Elizabeth Blackhawk did it.
Their little miracle was here.
Lying back, she felt the satisfaction of a job completed. Their twosome had just multiplied and they were a threesome. Her son was born. Looking over at her, husband she found inner peace.
Ethan watched his child coming into the world. Never was there anything as beautiful and wonderful. In an instant he became a father, a dad. It was the most miraculous thing he’d ever experienced, next to finding his wife and getting his family back.
“Do you want to cut the cord, Daddy?” asked the doctor, handing him the scissors.
He wanted to do everything from here on out. There wouldn’t be a second he’d miss.
This was his boy.
The squirming, screaming, messy baby the doctor cradled was his son. Blackhawk cut the cord, and then handed back the scissors. As the nurse took the baby away, he looked down at his wife. She watched him with unblinking eyes, and smiled up at him. “How’s our son?” she asked, exhaustedly.
“Baby,” he whispered and then kissed his wife. “You’re amazing and wait until you see him.”
“Black hair?” she inquired, grinning.
“Oh yeah, he has more hair than any baby I’ve ever seen!” He kissed her again. “I love you so much. I don’t even think those words cover how I feel about you.”
“I love you too.”
“Elizabeth Blackhawk, in case there was ever any doubt, you are completely badass,” he admitted, grinning wickedly.
The nurse came over carrying their son all wrapped up, and in a little blue hat. “He’s absolutely perfect,” she said. “Congratulations Mom and Dad.”
Elizabeth took her son in her arms, and the tears came. He was absolutely beautiful and all theirs. She kissed him on the tiny little nose, and sniffled. “I love you,” she whispered, sweetly to her little bundle of Blackhawk love. “I promise I will always love you.”
Baby Blackhawk stared up sightlessly, still trying to adjust to the world but recognizing the voice that soothed him for the few months.
Elizabeth needed to see one more thing. She handed the baby to her husband. “I want to see my two men in life.” She watched her husband tenderly take his son in his arms, and cradle him protectively against his body. Yeah, it had all been worth it. Just for this sight alone, she’d run right out and do it all over again.
“I love you,” he whispered to his child. “I promise no matter what you do in life, I will support you and be right here for you. I’m proud of you already, and now I’m going to make sure you have the best life in the world. Your tree house is built. It’s just waiting in the back yard for you. Your uncle and I finished it just in time for you.” Blackhawk looked up at his wife. “Make sure you only take the right woman there. It’ll be well worth it in the end.”
“Ethan!” Elizabeth objected and then laughed.
The nurse came over and smiled at them. “You have a whole family out there pacing. Why don’t you go tell them the good news Mr. Blackhawk, before they break in the door?”
Ethan Blackhawk handed his son back to his wife, and grinned. “Up for company?” he asked. If she didn’t want to see anyone, he’d kick them out of the hospital. Right then he’d do anything for the woman that just delivered him a miracle.
“I’m ready for them,” she smiled, cuddling her son. Yeah, she was probably a mess, but she didn’t care. The family needed to meet the next generation. “Bring in the Blackhawk tribe.”
Ethan walked down the hall to the lobby where his family waited for them. There was his eighty-nine year old grandfather in full Indian attire, garnering all the attention in the room. The stares from the other waiting families were entertaining. He smiled to himself that the man that raised him was able to see his son born. His father was sitting patiently, and holding a stuffed bear. Then there was his brother and Doctor Desdemona Adare. Since helping save his brother’s life, she’d become part of the inner circle. Even though they still had yet to set a date, there was hope of a wedding in the future.
Maybe.
Callen paced like he was the expecting father and Blackhawk started laughing. The look on his face was of worry and panic. There was no doubt he would have wanted to be in there with them as Elizabeth gave birth, had she allowed it.
Whitefox just knew his brother had arrived; he looked over at him in nervous anticipation and then rushed towards him “Is our Lyzee okay?” he asked, panic present in his voice. Even after finding a woman to call his own, Elizabeth Blackhawk would always be the center of his life. Your heart loved who it loved. Knowing she was his safety net through life, and the one that saved him from a killer, tied them together even more. There was no doubt what he felt for her, or the unbreakable bond they shared. Over the last four months, they’d only grown closer. She was his rock and had gotten him through the issues he’d been facing with Desdemona.
“She’s doing really well and so is my son,” he said, proudly. Just the word son lifted his heart, and made his soul feel overfilled with love and peace.
They started cheering and again had the stares of the other families.
“Want to see them?” he asked, noticing they had flowers and presents ready. He shook his head, at the bear that was dressed like a Native American. It wore a headdress and his wife was going to appreciate the humor.
“Yes!”
They followed him to his wife’s room, and opened the door. There sat the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen in his life. His wife had changed into her robe, and was sitting on the bed holding their chubby son.
Timothy Blackhawk was the first to approach her and the baby. “Oh, sweetheart! He looks just like Ethan did as a baby.” He opened his arms, and Elizabeth handed him her child. “You did well, Elizabeth. This little boy feels like a great warrior like his father and uncle.”
Elizabeth watched as the man kissed him on his forehead, and started speaking in a language only Wyler and he understood. He touched him over his heart, and Elizabeth was pretty sure he was offering him a blessing and protection.
“Welcome to the family, Little Blackhawk,” said the family patriarch, cradling the baby against his robes reverently.
“Lyzee, he’s absolutely beautiful,” said Desdemona. “What’s his name?”
Ethan sat beside his wife, and put his arm protectively around her. “We’d like to introduce you to Callen James Blackhawk,” he said proudly. “It’s CJ for short, to ease up on the name confusion.”
Callen was caught off guard and stared at his Elizabeth, falling in love all over again. Just when he thought he couldn’t love a person more, he did.
“We wanted to give Callen’s name the honor it deserves, finally as a Blackhawk,” Elizabeth offered.
Desdemona just stared at the three of them, and now a baby that had the name of the man she was engaged to marry. The wave of jealousy hit hard at what the three shared so intimately that she didn’t understand and never would.
Callen was touched beyond words. Not only had he a woman to enjoy life with, but his brother and Elizabeth gave him something incredibly precious.
A nephew that carried his name and a family that obviously loved him more than anything.
He went to his grandfather and opened his arms to yet another precious part of his life.
“I promise to guide you and lead you, CJ,” he said to his name sake. In their heritage the uncles passed on the knowledge and past of their ancestors. Yeah, family was an awesome thing and he was going to do it right. “I will love you like you’re my own. You now have part of my heart.”
He kissed little CJ on the forehead and handed him to Wyler. Whitefox went to Elizabeth and kissed her softly on the lips and stroked her cheek. “Thank you for marrying my brother and giving me a life I never thought I’d have,” he said softly, as he pulled her against his body. “I love you more than words.”
Desdemona cringed and felt her eyes well up. She brushed it off as being happiness for the birth of the new ba
by, but she knew the truth.
It had been a tough four months.
Elizabeth hugged Callen. Life was good, and now she could lean back and enjoy her family.
Wyler didn’t get to hold his sons when they were born. He was too irresponsible, but now he got to hold his grandson, and his heart was filled with peace and love. “Elizabeth, he is going to be a strong warrior, like his father and uncle. Perhaps an FBI agent like the men before him too.”
Blackhawk looked over at his father. “Dad.” He got his attention. “When Elizabeth goes back to work in twelve weeks, we’re going to need someone to help take care of the baby, especially if we travel. You wouldn’t be interested would you?” he asked, giving his father a chance to be part of his grandson’s life, and redemption for missing out on his sons’ lives.
Wyler wiped his eyes on his sleeve and nodded, unable to speak. There was no doubt he’d make the most of it. There were so many things he was going to show the child. “I can’t wait to take him hunting,” he finally got out.
“I’m shocked no one bought him a gun already,” snickered Elizabeth, wiping her own eyes. If anyone could make her cry, it was the men in her family.
Desdemona went to the door and reached outside for the bear. “We couldn’t find a gun small enough, but we did get him this.” She dropped the Native American dressed bear on her bed.
Elizabeth started laughing and looked around at her family with nothing but love for each one of them.
Timothy spoke up, wiping the tears from his brown eyes. “So, now that I have my first great grandchild, will you be having more for me Elizabeth?” he inquired, grinning. “Great grandchildren are a blessing to this old man. The more the merrier.”
The pain was already forgotten, and replaced with the love and happiness. Elizabeth grinned. “Absolutely. I have no doubt there will be more Blackhawks, but give me a few weeks off for now. Growing the Blackhawk men is exhausting!”
It was a damn good day to be a Blackhawk.
THREE MONTHS LATER…
Cordelia Adare dropped the wrapped book into the mail slot at the post office. When she came across it, in the attic, she knew something was off. Just reading it gave her chills and made her skin crawl. Something horrible had happened in their mother’s life, and she wasn’t buying the rumors that she ran away with some man anymore. Now with the evidence she found, she was convinced their mother was killed.
Going to her grand-mère had been a dead end. She basically told her that living in the past never had a good outcome, and to let it go. She didn’t understand how she could let go something that shaped her and her sisters’ lives. The only thing she could think to do was get the journal out of the bayou and to her sister in the FBI. Maybe she was just paranoid, but she felt like she was being watched all the time. As she scribbled the note to her sister, she hoped she’d read it and see what she saw.
Time would tell.
Walking back into the silent house, she locked the door behind her, making sure to slide the bolt into place. Now she’d call her sister, and tell her to expect a package in the mail. Hopefully she wouldn’t be too busy to help her find the demons that were chasing their family. Someone had to put an end to all of this, before more people had to die.
As she picked up her cell phone, she heard the creak, and her whole body went on alert. Walking towards the stairs leading to the upstairs, she looked around the room, and decided it’d been her imagination. The house was clearly empty. Now her imagination was running wild.
Cordelia started dialing her sister’s number, and heard it again. The creak was louder. Everything in her screamed run, and she moved to the door she’d just came in through, throwing the lock open, and then the hand came around her face with the sickly sweet smelling rag. She fought with everything she had in her body, scratching, clawing and kicking, and then the room shifted, swam to a gray color that closed in on her.
The voice in her head screamed ‘FIGHT’, but the voice in her ear told her it was too late. There were so many regrets and wishes that wouldn’t ever come to fruition as her life was being stolen from her. Cordelia Adare wished she’d done so many things completely different and now it was too late. Life was over and she wasn’t getting another chance.
Darkness came and stole her away too soon.
Cordelia sunk into the deep darkness, knowing like her mother that her time was now up too. By the time her sister got the book and figured out what was going on back home it would be too late.
Her life was over and the only one that could save Desdemona now was Desdemona and a huge miracle.
Dear Reader,
I know right now some of you have just finished reading about Callen and Desdemona, and are seriously questioning my sanity. The relationship feels rocky and has issues brewing that may have made this an uncomfortable read for someone loving a happy ending.
You wouldn’t be wrong if you read this book and thought ‘God Callen! Don’t do it!’ or ‘Run Desdemona!’. When siting down to write this book, I had a destiny planned for everyone involved. I know where it’s going, and where Callen is going to end up in the next book or two. In fact, as you read this letter, I’ve already written the two books that follow. Deep Dark Mire and Fire Burns Hot already have their path set and written. I can promise you that there is a happy ever after in the works, and one that is outside the box. (If you are not sexually adventurous and don’t like anything that’s outside the average comfort zone, you may wish to stop with this book!)
One of my biggest weaknesses in life is true love. I believe it exists and it’s out there for everyone. When I put Callen and Desdemona together it was for a reason. Sometimes you have to cross a bridge, and make a mistake in order to find the path to ultimate happiness. Lessons are learned in everything we do, and the same is true for both lovers in this chapter of their story.
When my best girlfriend sat down to read this book, she nearly wanted to kill me. Reading about the clumsy relationship between the two has a point. I’m asking you the reader to bear with me and trust that Callen will have a story that ends the way he truly deserves. Desdemona will have lessons to learn and her own path to take. When you build a relationship on lies and half-truths, it won’t last forever.
Most importantly, don’t judge the relationships I’m weaving simply by the following book. Like any good story, it unfolds over time. I can’t give resolution in 500 pages. I need to spread it out over a few books.
I know some of you are going to be mad at me for ‘destroying’ the romance between Elizabeth and Ethan, and that’s fine, but here is your warning. I’m not doing cookie cutter here, and if you are looking for that, you may wish to stop this series. If you want the average romance where the main female and main male are hopelessly in love and only love each other, please try my Croft & Croft series. For now, the FBI/Romance series is taking a different path.
It’s not meant to anger you.
Or piss you off. It’s meant to tell you a tale of fiction where I lead you to a different kind of love.
I believe in love and not judging anyone. Whether you love one person or two, you still deserve happiness.
I hope you stick with all the books in the series and give them a chance. I would like you to read deeper into the story than just what is on the surface.
Since this is my made up world, let me guide you through it my way. Perhaps, by the end of the journey you may see it the way that I do.
Elizabeth, Ethan and Callen have so much to learn as they change and morph along the way. There will be moments you will want to cheer, scream and be angry. That’s expected, as my job is to get you to think, feel and see.
Be patient.
Be kind.
Most of all, be open to a different adventure that you may find has given you something to think about along the way.
Fate leads us.
We just have to be open to making mistakes, fixing them, and finding the way to our happily ever after.
Much
love and adoration for you all.
Morgan.
Coming next:
Deep Dark Mire (book 4)
&
The Blood Retribution
&
Fire Burns Hot (book 5)
Other books by Morgan Kelley:
Stand Alone FBI
The Junction
Serial Sins
FBI Thriller Series
The Killing Times (book 1)
Sacred Burial Grounds (book 2)
True Love Lost (book 3)
Deep Dark Mire (book 4)
Fire Burns Hot (book 5)
Darkness of Truth (book 6)
The Croft & Croft Adventures Series
Celestia is Falling (book 1)
Vegas is Dying (book 2)
The ‘Blood’ Series
The Blood Betrayal
The Blood Redemption
The Blood Vengeance
The Blood Retribution
Please feel free to visit Morgan at her website www.morgankelley.com, or visit her blog at www.morgankelley.blogspot.com
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