Sacred Burial Grounds (An FBI Romance Thriller (book 2)) (28 page)

Wyler turned his hand, taking Elizabeth’s in his
as he touched the ring on her finger. “That’s my wife’s wedding ring.”

Elizabeth nodded
. “The night Ethan proposed he gave it to me,” she confirmed.

“I’m glad he kept it
. I figured it had been lost all these years. She loved that ring when I gave it to her.”

“I bet she did. It’s the only ring
I wear, and I promise I’ll cherish it.” Elizabeth knew the history, but she couldn’t help feeling for the man. He’d lost everything, and the pain had to be excruciating. She tried to cheer him up. “I saw the totem at Timothy’s home. Ethan told me you made it, and it’s beautiful,” she said, trying to relax the man and change the subject. She hated to see anyone judged on their past. She remembered what it was like to be there and live it.

“Thank you, Elizabeth. I made i
t for my father a long time ago when the boys were both young, right after they found their spirit guides. Ethan is the black raven, Callen is the fox and my father is the bear, who watches over them.”

Elizabeth watched the man’s face, much like her husband there was no emotion there. She was sure that underneath he was being overwhelmed. “It’s beautiful,
and you do amazing work.” She continued to do his prints. “I see you like to hunt,” she said, noticing all the furs and animal skulls.

“Yes, I go out often. There’s nothing like fresh venison.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had it,” she said, finishing one hand and switching to the other.

Wyler could feel the kindness in this one woman, despite what she must have heard from his sons
. There was no hate and, she wasn’t treating him like he probably deserved. “Can you get Ethan to visit me? I’ll make you some venison,” he inquired, hopefully.

Whitefox tensed
at the request. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the man using Elizabeth to get to Ethan, and if his brother found out he was going to be angry. There was no gray area with Wyler Blackhawk. That line had been drawn years ago, and both brothers were firm believers in not crossing it for any reason. The man made his choice when he abandoned each one of them.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Blackhawk,
but I can’t do that. I can mention to him that you asked, but I’m not going to use my relationship with Ethan to get him to see you. What’s between you three has to be worked out between you. I won’t step in where it’s not my business, and anything that happened before I married your son isn’t my place to interfere. I hope you understand.”

Whitefox let out the breath he was holding, and he was profoundly grateful for her answer.

“I understand, Elizabeth.” His voice was filled with sadness.

Elizabeth looked around as she did the last print. “What do you use to hunt?” she asked out of sheer curiosity.

“My rifle or bow depending on the season and prey.”

Elizabeth closed up her kit and thanked the man, patting him gently on the shoulder.

“Wyler, thank you for your cooperation and not making this a miserable job,” Whitefox moved towards the door. He held it open for Elizabeth, and put his hand protectively on her back, his eyes meeting his father’s. It was a silent message that she was off limits, and both brothers meant it and would enforce it.

Wyler nodded and felt bereft as the woman left. He couldn’t help but think how lucky his son was to have her in his life. If he could turn back time, and go back to the days before he betrayed his wife he would. Once
, he had that kind of love too, and lost it because he didn’t think with his brain. All he could hope was his son was smarter than his old man. Over by the fireplace he took his spot, grabbing a log and his knife; he suddenly was inspired to carve something for the woman he just met. Maybe his father would let him add it to the totem in front of his house. Somehow it felt right.

Back in the truck
, Whitefox spoke. “Thank you for not telling him you’d help him get to Ethan.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I understand you both have tense relationships with him, and Ethan refuses to see him. I’m not getting involved and forcing him to see a man he doesn’t want to have a relationship with because, like I said, it isn’t my business.”

“Ready to head back in?” he asked, dropping his sunglasses into place and tucking his hair behind his ear.

“I’m ready. I want the techs to get the p
rints,” she answered. “You know you both are a lot alike,” she said finally. “I would even say that you're more alike than different. The more time I spend with you the more it becomes obvious.”

“Is that a good or bad thing?” he asked
, grinning.

Elizabeth recognized the grin that made her fall in love with her husband. “I married him
, didn’t I?” she said laughing.

Whitefox really
had it bad.

She was everything he wanted in his own choice of women, and she was also married to his brother.
Being inches from her was sheer hell. Never had he felt this way before about any one else. 

Terrific.

“We spent a lot of time together growing up, until he went to the foster homes,” he said, trying to refocus on his brother and not the woman sitting beside him.

Elizab
eth heard the pain in his voice. “So, you have a tattoo of a fox?” she asked, curiosity finally got to her. It probably wasn’t any of her business but she just wanted to see it.

“Yeah, across my stomach,” he lifted his shirt to show her
. “We got drunk and got them one night when we snuck off the reservation. That was the angriest we’ve ever seen granddad.”

Elizabeth
admired the tattoo and it was hard to not notice the well-defined abs too. The fox was brown and white, and it looked like it was ready to attack. “Definitely bad ass,” she said laughing.

“Ethan has more than I do. He wins the award for
tough. I only have five or six, but he liked the ink when we were young. Every other week, he was getting a tattoo. As soon as he got paid, off he’d go.”

“I only have one, and that’s it,” she added nonchalantly.

“Really? What did you have? Wait, let me guess. A flower or a butterfly like every other woman on the planet,” he snickered, teasing her.

“Nope, I have Ethan’s full name across my whole back.”

Whitefox snorted. “You know the first rule is to never get anyone’s name or initials on your body. Only crazy people go there and do that.”

Elizabeth laughed at that.
“Yeah, so I’ve been told, and that should tell you everything you need to know about me.”

Elizabeth Blackhawk was right, i
t spoke volumes.

Friday afternoon

Elizabeth was hungry and decided to take her time getting back to the office, grabbing some food for herself and Baby Blackhawk. Breakfast had been rushed, as she forced food in just to eat. Lunch was going to be a different story, and it was going to be enjoyable. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew her husband would be pacing and waiting for her to return, but she was going to take her one hour regardless. If Whitefox didn’t want to join her, she would have done it alone. For right now she wanted food and to stop for a few minutes.

When she suggested lunch, her brother-in-law smiled
and was more than willing to grab something to eat with her. They stopped not far from FBI West and got burgers. After eating hers and enjoying pleasant conversation with Whitefox, she was in a far better mood. Callen was easy going and made her laugh.

Despite his pissy behavior earlier, Elizabeth ordered her husband lunch. She knew he wouldn’t eat until she returned and that made her worry about him. He
’d skipped breakfast in anger and now lunch. Even though she was upset with him she still felt protective, needing to take care of him.

After leaving from lunch, Callen Whitefox dropped his sister-in-law at the office, watching her enter FBI West to assure her safe arrival. After a quick text to his brother
, to let him know she was now back, he pulled away.

Elizabeth was now his brother’s responsibility.

He needed to get back to his own office and work on some other things that needed his attention. There was payroll and reports he had to sign off on before the end of the day. Somewhere inside him, he felt regret at leaving the big building. As he glanced up in his rearview mirror, and replayed the afternoon’s events in his mind. Spending time with his sister-in-law was way too enjoyable.

Now his truck smelled like her perfume.

God, being in love was a total bitch.

As
Blackhawk met her in the lobby, he was pretty sure that his face revealed everything he was feeling. The tension was there and around his mouth, a clear indicator of how much stress was crushing him. Once he saw his wife his heart unclenched, and he felt more at ease. At least she was back and safe.

“Hello Ethan,” she said, walking past him to her own office. All she wanted was his apology, and then they could move on to work related issues. They needed to swing down to the lab and discuss the evidence they passed off to Christina today.

Blackhawk followed her and closed her door, locking it behind them. “Elizabeth,” he said softly, as he walked over to her and touched her cheek. He was unsure how to begin to apologize for how he behaved and made her feel. As he revisited the horrible things he said, he wouldn’t blame her for hating him.

“Yes, Ethan?”
She looked up into his face and she couldn’t let him hurt anymore. She placed her hand on his cheek and ran the pad of her thumb over his lower lip, knowing it gave him comfort.

“I’m so sorry for everything I said to you, please forgive me.”

“Come here,” she whispered, opening her arms as he buried his face in her hair. “I’m okay, Cowboy. I forgive you.”

“I said some pretty shitty things, Lyzee, and I can’t take them back. I’m sorry about every damn one of them. You were right about me being angry
, and it had nothing to do with you. Please, forgive me for making you my target. I’m scared shitless that you're going to get hurt, and it’s making me feel off balanced. Now that he knows where we live I’m even more terrified.”

Elizabeth just wrapped her arms around his waist and kept hugging him. “I didn’t kick your ass, Cowboy, because I know you're having a hard time with all of this. I get that the stress is crushing you and then add in being close to your family.”

“It is,” he answered, honestly and unafraid to share his weakness with his wife.

“You need a night off. How about we finish up here, grab some reports and head home together. We can make dinner and,” she stopped when he looked at her. “What?”

“My grandfather called me, and he wants us to stop there tonight for dinner.” He didn’t know what she’d say, but he’d tell his grandfather no if that’s what she wanted.

“Ethan relax
, that’s even better. A night without any work, and I don’t have to clean up after you cook dinner. Score one for me,” she said, smiling and winking.

Immediately he relaxed, grateful she was his wife. Not many women would tolerate the shit he just threw at her
, and then be more than happy to spend the night on the reservation with an old man. “Thank you, Lyzee.” Blackhawk kissed her slow and deep, just needing that contact to calm what was left of his nerves. Then he pulled away. “Why are your lips salty?” he asked, suspiciously.

Elizabeth laughed. “I have a baby to feed and grow
. I’m done skipping meals and playing hero. This may be the one time in my life I get to eat whatever the hell I want, whenever I want, and no one can stop me. French fries are included.”

“You ate without me?”
Ethan Blackhawk just stared, trying not to laugh. He was glad she was taking care of herself and their child. Blackhawk would sacrifice eating daily if she would just put herself first and take care of their baby. They mattered more to him than his own health.

“Yeah, it was a bacon cheeseburger. The salt is probably the
french fries,” she paused before continuing, “Okay, not probably. It was definitely the french fries. There was also a milkshake, but I couldn’t finish that and gave it to your brother. Callen polished that off for me.”

“And you're going to tease me too? Haven’t I suffered enough today?”
Blackhawk kissed her on the tip of the nose. “Cheating on me and having burgers with my brother? I remember when it was only me that got your half-finished milkshakes.” He kissed her again, and couldn’t help but laugh as he pulled away.

“Hey, you skipped breakfast and acted like a jerk. Callen and I had burgers, and you could have joined us if you weren’t being all tight assed about everything today.”

Blackhawk grinned and was oddly comforted that she had found solace in his brother. “I happen to completely agree with you, but stop sharing milkshakes with other men. That’s in the fine print of our marriage license right next to the sex clause.”

“Family doesn’t count
and you know it. That’s in the extra fine print.”