by Michelle Kee
Krista then threw her arms around him and hugged him tight. “Ethan, promise me one thing. You promise me that you will do what you have to do to end this. Okay? You do whatever you need to get through boot camp and then should you go fight, you do whatever you need to come home to us in one piece. Promise me.”
Ethan gripped her hands, “I promise Krista. I will do whatever I need to so I can come home in one piece.”
"You promise me that right now Ethan Blackstone." Krista’s voice, bringing him back to the present.
Ethan nodded. "I promise Krista. I will do what I have to, to protect you and to end this."
She laid her head against his heart and hugged him tighter. He rested his head on hers and just soaked her in. His whole world was currently holding on to him and he vowed that no matter what she would remain safe and unharmed.
She lifted her head. "Ethan, make love to me."
"Always." He smiled.
***
Ethan lay sated in bed holding Krista in his arms. He had made sweet love to her as she had asked and now she was sleeping like a babe in his embrace. His mind replayed the chase on the freeway and he bit back a growl. How had the guy even find them? He was just about to push the thought away when another popped in his head.
"Fuck me!"
"Huh? What? Ethan?" Krista stuttered, blinking awake.
Ethan was already out of bed, pulling on his jeans and heading for the door. He ran downstairs, through his kitchen and into the garage. Switching on the light, Ethan went to his work bench and opened a tool box. Finding what he needed, he knelt next to his bike.
"What the hell is it Ethan?" Krista demanded walking into the garage tying the belt of her robe.
"Tell me this, how was that asshole able to find us on a damned freeway?"
Krista frowned a moment. "Shit. You think he lo-jacked your bike?"
"Yeah." Ethan grunted. The device in his hand started beeping like crazy. "Son of a bitch."
"Do I need to call one of the guys?"
"Call Lance and Tony."
Half an hour later Lance and Tony stood in Ethan's kitchen as Lance studied the tracker Ethan had found. "Well, what is it?" Ethan demanded.
"It's a short range tracker. It has a radius of about ten miles or so." Lance replied.
"So that's why he didn't follow us sooner.” Krista spoke up.
“Looks like it.” Tony nodded.
Lance faced her. "Where did you two go today?"
"We ended up in Georgetown for most of the day. We had been on 35 about ten minutes when I noticed the sedan weaving in and out in my peripheral." Krista answered.
"He was waiting for you guys to get back in town." Tony frowned.
"Wait, does that mean he can come here?" Krista questioned worriedly, looking up at Ethan.
Ethan clutched his fist. "Maybe. I'm hoping we lost him fast enough for him to lose the trail. My garage is reinforced concrete, so hopefully that helped block the signal."
"It should. Your garage blocks most of our trackers." Lance said then faced Tony. "Tomorrow you and Gage get out here and check all of Ethan's traps around the property."
"Will do. Ethan, I have a few new toys that we could add. Just in case." Tony nodded.
"Do it." Ethan ordered. Tony pulled out his phone and called Gage. "Hawk, tomorrow you and Grant be extra careful."
Krista caught on. "You think he put more of these on the vehicles at Blackout or their personal ones?"
"I'm not ruling it out. I checked your bike too and it's clean. But it has been locked up in here since before we went to New York. My bike was at Blackout since that's what I took the day we left." Ethan explained.
"I'll sweep the rest of the vehicles tomorrow before Grant and I take you to the range." Lance said facing Krista. "Ethan says you have two other vehicles?"
"Yeah, they're still at mom and dad's. I was going to get them this week." Krista nodded.
"After our shooting tomorrow I'll check them and your folk’s vehicles." Lance offered.
"Thank you." Krista sighed.
Tony hung up his phone. "I filled in Gage. He'll meet me here first thing."
"Alright. Thanks guys. Go home. I got the feeling we're gonna be busy tomorrow." Ethan groaned.
Lance and Tony told them good night and Ethan lead Krista back upstairs. The couple climbed back into bed. "You alright Ethan?"
"I will be once we stop this fucker. He's toying with us and I hate it."
"We'll stop him. He thinks he's going to catch us off our game, but he doesn't know us very well does he?"
Ethan had to chuckle at that. "Nope, he sure as hell doesn't. Let's try to sleep babe. We both have a full day tomorrow."
Chapter 23
Krista watched as Lance set up the targets. She was excited, she could barely stay still. On the table in front of her were various firearms. Including a .338 McMallin TAC and a Remington 700 Long. Oh yes, she knew they were now famous thanks to Hollywood, but she had known about both rifles and got to shoot them long before a movie made them famous.
Next to her Grant chuckled. "You look like a kid in a candy store."
"Firearms are my candy Grant. My Dad is an avid hunter so I've been shooting since I could walk it seems. He bought me my first .22 Long when I was five. When I turned sixteen he bought me a Remington Sendero SF II. I love that weapon." Krista beamed.
Grant let out an appreciative whistle. "Very nice."
At that moment Lance rejoined them. "Alright, you want to start with pistols or rifles?"
"Let's go pistols. I'll save the rifles for some fun." Krista smiled.
"Okay then." Lance smirked. "I know you carry the P239. I brought a few of the pistols that we carry. If the worst happens and you lose your weapon and need to grab one of ours, I want to make sure you are comfortable with them."
Krista nodded as she studied the five different pistols. Grant spoke then. "The first is what Ethan carries. A Colt Delta Elite. It's a .41 caliber and fires smooth. The next is my personal favorite, the FNX .45. I love this little baby. The next two are both Ruger's, a Ruger SR40 and the Ruger American 45 auto. Last but not least is a S&W M&P9."
Krista lightly ran a hand over the Colt. She picked it up and tested the weight in her hand. It felt comfortable in her hand. Deciding this was the first one, she grabbed a clip and slipped it in. The three donned their ear protection as Krista stepped up to the line.
***
Ethan sat in Wilson's office at PD waiting. His dad's former partner had been called out and Ethan was shown into the senior Detective's office to wait. He was still fuming at finding that dammed tracker on his bike. At this moment Tony and Gage were checking out his house and property and his fiancée was at the range with Lance and Grant.
'What is this fucker waiting for? Is he really just waiting for Krista's book release? Will he make his move sooner?' Ethan wondered.
He had never been a patient guy, even though the Marines taught him to be a little better at it, he still hated waiting. He was a man of action and at the moment he and his guys were stuck sitting on their asses waiting for the guy's next move.
"Hello Ethan, sorry about the. One of my other cases." Wilson apologized as he walked in.
"It's alright." Ethan nodded, shaking the older man's hand. "How's Marcy these days?"
Wilson chuckled. "She's doing good. She's enjoying her AP English classes so far. I swear she has more patience than me. I could never be a teacher."
"I hear you there." Ethan agreed.
Wilson sat behind his desk. "So, our lab and the Fed’s labs are done with the rifle. The bullets from the UPS store and the ones from Blackout are a match. The rifle was used at both scenes. No prints were found, so I'm gathering the shooter wore gloves."
"I wasn't expecting to find prints. Krista did say the rounds from the UPS store sounded like a 17 HMR and she should know, Nick and Jax both had them." Ethan said.
"We did collect a few drops of blood on the roof. There was
enough that both the labs are testing it. However, that will take some time since both labs are backlogged right now. Hopefully, we'll know something before the release, if we're lucky. I also have the final list of my guys who will be at the book release. Myself and Ingram of course, along with fifteen other officers. Here are their names and other info." Wilson reported handing Ethan a thick manila envelope.
"Thanks Wilson." Ethan replied. He started to tell him about the tracker, but something made him hold back. "I'll get this to Tony and Gage so they can work out placement. One of them will forward that to you."
"Sounds good." Wilson suddenly smiled. "I got a call from your old man the other day."
Ethan groaned. "Dammit. I swear he's a bigger gossip than mom."
Wilson threw his head back and laughed. "Dale was so thrilled when you and Krista told him. Congratulations by the way."
"Thanks Wilson. I gave her up in favor of Uncle Sam for twelve years, now that I have her back, I won't give her up for anything."
"That's how it should be. Lord knows marriage is work son, but if you have the right woman it's so worth it." Wilson grinned.
"That's what Dad says." Ethan chuckled.
"Who the hell do you think told me that." Wilson smirked.
***
Ethan pulled into his drive just as Tony and Gage walked out. Climbing out of his truck he approached his guys. "Well, did you find anything here?"
"Nope. We're fixing to head over to the Jameson house now. The Counselor is meeting us there." Tony answered.
"I have Morton and Bravo team sweeping Blackout. Figured it would save us some time there." Gage added.
Ethan felt a little of the tension leave him. "Good. Wilson says the bullets from Blackout and the store are the same. They're also testing this guy's blood but it could take some time since both labs are backlogged."
"Figures that would be our luck." Gage grumbled.
"Yeah. Here's the final list from Wilson on the PD's team. I want you two to find places for them once you're done at Nick and Debbie's place." Ethan ordered.
"Will do boss." Tony nodded.
Ethan headed inside as his guys took off. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. He was relieved that his house came up clean. Just the thought of Krista's stalker finding his home and getting to her made him damn near crazy with rage. Taking another swallow of water, he turned and headed to his office to take a look at the reports he had received that morning from two of his other teams who were out on assignments. He needed to do something to quell the anger beginning to build inside him before he went to pick up Krista.
***
"Damn woman, you're dangerous." Grant laughed as Krista laid her target on the table. The center bullseye nothing but a hole in the paper.
"Yep, so don't piss me off Grant." Krista winked.
"Ethan said you were good but I didn't think he meant this good." Lance said in shock.
Krista merely shrugged as she went about clearing the M&P. Just about every bullet she fired found their mark in center mass on the target. She was glad for all those years her dad, brothers and her mom had spent teaching her the fine art of shooting.
"Do I get to shoot one of those now?" Krista asked eagerly pointing to the Remington and the McMallin.
"Alright. I'm assuming you're acquainted with rifles as well?" Lance replied.
"Yes. Got myself a Remington Sendero SF II, an AR15, a Winchester '73 and a 12 Gauge." She smiled.
"Then you should love these two babies. Both are used as sniper rifles for the military and law enforcement SWAT." Lance narrated as he held up the Remington.
"I've been wanting one of these for almost ten years now. I got to shoot one in college and fell in love with it." Krista sighed, reverently taking the weapon from Lance.
"She is a beaut. This is what Lance uses when he's on sniper roost. I use the McMallin myself." Grant chuckled.
Krista's smile broadened as she was handed a magazine for the Remington. She was sure she creamed herself when she saw it was the .300 Win Mag. Oh she was so going to have fun with this one. Grant went to post a new target about three hundred yards out. Krista looked over at Lance.
"Since this is yours, anything I need to know?"
Lance full out smiled then. "Only that she has a light trigger pull."
Krista nodded. "Okay. So do you want me in a prone position or using the table as a rest?"
"Let's use the table. I doubt you’ll find yourself in a prone position with a rifle." Lance answered.
Lance and Grant cleared the table. Krista set the rifle up and took her seat. Lance sat beside her with a spotter kit. They donned their ear protection and Krista looked down range through the scope. There was a slight wind from the east.
"Wind?"
"5 to 6 miles from the east." Lance reported.
Krista reached up and made the adjustments. She took a slow breath in then fired on the exhale.
"Down to the left."
She readjusted, took aim and fired again. Second shot was just to the left of the bullseye. Making adjustments once again she aimed and sent the third round down range. Bullseye. Grinning like a lunatic, Krista sat back in the chair.
"Not bad baby girl." Grant complemented.
"Now for yours." She stated her hands moving in a gimme, gimme motion.
Laughing Grant handed her his rifle. Grinning like a Cheshire cat, Krista took her position at the table once more. Lance once again took his place as her spotter. Closing her eyes, she slowed her breathing. When her eyes reopened, she focused on the target down range. One breath. Two Breaths. On the third she pulled the trigger.
"Perfect bullseye." Lance announced.
With a look of satisfaction Krista sat the rifle down and smiled at the men. Then movement to her right had her turning her head. There stood Ethan. Her smile broadened as she made her way toward him. When she got close enough, she let out a squeak when Ethan grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. His lips devouring hers.
Krista whimpered, her arms slipping around his neck as she eagerly returned the kiss. Wicked, delightfully wicked images flashed through her mind as the kiss wore on and her legs locking around his waist. She could feel the hard planes of his body pressed against hers. Her own body tingling with lust and love for this man.
"Jesus man, get a room!" Lance groaned.
Ethan slowly released her, setting her back on her feet and flipped the bird to his friend. "Just you wait you, ornery bastard. Your time is coming."
"No thank you." Lance grunted.
Krista grinned. "Oh yes, just you wait Lance Archer. You're going to meet a woman who is going to knock you flat on your moody, Marine ass. And I'll have a front row seat for it, laughing through the whole show."
Throwing his hands up, Lance turned away and set about packing up the weapons. Grant just chuckled and followed suit. Krista looked up at Ethan. He smiled and caressed her cheek. "Ready to go home?"
"If you are. I'm guessing Tony and Gage didn't find anything."
"Not a thing at the house. They were heading to your parent's place. Bravo team was doing the sweeps at Blackout. If they find anything they'll let us know."
Krista nodded. She followed Ethan to his truck. Before she could question why the truck instead of the bike, she caught sight of the dark thunderheads that were rolling in from the west. She hopped in as Ethan walked to the driver's side. They waved to Lance and Grant and pulled out of the dirt lot of Blackout's shooting range.
The atmosphere in the truck was practically crackling with sexual tension. Krista felt her whole body tingling just from his kiss at the range and the heated looks Ethan kept shooting her as he navigated the Austin streets. They pulled into his garage about fifteen minutes later and not a moment too soon as a bolt of lightning sliced through the sky followed by a rumble of thunder. They climbed out of the truck, walked to the front door as the garage door slid closed. She walked into the house and deactivated the alarm.
The moment it was off, Ethan grabbed her. He spun her and pinned her to the wall of the foyer and kissed her again. Krista moaned, her body singing in pleasure as his mouth ravaged hers. Ethan gripped her wrists and lifted her arms above her head, pinning them to the wall with one hand. His other hand slid beneath her butt and lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist.
"Ethan." She gasped.
"I want you Krista. Christ, I want you so bad right now." He groaned.