by Michelle Kee
Ethan's head jerked up. "You think he could be a cop?"
Cain nodded. "It's a possibility. If he is, it would explain how he knew exactly where the cameras were at the office and would know the shift rotations at the hospital. The coroner put Jerry's death between 5:30 and 6:00 that morning. That's right before the changeover between overnight and morning shift."
Grant faced Ethan. "Should we mention that to Wilson?"
"No. We will need to tell Krista and Nick though. For now, let's keep that theory between us, the rest of Alpha team, Nick and Krista. If you're right Cain, he'll either make sure he's on the security detail or he'll find a way in." Ethan instructed.
"Will do. Well, Jimmy and I better get back. We will hand pick the five guys that will be with us. Tell Krista hi for us." Cain agreed.
Ethan nodded. Once he was alone with Grant he let out a curse. "I think Cain's on to something there. It kind of makes sense."
"Yeah which is bad. If he is a cop, how the hell are we going to keep this from Wilson?" Grant sighed.
"We'll have to Grant. I trust Wilson, I've known him since I was kid, he and my dad were partners before dad became deputy chief. That's when Ingram was partnered with Wilson."
"Then that eliminates Wilson right?"
"Yeah, plus you heard him. He's read Krista's stuff but it's not his normal style."
Grant furrowed his brow. "What about Ingram?"
Ethan shook his head. "No, remember he too said it wasn't his style. Plus, he’s married and so is Wilson. The profile reads that he’s single or at least not in a current relationship."
"Alright. I'll take this and go fill in Bravo and Charlie. Me and Lance will then head over to Wilkes’s office. You're meeting Wilson tomorrow right?" Grant said packing up his stuff.
"Yeah, at ten at his office. I'm gonna go see how Krista is doing with Gage and Tony."
"Right, she starts the fighting part of her training. You'll have to tell me how she does. Tomorrow me and Lance are taking her out to the range."
Ethan smirked, "Just don't challenge her to any shooting contests. She beat my ass and I still don't know what she wants for winning."
Grant laughed as he headed out of the room. Ethan put everything away, exited the room and made his way toward the gym. He was bouncing Cain's theory around in his head. 'What if he's right and our guy is a cop? This could turn into a clusterfuck real fast.'
Within minutes he was walking into the gym. His eyes widened as he saw the small crowd circling the ring. His men were cheering, but he couldn't decipher who they were cheering on. He pushed through and hopped onto the skirt next to Tony. Ethan quickly figured out who they were cheering on.
In the center of the ring his girl and his second in command were duking it out in a full brawl. Krista ducked one of Gage's left hooks and followed up with a left right combo of her own to his ribs. He winced inside as his boy staggered back. Krista was bouncing slightly for a second before rushing him. Gage had nowhere to go when her shoulder collided with his midsection. In a flash she had him flipped over her shoulder and pinned to the ring with both his arms pulled back behind him. Gage managed to get his feet shift and he managed to do a handless push-up. This gave him just enough leverage to roll his body and knocked Krista off of him. Both were quick to their feet and circling each other again.
“How’s she doing?” Ethan asked Tony as Krista dove at Gage.
“She’s good. She nearly beat me. It’s hard to say who will win here, both she and Gage are pretty level.” Tony answered, keeping his eyes on the ring.
"Fuck." Gage hissed, rolling onto his back after being tackled by Krista.
He jumped up and just as Krista dove for him again, he planted his footing and caught her. In a blink he had her pinned to the mat. Cursing, Krista ceded the fight. Gage let her go and stood. He offered her a hand and helped her stand. Around the ring, their spectators applauded both fighters. When Krista turned to walk to the ringside, she spotted Ethan. He was smiling and clapping as well. She couldn’t help but smile a little as well as she stopped right in front of him.
"You've gotten better." Ethan commented.
"What, you think I was going to forget everything you and my brothers taught me? Ha!" Krista shot back.
"I don't know what else we can really teach her, other than polishing up her styles." Tony said.
"I agree. She’s quite good and with a bit of polishing, she’ll be ready if she finds herself in a fight with this fucker. But I will say, my ribs are gonna hurt like a bitch tomorrow." Gage added. He then faced her, “I want to apologize to you about something.”
Krista lifted a brow. "What the hell for?"
"I underestimated you. I thought you would be helpless in a fighting situation. You proved me one hundred percent wrong. I'm sorry."
Krista smiled softly. "Gage, I know what people see when they look at me, especially men. They see the pretty, pampered princess. You're not the first man to make that mistake. I am girly, but I can also stand up for myself. My parents and brothers made sure of that."
Gage nodded. He then surprised her when he took her hand, lifted it and kissed the back of her hand. "You truly are a rare woman. Don't take too much shit from boss man."
Ethan flipped him off, slipping his arm around Krista. "She doesn't take my shit Gage. Now stop touching my fiancée."
Tony and Gage stared at the couple in shock. Tony found his voice first. "Whoa! Wow, congrats brother."
Krista felt her heart melt as Ethan's men shook his hand and gave him those one-armed man hugs. This was his family. Just as strong as the family he was born into. Over the weeks she had witness what the term "brothers in arms" truly meant. The men of Blackout's Alpha team were brothers in arms. No matter what, those five men would always have each other's back.
"So, when did this all happen?" Tony asked while the four climbed out of the ring.
"The night we got back. He took me to Lake Travis and just popped the question there at the lake's edge." Krista shrugged.
"Nice. Always knew you were a closet romantic." Tony teased.
"Fuck you." Ethan laughed punching Tony in the arm.
"I'm guessing you have told your families?" Gage questioned as they gathered their things and headed for the exit.
"That night we told my folks. Of course mom went nuts. I'm surprised you didn't hear her scream when we told her. After we told her she immediately called Debbie in Dallas. My Dad agrees that maybe me and Krista should just run off and elope, and Nick agrees with him." Ethan groaned good naturedly thinking about that night.
"Actually it was MY idea that we steal the jet and run to Vegas. I have a friend who eloped in this beautiful garden there. I also tossed in the whole being married by Elvis thing if he wanted that." Krista laughed elbowing Ethan.
The four had just stepped out the back doors of the gym building to head for the main building when the first shot rang out. Ethan grabbed Krista and dove behind the half wall that surround the small courtyard between the office building and the gym. He looked to his left as both Gage and Tony rolled over the wall, Tony was clutching his arm.
"Damn, I'm hit." Tony gritted.
"We're pinned." Gage growled as another shot echoed in the air hitting the building.
"Fuck." Ethan cried.
Krista started digging through her bag. A second later she pulled out her SIG P239 Scorpion and faced the open courtyard. Before Ethan could object, Krista rose up over the small wall protecting them and squeezed off a round to the upper left side of the main office building of Blackout. A cry was heard followed by the clattering of something hitting the sidewalk. Moments later they could hear someone running on the concrete rooftop. Gage and Ethan leapt over the wall and ran at full speed into the building. Krista moved to Tony just as men started pouring out of the gym.
"Someone call Lance now! Ethan and Gage ran after him, that way!" Krista barked as she pressed her towel to Tony's arm.
Morton knelt next to her. "One of
my guys is on it, the others are going after Ethan and Gage."
She nodded. "I think it's a through and through."
Lance chose that moment to burst from the office building with his med kit. "What have we got?"
"I think it's a through and through." Krista answered.
"It hurts like a bitch Hawk." Tony groaned.
Carefully Lance pealed the blood soaked towel from the wound. Tony bit back a cry as his teammate lifted his arm and turned it slightly. "You're right Krista, it's a through and through." Lance nodded, then faced Tony. "Think you can stand buddy? I need to get you inside and get this cleaned up before I start stitching."
"Yeah, I think so." Tony hissed.
Lance and Morton helped him to his feet. As they headed inside, Krista ran to the corner where she heard the clatter. There on the ground was a 17 HMR rifle. She pulled off the t shirt she had thrown on over her sports bra and carefully picked up the rifle. Holding it she followed Lance, Morton and Tony inside. As Lance and Morton took Tony toward the infirmary, Krista stopped when she saw Ethan, Gage, and the others walking back inside. Ethan was holstering his weapon when he spotted her holding the rifle.
The look on his face had Krista forcing her mouth to stay closed. He looked pissed. She swallowed harshly as he stalked toward her. She clutched the t-shirt that was holding the rifle. Before Ethan could speak, Gage beat him to it.
“Where did you find that?” Gage asked, pointing at the rifle.
“I…I found it in the courtyard. I went to look there while Lance and Morton got Tony to his feet. I had heard something fall after I fired.” She stuttered, but kept her eyes on Ethan.
“I’ll take that and call Harker and Fortner to come get it.” Gage said.
Nodding Krista handed it over. She suddenly felt nervous when Gage and the others started walked toward the back of the building, leaving only her and Ethan in the lobby. She licked her lips and opened and closed her mouth a few times, but nothing came out.
“My office. Now.” Ethan ordered.
His tone left no room for argument. She fell into step behind him, for once she was glad she was tall and had long legs. He was striding purposefully toward his office and had she been shorter she would have been running. Ethan held open his door for her and after she walked in, he all but slammed it closed behind him.
“What in the ever loving hell did you think you were doing Krista?” He demanded.
“Ethan I was only trying to help.” She argued.
“Help? Dammit woman you could have been shot! Did you even THINK about that when you pulled that stunt?”
Krista was getting pissed now. “Don’t you pull that shit with me Ethan. I took a chance and that chance saved our ass! Not to mention we now have the fucking gun he was using!”
Ethan crossed the carpeted floor and looked down at her. “You took a foolish chance. You got lucky with that shot. What if you had missed?”
Krista crossed her arms over her chest. “I knew it was a chance, but I was thinking two steps ahead. I saw you and Gage drawing your weapons after I pulled mine out. I was ready to duck down if I did miss, but I knew that would also give you two an opening to fire.”
Ethan’s chest broadened and lifted as he took a slow deep breath then released it. He started to counter her argument when there was a knock on the door. “What!”
The door opened and Lance stepped in. “I just finished stitching Tony up. Morton is taking him home now and I told him I want him taking it easy for the rest of the week.”
“Good.” Ethan stated, his voice clipped.
Lance looked between Ethan and Krista. He frowned as he felt the tension between the couple. “Is everything alright here?”
“Everything’s fine. I’m going to talk to Gage about that fucking rifle.” Ethan hissed then stormed out.
Lance walked over to Krista. “You okay?”
Krista heaved a sigh and walked over to the couch. “He’s pissed at me. Out in the courtyard, I pulled out my gun and took a shot at this guy. I must have hit him because he dropped the rifle and then Ethan and Gage took off after him.”
Lance now caught on. He sat beside her on the couch. “Listen, surely you can see where he’s coming from right?”
“Yes Lance I do, but at the same time he knows me well enough to know I rarely miss when I aim at something. On top of that, he and Gage were pulling out their guns as well so I knew if I missed, I would duck down behind the wall and let them have at it.” She closed her eyes as she rested her head on the back of the couch. “Right now he’s only seeing me as his fiancée and not the woman who can and does take care of herself. It pisses me off Lance.”
Lance reached over and laid his hand on her knee. “I don’t know what to tell you here, except that this is an issue only you and boss man can fix.”
“Yep. I wonder though how much he REALLY believes that I can take care of myself when it counts or does he see me as a woman who always needs a man to protect her.” She sighed quietly.
Chapter 20
Ethan slammed into the house ahead of Krista and went straight toward the kitchen. He was seeing red. Stalking to his fridge he yanked it open and grabbed a bottle of beer. The sound of the door slamming closed did nothing to calm the rage that was consuming him right then. Before he could think he let out an animalistic roar and flung the unopened bottle at the wall just as Krista walked into the kitchen.
"Ethan David Blackstone! What the hell are you doing?" Krista yelled as the bottle shattered a mere two feet from her.
"Don't." Ethan ground out at her as he turned away.
"Oh no you don't. You're not going to turn away from me." Krista demanded. “We have an issue to settle buddy.”
"Just stop Krista. Right now."
"Or what? You want to hit something? Huh? You go ahead, try to hit me and I'll lay your ass out on this tile floor." Ethan spun, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles were white and the tendons in his arms bulged. Krista however didn't bat an eyelash as she got right in his face. "You don't scare me Ethan. You never have and you never will. I want you to fucking talk to me. Now!"
Letting out another yell, he dug his fingers in his hair and started pacing. "I'm pissed! This is the second time this fucker has injured on of my men. First Grant and now Tony. Not to mention he shot at you again. I swore to your dad, to you and to myself to protect you and I've failed. Yet again. Not to mention that you put yourself in harm’s way by taking that stupid risk!"
Krista sighed and moved to him. She wrapped her arms around him, stopping him mid stride. "Ethan, you haven't failed me. No, look at me." She said when he wouldn’t look at her. She cupped his face. "Do you hear me? You. Have. Not. Failed. Plus, you need to get that if I can protect myself I will. You, Dad, my brothers, you all helped to ensure that I could handle myself."
Ethan couldn’t argue that. “Yeah I know that, but it doesn’t mean that I have to like it. I was scared as hell when you rose over that wall and raised your gun.”
She smiled softly. “I know you don’t like it baby. It’s in your nature to protect people. But it’s also in my nature to take care of myself when I can.”
Ethan stared into those blue eyes he loved. What he saw in those orbs floored him. He saw love, trust, loyalty and worry. His Krista was worried about him. The raging inferno in him began to dampen a little.
"How the hell are you so calm right now?"
Krista laughed. "Okay, now you're pissing me off again. You honestly think I would fall apart? If I didn't when he shot at me and Grant a few weeks ago what makes you think I was going to do so after today?"
Ethan let out a ragged breath and pulled her tightly against him. "I could have lost you today. It scared the ever loving hell out of me baby."
Krista laid her head over his heart. "The feeling's mutual."
"I'm sorry I got so mad. It's just, me and my guys already went through hell overseas and now this shit is happening. Yes, we're trained for it, but when we left the C
orps we didn't expect to have a damned sniper like fucker taking potshots at us."
"True. How's Tony?"
"I talked to him right before we left. He’s at his house bitching because I wouldn’t let him back at the office today. I know his stubborn ass won't stay home and actually rest so he's on the security planning for your released."
Krista moved out of his arms and walked to the fridge. She was back at his side a few seconds later with a fresh beer for him. "Did you and Gage find anything?"
Ethan and Krista moved into the living room. He pulled her onto his lap as he sat on the sofa. "We found where he was positioned. He had a clear shot of the doors from his roost. There was also blood. Looks like you hit him."