Consumed by Wrath: An FBI/Romance Thriller (An FBI/Romance Thriller ~ Book 8) (64 page)

“And if you finish that, you’ll be a dead man,” she warned. “You’re not treating any
of our daughters like they’re any different than the boys.”

“
But they are,” stated Callen. “Horny boys will tell naïve girls just about anything to get in their pants.”

She glanced over her shoulder at him. “These would be MY girls that we’re talking about. My daughters will know better, and I plan on teaching them how to kick the shit out of any boy
who comes within a hundred feet of them with rampant hormones or anything else that’s raging.”

Blackhawk laughed. “We are so screwed.”

“Yeah, you think?” she answered. “I hope you don’t change your mind about more kids, because I can’t put them back if you do,” she teased.

He stopped suddenly
, and she walked into his back. Turning, he stared into her face in the moonlight. “Why would I change my mind? Have you? Is this your way of telling me you don’t want more kids and only are having one to appease me?”

The air around them crackled with energy. Anger was swirling around them.

“I didn't mean,” she began, and then stopped. She didn't want to argue with him, and she was sorry that she brought anything up. For a while, she had forgotten that this angry Ethan still resided deep inside him. Here he was, and he was poised to strike.

“Children aren’t trouble, they’re a blessing. I don’t know what kind of person you think I am
!” he declared, his temper rising. “If I find out that you only got pregnant to make me happy, then maybe it is best that you don’t have this baby.”

Immediately, Elizabeth stepped backwards to give herself some space as her heart crushed down on itself.
This was the part of him that she dreaded. The anger was clearly visible across his face. It looked like it was back to walking on eggshells and thinking twice before speaking.

Instinctually, Callen’s arm came around her and
pulled her to his body. “She didn't mean it, okay, Ethan?” he said, yanking the night vision off his head, angrily. “I think you’re getting stirred up for no reason. Take a deep breath and a minute to calm down. You’re not thinking straight.”

It was too late
. Ethan was already trapped in the wrath. “I’m beginning to believe that the woman I love only got pregnant to fix me. I think I deserve to know if you really wanted this baby, Elizabeth, or if it was just some way to appease me. I can’t live like that!”

She stared up at him, still unable to answer.

“Tell me!” he snapped, the anger filling his voice.

In the dark night, it sounded ten times louder and cracked like thunder in the air.

Elizabeth actually jumped.

Callen had enough and stepped between them
as he placed Elizabeth behind him. “Stop it, okay? You’re scaring her, and I don’t blame her for not answering. You aren’t the only one suffering, Ethan. The last four months have been hard for us too. You used to be laid back, but now there’s this fury living inside you. Any time someone says something, which you interpret wrong, this rage comes out. Frankly, it’s very scary. We get it. You’re hurt and upset, but if you can really ask Elizabeth if she wants one of her children, that you two created, maybe you’re the one that shouldn’t be having it with her.”

Blackhawk tried to get past his brother to talk to her face to face
, but Callen stood his ground.

“It’s okay, Cal,” she said, holding his hand in hers. “You want the truth, Ethan?”

“Yes,” he said, staring at her.

“I wanted to wait a few more months, but almost losing you made me realize that we don’t alwa
ys have the time we think we do. I then decided that a couple months didn't mean anything in the grand scheme. I wanted to make sure that I could handle the pregnancy, but even if I lost it, giving you a baby was worth the risk. I want this child and always will.”

He moved towards her, and she stepped back.

His face registered his shock when she moved away from him.

“Callen’s right. I’m afraid. I’m so scared about everything anymore. I spent days crying in the bathroom at work, because at any second I
assumed that the anger was going to make you leave. I honestly believed that you were going to quit and walk away from our family so many times, that I’m walking on eggshells to not hurt you. I didn't mean anything by what I said. We used to be able to tease each other, but I see that’s hit or miss. I’d rather not risk this kind of reaction, so I’ll never do it again. It’s safer that way.”

Callen understood. He kept Elizabeth protectively in his arms. “We never know when this part of you is going to get mean.”

Ethan didn't realize that they saw him that way. He knew he was struggling, but he didn't think that he frightened them. It never occurred to him that he was terrorizing his family.

“
It is just one more thing that was stolen away from us. Patrick Parish took my life, shook it around, and locked me in that coffin, Ethan. I’m living the same fears over and over. Every damn day, I’m fighting to keep you here with us.”

He stared at her.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I get so mad,” he began.

“We get mad too, Ethan,” Callen said. “You’re not the only one that nearly died that day. If you went,
part of us would have died too. We’re trying to be understanding, but you have to meet us part of the way. At least give us the benefit of the doubt.”

“I didn't mean what I said to
you, Elizabeth. I’m sorry that I questioned your love for our child.” When he went to reach for her, again, she moved away from him this time he suspected out of her own anger.

Elizabeth didn't want to hurt him, but she was tired of being the one
who took the weight on her shoulders. “Let’s just get this done. I want to go home. I can see that this was a bad idea. I should have come alone and faced the cannibal. It’s a sad day when that’s a better option.”

It stung, but Blackhawk understood. He’d made this mess with his anger.

She moved past him, no longer wanting him to act as her shield. Elizabeth was that damn mad at him. Pulling her own flashlight and gun, she swept and scanned as she moved down the trail.

Callen followed,
walking past Ethan. Blood mattered, but Elizabeth was both of theirs to protect, and his brother wasn’t doing his job. At some point, the line had to be drawn in the sand, and here it was. Ethan wanted them to stop babying him, and he was getting what he asked for. You couldn’t have it both ways. If you wanted to face reality, then it was all the way or nothing.

No more eggshells.

Anger or pain, there were still things that weren’t going to fly in their family. This was one of them. Callen was laid back, but if Ethan believed that he was free to erupt at their pregnant wife, he was out of his mind.

As they continued up the path, there was a light glowing up ahead. They slowed down and moved quietly towards it. Suddenly, she heard it, and the need to be stealthy came to an end.

“I know where this path comes out,” she said, moving forward. It didn't take long for the memories to flood back to her. As they exited the tree line, they could all see it.

It was the fairgrounds
, and the Spring Fling was starting.

Callen placed his hand on her shoulder, and stared at the throngs of people moving around. Some were heading towards the food and other
s to the rides and games.

“I think the killer left a clue, but I’m not sure that he meant to do it,” she stated.

Blackhawk took it all in, but said nothing. He was still thinking about what his brother and Elizabeth had said to him.

For now, silence was golden.

At least until he could figure out a way to rectify the entire situation.

“Somewhere in these fifteen thousand residents of Salem is the one that likes to snack on people.
The rest are on his dinner menu.”

“Putting it that way sounds daunting,” Callen said.

“Yeah, tell me about it.”

Sadly,
she had a better chance of finding a mad man than reconstructing a broken one.

~ Chapter Eighteen ~

The ride home was completely and utterly uncomfortable for everyone. Once more, Ethan was silent, and it upset the other two people more than when he raged around like a lunatic.

It felt like the melancholy was returning, and this was why so many times, they simply let him explode and didn't say anything to defend themselves. That fear that he would backslide was always there in their minds.

Now, it appeared to be a reality.

As they pulled into the driveway, the familiar truck drew everyone’s attention.

“It’s Tony,” she said softly, as she prayed that no one would lose their tempers and explode. The night was already going downhill fast enough.

Getting out, she climbed up the stairs wearily. “Hey Tony, what can we do for you?” she inquired, keeping all emotion from her voice.

“I came to talk to you,” he said,
and then he stared at the men. “Alone.”

She laughed sardonically
. “You know, this is like déjà vu,” she said. “Only last time you were in trouble. Oh wait,” she began. “You’re still in trouble, so I guess not much has changed.”

“It’s about us,” he said, staring at her. “About our past.”

She didn't give two shits at this point. What she did want was something to eat, her pajamas, and to say goodnight to her kids. “They aren’t leaving.”

Neither man moved.

“Fine, why not? I’m all out of dignity anyway. I’m madly in love with you, and have been since the first day I saw you in high school. When you left to join the FBI, it took me years to get over you. And then you came back, four years ago, and it all came back.”

She stared at him. “Tony,” Elizabeth began.

“Please, let me just say it all, then you can see why my life is a mess. Then, maybe you can see it from my perspective.”

She let him continue, despite better judgment.

“When you came back to be sheriff, I wanted to be with you in the worst way, and it brought back all the memories of our past. I regret ever hurting you on prom night, but I think you finally deserve to know why I did what I did.”

Blackhawk didn't want to deal with this, but if he left, it would burn a hole in his gut
, not knowing what Tony had to say.  His options were few and far between.

“You think that I slept with that other girl because you wouldn’t put out, but that’s not the real reason. I slept with her because I was afraid. I bought you an engagement ring
, and I was going to ask you to be my wife. I went to your father, to ask him if I could have your hand in marriage, and he told me I was too young and that there were other women out there.”

Elizabeth stared at him incredulously.
This was the one thing that she never expected to hear.

“Charlie told me that I was a boy, and that the first pretty girl
who caught my eye would make me forget about you. He dared me to prove him wrong, so I did. I picked the easiest girl I could find, and the entire time, all I thought about was you. Being with you wasn’t just puppy love, but something I was lucky to find.”

“Then
, I found out what you did,” she said, finally getting it. Elizabeth always believed that her father had scared Tony off, she just didn't think it was like this. The man was set up to fail.

“I didn't even go through with the sex. Yeah, we got naked and rolled around, but when it came time to do it, I couldn’t. She wasn’t you and I knew then and there I was right and your dad was wrong.”

“But word travelled back to me,” she offered.

“Yeah, the other girl was pissed I couldn’t do it. She wanted to steal a man away from Elizabeth LaRue. I was the feather in her cap and nothing more.”

“So, the next day she made sure I knew.”

He swallowed and stared down at his hands.
“You wouldn’t let me explain. You had that one rule, that if any man ever cheated on you, you were gone. It was the only reason I got to date you. You were with Jacob Brome for years. When he let that other girl touch him, you fell into my lap. Then, I made the biggest mistake of my life. I was arrogant and stupid when I fell for it.”

Her heart ached for
Tony. Having to spill this had to be hard for him, especially since she knew the large men behind her had to be scowling at him.

“
I never got over you, but it became bearable. Then, you moved back and became my boss. I honestly believed that my life had changed. You know the old adage, let something go and if it comes back it’s meant to be.”