed.

That never bode well.

“I got your note. I’m heading there now. Did that bastard hurt you? I swear to God I’ll kill him.”

She was confused.

“Tony, what are you talking about?”

She put the phone on speaker.

“I went out to my truck and there was a note from you to meet me at
‘The Wayfarer’
,” he stated.

Immediately, she stood.

“Where are you?”

“I’m about three minutes from getting there, but you didn't tell me a time, so I’m heading there now.”

“Stop!” she shouted, feeling her stomach drop. “I need you to pull off, and stop!”

She could hear his truck slowing down.

“Lyzee, did Ethan hurt you?”

She glanced over at her husband. He didn't look happy, and she wasn’t going to go there. The men in her life had a love hate relationship with Tony Morel.

He loved her.

They hated him.

“I didn't leave you that note. I need you to turn around, head back to town, and go sit your ass at the sheriff’s station. Your life is in danger.”

“I’m not afraid of Ethan.”

Blackhawk spoke. “I didn't hurt her, and she didn't send that note, Tony. We’re working a case, and someone is killing people Elizabeth loves. You’re next. Listen to her.”

He thought about it. “I’ll go there, catch whoever it is, and you’ll be safe.”

Bless him.

Tony was a little touched in the head.

Here was the proof.

“Callen, get the jet ready,” she whispered. Then she focused back on the call.

“Listen to her, Tony,” Blackhawk warned.

“I can handle it.”

Elizabeth knew there was a better way to handle this. She couldn’t tell Tony what to do. He wouldn’t listen. She had to outsmart him.

“Okay, you can help us.”

“Great!”

“I’m going to be flying in. We all are. I’m bringing the FBI. You’re going to be bait, but I need to plan this out, and Chris Santana needs to be in on it. I need you to head to the station, get all the deputies in there, and I’ll start sending you details. You’ll be my bait, but in order for this to go to court, we need you wired.”

Chris went to object, but Elizabeth placed a hand over his mouth. She mouthed, ‘
trust me’
.

So, he did.

“Awesome! I can do that. When are you arriving?”

She knew it would take an hour in the air, thirty minutes to get to the jet.

“Two and a half hours. I’m across the country in Damascus.”

He glanced at his watch.

“Okay, I’ll get everything ready here.”

As long as he did what she said, he could dress like a clown and make freaking balloon animals.

“This is very important, Tony. I’m giving you the most important job. Don’t blow it!”

By it, she meant his life.

Ethan grinned. She was playing this just right.

“Okay, Lyzee. I’m heading back to the station now. Are you coming there?”

“Yes. I am. Stay there, and give me time. I have to mobilize my team.”

“I love you. Be safe.”

“Love you too.”

She hung up.

“Jet is fueling up,” Callen stated. “The pilots are waiting on you to arrive for takeoff.”

“You’re not really going to let him help. Tony is a walking disaster,” Ethan stated.

“Hell no! I figure we’ll land, I’ll call to stall, and we’ll wrap this up. I’m not dangling Tony or Chris Santana in front of Lily. She’ll eat them alive.”

Elizabeth kissed her father-in-law. “You’re on duty. Shoot anyone who comes here. No one leaves, clear?”

He patted her cheek. “You be safe!”

Elizabeth pulled the pouch from her neck. “Some sexy Blackhawk gave me herbs wrapped in the ass of a dead dear. How can I not be?”

Tony Magnus laughed.

Chris grabbed her hand. “You said I could go. You can’t take it back now.”

She was aware.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “You are a pain in my ass.”