Slay Bells Ring (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 12) (7 page)

“I am, sir,” replied Agent Jade Miller. “My partner is out in the vehicle, making sure no one approaches. We’re their personal escort to DC.”

He was good with that.

“They’re your responsibility. I don’t want a call that says anything happened to my children,” he stated. “Am I crystal clear, Agent?”

“Yes, sir! We’re going to take good care of them. I promise.”

He hoped the woman would do just that.

“We’ll be ready to transport in ten.”

The agent simply nodded before backing out of the room.

“Are you ready, baby?” he asked, holding out his hand.

The second she put it in his, Ethan felt her resolve building. Elizabeth was going to be fine.

He could feel it in his gut. No one was destroying his family. Before, he would have been scared shitless.

He trusted his partner.

She wouldn’t let anything take her down. Elizabeth would fight tooth and nail to get back to this.

He would bet big money on it.

“Let’s grab our things. I want to get in the air. We have an asshole to find.”

Immediately, both CJ and EJ started laughing.

“Momma said asshole,” they chanted.

Ethan looked over at her. “This one’s on you. I’m not taking responsibility for corrupting minors.”

“Daddy corrupts minors,” they chanted, much to Ethan’s chagrin.

It was exactly what the doctor ordered. Elizabeth Blackhawk started laughing.

Yeah, they were definitely her children.

There was no doubt about that.

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

New York

US Marshal’s Office

His system started chiming.

Someone was doing research on Bonnie and Clyde. A while ago, he set it up to alert him. As he sat there, watching the data, he was curious as to who was digging into this case.

So, he started researching the searcher.

He saw the id, and ran it through the Federal system to find the owner.

“Director Ethan Blackhawk. Now that’s interesting,” he muttered to himself. This wasn’t the first time this man’s name had popped up in recent conversations. In fact, his brother had just mentioned him a few weeks ago.

That made him curious.

Why were the Feds looking up one of his ongoing cases? Once Bonnie and Clyde had become fugitives, they were jurisdiction of the Marshals.

He’d been chasing these two lunatics from California to New York, and back. Now someone out west was digging into their escapades.

It pissed him off.

Glancing over at his partner, he had an idea. “I need you to call FBI West.”

“For what?” Marshal Delaney Moore asked. “You know the Feds and Marshals don’t play well together. They hear Marshal, and they aren’t telling me anything without going through proper channels.”

“Bonnie and Clyde have to have reemerged. Someone has a lead. I can feel it. You have to work your magic.”

She stared at her partner. “I can do that, but what if they ask why we’re digging them, digging us?”

“Lie. Get what you can. This is our case. We have twenty four bodies, and I want this collar.”

She picked up her phone. “I happen to have a friend who works there. We might be able to keep this a secret.”

He was glad.

“Thanks, Delaney.”

She shrugged. “No problem, Dakota. I’ve got this.”

He leaned back in his chair to ponder the two fugitives he was chasing. He didn't know who they were, but there was the hope that one day, he’d find them.

Then he’d slam the cage door, and they’d never see the light of day again.

It was his greatest dream, and it wasn’t all about the collar. It was about justice. He wanted these two to suffer in the worst way.

Dakota Rakin listened to his partner talk. The entire time, he got that feeling that something big was coming his way.

He couldn’t wait.

By the time this was over, Bonnie and Clyde would be in a cage—where they belonged.

They’d get what they deserved.

In the end, they were going to be his.

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

In the Air

Twenty Minutes to Landing

Ethan Blackhawk was blocking it all out. He had this gut feeling that if the killer was mimicking a crime spree, like the original Bonnie and Clyde, they might be in the Federal database.

If that was the case, they were going in well-informed. There was no way he was taking his wife into this kind of situation without knowing everything he could about the two lunatics.

There was so much to lose.

Callen was on the ground, and this had the potential to destroy his family.

While he was a little nervous about the whole thing, Ethan was fully recovered from his abduction. It took months of therapy, but now he could fight this head on—for his family.

“What are you doing, Cowboy?” she asked, touching his arm.

Ethan had been silent the last forty minutes, and it was making her nervous.

“I’m researching the individuals who left Callen that note.”

“And?”

He hesitated.

“Just say it.”

“It’s not pretty.”

She glanced down at his tablet and began reading the notes. “So, the Marshals are tracking them. This is going to be interesting.”

He was well aware. He wouldn’t be shocked if they had a run in at some point. While both agencies were Federal, the FBI worked for the government, and the Marshals were the long arm of the law for the Department of Justice. They’d work joint cases, but it was always like two dogs on a meaty bone.

“Yeah, it seems that Bonnie and Clyde are two of their fugitives. These particular two didn't start with bank robberies, like their namesakes, but they’ve added them in for shits and giggles. What has me concerned is they have a very specific calling card.”

She watched him. “Go on.”

“They have a predilection for torture and dismembering their victims.”

Great.

This was exactly what she needed.

“Well, nothing says
‘Happy Holidays’
like a dismemberment case. You can’t always pick the crazies you get to hunt.”

He stared over at her. “Can you be more glib about this?” he asked, his temper rising.

She didn't say a word.

“These two are dangerous, Elizabeth. In their file, it states that they shoot at cops, they torture their victims, and have no problem with taking out bystanders. They’ve left two dozen victims in their wake, and each one gets worse and worse. We have two serial killers here, and we both know catching one is hard enough.”

“I have to be glib about this Ethan.”

“Why?”

Elizabeth stared him in the eyes. She was going to take Chris’s advice and not hold back. Ethan had every right to know what she was hiding.

“Because we’re pregnant, and I can’t let the fears bury me.”

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Well, holy shit…

Chapter Two

Ethan didn't know if she was kidding or dead serious. It took a second to register before he was able to string a sentence together. Yes, this baby wasn’t his, but they shared their kids, and this was one more child to their tribe.

“How far along are you?” he asked.

That wasn’t what she was expecting. Honestly, she was braced for a meltdown, but it never came.

Immediately, Elizabeth relaxed.

Ethan wasn’t freaking out, and that meant she could let a little of the stress go.

“I think about two months. Remember when we thought I was, but then I spotted and I wrote it off as not being pregnant?”

“Yeah. Callen was so disappointed. He looked like a depressed puppy for weeks.”

“Well, it looks like he knocked me up.”

Ethan turned her face toward him. “You don’t look happy. Why? Are you having second thoughts about another baby?”

Was she?

That made her sick to her stomach.

Elizabeth went with the truth. “I’m not upset that I’m pregnant, but I am freaked out about the timing. I’m worried about this case and how your brother is going to freak the hell out when he finds out.”

He got it.

She was bothered by what the reaction would be. Well, Ethan was grateful he didn't lose it. How he managed to keep calm, he didn't know.

Apparently, he was growing as a man and husband. At one time, Ethan didn't handle responses very well. He’d been a bachelor and only responsible for himself. He’d been abrupt and self-centered. Now he had to put his family—specifically his wife—first.

“He’s going to be so happy and then worried. You know how badly he wants another child. Once you tell him, he’s going to relax into it. He’s been so focused on getting you pregnant, that he’s scattered. This will help all of us.”

She thought about what he said. “Do you think?”

He grinned. “Yes, I know.”

Elizabeth relaxed. “Are you happy?”

He leaned in and kissed her. It was soft, gentle, and showed her how much he truly loved her. “Baby,” he said, when he pulled away, “I couldn’t be happier. We have another child coming into our lives. This is an amazing day. When did you find out?”

“This morning. I stopped and bought a pregnancy test when I felt a little woozy after my run. I’ve felt like this before with Charlie.”

Well, that explained where she’d gone. “I’m so damn happy for all of us. If we weren’t surrounded by nosy techs, I’d celebrate.”

She laughed. “You just want to ditch the condoms.”

“Hell yeah, I do. I’m free again. Did you hear that boys?” he said, trying to make her laugh as he stared down at his lap. “We are finished with being contained.”

She snorted. “You’re insane.”

“I’m madly in love with my wife. That’s the most important part.”

“I told Chris and Tony.”

“Oh.” That caught him off guard. It was odd that their big news was shared with the others first. “I hope they don’t blab.”

“I went to tell them about the case, and I started crying.”

“Ohhhhh.”

The hormones were already starting.

“Yeah, I’m weepy. It wasn’t pretty. Had I not been, no one would know. I had to explain, and Chris is testing my blood.”

“For? We know who the baby daddy is.”

She nuzzled his cheek. It was nice to have his arms around her. “I wanted to confirm how far along we are.”

“And?”

She pulled out her phone and handed it to him. He scrolled through the text messages until he found one from Christopher Leonard.

“Almost three months. So you were pregnant.”

“It appears so. Callen’s been jumping me for no reason the last few weeks. He did the job, right after we got back from the last case.”

Blackhawk grinned wickedly. “Baby, there’s always a reason to molest our woman. You’re hot in bed,” he teased.

“Well, when we get a chance, we have to celebrate. The three of us need to have a private moment together.”

Her fingers wandered down his chest toward his belt. Immediately, Ethan sucked in a breath, praying she’d find what she was looking for. He wanted nothing more than her hands all over his body.

He wasn’t a fool.

“When are you going to tell him?” he asked, changing her focus. There was no doubt in his mind that his wife would do something very naughty on the jet.

He couldn’t let that happen.

Elizabeth laughed. “I thought as soon as he wasn’t thinking about dead bodies. It’s hard to find an appropriate time when you’re being stalked by some crazed killers.”

“Well, we’re headed to a case, so that’s going to be hard.”

“I just don’t want him to freak out. You’re being so good about it. You didn't order me to Gabe’s.”

He laughed. “I thought it. I just know better than to say it out loud. A happy wife…”

She winked at him. “Cowboy, I do have a happy life. We all do. I can’t believe that we finally have another little one for our tribe.”

Ethan and Elizabeth rested their hands over her midsection. On the outside, he was smiling.

On the inside?

He was worried about what was to come, and if they could keep her safe.

Now, going forward, that was his main concern.

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

Cabin

South Dakota

To say that Callen was edgy would be an understatement. He’d gotten the text that they were landing, and he wanted to be ready for them. It had been ten days away from his partners in love and life, and he couldn’t wait until they were reunited.

His family meant everything to him, and he wasn’t willing to let anything happen to them.

Then again, Callen knew his woman could handle herself. She was focused, tough, and on her game. That was the only thing giving him the strength to get through this.

Elizabeth wouldn’t let anything happen to herself. The men would be fine, as long as she was on her game.

She was his rock.

As he heard the approaching wheels on the gravel, he peeked out the window. There were big black Denali’s heading his way.

The cavalry had arrived.

His family was here.

When the doors opened, he was out the cabin and heading their way. The crunch of snow under his boots was the only sound he heard.

“Angel,” he said, reaching his woman. Immediately, he pulled her into his arms to make sure she was really there. While he didn't want her anywhere near this, Callen knew they didn't have a choice.

It was this or risk their children.

To him, that wasn’t acceptable. The littlest Whitefox-Blackhawks were to be protected at all costs. That’s what a parent did.

Well, a good parent.

Elizabeth clung to him, burying her face in the collar of his shirt. He smelled like woods and home. For that brief moment, she used it to find calm.

“Oh, Callen James, I missed you so much.”

He didn't have words to express how much he missed the woman clinging to his body. The second they touched, so much stress ebbed away.

“Beautiful, I’ve been lost without you.”

And it was true.

Ethan appeared at their side.

Callen immediately pulled him into his arms, wrapping them together. “Ethan, I’ve missed you too.”

They took a second, uncaring that the team was watching them.

They needed this.

“Bro, I missed you, but we’ll celebrate our reunion later. I have to have the team get into those boxes. The snow is whipping around out here.”

Ethan had a job to do.

Callen set him free, but held onto Elizabeth. He was so glad they were there.

“Sure thing, Ethan.” With the sheer size of his body, Callen blocked the wind from Elizabeth as she walked between them.

As they approached the porch, Elizabeth saw the two boxes waiting there.

Yeah, her gut told her what was inside.

This wasn’t her first case like this. Immediately, she glanced over at Doctor Christopher Leonard. They’d worked a case like this early on in their career.

About ten years ago, they had a killer leaving skulls behind. He’d taunted the police with them, but he’d never been caught.

Elizabeth’s eyes met his.

“It’s like we’ve done this before,” he stated. “I hope this isn’t a repeat performance.”

She hoped not.

“Fingers crossed.”

Elizabeth had that sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. “Get ready to open them, Doc,” she said, as the wind whipped around them.

The techs tried valiantly to block the boxes and swirling snow the best they could.

When Chris slowly lifted the lid of the first gift, there was a hush over the group. No one spoke as he peered down into the box.

“Well, it’s about what you expected it would be,” he stated.

Ethan, Elizabeth, and Callen moved closer. As they stared down, someone was looking back up at them.

“It’s a head,” Callen stated.

They weren’t shocked.

It appeared they had a sicko on their hands.

“We need to get inside,” Ethan stated. “Team, do your thing. We’ll brief Callen on this to catch him up to speed.”

That surprised the man.

He wasn’t quite sure what there was to brief, but Callen Whitefox followed his partner’s inside. Once there, Elizabeth shrugged out of her heavy jacket. “Well, at least it’s warm in here.”

Callen didn't wait. He immediately pulled his woman into his arms and kissed her. If he didn't, he wasn’t going to make it. Ten days was too damn long.

As his mouth plundered, Ethan simply laughed.

“Someone was homesick.”

Callen laughed as he set her free. “Come here,” he said to his brother.

“No tongue, or I’m punching you,” Ethan teased, lightening the mood.

Callen hugged him. “God! I missed you two. Being here without you is like being in some forsaken wasteland. I don’t think I ever want to come back here.”

“Yeah, it’s cold.”

“I hate sleeping alone,” he admitted. “Now I see why Eskimos cuddle.” When he wiggled his eyebrows, Elizabeth grinned.

“We’ll cuddle later, since this is looking like our new home for the holiday.”

He touched her cheek. “It’ll be okay. Nothing says Christmas like me trying to jump the virgin in the manger.”

Blackhawk laughed. “Yeah, this ain’t a manger, and she’s not a…”

Elizabeth punched him in the side.

“Maybe we should talk about the case, before one of the asses is sleeping in the trees,” she warned.

Blackhawk grinned wickedly. “Yes, ma’am.” He didn't hesitate. Ethan jumped in, telling Callen all that he could about Bonnie and Clyde. “They appeared over two years ago. They left bodies in California and New York. The Marshals have been tracking them from coast to coast.”

“What do we know about them?”

“They maim, torture, and kill. They like taking their victims apart, thus the heads. Somewhere, we’ll find the rest of them.”

“Well, that’s sick.”

Elizabeth added, “We won’t find them. There’s about three feet of snow everywhere, and we’re on a reservation. If you want to play hide and seek with body parts, this is the time of the year to do it.”

She had a point.

“What else do we know about them?” Callen asked.

Ethan continued, “They’re some twisted spin on Robin Hood. They go after the well off, and they keep the spoils they find after the kill. The Marshals think that’s how they’ve survived on the run this long.”

Well, now he had questions.

“Why us?” Callen asked. “Better yet, why me specifically? On paper, you’re her husband. Shouldn’t this have been sent to you? Don’t get me wrong, I’d wear the bull’s-eye for my brother any day, but I’m confused as to why I was picked to be her partner in this.”

Yeah, so were they.

“We’ll have to figure that out,” Elizabeth stated. “Maybe it’s because they figured he was too hard a target to hit. Let’s face it—you and I are out in the open more. You travel, Cal, and I work in the field more. Ethan is generally locked away in the ivory tower we call FBI West. That place is a fortress.”

She had a point.

Ethan didn't like that his brother was targeted instead of him. He’d take his place in a heartbeat.