Slay Bells Ring (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 12)
Page 49
She glanced down at her watch. “Probably today. We’re heading out ourselves. We have the jet ready for Callen and the team. It looks like we’re going to make it home for Christmas after all.”
He shrugged. “It’s just a holiday.”
Elizabeth hopped off the bed and crossed to his. “When you find love, Dak, it’ll be so much more. Merry Christmas.”
She gave him a hug and whispered in his ear. When she pulled away, she was grinning.
“I’ll go take care of the paperwork to get you both sprung.” With that, she headed out.
When she was gone, Callen had to know. “What did she say to you?”
“That she’s leaving you for me.”
He growled and struggled to get out of bed. “I’m going to kill you. With one good arm, I should be able to get the job done.”
Dakota just laughed. “Chill out. She just gave me a gift. It’s the best one I’ve gotten in seven years.”
“What was it?”
He smiled, his lips sealed. “Just the gift of hope.”
Epilogue
Across Town
Christmas Eve
She couldn’t believe they were going to do it. Johanna was surprised that she had it in her. Everything in her life was about order and following the rules, and now she was going to break them by marrying her partner.
They had to be out of their minds.
One way or another, someone was going to catch them. She didn't doubt it. When it came down to it, they were going to get ‘Blackhawked’. All they could hope was they didn't lose their jobs.
If they did, she was blaming Brody. It was his sweet smile, blue eyes, and sexily tousled hair that lured her in. It made Johanna forget what she was thinking.
Yeah, this was all his fault.
Now, she was standing outside the church, waiting for him. While they wanted to do the justice of the peace, it was Christmas. The only people around were ministers, so they figured what the heck.
Brody was on his mission, and she was getting nervous.
When she saw the taxi pull up, her heart began pounding in his chest.
Here was her husband to be.
As he raced across the snowy walkway, he didn't stop from pulling her into his arms and planting one hell of a kiss on her lips.
“Oh, Joey, I love you so much,” he said, ignoring the chill in the air. He wasn’t wearing a coat since he’d opted to don a tux.
“I love you too, Brody. Are you sure about this?”
He’s never been more sure in all his life. This was his other half and soulmate.
“Yes, honey, I am. Are you?”
He paused, waiting for her to reply. Broderick was nervous. This woman had the power to make or break him.
“I’m sure too.”
He grinned. “You look beautiful.”
Johanna glanced down at the dress she was wearing. Fortunately for them, she’d been a bridesmaid in a black and white wedding. It’s the only reason she had a white dress.
“Thank you,” she said, as he pulled her beneath his arm. “No matter what happens from here on out, I promise to love you for the rest of my life.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I will too, Brody, even if we get separated.”
“I won’t let that happen. I promise.”
She knew it was a vow he couldn’t possibly keep, but she knew his heart. He’d fight to do it. Broderick was her champion.
“Shall we?” he asked, pointing at the church. “The minister is waiting.” He held out the paper in his hand. “All we need is his signature, and we’re man and wife.”
Her heart skipped. “Let’s do it. I want a husband for Christmas.”
In minutes, she’d get her wish.
“Then let’s make that Christmas wish come true.”
He led her down the sidewalk and to the large doors. Once inside, their union would begin. Broderick Seaton couldn’t help but worry.
When this got out, would they be separated?
Would the Blackhawks really have the heart to take her away?
He hoped not, but that was a chance he’d have to take.
Inside, he helped her out of her coat. “Oh, Joey, I’ll never forget this day.”
She smiled. “You shouldn’t. Technically, you’re marrying your sister.”
He laughed. “Really? In a church?”
She heard the music. “Walk me down the aisle, Brody. Let’s do this together.”
There were no more beautiful words to his ears.
“Absolutely. I’d have it no other way.”
Together, they entered.
They were about to be one.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Christmas Morning
Damascus
They were home.
As the plane landed, they knew their children had already been flown back from Quantico with armed escorts. It made their hearts skip to know that they were about to be a family once more.
While Callen should be in a hospital, he wouldn’t do it. There was no way he was missing his family or the holiday. They fought too hard to get this done. Now, they were going to be together.
Finally.
As they each helped Callen into the house, they found Wyler sitting there. He’d flown back before them to make sure everything was ready.
He’d insisted.
They deserved this one moment as a family.
When they entered the house, they all knew it would be their last holiday there. Soon, it would be going up for sale. The stone monstrosity was going to be someone else’s castle.
They had no choice.
Yet, for now, they’d celebrate the house that love built.
Inside, Wyler greeted them.
“I didn't know if you three were going to make it or not.”
Callen wouldn’t miss this for the world. “My kids won’t spend a holiday without me. I don’t care if there needs to be a hospital bed under the damn tree.”
They knew this was costing him. Across his forehead there were beads of perspiration. The jostling of the flight and ride had to be brutal on his healing body.
He was a trooper.
“Where are they?”
Wyler moved cushions on the couch so they could get him settled in. “I heard the boys moving around not too long ago,” he offered, hitting the lights on the Christmas tree. “They’ll be down soon.”
They couldn’t wait.
It didn't take long to hear the running upstairs. CJ, EJ, and Cat were racing around. When they heard whispers on the stairs, each waited for their kids to peek around the banister.
CJ was first, and he immediately saw her.
“MOMMA! I got what I wanted!”
He raced toward her, and she scooped him up in her arms. EJ was right behind with Cat as the tail. They took her to her knees and she didn't mind.
This was heaven.
Right there, she was at peace.
Screw the world. The baby birds gave her happiness.
“What about us? You’d think we were invisible,” Ethan teased. While he wanted hug time, he was so damn happy that his kids had a family.
They had a wonderful mother.
That’s all that mattered.
The boys raced toward them, but Cat stayed with her mother. Elizabeth picked her up, giving her lots of kisses. “Daddies missed you,” she whispered, before gently placing her on Callen’s lap.
“Oh, Daddy,” she said, touching his slinged arm. “You got boo-boo.”
“Kiss me and make it better,” he stated.
Cat crawled up his body and did just that. The pain was incredible, but he didn't care.
He’d never care.
This was all that mattered.
Ethan grabbed Charlie from his father. “I think there are presents under the tree. Santa said CJ gets blue, EJ gets green, Cat is red, and Charlie is silver.”
They tore at the tree like little Native hellions.
Eli
zabeth laughed as Wyler tried to record the mêlée. It was chaos.
The three of them laughed.
Callen patted his lap as Ethan put Charlie in her playpen. She was playing with ribbon.
Taking a seat, Elizabeth cuddled gently against him. Ethan moved behind them to drop a hand on each of their shoulders.
“Merry Christmas,” Ethan stated. “I love you both.”
Elizabeth’s eyes filled with tears as Callen placed his good hand on her belly.
“I love you both too,” Callen stated.
Elizabeth dropped a kiss to his cheek as Ethan placed one on the crown of his head.
“We did good,” he offered, not talking about their jobs, but their life.
They didn't disagree.
“This is all that matters,” Callen stated. “They are all that matters. I think I figured it out.”
They both looked over at him. “What?” they said together.
“This is what it’s all about. It’s about family.”
“Amen,” Elizabeth stated.
“Merry Christmas,” they said together.
And it was.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Two Weeks Later
Elizabeth sat packing their home.
It made her sad to leave there, since all of their children came home from the hospital to the nest. It bothered her that she was worrying about a crazy, but it had to be done.
The family had to get out.
There was no way she was willing to take a chance. It wasn’t going to be easy on any of them.
Callen was in physical therapy.
Ethan was holding down the fort.
She was pregnant.
All she could hope was that the new home they were building would be safer. It wasn’t easy to pick a plot of land, but when Chris Leonard mentioned that there was space near him and Cyra, it was a no brainer.
Maybe a new spot would be cathartic.
It would symbolize a fresh start.
A new beginning.
That was all she really wanted. Bonnie and Clyde had them freaked out, and she couldn’t risk her family. Familiarity only went so far.
Now it was about prevention.
As she sat there, Callen was trying to help out. His mobility was coming back, but it wasn’t easy. At first, it was a pity party.
Then, when they told him he couldn’t hold and feed his next child if he didn't get stronger, that kicked his ass into gear.
He was hitting it hard.
Callen wanted this last child to heal him, and the baby had in so many ways. His child had given him a reason to fight, and fight hard.
Sitting there, she could hear Ethan’s Mustang in the driveway.
“He’s home,” she said, standing.
Callen moved to her side, dropping his good arm around her waist. His brother had sent a text, stating that he had to see them ASAP.
It had to be big if he was leaving work early.
When he rushed in, flushed from something, they braced for it.
“What’s wrong?”
He handed her a sealed bag. Inside, there was a note addressed to her.
“Lottie isn’t done.”
‘Elizabeth,
Run while you can. I’ll see you again for another jolly holiday. It may not be this year, or next, but we’ll meet again. When we do, I won’t mess around. I’m taking what matters most to you.
Catch me if you can.
If you don’t, the blood will be on your hands.
Bonnie.’
“She’s insane,” Callen stated, tightening his grip on her. “If she tries to touch you, I’ll bleed her myself.”
She didn't doubt he’d do it.
From the looks on their faces, it was crystal clear.
“I’ll be okay,” she stated. “We’re moving, and we just need to do this quietly.”
Ethan leaned down to kiss her. “I love you.”
She smiled sweetly. “I love you too. Now, can you help Callen carry these boxes out to the garage? I can do it myself…”
“NO!” they blurted together.
It made her laugh.
When they grabbed the things she’d packed, Elizabeth waited until they left the room. Then she reread the letter.
“Screw you, Bonnie. I’m ready. If you want a piece of me, we’ll play the game. It’s on. I owe you for shooting my husband. You’re going to bleed for me.”
With that, she headed to the garage. All the while, her thoughts were spinning. It was time to take matters into her own hands.
There was no doubt in her mind that this was going to be one hell of a grudge match.
It was written in the stars.
It was going to be nothing less than epic.
It was going to be…
Killer versus killer.
Meanwhile…
She was on the news.
It was time for payback. For the last five years this was coming. She was going to take the Blackhawks to their knees.
All of them.
They’d earned it.
They’d ruined a life, and they didn't even care. All of them were going to pay. From the Blackhawks, to all those who protected them, there was going to be a reckoning.
Before it was out, someone would bleed. There was nothing left to lose.
They’d already stolen it all away. Now it was going to be about revenge.
One by one, they’d suffer.
They’d bleed.
They’d mourn.
With each kill, their lives would be picked apart, put under the microscope and destroyed.
All that had to be done to kick it off was find them.
The dopy, ignoramus reporter made it easy. Before that moment, there was no way to find their home. Now…it was cake. The media had led her right to them.
The plan was coming together. It was time.
Heading to the airport, the fun was about to begin. It would start in Georgetown and end in Damascus for the final end game.
When the smoke cleared, there would be only one person left standing, and it wouldn’t be a filthy, lying Blackhawk.
No.
They were going to pay.
Why?
Because your Past will Haunt, and Choices will Destroy.
That was their lesson to learn…
Happy holidays!
Thank you so much for reading Slay Bells Ring! I hope you enjoyed it! I have big news…
In February, there will be a massive FBI book. It’s over 800 pages and heading your way. I’ve had to break it into two books, simply for editing and sales reasons. I have quite a few paperback fans, and I couldn’t see charging them 28.00 for a book. I don’t do this for the money. I do it to tell the story, so there will be two releases in February.
Past will Haunt—it is taking us back almost fifteen years into Elizabeth and Ethan’s past. You’ll see her as a green agent, making mistakes, navigating life, and trying to find her place in the world.
It’s a little look into her past.
Then, we’re going to be heading back to the present with Choices will Destroy. We’ll see how Elizabeth, Gabe, and Chris Leonard’s choices will alter the future. They’ll be left to clean up a mess created fifteen years before with a mistake.
Now it’s haunting them.
So, I hope you enjoy the books! They’ll be released a day apart, so you won’t have to wait 4 months to see what happens!
Again, as always…
Much love, mayhem, and murder,
Morgan.
Coming Next:
Holiday Reinforcements
~Behind Closed Doors
The final Anthology
&
Oracle is Rising
Book One in the Phoenix Files
Other books by Morgan Kelley:
Standalone books
The Junction
Serial Sins
The Blood Betrayal
Romance/FBI Thriller Series<
br />
Elizabeth, Ethan, and Callen
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)
Devil Hath Come (book 7)
Consumed by Wrath (book 8)
Redemption is Here (book 9)
Dead Shall Speak (book 10)
Pledging to Die (book 11)
Sleigh Bells Ring (book 12)
Past will Haunt (book 13) Feb 2016
Choices will Destroy (book 14) Feb 2016
Blood will Run (book 15) Summer 2016
Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Series
Greyson and Emma Croft
Celestia is Falling (book 1)
Vegas is Dying (book 2)
Christmas is Killing (book 3)
Love is Bleeding (book 4)
Heaven is Weeping (book 5)
Hell is Burning (book 6) Fall 2015
Justice is Dead (book 7) Spring 2016
The Littlemoon Investigations Series
Julian and Tori Littlemoon
Blood Red Rage (book 1)
Lost & Broken (book 2)
Unthinkable Games (book 3)
Truth is Found (book 4) November 2015
Haven of Nightmares (book 5) Spring 2016
The Carter Chronicles Trilogy
Callista, Nathaniel, and Lucas
Sinner Repent (book 1)
Sinner Realized (book 2)
Sinner Reborn (book 3)
The Oracle Chronicles Series
Nathaniel Carter and Avalon Miller
Oracle Rising (book 1) March 2016