Slay Bells Ring (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 12) (28 page)

They found that funny, since she was only in her twenties.

“He was her ticket to a better life, and she knew it. Now, if she was alive and he was dead, I’d say look at her as your suspect. Since someone killed them both, I can’t help you. Feel free to talk to the dancers here, but they’re going to tell you the same thing I did. Ann was a bitch in heels.”

Despite knowing the outcome, both Brody and Johanna knew they needed to cover their bases.

“Did she have a locker here?” Johanna asked.

“Yeah, it’s in the back. I’ll open it for you if you’d like.”

Johanna pointed toward the dancers. “Can you do the interviews? Try not to enjoy it.”

Brody leaned in and whispered breathily in her ear. “They’re the job. Later, when I get you alone, that’s when the interrogation will begin.”

As his teeth nipped her earlobe, Johanna shivered.

“Okay,” she squeaked.

As Brody walked away, Rena Woods fanned herself. “He’s something.”

Johanna didn't even argue. “Yeah, he really is.”

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

While she wanted to get something to eat, neither man was having it. They made her head back to the reservation for a break.

Apparently, the hole she’d torn in her jacket was making them edgy. Then again, it could have been the blood. Either way, they were double teaming her, and she didn't have a choice.

She couldn’t take them both as they wanted to play nurse.

It looked like she was outmanned and outnumbered.

For now…

“What you did was reckless,” Callen stated, as he stared at her. His arms were crossed across his chest, and he wasn’t happy.

Elizabeth didn't bat an eyelash.

She’d been to this rodeo a few times before.

“What I did was my job, Callen,” she reiterated. “Listen, I get that you both have to play big strong men, but you can’t make me into something I’m not. She ran, I chased. It’s as simple as that. It’s like cop one-oh-one. I yell FBI, a suspect runs, and I have an obligation to shoot her or catch her. Ethan gets bitchy when I cap people in the ass. It’s all that pesky paperwork.”

“Oh, don’t turn this around and make it about me,” Blackhawk said. “I was more than willing to chase her down.”

“My hero,” she muttered as he held her arm prone so he could poke at it.

“Be nice or no lollipop.”

“I’m going to pop someone…”

Callen stared at her as Ethan cleaned out her wound. “I was talking more about how you jumped in front of a bus, while pregnant, to save her—not the apprehending a suspect part. I get that we’re obligated to chase people down. We’ve done that plenty of times. You’re not obligated to get hit by a bus. That’s insane.”

Perhaps it was, but it was her damn job.

“She was going to be smooshed by a bus. Do you hear yourself? You just asked me to let a civilian get hit. That’s a whole different kind of crazy.”

He glared at her.

“I took an oath. I’m pretty sure saving that wingnut falls under the protect and serve part of our jobs.”

He was going in circles on this one, and he knew it. “I give up. You try, Ethan. Maybe you can get some sense into her head. I’m getting a migraine.”

Yeah, he doubted that.

Elizabeth had a head of stone.

He lifted her chin. “Lyzee, can you promise not to jump in front of busses anymore while pregnant?”

She stared at him. “Can you both promise not to be over the edge and treat me like a child?”

“Yes.”

She snorted. “Yeah, okay. That’ll happen. I’ll believe that when I see it.”

The men knew it was an uphill battle. “How about we get something to eat, talk this over, and regroup?” Ethan asked before his and Callen’s heads exploded. “You need to feed yourself and the little Whitefox you’re growing.”

“Works for me. It looks like we found something that we can agree on.”

Finally.

When she stood and began pulling on a new shirt, she first went to Ethan and hugged him. “I’m sorry you were worried.”

He hugged her tight. “It comes with the job of loving a badass woman.”

She softly kissed him on the lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too, baby.”

When he set her free, she went to Callen.

“I’m sorry you think I’m risking myself. You were right, and I’ll try and behave. I apologize for terrifying you. I can only imagine how you felt.”

He stared at her.

What was this?

Normally, she’d just brush it off. Was this pregnancy making her calm?

“Uh, okay.”

She laughed. “You just yelled at me for being reckless, and now you’re staring at me like I’m crazy. Which is it?”

He wasn’t going to waste a single second with her. Instead, he pulled Elizabeth into the frame of his body and kissed her. His mouth closed over hers, and he didn't stop there. Callen let the fear ebb from him, so she could heal his frazzled nerves.

“Mmmmm,” she muttered pulling away. “I take it you forgive me.”

He grinned. “I do.”

“Well, that’s good. Who knows how long that’ll last?”

“I love you, Elizabeth,” he offered, brushing a stray hair from her cheek.

Her heart flipped. “I love you too, Callen.”

She held out her hand to Ethan, and when he took it, she pulled him toward them. Together, they cocooned her between their larger bodies.

For that precious moment, they reconnected. The mingling scents offered peace.

Then, from somewhere in the huddle, they heard a voice.

“Daddies, feed me.”

Callen laughed. “Let’s go. I don’t need her digging for snacks in the Denali seats.”

“There are snacks there?” she asked, teasing him.

“Elizabeth…”

She snorted.

It looked like someone had calmed the savage daddy beast.

Again.

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

Dance Studio

They had nothing.

Ann’s locker was empty, and all the dancers backed up Rena’s story. No one was sad she was dead, and that was kind of pathetic.

The woman had been miserable, and no one would mourn her death. It was a sad testament to her existence when no one gave a rat’s ass if she lived or died.

Who wanted to live like that?

As they regrouped in their vehicle, they knew they were screwed. Their interview netted nothing—which meant they didn't have anything to bring back to Elizabeth, and that was going to piss her off.

“I saw a pizza place. Want to get lunch and talk this over? Maybe we can work while we eat.”

“Worried about the boss?” Brody asked, grinning mischievously. He didn't have that same fear of Elizabeth Blackhawk anymore. Brody knew the real her. Oh, she was dangerous, but she was also very kind beneath it all.

“Yes.”

“Don’t be. She’s easygoing.”

Johanna stared over at him. “Are you out of your mind? You know better than that. She may look calm, sound nice, and be smiling at you, but that’s Elizabeth freaking Blackhawk. She can turn on a dime. Parades of elephants run when she growls.”

Brody grinned. He was well aware, but he didn't think she would turn on them. In fact, he’d bet on it. He’d grown up around gambling, and he knew when to throw money down, and when to run for it.

No, Elizabeth Blackhawk liked them, and that made their lives that much easier. She’d shown her stripes.

Cupid had a soft heart.

“Let’s get some lunch. I want to ogle my fiancée for a little while—you know…since we’re off the clock.”

Johanna rolled her eyes but laughed.

“Sure thing, Brody. Maybe if we’re lucky, a suspect will fall out of the sky and into our laps. Then we won’t have jack shit to report.”

“You never know.”

“Brody.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “Cupcake, chill out. It’ll be fine.”

“Cupcake?” she asked, staring at him. “Have you lost your mind?”

He grinned. “Yeah, I have. I’m crazy over you.”

She wished she could be as amused. Only, she couldn’t be. Johanna feared the boss, and what could happen.

She didn't want to lose Brody.

He was her all.

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

Bluebell Diner

As they pulled into the diner, they noticed a few things about the place. First, it was decorated up something fierce, and most importantly, it was empty. At first, Elizabeth was wary.

She didn't want to eat there. If no one was stopping in, that had to be a sign. The last thing she wanted was food poisoning. There was nothing like tossing your cookies with a violent bout of salmonella all while pregnant.

“Are you sure…?” she began.

Ethan patted her hand. “The team was raving about their food. They’ve been eating here since we arrived. Don’t worry. I won’t let you eat anywhere that’s going to get any of us sick.”

She didn't look impressed. “They play in the dead all day. I don’t know how reliable they are when it comes to picking gourmet cuisine. I’ve watched Merry eat pizza over a dead body. That’s a sign of insanity.”

Callen laughed. “It’ll be okay. We’ll protect you from the big, bad, food poisoning monster.”

She didn't have a choice. Elizabeth was hungry, and that meant being dizzy, getting a headache, or eating at the tin can diner.

It was a no brainer.

She followed them in.

Once inside, they were assaulted with Christmas music and the smell of fresh baked cookies. It was like someone went shit nuts on the decorations.

Now she got why the team was eating there.

It felt like the holiday had thrown up all over the place. The music, the smells, and the lights brightened the tiny little diner. From the fake snow sprayed on the window, to the chef behind the stainless wall wearing a Santa hat. It was like the inside of a snow globe in some other dimension.

Okay, she was getting in the mood.

As they stood there, waiting to be seated, a sprite bounced up wearing an elf’s costume.

“Happy holidays, folks. Can I get you a seat?”

“Yes, please,” stated Ethan, holding Elizabeth’s hand.

“Where are all the people?” Elizabeth asked, right before Callen slapped his hand over her mouth.

Apparently, he thought something snarky was coming out next.

Man.

They knew her pretty damn well.

“Oh, it’s after the lunch crowd. Had you come here about two hours ago, you’d be standing outside waiting for a seat.”

She mumbled something against Callen’s hand.

“Pardon?” the sprite asked.

“I said,” she began, after Callen set her free, “that’s good to know.”

“Here you go,” she offered, pointing at a booth not too far from the door.”

Ethan had other ideas. “Can we sit way in the back? We need to talk about work.”

She smiled and bounced toward the preferred table with nothing but a smile on her face and jingling bells as she walked.

“Would you like a drink? We have eggnog.”

“Is it homemade eggnog?” Elizabeth asked, as she slid into the booth beside Callen. She was thinking salmonella.

“It is! Simon just put a fresh batch in the blender. I was about to have some. I can get you three to enjoy.”

As she was considering it, Callen stepped in. “It has raw eggs, right?”

“Yes.”

“She’s pregnant, so no.”

“Oh, congrats!”

“We’ll just have coffee, and she’ll have milk,” Callen stated.

Elizabeth pinched him under the table.

“Well, I’ll get that for you right away. I’m Tehila Fields, and I’ll be your host on this gastronomic journey. I’ll give you a few minutes to decide on food.”