The clock was running out and so would be his air.
He had to make it.
Ethan thought about his dream and what he said to his mother and grandfather.
“I’m not going to die. I deserve a second chance!”
They pulled off the highway onto the road that led to the blocked off rest stop. Getting out, they moved silently to the sign that blocked the roadway. With her flashlight, she pointed it at the ground to reveal the gouges in the pavement.
Someone had definitely been here a few times, moving the sign to get to the abandoned structure.
Turning, she addressed her team as she put the earpiece in her ear. “No matter what happens, I need you to find Ethan. I’ll be fine. This is what I do. Get him and call for help.”
Callen didn't want to let her go, but he knew that she could take care of herself. Right then, he needed to find their missing third and reunite the family.
“Be safe, Lyzee,” Chris said, holding Rex’s leash.
“The only way he can hurt me is through Ethan. That’s why you three, I mean four,” she said, pointing at Rex, “have to find him as fast as possible. Once you have him, then I’ll take care of business.”
They watched her walk away with her gun drawn, and her sole focus on the man who had tried to hurt her family.
“Is she going to be okay alone?” Cyra asked, pulling Ethan’s shirt from the bag for Rex.
They both laughed.
“Feel bad for Patrick Parrish. He’s the one about to live his final moments. The last person you want tracking you is Elizabeth,” Callen insisted. “Okay, let’s find my brother. I plan on busting his ass for the rest of his life that I’m not the only man in this family that had gotten himself abducted by the conductor of the crazy train.”
Cyra held the shirt for Rex, who sniffed it and even licked at it.
Callen dropped down and spoke to the dog, “If you find Ethan, I swear that you will get steak for the rest of your life. I’ll even hunt you up your own entire deer.”
Rex whined to signal that he was ready to do some work.
Touching the top of his head, Cyra gave the command. “Rex, seek!”
With that, Chris let the leash go, and they were off, chasing a dog in the dark as he searched for their boss. It was a good thing they had attached a light to his collar to track him. Apparently, he had the scent.
Rex was on a mission.
They hoped it worked, if not, this was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
The dog was Ethan’s only chance.
It didn't take Elizabeth long to find Patrick Parrish in the woods. He was talking to himself and acting all crazy. Not to mention, he had built the mother of all fires and was walking around it praying to the devil in some nonsensical language.
The man was certifiable.
Walking into the opening, she dropped her arm to her side to hide her weapon behind her hip. She wasn’t holstering it and taking any chances. Who knew what the sicko was capable of doing? Muting her com, she stood there, waiting for him to realize that she had arrived.
It didn't take long for him to see her off in the distance watching him.
“He said you’d come!”
Elizabeth needed to get him to talk. “Who? Ethan?”
“No! I buried him. He’s gone. My master said you’d show up if I did it exactly like he asked, and I did. You’re my reward!”
She was sickened by this words. Flicking on the com, she hoped one of them was listening. “You buried Ethan? Is he dead?”
He started laughing. “Not when I put him in the ground, but that was over an hour ago. He should be just about out of air.”
Callen’s voice came over the earpiece. “We’re searching. Just take care of that piece of shit for me. I’ll get Ethan.”
She muted again and focused on her part of the situation. “Where did you bury him?”
“I’m not telling. Then you’ll leave.”
Again, she asked. “Tell me where you buried Ethan and I’ll give you a really big surprise. One you’ll never forget.”
He thought about it. “I want you on my altar. That is the only surprise I need.”
“Tell me where and I’ll be your surprise,” she offered, moving closer.
“No tricks?”
She shook her head. “I promise to be the best surprise of your life.”
He started stripping.
Elizabeth knew that time was running out. If he buried Ethan over an hour ago, he had very little air remaining. She also realized that the man was most definitely insane. How he functioned in his daily life was astounding. The man was having a serious departure with reality.
“It’s the most powerful time of the year, Elizabeth, and you’re the most beautiful offering. Hop up on my altar.”
She wasn’t going to give him that little joy. “Actually, you have probably already killed Ethan,” she said. Uttering that sentence made her want to vomit. “I’m going. There’s no point to me being here.”
He screamed in anger. “NO! NO! NO! I earned you.”
“Tell me and I stay. If you don’t, then I walk. Isn’t that the point? You took him to make me stay, and to stop him from telling me all your plans?”
“Yes! Now stay.”
“Spill it.”
She clicked on her com one more time.
“He’s behind the building, under some bramble. It’ll be too late. You can stay with me and join him in death. It will be like Artemis and Ares LaFay. I promise to put you both in the same bag.” His laughter filled the air.
“Did you get that location, Cal?” she asked.
“We got it.”
He looked around. “Who are you talking to?”
She started laughing. “Oh, you think I’d come here alone? I’m linked up with my team. See, you brought the devil as backup, and I brought the FBI. We’re about to do battle, Patrick. Good versus evil and right versus wrong. We all know how this story always ends. I’m not going to be your sacrifice on that altar. Not now and certainly not ever. You’re going to hell with your buddy Beelzebub, courtesy of the Blackhawks.”
He began screaming in rage. Picking the sharpened athame from the altar, he started towards her. It was raised above his head as he prepared to strike.
She didn't need a better opportunity. Since her life was in danger, she took the shot. It only took one, and it dropped him hard to the ground.
Moving to stand above him, she kicked away the blade. “I told you that I’d give you a surprise that you’d never forget. Now, you can go hang out with your master. This world isn’t big enough for devil worshipping assholes like you.”
He stared up at her as blood bubbled from his chest and mouth. “I killed him. You’re too late. He’s dead.”
She had to believe that in her heart she’d feel if he was gone. “Then I killed you for touching my husband. Rot in hell, you piece of shit,” she said, holstering her gun.
She could hear Rex barking and she knew that she needed to face the inevitable.
It was time to find the one half of her heart.
Dead or alive.
Ethan was almost there. He could feel the dirt giving way as his hands broke the surface. He reached up and his hands and arms were free from his prison. The brush of cool night air offered him reassurance.
Joy filled him as he realized that he couldn’t hold his breath any longer. This was it!
As quickly as his happiness came, it ended.
The box beneath his feet cracked, and he began sliding down, back to where he had just escaped.
The dirt sucked him in as he slid back into his grave.
The air was gone, as his lungs burned.
Darkness was winning, as his body was too weak to fight any more. He was losing this one. His mind went to his wife, his brother and their kids.
He mentally said goodbye, seeing his grandfather and mother had been right.
It was his time.
Now, he could go, knowi
ng that he had given it all he had.
As far as he was concerned, he’d kept his vow to his wife to give it all he had.
Ethan Blackhawk had fought his last fight.
Callen saw the bramble as Rex tore towards it and began to dig. Pulling it out of the way, he started helping, using his bare hands. As soon as his hand touched skin, his heart skipped. Grabbing hold of the hand, he pulled with all he had, dragging the limp body from the dirt.
The earth fought to hold him and almost refused to birth him free of its foul grasps, but Callen wanted him more. He needed to save his brother. He promised Elizabeth and he promised himself.
He wouldn’t fail.
Rex began barking like mad, trying to wake the man, as Callen dropped to the ground to hold the limp form of his brother in his arms, as he lie braced against his chest.
“Ethan!” he shouted, patting his dirt covered face. “Come on, we need you to stay here.”
Chris dropped to his knees and placed his fingers by his throat. “He’s alive but just barely.”
Moving him flat to the ground, Chris turned his head and scooped the dirt from his mouth. He was prepared to give him mouth to mouth, if need be, to get air into his body.
As he was just about place his mouth against his, Ethan took a gasp of air into his body.
Callen nearly wept as he once more dragged his brother up his body to hold him. “Christ, Ethan! You scared the shit out of us!”
The man was still slightly disoriented and his words were garbled with confusion.
“Shhhhh, it’s okay I have you, bro.”
Finally, oxygen returned to his brain, and he was able to string the words together. “Where’s Elizabeth?” he asked, needing to see her once more.
Glancing up, Callen saw her running through the field. As she approached, she hit her knees and slid to a stop.
“I’m here, Ethan. Oh God, I’m right here!” She couldn’t help but notice how badly he’d been hurt. “Call an ambulance,” she said, tears filling her eyes as she was faced with the torture that he had been forced to endure.
Ethan’s chest was a mess and his hair was haphazardly lopped off his head in handfuls. It alone made her want to throw up. There was dried blood on his face and matted into his scalp. Patrick Parrish had abused his body, and she was certain his mind too.
Cyra rushed over with some water from the Denali.
“Get him to drink,” Chris said. “He’s dehydrated and needs fluids until the ambulance can get here and put in an IV.”
Ethan stared up at her. “I love you both,” he said, so glad he was able to say those words to them.
Callen held him against his body, as Elizabeth gave him water. “We love you too, Ethan. We’ve got you now, darlin’. Callen and I will keep you safe and fix you up.”
Ethan nodded as he closed his eyes and allowed his brother to hold him up. “I’m so tired.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’ll be here when you wake up, Ethan Jackson Blackhawk. I promise,” she said, kissing him gently on his lips.
He barely nodded.
Callen dropped his cheek to his brother’s head, so grateful they made it. “I have you, Ethan. I won’t leave your side either.”
Ethan clenched his brother’s hand, as Elizabeth reassuringly stroked his knuckles.
Finally, he was safe.
Their circle was back together again and complete.
Blackhawk let the pain go as he slipped into the darkness, knowing that this time, the two people he loved would keep watch.
Elizabeth glanced over at Chris. “Please tell me he’s going to be okay. I need to know that he’s not going to die.”
It was hard not to shake as the adrenaline rush was bottoming out.
Chris opened his arms for his friend and just hugged her. “He’s going to be a mess but the hospital can fix him, Lyzee. You saved him.”
She shook her head, the tears finally winning. “We did. Thank you for helping me save him. I will never forget that you stood with me and helped me get him back.”
Cyra watched her boss break, and then watched Chris offer her comfort as they waited for the ambulance. She decided what the hell. The man she loved a great deal had claimed their bosses as his family, so now they were hers too.
Going to Elizabeth, she wrapped her arms around her and Chris, offering her support. “I called for backup. They should be here in a little while. I’m going to assume that he’s dead and we don’t need a second ambulance.”
Elizabeth nodded. “He came at me with a weapon. There was only one shot and I took him down.” She pulled her gun from her hip and handed it to Chris. “I have to turn this in since I took a life. You can make me re-qualify later,” she added, trying to laugh. Now, she needed the humor and no more pain.
The ME patted her cheek reassuringly. “Bad Ass Elizabeth Blackhawk will get it back shortly, I’m sure.”
She wiped her eyes and looked over at her resting husband and the other man who held him. “I need a vacation and as soon as this is all cleared up, we’re taking one.”
“Sign me up,” stated Callen as he cradled his brother. Part of him was afraid to let him go. Yeah, he wanted to be tough like Ethan, but he never wanted this trial by fire. Holy shit! “This was the worst damn vacation I’ve ever taken,” he muttered, finally getting her to laugh.
“Amen, Cal, amen!”
The wail of the sirens in the distance meant help was on its way.
Chris couldn’t say he blamed them. “We’ll stay and maintain the scene. You two head in with Ethan,” Chris offered. “I called Christina and the rest of the team is on its way here.”
“Thank you both,” Elizabeth said, wiping her eyes and moving back to Callen and Ethan’s side.
Now it was time to stop being the FBI, and simply revel in the opportunity to still be a wife.
It didn't take long for the ambulance to pull up and load Ethan in to transport him away. Both Elizabeth and Callen remained with him, not leaving his side for a second.
Chris watched them pull away, as police cars and tech vans began pulling up to taking its place. “I know you don’t understand or agree with her on a lot of things, Cyra, but thank you for what you’ve given her tonight.”
Cyra looked over at him. “You care and love them, Chris. If I’m going to marry you, then I’m going to trust your judgment and believe that they are the kind of people that the man I love believes in.”
He kissed her on the cheek and Rex barked.
“Did you just propose to me?” he asked, grinning.
She started laughing. “Uh, no. That’s your job. Now, let’s go check on the killer. Then I have to file all the paperwork. I think Elizabeth and Callen are going to be tied up for a while, so I finally get to be head of an FBI investigation. I went from probee to boss in less than one week. That has to be a governmental first!”
That made him laugh.
She continued, “If it went down exactly as she said, she’ll have her gun back by morning. I just need the ME to corroborate her side of the story and have the team file the report.”
“Then can we talk about the marriage thing?” he asked.
Cyra still laughed. “We can talk about it when you finally ask me.”
Chris was still smiling. The woman he loved was going to marry him. The wheels in his head began turning and planning. “I better start planning my proposal,” he answered, following her over to where Patrick Parrish lay. “Work and then bed?” he asked yawning.
Cyra was good with that. “Yes Doctor Leonard,” she said, grinning as she winked at him.
Chris knew the Blackhawks weren’t the only lucky ones there that night. “Wait until you see the size of the engagement ring I’m going to buy you,” he teased.
“Christopher!” she objected.
The man just laughed at her outrage. Tonight was a memory that he would never forget. They saved the life of a friend and in the process, he had found love, peace, and happiness.
Christopher Leonard was lucky indeed…
Tuesday morning early dawn
After they had brought Ethan in and cleaned him up, the extent of his injuries was more evident. The dirt caking his chest had been removed and revealed the vicious gashes to his chest and body. It looked as if he’d been tortured, and both Elizabeth and Callen were sick over it. Across his beautiful body was a crudely carved pentagram. There was going to be scaring that he would carry for the rest of his life. Whenever they looked at it, there would be a reminder of what they had lived through.
Physical scars would heal and, they both knew that rough moments were on the horizon. There were going to be lasting emotional effects from the day’s events.
The doctors gave Ethan an IV full of antibiotics to fight any type of infection, and placed him in a room for the night. The man had one hell of a concussion, was dehydrated, and beat up. His wounds were tended, and his body was at peace.
For now.
Both Elizabeth and Callen remained by his side. Immediately, they called Wyler to reassure him that Ethan was safe. Wisely, they left out most of the details to protect the older man’s heart. There’d be time enough to explain what Ethan had lived through as they nursed him back to physical and mental health.
Now, it was a matter of simply waiting for him to wake up. Neither was willing to sleep, knowing what he’d had to go through. The last thing they wanted was for him to wake without them right there to support him.
As soon as they’d received the team’s reports via email, they were sickened even more. Cyra described the crime scene, and the description of where he was held for his day of captivity. There were pictures included.
They both saw the tape and rope.
Then there was the blood on the bathroom floor, where Parrish had ruthlessly tortured him. They didn't need Ethan to tell them anything.
Callen and Elizabeth had seen it all themselves.
What they felt for him was overwhelming. The man had fought the odds and won. By sheer will, he had survived and used his training, and yet... there was this fear of what was to come.
Devil Hath Come (an FBI/Romance Thriller ~book 7) Page 56