Pledging to Die (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 11) (51 page)

Arman began sobbing.

“I’ll use all my pull to get this thrown out,” Judge Smithfield stated.

Elizabeth suspected as much. Pulling out her phone, she hit dial. When Gabe answered the phone, she told him what was going on in the room.

“Judge Smithfield is very sure that he can get his son off by throwing his weight around,” she began. “What do we have to counter that?”

Gabe wanted to prove to his team that he’d always have their backs. “Your honor, let me say what a privilege it’s going to be to break your balls on this one. I’ve already made calls to the prosecutor’s office, and this trial is being moved. Your son, and his buddies, will get a fair trial, but far from where you’re working. Plus, because we’re so awesome and kind, I suggested that maybe all your cases should be up for judicial review. I hope you’ve lived your job above the law because if not, you’re going down too. If we even smell bribes, your face will be on the news. You can kiss your son, and your career, goodbye.”

The man went red.

“Thanks, Director Rothschild.”

“No problem. You know how we at the FBI love to make sure the job is done to the letter of the law. My boss, the President of the United States, insists on it.”

She disconnected the call.

“Anything you’d like to add? Any more veiled threats to me or anyone else you’d like to blame for your son’s disgusting behavior? Where I sit, he’s a scumbag, but bad kids are created, not born. You carry some of this.”

“Dad, please,” Arman said.

“We’d like our attorney now.”

She grinned ferally. “Absolutely. We’ll send him right in. We wouldn’t want to violate your son’s rights, like he did to all those women. That wouldn’t be fair, now would it?”

With that, they all stood.

There were sobs, begging, and pleading from the frat boy as they left. Outside, they regrouped.

“Please tell me you got them all to testify against him,” she said, hoping that wasn’t just total bullshit. Deep down, Elizabeth knew that the judge would do anything to get his son off. It was a parent thing—she guessed. If it was her, she’d kill her boys for doing something so vile.

“I managed to get Garrick, Sutton, and Hervey to spill it all in the hopes of not going to the chair. Nels Lucas won’t talk. He stated that his brothers wouldn’t betray him.”

“There’s that fraternity mentality of
‘bros before hoes’
,” she stated. “That’ll get him the chair for sure.”

“One can only hope,” stated Callen. “If my son did this, I’d be pissed.”

“Well, at least one of you has common sense,” stated Elizabeth. “Ethan would try and get him off.”

Callen laughed. “Oh, I wouldn’t let him go to jail, but when I got him off, I’d kick his ass.”

She stared at him as they fist bumped.

“Seriously? You too, Cal? Are you both completely insane? We’re the FBI.”

The men laughed.

They loved riling her up.

There was no reason to even go there, because they knew she was a damn good mother, and Elizabeth would kick her sons’ asses if they crossed that line.

“What do you want to do now?” Ethan asked, glancing down at his watch. “We have to give the tech team a little time to work, and our job here is pretty much done. We’ve scared the shit out of the frat boys.”

“Let’s head back to the apartment. I have the overwhelming need to call our children to forbid them from joining a fraternity or sorority when they are older.”

They were good with that.

“By the way, Lyzee, were you in a sorority?” Callen asked, wiggling his eyebrows lecherously.

“Yeah, I’m not discussing this with either of you! If I go there, you’ll get all
‘Chester the Molester’
on me.”

“That’s very judgmental,” Ethan stated. “We’re hurt by your words.”

Callen laughed.

“Uh, recall the whole cheerleader thing? It took a while for you sex fiends to let it go.”

“That means yes,” Ethan stated. “It looks like we’ll be doing some research.”

“The both of you are out of control.”

They were well aware, but she really didn't mind. There was a grin on her face, and a sparkle in her icy blue eyes.

She was amused.

That was more than enough for them.

Back at the apartment, they all changed out of their work attire and parked it on the couch. It had been days since they’d seen their kids, and a week was too long.

While they tried to keep in touch daily, it wasn’t always easy. When out in the field, they didn't always have the time or the luxury. Often, when they were done working, the kids were already in bed. One thing was for sure, Wyler would kill them if they made him wake them. So, they went without seeing their tribe.

It wasn’t easy.

Ethan’s heart ached when he couldn’t see CJ or Charlie. They were his little ones, and they touched his soul. He and Elizabeth had made something amazing.

When Callen got to see his children, he was happy, but there was still a hole in his heart. Looking at Cat, he was filled with love, but something was missing.

Every day, she looked more and more like her mother, and he didn't mean Elizabeth. Her eyes were eerily similar to Desdemona’s, and each time he looked in them, he felt off balance. Was he a bad person for regretting his time with Cat’s mother?

Even if that part of his past brought her into his life?

While he’d never say it out loud, he did feel it, and that ate away at him. He loved his daughter, but he wanted more. Callen really needed to have one more child, hopefully a girl, with Elizabeth.

He wanted one of his daughters to look like the woman he loved. Already, he could see that Charlie was going to be the spitting image of her. She had the tiny tipped up nose, and her eyes weren’t changing. They were that piercing blue that he once thought only models had.

He wanted more.

And he didn't know how to tell her.

“Cal?” she asked, touching his arm as he sat in silence on the couch. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I was just thinking.”

Elizabeth stared at him, not sure she believed a word he was saying, but it didn't seem like the time to have the conversation. Since he’d begun therapy, Callen liked some privacy. When he was ready, he’d come and talk to her.

She was sure.

As they pinged the tablet, the one they’d left at home, the threesome waited in eager anticipation. When the screen cleared, the house was filled with pandemonium. They had three kids running around, two large German Shepherds, and a baby.

Oddly, Wyler was grinning like a madman.

Maybe he was losing his mind.

“Hey!” he said, holding Charlie in his arms. She was sucking on her fingers and being pretty well behaved.

“Uh, is the tribe trying to overthrow the chief?” Ethan asked, as his son slid across the room on a desk chair. Then there was a thump.

“Well, that depends. I locked the office, but unfortunately, two of your children jimmied the lock with a butter knife.”

Elizabeth shook her head. “We’re screwed.”

Wyler laughed.

“Why did he have a butter knife?” Callen asked. “We moved all the silverware.”

“He stole it out of Cindy’s lunch bag.”

Again, Elizabeth simply shook her head. She gave both men the
‘I told you so’
look.

“What about Cat?” asked Callen.

“She’s following them around tattling. She likes to rat out her brothers. Charlie is an angel.”

Elizabeth snorted. “Of course she is. She’s like me. Look at those two maniacs. I think EJ was just riding one of the dogs.”

“They race them.”

She slapped herself in the forehead. “When we’re home, they’re not this wild.”

“When Mom and Dads are away, Granddad lets them play. That’s the rules. I think I should carve that into a sign.”

There was a crash.

And then laughter.

“Dad, you have to rein that in. If you let them run around like this, they’re going to get hurt,” Elizabeth said.

CJ appeared holding car keys. “Ride?” he said.

“Say hi to momma and dads,” Wyler stated.

That had the boy’s attention. “I love you!” he said, grinning.

“I love you…” she began, only to notice something. “Wait! Where are his front teeth?” she asked. “Why are they gone?”

He pointed at EJ not far away. He was leaning against the wall with a devious grin on his face.

“Your sons were wrestling, and they got knocked out. Don’t worry. I took him to the dentist, and they said it happens. I told him the tooth fairy can’t come until Momma frisks him at the door, so I bought you time.”

She opened and closed her mouth. “I’m not going to make it. I think I hear my hair turning gray.”

Wyler laughed. “I think we need more. This is fun. I can do five or six more grandkids easily. We need a pool.”

“NO!” they all said together.

When the noise got so loud, Elizabeth couldn’t take it. So, she whistled. The three of them stopped moving and shouting.

“Line up,” she stated, staring at them on the screen. “CJ, no more losing teeth! Are we clear?”

“Yes, momma.”

“EJ, you’re not allowed to beat on your brother. It’s not good, and it won’t be tolerated. Do you hear me?”

He nodded, and then pushed Cat.

“OR your sisters. If I catch you, then you’re going to have to move into your own room. No sleeping with CJ.”

He looked horrified.

Since they didn't hit their kids, they knew right where to get them where it mattered most. EJ and CJ slept together, and were glued at the hip.

“Understand?”

“Yes, Momma.”

“Cat?”

“They bad. They go to jail.”

She glared at her husbands as they tried to not laugh at the entire mess. “Yes, they will be going there. Momma is going to lock them up. You keep watching them, and don’t let them hurt Charlie.”

She smiled, and Callen’s heart ached. There was Desdemona again. She haunted him, and he only prayed that Cat would look more like a Whitefox as she got older.

“Listen to your momma,” stated Ethan. “I want you men to hold down the fort and help granddad. No breaking things, stop stealing silverware, and don’t unlock doors that are closed.”

They nodded.

“Love you, Dads,” stated CJ as he took off to do what he was told.

EJ looked around, making sure his brother was gone before he grabbed the tablet and kissed it. “Love you, momma.”

Then he too was gone.

Cat just walked away. “Bad. Bad. Bad.”

Wyler cuddled Charlie in his arms. “Are you three okay?”

Elizabeth shook her head. “Where’s Cindy?”

Wyler turned the tablet and showed them. She was standing in the kitchen. When she waved, they relaxed. Well, at least Wyler wasn’t alone.

“When are you three coming back?” he asked.

“Soon. We should be wrapping this up,” stated Ethan. “Just try not to lose Cat or EJ. Just in case.”

Callen stared at him. “I’m not going to freak out. You can try, but I won’t fall for it.”

“Well, I did misplace her for a few hours today, but she was safe in the street,” teased Wyler.

“What?”

They all began laughing.

“You’re all sick,” he stated, closing his eyes. Callen fell for it every damn time.

“We love you, Dad. Be safe!” called Elizabeth.

“You three do the same,” he offered, disconnecting the video call.

“That’s why we can’t have more kids,” stated Elizabeth. “Did you see that chaos?”

Ethan laughed.

Callen tried, but his heart ached.

“We should probably get some work done,” Ethan stated. “Want to work on the whiteboard?”

She was up for that. Getting off the couch, she crossed to the board. “All of this is pretty much useless.”

“Yeah, it really is.”

Reluctantly, she erased everything that had anything to do with the frat boys. They were in the clear, and not the killers. While the fraternity seemed to be the center of it, they couldn’t figure out what the connection was.

“How screwed are we?” asked Elizabeth.

Ethan started laughing. “Very. Unless we get a miracle, I don’t know where to even take this. We may be walking away from this one with a cold case under our belts. If the killer is indeed done, we’re in trouble.”

None of them liked that. They’d never failed at closing a case as a team. It would be a hard pill to swallow.

“Why would the killer be giving us a heads up?” Callen asked. “We know he marked the next body part, but was it for us or for him?”

“Yeah, Ethan, is this crazy, or a cry for help?”