Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) (76 page)

“If he tries
to stab him, he’s yours, Tex,” answered her husband. They weren’t even going to mess with the nut job. Not when a man’s life was at risk.

She waited and watched. In the last second, as the man pulled the knife back she prepared to make her one shot
, taking him down. At that moment, Rick kicked and fought, jumping up and running towards the east part of the property. The man crossed her path, and she lost her shot, having to re-adjust. Elizabeth took the next one she had, hitting him in the side.

“He’s hit
but on the move,” she said over the com. “Julian, Tori, he’s heading your way after Rick.”

They all adjusted their positions, heading towards Tori and Julian. It was a matter of beating them to Rick and hoping that they weren’t too late
, as hell broke loose.

             
                            *   *   *

Rick was beginning to feel woozy, as the blood dripped down his arm. He could have sworn he heard someone yell ‘FBI’ but he wasn’t sure. The smoke had gotten to him, and everything looked twisted and out of shape once again.

He stumbled and couldn’t get his balance to get back up from the ground. His shoulder sung in pain, as he hit hard earth. In the moment he was cognizant enough to say goodbye to life.

At least he fought hard and got a shot in at the man.

Tori reached him first and tried to help him to his feet to pull him back into the dense part of the trees. He was too heavy.

“Hey! It’s a red haired angel,” he muttered, falling back to the ground. “Arm hurts,” he slurred before blacking out.

“Rick’s down,” she answered on the com. “Here comes the nutjob
!” She pulled her gun, preparing to take a shot. She couldn’t believe Elizabeth had missed the earlier one. It wasn’t like her to not get the job done on the first try.

As Thomas came crashing through the trees, he lurched towards her. Just as Tori was about to pull the trigger, Julian slammed into the naked man, taking him
to the ground. Rick’s gun went flying into the brush.

They rolled around and fought for control. Tori tracked with her Glock until she could get a clear shot. When Thomas pinned Julian beneath him
, holding the wicked looking blade, Tori knew it was time. They were all wearing Kevlar, but a knife would slice right though the weaving.

Tori knew this would be the most important shot she’d ever take in her life.

Julian stared up as the man prepared to shank him with the bowie knife. The sudden sounds of gunfire startled him, as one bullet met back of the skull. He closed his eyes just in time, as to not have to look at the mess the exit wound made. The telltale splattering of brain against leaves and trees gave away the outcome.

The man began falling and Julian rolled to get away from his
descending corpse.

“You okay, Jules?” she asked, putting pressure on Rick’s shoulder. Over the com
, she requested an ambulance and the tech team. One man was going out in a body bag.

“Yeah, but I’m covered in blood,” he muttered, alarming her.

“Are you hurt?” She suddenly was feeling that panic of reliving that night in the alley in the Middle East. The man she’d once planned on marrying flashed back into her mind as the fear filled her body.

“I’m okay,
Honey. He had a side wound.”

Elizabeth and Callen entered the clearing as Ethan’s voice came over the com. “Ambulance is in route.”

“Anyone hurt other than Rick and the dead fruit loop?” she inquired, checking her team. “Julian, you’re a bit messy,” she stated, taking in his clothes.

“He was slippery and naked,” he answered, pulling off his shirt to get away from the blood.

“I didn’t think Elizabeth hit him,” stated Tori, her hand still pressing down on Rick’s shoulder.

Elizabeth crossed to her and checked the police chief’s wounds. “He’s going to need surgery. That’s the same bullet wound Ethan and I have. It’s going to hurt like a bitch too.”

Redwolf and Blackhawk entered the area, as the sirens filled the night. “Oh look, Callen. Our wife didn’t kill anyone this time. What a shocker.”

She snickered and offered Tori a fist bump. “
It was still a chic that took down the psycho while you men were wandering in the trees. I’m counting this one in the girl column.”

Both men rolled their eyes.

“Kane, can you go meet the ambulance guys and direct them back here?” Blackhawk asked, ignoring his wife.

“Can do,” he answered, jogging off into the trees.

“How’s Rick doing?” Callen leaned down and patted him on the cheek. “Hey Longtree, you going to live?” he asked, staring down at the man.

Rick fought to open his eyes. “Yeah, but jus
t my luck. I get to be naked with a hot woman sitting on my body, and I’m tied up. Not in a fun restrained kind of way either.”

Elizabeth and Tori started laughing.

Julian wasn’t as amused. “Yeah, don’t enjoy my fiancée sitting on your body, or I’ll pull her hand off that wound and watch you bleed to death.”

Tori blew him a kiss. “Anyone hungry?” she asked, I could go for some pizza.” Apparently, the gore and blood didn’t bother her.

They glanced over as the men with a stretcher followed Kane back to them.

“I could eat,” answered Callen.

Elizabeth stared down at the dead body and inspected the front of his face.

“How about you, Angel?” inquired Callen.

She shrugged. “No dead eyes on this one. I could handle some pizza too.”

Blackhawk shook his head. “He doesn’t have a face, Elizabeth.”

Innocently, she looked over at him. “Missing faces don’t bother me,” she paused. “Can we get bacon on the pizza? The baby is suddenly in the mood for bacon.”

Callen grinned. “My girl wants bacon, she gets bacon.”

Redwolf looked confused. “Isn’t she his girl?” he asked, obviously missing something.

If on cue they all started laughing.

“I don’t get it,” he stated, looking around. “What am I missing?”

Julian pulled Tori against his body and hugged her tight. “If I had a dollar every time someone said that in the last six months, I could retire.”

Blackhawk snickered. “Let’s get the scene wrapped and pass this off to the new head of the police department.” He patted Redwolf on the back. “Tag Kane. You’re it.”

“Huh? Wait, I have to be in charge of this mess?” he called after the five of them
, as they headed out of the trees to meet the tech team.

Elizabeth gave her husband a fist bump. “I love screwing with the locals.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty damn awesome.”

Kane followed them out of the trees
, stopping as he saw Christina hopping down out of the tech van, his co-workers behind her. His stomach flipped at just seeing her. “Pass this one off on Yazzie. He’s got seniority.”

Elizabeth dropped her voice low. “
Yeah, but you figured this all out, so you get the glory. Plus the new police chief gets to work side by side with the FBI tech team. Specifically the head of our lab, until this is all taken care of tonight.”

He didn't miss what she was implying
and changed his mind fast. “Then count me in on this one.”

Blackhawk grinned. Elizabeth was playing cupid once more. If she ever wanted to retire, he didn't doubt she could be a professional match maker.

Callen smiled as Kane Redwolf watch Christina across the driveway. The look on his face was priceless. The man had it bad.

Elizabeth
stood between the men in her life, linking her arms through theirs. “Our tech team is going to help you out on the scene. We’ll be taking care of the paperwork later, when all the evidence is swept. For now, Chief Redwolf, you’re in charge. Call us if you need anything tonight, or just ask Christina. She can run an assignment blindfolded.”

He shook their hands. “Thanks for your help
and for what you just did,” he replied, winking at Elizabeth. He’d met two non-natives in the last week and both were pretty great.

Christina rushed over. “Where’s he at?”

“I’ll show you,” Kane offered, staring down at her.

Elizabeth lifted a brow
in silent satisfaction. “My work here is officially done.”

Both Blackhawk and Whitefox watched the two people together. “This should be interesting. They live three hours apart.”

“Everything in life worth having boys is going to cost a little bit of work. Look at you two.”

They both elbowed her.

“Hey! I’m pregnant,” she replied, laughing.

Callen was going to enjoy this. “By the way, Boss
Lady, for the record. You’re work here isn’t done.”

“Huh? It’s not?” she didn't know where he was taking it. They killed the bad guy, all of them were safe and there was a date with pizza. “What’s left?”

Blackhawk started laughing and gave his brother a fist bump, pretty sure he knew what was coming.

“You promised a one on one interview with Craig Booker,” he said, pointing to the cars starting to convey on the crime scene. “You’re about to keep your end of a bargain.”

She slapped herself in the forehead and let out a string of profanities.

“Now that’s our girl,” answered Ethan, grinning.

Callen started laughing. “Yes it is.”

Kane touched her arm, getting her attention before they entered the trees. “Chrissy, the assignment is over and technically we aren’t working on anything. It’s solved.”

She nodded. “Yeah,
that happens when the bad guy gets killed.”

There was an awkward silence between them.

“Did you get to be here and participate?” she asked, getting a little nervous flutter in her stomach. He could have been hurt.

“Yeah,
it was great,” he answered. “I’m also the acting police chief until Rick gets back.”

“That’s great!” she offered enthusiastically.

The man was thinking about only one thing, and she was petite and right beside him. For the first time in his life, his tongue was tied up in knots over an outsider.

Something was definitely on his mind
and had him distracted. “Are you okay, Kane?” she asked, hoping he didn’t know about the DNA test.

Kane
dove right in and crossed his fingers. “When you’re done here, come home with me tonight. No tequila, just you and me this time.”

Christina stared at him and didn’t know what to say.
He’d caught her off guard. It looked like Elizabeth had been right about the man wanting to be with her. They were both sober.

“Please?”

Christina didn't know what to say.

Oh Crap!

Monday Morning

Rick Longtree’s room

Rick was hopped up on the good drugs and feeling pretty damn good. The bullet had gone clear through, and overnight they did surgery to repair his shoulder. They were still up in the air over his ability to return to work. The bullet ripped apart the nerves in his right arm. The entire thing should have devastated him, but honestly, after barely surviving with his life, he didn't care. Rick had a second chance, and that’s all that mattered to him and his family.

What he was looking forward to was the quiet
returning to his reservation. The FBI was too damn stressful for him.

Speaking of the devil, he thought about them and there they were drinking coffee. “I think I owe you three my life.”

Elizabeth grinned. “Tori saved you. We just cleaned up the mess.”

“I don’t know how to thank you.”

Blackhawk took a seat, and Elizabeth dropped down into his lap, since there were only two chairs for visitors. “You don’t owe us anything. This is what we do.”

“Still, thank you.”

Elizabeth knew how bad his shoulder was, she’d just spoken to the doctor. Prognosis was grim. The man’s career was most likely over. “I heard about your shoulder. Are you going to be okay?”

He shrugged. “I’m glad to be alive. Some good came out of all of this,” he replied. “My ex was here, and maybe I’ll get another chance with my family.”

Blackhawk was glad to hear it.

Callen crossed his boot across his knee. “We did all the paperwork
for the entire assignment. Kane Redwolf is in charge now, and he’s doing a good job of handling the media.”

“I saw the paper this morning,” Rick replied. “You didn't have to make me look like a hero in your interview, Elizabeth.”

She shrugged. “You made yourself the hero by fighting and trying to escape. You didn't know we were there. You deserved it.”

Rick leaned back against his pillows and flinched. “Shit this hurts like a bitch,” he muttered. When
two of the FBI agents began laughing, he was confused.