Slay Bells Ring (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 12) (33 page)

Once they pulled into the driveway, they were surprised.

Actually, he was.

It didn't look like a coke or heroine den. There were festive decorations on the outside, and it looked like the average home.

What the hell was his father doing there?

Growing up, he never recalled his parents decorating a house. They were always too busy running a con or grift.

“Brody?” Johanna asked, touching his arm. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I was just thinking. I’ll be right back,” he said, turning the engine off.

“Want me to go with you?” she asked.

A part of him didn't want to risk her, but then again, Brody needed her strength. If his dad was hurt, or doing something illegal, he was going to kill the man. Johanna might calm him down.

“Please.”

They got out, and quietly, they headed toward the door. Both agents had their jackets open, and their gun holsters unsnapped. If they were attacked, someone was getting shot.

Knocking, they could hear laughter and Christmas music from behind the door.

There were footsteps.

Then the door opened.

There stood Levi Seaton, and he didn't look like someone who was in trouble. He was wearing some crazy holiday sweater and having eggnog out of a pretty glass.

It was like a parallel dimension for Broderick. This had to be a first.

“Dad?”

The man grinned. “You got my message! I’m glad you came.”’

Levi tried to pull him inside, but he wasn’t having it. “What is going on? You said in your call that it was an emergency.”

He laughed. “Well, I had to get you here somehow. That was my last ditch attempt to get my boy home for the holidays.”

Brody stared at him in horror. “Please tell me there’s an emergency, Dad. You better have someone dead in the basement. If there isn’t, I’m screwed, and not in a good way. Our bosses are going to have my ass on a silver platter instead of a goose.”

The man looked perplexed. “It’s the holidays, son. They’ll be fine. I had to get you here. I just wanted to see you and introduce you to the woman I married.”

Brody looked pissed. His normally calm blue eyes raged with irritation, and he ran his free hand through his brown hair.

Johanna took his other hand in hers as they stood outside the house. She could tell he was going to blow. His ears were turning red, and it wasn’t from the cold.

“What the hell, Dad? You lied to get me here?”

“Well, you wouldn’t come.”

“Dad! I’m in the middle of a serial killer investigation. I work for the FBI. I don’t have a normal job. When you lie to jerk me around, it risks people’s lives and my livelihood. I had to ask my bosses to leave, and when I tell them it wasn’t a real emergency, they’re going to flip.”

He patted him on the shoulder. “They won’t. It’s Christmas. I remember your boss. She’s a sweetie.”

He wanted to shake the man.

In fact, if he could free his hand from Johanna’s, he was going to strangle him.

“Dad, serial killer trumps your new wife. I would have stopped in after I was back. This could have waited.”

“I don’t think it could. This was pretty important to me. I got married. That should mean something.”

Brody wanted to lose it. “Levi, you’ve been married a few times before. I’m sure this is just like the other three times. You find a woman, you fall into bed, and then you shack up for a couple of months until the money runs out. This is exactly the same thing you do all the time.”

He looked hurt.

“Making me think you were hurt was pretty shitty, even for you. This was one of the lamest stunts you’ve pulled, and you’re the king of jackassery.”

“I don’t see the problem. Come in, have some nog. You need to loosen up. Booze might help.”

Oh, that was the last thing he was going to do.

“Well, let me spell out how difficult you just made my life. We used tax payer’s money to take a jet back here and for no good reason. That’s going to piss off our boss and the taxpayers. When Elizabeth Blackhawk hears this, I’m a dead man.”

“I just wanted you to meet my new wife. I know it’s sudden, and we just met, but she was the one. I could see it the second our eyes met. I’m betting you’ll understand,” he added. “She’s beautiful like your Joey.”

He glanced at his fiancée. “I’m going to kill him. You better go get in the car, so there aren’t any witnesses.”

She squeezed his hand. “It’s okay, Brody. We’re already here. The damage is done. Just meet her and then we’ll go. I’ll explain to Elizabeth when we get in the air. I’ll talk her out of killing us.”

Brody let out a pent up breath.

“Dad, get her, and then we’re out of here. I am three days past pissed over this stunt. Didn't you ever hear the story about the little boy who cried wolf? Next time, I’m not coming unless someone mails me one of your appendages. Then I’m still not coming until we run DNA.”

Johanna would have laughed if she didn't know how screwed they really were. Everything Brody said was absolutely right.

The man grinned before calling to his new bride. “We don’t really have to make introductions. You know her.”

He didn't get where this was going.

“Dad? What the hell are you talking about?” Brody asked, glancing over at Joey. She too looked confused.

“Sweetheart, they’re here. You can show yourself.”

When the mystery woman came around the corner, they both understood how they knew her.

She was a very familiar face indeed. Johanna gasped, praying that this was some sick joke. This was the woman she never wanted to see again. Instead, there she was, standing there in a matching Christmas sweater.

Holy shit!

This had to be a bad dream.

Did Levi just say that he’d married her?

There was no way the universe would do this to her. Since the woman came back, she’d been harassing and stalking her, and now she’d married Brody’s father.

Double shit!

As if on cue, Levi made the introduction. “This is my new wife, Monica Seaton.”

Before Brody could say anything, it was Johanna who erupted. She exploded in rage, and not at Levi, but the woman standing beside him.

“How dare you?” she hissed. “I can’t believe how far you’d go to make my life hell! You destroyed my childhood by never being around, and now I can’t fucking get rid of you. I told you not to contact me or show up at my house, and here you go and marry his father. You didn't think how this would affect us, did you, Mother?”

She didn't wait for her to answer.

But the woman’s face said it all. She didn't expect this outburst, and neither did Levi.

Hell! Brody didn't either. His girl was generally the calm one who over thought every move first.

“I didn't do this to hurt you…” she began.

That made Johanna even more irate.

“When I had cancer, you didn't care to stick around. You showed up, told them to do the surgery, and were gone. I didn't have anyone to stay with me. I had to go back to my dorm and heal alone. Now, you come back into my life, years later, and you don’t only piss me off, but you screw it up for us. This is so like you.”

She opened her mouth.

“Don’t! I’m so angry at you. I really think the only reason you had me was to screw with my life. You must get some sick kick out of it. He’s mine. His father, until this crazy moment, was mine too. You had to come in and marry him. You don’t even know him, and I know for a fact he doesn’t know you. If he did, he’d run for his life. You’re a horrible, selfish person!”

Brody put his arm over her shoulders and glared at his father.

“Dad, this was really bad timing.”

Before his father could say a word, Johanna went off again—like fireworks on the Fourth of July.

“Oh, no, it really isn’t, Brody. This is my wackadoo mother at her finest. This is typically her style. She does everything impulsively, and then bails. Let’s save the trees, and then she quits. Oh, the poor freaking whales, and then she’s gone. I’ll have a kid, and then when she’s bored, she lets the child raise herself or better yet, the maid will do it! This is exactly her calling card, and I don’t want to see it! This is exactly why I told her to get the hell out of my life.”

When she tried to pull away, to escape, Monica went to speak. “Johanna, I didn't mean…”

“You didn’t mean what? To screw with my life? You already jacked it up when you didn't use birth control. You never wanted me, and now you’ve married into the family that I wanted. This was mine, Mother. You don’t get that because you’ve never had to work for something. Brody, and even Levi, were mine. I finally found someone to love me. I finally had a shot at being happy, and you screwed it up. You thought only about yourself. I can’t ever be happy! I never want to see you again, Monica,” she stated, using her name. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re dead to me.”

Johanna faced Levi. “I feel sorry for you. She’s going to get bored and leave like she always does. When she does, you’ll understand the curse she is on your life. I’m sorry you’re going to get hurt. I apologize for my mother and her selfish actions.” Then she took a deep breath and stared into Monica’s eyes. “I’m used to it. All my life I’ve been saying sorry to people for her.”

The woman looked like she’d been slapped.

Then Johanna stormed back toward the Denali.

Levi whistled. “She’s got some issues,” he said, wrapping his arm around his new wife.

That pissed Brody off.

“Yeah, her biggest issue is the same as mine. We both have parents that care only about themselves. You’re a dick, Levi.”

“I don’t see what the issue is,” stated Brody’s father. “So what? We got hitched. We’re adults.”

Brody just shook his head in exasperation. How could he not see what a mess he just made of all this?

“Really? You married her mom. You’re my father. You’ve just made Johanna and I step siblings.”

He took a minute to think about it.

“I still don’t…”

“I just asked her to marry me. Now I’m going to marry my damn sister. If she doesn’t call it off, that is.”

Levi opened his mouth. “Congratulations?”

Brody wanted to lose it.

He really did.

This was exactly why he didn't like talking to his father and dealing with the nonsense. It was enough to make him bat shit insane.

Levi didn't get it.

He never would.

“I’m going. Please don’t call me anymore. If something happens, I’ll read about it online. This stunt has cost you your son. I hope you and Johanna’s mother are happy together because you won’t be making us miserable anymore. We’re moving, and I’m changing my number. This was the last stunt you’re ever going to pull.”

As he walked away, his father called after him. “You don’t mean that, Brody!”

Oh, he was pretty damn certain he did.

Once inside the Denali, Johanna wouldn’t talk to him. She stared out the window, saying nothing. She had tears sliding down her cheeks, and she was furiously sniffling to hold the rest back.

“Joey, we can…”

She cut him off. “I need to think for a little while. Just let me think, Brody.”

He knew it wasn’t going to be good.

Not only had Johanna’s mother ruined her life, but it looked like the woman was about to do the same damn thing his too.

Unless he could stop it.

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

Friday Morning

It was the same as every other day.

The morning started with waking in bed, stretching like a large warm cat, and cuddling between two men.

It was the best place to be in Elizabeth’s opinion. There was no need for an electric blanket when you shared body heat with two sexy Natives.

It was heaven.

It was divine.

Elizabeth knew she was one lucky woman.

After they woke together, they divided off to get the normal routines handled. Callen showered while Ethan made them breakfast. One of the best things about being pregnant was that she didn't have to do much.

The men doted on her as she was carrying one more of their progeny. They knew the delivery would be hell, so they let her relax.

Maybe it was archaic to enjoy it, but Elizabeth didn't care. The men were entitled to enjoy the process too, and since she was getting her tubes tied the second she had this baby, it was most definitely the last.

That was her final word on the matter.

As she dressed, Callen and Ethan swapped duties again, and their morning progressed rather nicely. While they doted, she worried about the killer.