Slay Bells Ring (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 12) (32 page)

“Can I talk to you a second? Alone?”

Ethan paused. “Yes, but of course.”

When Delaney walked away, Dakota finally spoke, “I’m sorry about the other day. I didn't mean to stir the shit pot with you. I’m sometimes brash and impulsive. Truth be told, my brother mentioned Elizabeth, but he neglected to tell me she was married.”

He listened.

“I’d never poach another man’s woman. It’s not how I work. Had I known, it would have been hands off. I disrespected her, and I inadvertently disrespected you in the process, and that was the last thing I wanted. I hope you can forgive me.”

Ethan weighed his options.

Therapy had taught him he had to let certain things go. This was one of them. While it pissed him off, he could see the other side too. Had he been in Dakota Rakin’s place, he would have done the same thing. He would have wanted her back in the worst way.

“It’s okay. I completely understand how it happened. I love Elizabeth with all my heart, and when I saw your lips on her, I wanted to rip them off. Punching you in the face was the least damage that came to mind. I owe you an apology. I don’t always react with violence, but my wife brings it out in me.”

Dakota rubbed his chin. “Well, you have one hell of a shot.”

“I fight dirty. It’s the Indian in me.”

Dakota grinned. “You know that’s a derogatory term, right? It’s actually Native American. Tsk tsk.”

Ethan Blackhawk laughed. That was something his wife reminded people all the time. “Yes, so I’m told. Come in, get settled down, and we’ll start. Welcome to the team.”

Dakota grinned, following him into the room. When he got there, he found Delaney in a seat, Elizabeth handing out pizza, and Callen Whitefox watching him with unblinking brown eyes.

Yeah, well, it looked like he wasn’t out of the woods yet. Hopefully, Ethan was the alpha brother in the room. Then maybe the odds of his survival would stay high.

“I hope you can eat and work,” Elizabeth stated, taking a bite of her pizza.

When Ethan settled beside her, she remained perched on the arm of the couch.

“We’ve done it before,” Dakota stated. “To be honest, we’ve heard about Ethan Blackhawk and his profiles. I’m curious to see him deliver it up close and personal.”

She glanced down at her husband. “He has a gift. Be prepared to enjoy the show.” Elizabeth winked at Ethan.

“No pressure,” Callen stated, grinning.

Ethan was fine. He could do it.

He had no choice.

“Well, then let’s begin,” Ethan stated. “We have two killers and of them, one will be the dominant, and one the more submissive. When two people come together to pair up to commit murder, there is always a leader in the group.”

“How do you know?” Delaney asked curiously.

“You can’t have two bosses running the show. Look at our normal dynamics. Elizabeth runs our team out in the field, and I run it back in-house. We each have our strengths, and we play to them. A killer will do the same. If the killers are a couple, that will be even more fact. In every relationship, there are boundaries and leaders.”

Elizabeth sipped her orange juice. “I’m obviously not the boss, or I’d be having a soda and not juice.”

“Looks like you’re right,” Callen offered, grinning wickedly at her.

She stuck out her tongue.

“So how do we know who will be the dominant one in that sick and twisted union?” Dakota asked, chewing on some pizza.

“Let’s look at what we know to be facts.”

They all got ready to make notes.

“We have Clyde raping the female victims, right?”

They all nodded.

“What woman, who is bossy and in charge, is going to let her man screw some other women?” Ethan asked.

Elizabeth laughed. “None.”

“Exactly. Our team found traces of semen and vaginal fluid in the blood. So, not only is he raping one woman, he’s having sex with the other after the fact.”

“She doesn’t mind sharing. That’s insane,” Dakota stated. Then he realized that might be offensive. The two men were sharing Elizabeth. When no one flinched, or made a comment, he figured he was good to go.

“Yes, she is. So, that alone is very telling.”

Elizabeth stood at the board. “Okay, so Clyde wears the pants in their sick little family. What else do you have?”

“I’m going to focus on him. There’s too much possibility of error by trying to analyze Bonnie right now. We need more information on her.”

Elizabeth was good with that. If Clyde was the leader, they could catch him, and then likely Bonnie. That would mean closing this case.

That’s what they all wanted.

“What else about him?”

“He’s going to be methodical in everything he does. We’re talking about a person who is planning multiple murders where they take people and no one sees them. He’s not flying by the seat of his pants on this one.”

Elizabeth made a notation on her board. “Continue.”

“He’s watching and studying them to learn their behavior. That’s a true sign of a predator. He’s going to adapt, overcome, and be difficult to nail down.”

“How hard are we talking?” Dakota asked.

“You’ve lost them twice already, right? That should tell you all you need to know.”

“How do we stop him?” Dakota asked.

“It’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to have to follow his trail. He’s not worried about his DNA, his fingerprints, or anything else. All he’s concerned with is staying one step ahead of us.”

“He’s not careful, and that will get him caught,” Elizabeth admitted. “Sooner or later, he’s going to leave something we can tie to him, and that’s how we’re going to nail him down.”

Dakota looked frustrated.

“Dak, this isn't like the hunts you guys go on. We have to build the evidence to take them down. When you find a fugitive, this part is already done. You’re going to have to be patient and make sure it’s done right. You can’t jump this step. If you do, he’s going to go free.”

Callen agreed. “You don’t want to bring them in, only to release them due to not enough evidence.”

“I understand.”

But he still didn't like it.

Ethan pondered what else to give them. “He’s going to make a mistake. Eventually, something will go wrong. We have to bide our time, look for the killers, and wrap this up. It’s the same routine for us.”

“Your job sucks. It’s so much more gratifying to race in and save the day.”

Elizabeth laughed. “We don’t do this for the glory. We do it to keep innocent people from becoming penis smoothies.”

All the men looked down at their pizza and their faces said it all.

That was fine with her—more for Elizabeth and Baby Whitefox.

“We know they took credit cards, and when they use them, and they will, we’ll have them. We can get to them at the scene and bring them in. We’ve set the trap,” Callen offered. “Our team will get justice for all the people they’ve killed. We always do.”

Ethan was thinking.

“Handsome, what’s on your mind?” she asked, tucking one of his black strands of hair behind his ear as she perched on the arm of the sofa.

“They don’t feel threatened yet. They wanted us in this game, but they aren’t considering us adversaries. We still have a shot to pressure them.”

“How will we know they’re threatened?” Delaney asked.

“They’ll tell us.”

They all stared at Ethan like he was crazy.

“They sent a note and heads to Callen to start us on this journey. When they’re ready for us to play the part, they’ll contact us again. That’s their methodology, and they’re going to follow through.”

“So we’re just supposed to sit here and let them kill?” Dakota asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. “Hell no! We’re going to hunt the hunters. That’s all we can do. We’ll piece this together until we can get a court of law to convict them.”

“You’re a lot calmer and less impulsive than you were in our youth,” Dakota stated.

Elizabeth grinned. “They’ve changed me. I think it’s for the good. Motherhood also helped. You can’t have four kids and one on the way and not have patience.”

Both men agreed.

Their house was insane.

Callen was curious. “What was she like when she was green? Was she born this badass?”

He thought about it. “No. She was sweet, smart, and gentle. Elizabeth always smiled, always had something nice to say to someone, and she was pleasant to everyone around her. That’s what drew me to her. It was all that southern charm.”

Both men roared with laughter.

“Seriously?” she asked. “I’m still charming and all those things. Do you two really want to go there?”

The men kept snickering.

“I’ll admit that time has changed me. No, that’s not true. Time didn't do jack shit. Death has. When you start out, you think,
‘I want to change the world’
,” she admitted. “Now I realize how naïve that was. You don’t have a freaking chance to change the world, but it will change you. Over time, it made me into this.”

Ethan touched her lower back in a sign of support. They’d all changed, and it was mostly for the good.

“You, Dak, were with me in my rebound years.”

He stopped chewing. “Gee, thanks. That doesn’t make me feel any better, since you dropped kicked my heart.”

She laughed. “I didn't mean it like that. Not rebounding from a romantic relationship. I was rebounding from a lot of hurt. I had screwed up
‘The Butcher case’
, Livy bailed on me, and Gabe wasn’t my rock anymore. I had to adjust. You came along, and years later, we connected and had a good time. It helped me forget the ache in my heart.”

“So I was just your Marshal booty call?”

She grinned. “Nope. You were my friend, and that’s what I wanted more in life. You wondered why I didn't say yes, and that’s it. I loved you as my friend, not as my potential husband. We had something special, and that’s still important, even if it couldn’t go any further.”

Elizabeth thought about all the men she loved platonically. There was Chris Leonard, Tony Magnus, and even Julian Littlemoon. They all mattered, and Dakota Rakin was mixed into their ranks.

He took it all in. “I think I finally understand. At that time, I hated you, so I did what I thought was best. I bailed on you too. I never thought it would hurt you, but I guess I was wrong. I probably should have stuck around and been your friend.”

She wished he had, but that was water under the bridge. Everything led her here.

To the men she loved.

To this life.

“It’s okay. We were young and stupid. Now we’re old and stupid.”

They all laughed. 

“This is who I am now. They are who I am. I’m not just Elizabeth LaRue, I’m Elizabeth Whitefox-Blackhawk. Marrying them has given me a new identity and a new lease at life.”

Ethan tugged her down, and she tumbled into his lap. Immediately, Callen moved closer, and they each held her.

“I’ve found me. I hope one day you find you.”

Dakota took in the scene. Instead of jealousy or anger, he saw them for what they were—a happy couple.

“I hope so too.”

And for the first time in a long time, he did.

Chapter Ten

FBI Jet

Thursday Night

He was a nervous wreck. As he paced up and down the aisles, he couldn’t get focused on work. It was a short flight, but he was still worked up. The entire time, he’d been dialing his father over and over again.

The man still wasn’t answering.

He was so worked up that he didn't even notice Johanna trying to work.

“Brody, it’ll be okay,” she said, reaching out to him to pull him into a seat. “You need to stop freaking out. Levi is going to be fine. We still have his location, and he hasn’t moved since we took off.”

“What if he’s been hurt? What if someone else has his phone?” he asked, dwelling on all the possible what if’s.

She touched his cheek. “He’s not. Stop thinking worst case scenario. I promise that when we find him, we’ll get this all sorted out. If you put positive energy out there, you’ll get it back.”

He tried to be positive, but his father was going to be the death of him. This wouldn’t be the first time he’d had to bail his old man out of trouble.

He’d been arrested.

Kicked out of casinos.

Threatened by disgruntled gamblers.

It was a nonstop mess the last couple of years.

“Trust me,” Johanna stated.

He took a deep breath. She was absolutely right. Brody was working himself into a tizzy, and he didn't even have all the information.

“Do we know anything about the location he’s at?” he asked, trying to focus.

Johanna pulled it up on the map. “It’s a house in a development not far from where we live. He’s probably at someone’s place and left his phone. That’s why he’s not answering it.”

Brody never thought about that.

“You think?”

She nodded. “Don’t stress it.”

He couldn’t help it. “I don’t know why he opted to move his life closer to mine. I really wish he would have stayed across the country. He’s making me insane.”

She laughed. “I can see that.”

“He ties me up in knots. I want to hate him, but he’s my father.”

She listened while he vented. Sometimes, you had to be someone’s sounding board and nothing else. She knew Brody. This was what would get him through this flight.

“I need to relax. I really need to let this go and not dwell on it.”

“What can I do to help you?” she asked.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a beer in your bag, would you?” he teased. “If not, I guess I’m on my own.”

Not necessarily.

She knew what would get his mind off the entire thing, and it wasn’t work. They were alone on this fancy jet, and they had some time before they landed.

Already, she had an idea, and it wasn’t only for Brody either.

When her hand went to his belt, he glanced over at her. She couldn’t possibly be thinking about…

When she flicked open the button and lowered the zipper, he knew she was.

“Joey, we’re on the work jet.”

She glanced around. “We appear to be alone. Why not use that to our advantage? You wanted to stop freaking out, well, I know what will do it.”

Immediately, her head was in his lap. As she pulled him from his pants, he was already hard as a rock. He never thought his Joey would have sex with him on the company jet.

This was something he’d always fantasized about, but was too afraid to ask.

Okay, it was more about getting caught than asking her to join him. What man didn't want to be part of the Mile High club?

This was taboo, naughty, and he loved it.

Slowly, all thoughts about his father drifted away. He had something amazing to focus on.

When she blew warm breath over his erection, he wanted to shout in glee. When she placed her lips over the tip of him, teasing him with her wet tongue, Brody wanted to thrust upward and down her throat. Everything in him came to life.

Yet, somehow, he managed to find some control.

It wasn’t easy.

As she worked her mouth over his erection, Brody was moaning in pleasure. It made Johanna happy that she could offer him a distraction. She hated to see him worked up, and especially over something they had no control over.

Simply put, their parents were a pain in their asses.

Sliding him deeper into the warmth of her mouth, his fingers worked their way into her straw colored hair. He began using her head to get more and more pleasure from her.

Johanna swallowed him to the base, and Brody shook beneath her.

“Oh God, don’t stop!” he hissed, praying the captain’s door would stay shut. If anyone came in, he’d be caught in the act.

That only made it hotter.

“Joey, honey, more,” he begged.

His wish was her command. Instead of slowing down, she worked him harder. She knew that Brody liked her mouth on his body.

From the guttural moans, he liked it a lot.

As the temperature in the cabin rose, Brody’s breaths became more and more labored.

It was a sign.

When she pulled her head away, he opened his eyes. “What?”

He honestly thought she wasn’t going to finish him off. The idea that the fun was over only added to his frustration.

“Honey,” he began.

“Shhhhh,” Joey whispered, as she slipped out of her pants. There were seats in front of them, and she was glad. It meant no one would see what was coming next.

She was going to ride him.

Brody’s heart began pounding in response. There was nothing sexier than seeing Joey bottomless. It was so unlike her and wicked, that it filled him with unquenchable amounts of lust.

“Get ready for a ride,” she whispered in his ear.

Immediately, Brody had to hold onto the sides of his seat. This might just kill him.

“Please tell me you’re not screwing with me,” he muttered, watching her as she straddled his lap.

“I’m going to be screwing you.”

He looked up. In that exact same second, she sunk down his erection, burying him in her body.

Brody nearly shouted at the sensation. It was her mouth, covering his, which kept them silent.

“Oh God! We’ve joined the Mile High Club on the company jet. I have to be asleep,” he muttered into the mating of lips.

She laughed. “Attention flyer, you’re about to soar to new heights. Make sure your seat and dick are in the upright position. There will be some inflight turbulence,” she teased.

Brody prayed there’d be a lot of bouncing.

Johanna began moving, sliding him in and out of her body while she stared into his eyes. They were filled with emotion and heat.

It turned her right on.

When his hands went to her hips, he began pulling her down.

“I love turbulence,” he whispered, wishing they could be completely naked. He loved watching her breasts bounce as they made love.

She kept moving, pounding her body down on his. When his fingers found the wetness at the junction of their joined bodies, he flicked and teased her to release.

It took everything not to shout as the orgasm tore through her. Johanna’s body shook, and she wanted the feeling to never end.

Brody was her miracle.

She only stopped for a second, trying to catch her breath as she resurfaced from the orgasm. Brody was shaking in need as he tried to patiently wait for the woman he loved to end his torment.

“You have to finish us off,” he whispered. “If I don’t come, I’m going to die,” he admitted.

She didn't want that to happen.

Again, she began moving, this time switching up the rhythm to torture and drive him crazy.

From the look of rapture on his face, it was apparently working. That made Johanna happy. Gone was the worry, and in its place was something sexy.

Lust.

Love.

Peace.

As she rode him to delirium, they were both close to release. He was begging her over and over again, and she was bouncing hard against his lap.

Oh, they’d be coming, and soon.

As she rode him, his hands worked over her swollen clit. As he pinched, stroked, and teased, Johanna moved closer to the edge. When she was close, she leaned in to whisper in his ear.

“Come in me.”

It was all it took.

He erupted, taking her with him for the fall. They tumbled, and it was amazing.

Both of them remained still, her head resting on his shoulder. When she was finally able to move, she glanced down at him.

“Was it good for you, sir?” she asked in her best flight attendant voice.

“I love the friendly skies.”

Johanna snorted. “I better get off.”

“You just did,” he teased, “and so did I.”

Her mouth found his, and their lips moved together in a kiss. It was warm and shared love.

It was perfect.

Then again, when they stole precious moments like this, it always was.

Just as they broke apart, there was the ding of the seatbelt sign.

“Jesus! Get off,” he hissed, helping her into the seat beside him. Just as he was tucking himself back into his pants, the cabin door opened.

“We’ll be landing in ten minutes,” said the captain. “There’s a car waiting for you, and Director Blackhawk asked to remind you not to forget the equipment.”

They nodded, both afraid to speak.

“She also said no fornicating on her jet.”

They both stared straight ahead.

Brody smelled like sex, and Johanna was bottomless.

It looked like they were a little late on that one.

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

Damascus

Thursday Evening

By the time they got to their vehicle, they noticed that Elizabeth Blackhawk was way ahead of the game. In the back cargo area, they found the pricy equipment already waiting for them.

At least that was one less trip they were going to have to make.

It looked like they could focus on the task at hand. They were running out of time, and before long, they’d have to be heading back to work.

While Brody drove, Johanna kept an eye on the tracking signal from the cell tower.

“Has it moved?” he asked.

“No. It’s still at the address.”

Brody wasn’t sure if he should be happy or nervous as hell. All the sick and bad thoughts were overwhelming the good ones. He couldn’t help it.

He was a Fed.

They dealt in perverse on a daily basis.

As they drove through the streets of Damascus, it wasn’t busy at all. There were some people getting last minute Christmas trees, or shopping, but that was it. Most people were likely in planning mode for their upcoming holiday celebrations. God knew they’d be doing the same if they weren’t working.

Brody would give anything to be buying a Christmas tree with Johanna, and then taking it home to decorate and make love under it.

Talk about one hell of a fantasy.

Before her, his life was never ordinary. That was what he craved most of all in life. While he had some holiday memories from growing up, they weren’t exactly ones he cherished. They were mostly of his mother and father running cons, schemes, and trying to earn extra money around the holidays. His childhood was hit or miss. Some years they had a great Christmas, with all the trimmings, and others were pretty scarce.

He hated that he never had normal.

Until now.

From that second on, Brody swore that he and Joey were going to do Christmas up big time. It would be a special time of the year for them.

It would be theirs.

This would heal their past. There was no doubt about it.

As they approached the development, nothing looked familiar. “Who owns the house?” he asked, as she typed furiously trying to get him that answer before they arrived. The last thing they needed was to walk into a bad situation. With Levi, who knew what he was doing. For all Brody knew, his father was being held against his will after a poker game went bad.

She read off the name.

It didn't sound familiar.

“Maybe it’s a rental,” she offered. “You said Levi moved closer to be near you.”

He wasn’t sure.

He didn't visit his father. The man came to their place to see him. Well, it was only fair that he was about to do the exact same thing.