Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) (45 page)

Her biggest nightmare rage
d on, and now she was trapped living it.

“I think we should go down and get you coffee. We’ll sit on the couch and wait for him. When he gets here
, we sit down and calmly discuss it.” Then he was going to drag his brother out back and beat the bloody hell out of him for even contemplating bringing that woman back into their lives. Hell was about to open on the man who broke his wife’s heart.

Elizabeth wiped her eyes. “Okay Ethan.”

He took her hand in his, helping her dress. Slipping on her pajama bottoms and tank top for her, he held her against his body. “We’ll work this out, baby. If he plans on leaving, I’ll raise EJ as my son. I promise you that boy will always be mine. I have us through all this.”

She nodded
, believing him to be the kindest, most honorable man in the world.

This is why she
knew he was her soul mate from the minute they met. Without him, she’d be lost and falling completely apart.

Elizabeth
allowed Ethan to lead her downstairs, as she sat on the couch as her husband made them coffee. When he brought it to her, she noticed that they both looked like death warmed over. He must not have slept at all. “I love you, Ethan, and I’m sorry I was mad at you last night. It was better I didn’t know what was happening. I would have just embarrassed myself trying to get him to stay here.”

Blackhawk kissed his wife. “I told you, it’ll work out. Have faith.”

Now he hoped his words were right, or he may need an alibi.

Callen pulled into the driveway of their rental house. He was beyond exhausted. The baby screamed most of the ride, probably from the discomfort of the air pressure once they landed. When she finally fell asleep, Callen began to relax. God, how the hell did Elizabeth do this motherhood thing for twelve weeks alone? He was on ten hours and frazzled. He swore that if she didn't hate him, on mother’s day he’d buy her a bus load of anything she wanted.

Pulling his daughter from the restraints, he grabbed the diaper bag and headed to the door. When he checked the knob, it wasn’t locked and that meant only one thing. They were both going to be waiting for him.

Pushing the door open, there was nothing but fear in his heart as he contemplated the outcome. What he wanted was for the woman he loved to cherish the child he’d given life to, forgiving him for the mess he’d made.

Again he sent out a silent prayer to his grandfather, begging for help.

“We’re in the living room, Cal.” Ethan called, waiting for the man and his guest.

Whitefox dropped the baby bag and carried her towards the impending doom that could be waiting for them. As he rounded the corner, he stopped as they both stared at him.

“I have a problem.”

Elizabeth stared open mouthed at the man. It wasn’t what she expected. She honestly believed Desdemona would be walking around that corner, and here was one of the loves of her life holding a newborn.

Blackhawk didn’t know what to say. This might be the biggest shock he’d ever received in his life.

“I have a child,” he said, softly.  Callen watched her hand go to her belly,
as the stab of pain shot through her eyes. There was no doubt of what Elizabeth was feeling for the life she was herself nurturing. “I mean, I have another child.”

Blackhawk jumped up
, moving to his brother’s side. “Callen, you better explain and fast.” Ethan took the infant from his arms, cradling the baby carefully. “Seriously, it’s now a really good time to start spilling it all. Where’s Desdemona?”

Elizabeth visibly flinched at her name
, as if slapped. The woman that once was her friend wouldn’t let her have any peace. The ghosts that previously haunted her had now found her.

Callen stood there, wanting to go to Elizabeth and hold her, but he feared her reaction. He wasn’t sure he could handle her rejection.

Even if he knew he did deserved it.

“I
received a call last night. It was the hospital in Cypress Grove. Desdemona died giving birth.” Callen took a sip of coffee from his brother’s cup, not daring to sugar coat the truth. If the woman hadn’t tried to hurt him with his own child, he might have felt sympathy. As of now, the well was completely dried up. “They told me I had to be there before dawn or the baby was going to child services. I couldn’t let my child be placed in foster care.”

Ethan didn’t know if he should tell his brother he was sorry, or just let it go. They all knew there was no love lost between Desdemona and
any of them.

“I’m sorry to hear that Callen.” Elizabeth said, softly.

Ethan pulled the blanket back more and grinned down at the little bundle. All the pink was a dead giveaway. “You have a daughter.”

Callen stared over at his brother and was grateful he was being so damn good about all this. “Yes I do.”

“Did you know?” Elizabeth finally asked from the couch, drawing both their attention. It was the big question she needed the answer to before she could start living again.

It all hinged on this one answer
.

“No
. I didn’t know, and she wasn’t going to tell me.”

Elizabeth stood
, moving tentatively towards the child. Now that she knew Callen didn’t keep any secrets from her, she was more willing to let the pain go. He’d been a victim in all this too, and because she knew how vicious Desdemona was, she didn't doubt what the woman planned.

“I should have told you both, and I’m sorry I rushed out of here like a maniac, I just needed to get her. I couldn’t let her be some nameless bastard child in the system.”

At the words, both Ethan and Elizabeth understood what motivated him to do what he did. This was his big terror in his life. All their reassuring for the last months couldn’t soften this blow.

Elizabeth took the child from her husband
, staring down at the sleeping bundle. She was pretty damn cute. Everything in her melted for the little baby that was innocent in all this. How could she hold any animosity towards a sweet little bundle of baby chub? “Does she have a name?”

Callen moved towards Elizabeth, still afraid to touch her. “Her name is Catherine Naomi Whitefox. I named her after
both of your mothers and grandma.”

Elizabeth took her back to the couch and held her on her lap, stroking her soft baby skin. She already
began to forgive him, seeing the tiny little cherub. This little girl was part of the child she carried. This was EJ’s sister, and Catherine was going to be part of their lives.

“She’s
absolutely beautiful, Callen. Congratulations on the birth of your daughter.”

It was Callen’s turn to flinch. Not ‘ours’ but his.
It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but again, what had he expected? Already Elizabeth was being more than calm. In her place, he didn't think he’d be as graceful and generous. “Thanks.”

Blackhawk started pacing. “We’re not equipped for a baby with us on an assignment.
We need to sit down and work up a plan on how to deal with this.”

Elizabeth simply picked up her phone and did what she did best
- handle the situation without batting an eye. On the third ring, Wyler answered the phone.

“What’s wrong?” he asked nervously.
“Who’s hurt?”

Elizabeth spoke softly, to not wake baby Catherine. “
No one’s hurt, Dad. We have a family situation. I need you to pack up the SUV, grab CJ and Bly and head up here today. I can’t explain now, just wait for the GPS instructions and get here when you can, please.”

“Okay
Sweetheart.” He disconnected the call, knowing it had to be vital.

Elizabeth sent him an email with the address of the house
, and then glanced over at Ethan. “She needs baby things. You’re up. There was an all-night supercenter twenty minutes before Red River. Pack and play, baby clothes, diapers, baby formula and anything else a newborn needs. You know the drill. This isn’t your first day at the rodeo, Cowboy.”

Blackhawk grinned, knowing at that moment they’d
get through it. He was glad to be getting out of the house, giving them some time alone to work it out. “I’m on my way,” he said, saluting.

Elizabeth sent two texts- o
ne to her team and one to Tori. She’d be working out of the house today. Someone had to stay with the baby until Wyler arrived.

“Callen, go get some sleep. You look like hell,” she ordered. “I’ll stay here with the baby until you’re up again.”

“Elizabeth, you don’t have to do this.”

The hurt was present in her eyes at his words
and their implication. “Okay, Callen, I understand. I’m sorry for overstepping my boundaries.” She stood and handed him his child. “I’ll be upstairs if you need me. I’m suddenly not feeling well.”

When she was gone, Ethan walked over to him and hit him. “Are you insane? She’s been up all night puking her guts up that you were bringing Desdemona back, and she offers to help you and you hand it back to her like that?”

“I don’t know how to do this. I want her to love my daughter. How do I ask her to accept a child that’s not hers?”

He slapped him again. “That’s your first damn mistake. Let her take care of her while you sleep. You’re
obviously not in your right mind if you don’t understand what you just said out loud. Callen, you scared the hell out of us last night and now you’re being an asshole.”

“What if…?” he
started and his brother turned angrily.

“You hurt her enough okay? I’m done watching her fall apart over
this. You did this the wrong way, and you owe her an apology. By the time I get back you better have this fixed. She’s met you more than halfway, Cal. If I were her, I’d be throwing your ass out over this.”

Callen stared up the stairs and took a deep breath. It was now or never. When he got to the bedroom door, it was locked. “Lyzee, can we talk?” he asked, softly. When there was no answer, his heart began to sink.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, laying his head against the door. Callen didn’t know how to even begin fixing this mess and healing her heart. Walking to one of the spare bedrooms, he placed his daughter on the bed between two pillows to keep her safe. Climbing onto the mattress beside her, he knew he needed to rest.

“I love you, Catherine.
Daddy’s got your back.”

Elizabeth heard him outside her door, but she needed a moment to regain her composure. Once she was calm, she’d face him. Everything inside her was tied up in big knots. Yesterday morning, she was giving him his first child and now she was having his ‘other’ one. The hurt was there, but so was the pain for him.

She couldn’t imagine how he felt finding out he was a father and someone wanted to prevent him from ever knowing
he created a life. Elizabeth put herself in his place, and the ache from that outweighed the pain in her own heart.

Then there was her big issue. The child wasn’t hers, and she wanted to fall hopelessly in love, but it wasn’t her place to assume. Maybe this was his last piece of his past
, and she wasn’t supposed to interfere.

Elizabeth wiped a tear and ran her hand over her belly. “I love you EJ. You’re mine, despite it all.” Walking to the door, she decided to find Callen and the newest member to
their family. Opening the door to the spare room she found them both. Callen was out cold, and the baby was beginning to fuss. She scooped her up, carrying her out of the room, gently closing the door.

“How about you and I
both go downstairs and get ourselves acquainted little Miss Cat? We’re the only two ladies in the family, so I think we should get to be friends.”

The newborn stared blankly up at her, listening to her voice.

Elizabeth grabbed the diaper bag and dug through it for some formula. Carrying the baby and the bottle to the kitchen, she heated up some water while the infant worked on a pacifier.

“Breakfast is coming little lady. Give it a few minutes,” she whispered, giving her little kisses on her baby smooth forehead. “Do you have hair under this hat?” she asked, pulling
it from her head and giggling. “Wow gorgeous, you have a lot of brown hair don’t you? You may have more hair than me!”

Elizabeth pulled the bottle from the water and tested it on her arm. “How about you and I have something to eat, I’ll get you changed and we can talk. You and I have someone in common
, and we need to discuss what’s going to happen on this journey together.”

She curled up on the couch and cradl
ed the newborn in her arms, feeding her the formula. “Enjoy breakfast and then we’ll talk about us.”

Callen jolt
ed awake, looking around the bed. “Shit,” he muttered, unable to find his child. He was off to a really bad start. He lost her on day one. Racing from the room, he stopped at the top of the stairs to watch the woman he loved. She was taking care of his daughter.