Chapter Two
A Car
Heading Into NOLA
Wednesday Morning
Same Time
The flight to the city was an incredibly quiet one, and Elizabeth completely understood why. Sometimes, coming back here was difficult, and not always for just her—for others too.
In fact, someone she loved was going to have to face down some demons.
BIG.
ONES.
What kind of demons?
Nothing less than the personal kind.
When Elizabeth was given the dossier from the CIA bureau chief, and Axelle wanted a situation handled in NOLA, she’d had to be tough.
How?
Well, when Ethan wanted to join her and the man beside her, she had to basically tell him that it wasn’t happening.
It caught Ethan off-guard that she was taking someone else, and not in the customary way that she liked to keep the men in her life on their toes either.
The man beside her needed to come back here to vanquish the demon that just wouldn’t stop poking the hive. It was a long time coming.
Oh, and Ethan wasn’t happy.
Honestly, she couldn’t blame him.
Her tag team partner in this was not Christopher Leonard, or Callen Whitefox, but instead, Gene Cantrell.
She was bringing Ethan’s fiancé into the bowels of a city that once pulled them apart at the seams. She was also taking him back to the scene of the crime.
What was the crime?
Well, that was where Gene and his then fiancé went to Hell in a handbasket.
They imploded spectacularly.
Back home, Ethan was twitchy because her husband was well aware that Gene would be coming face-to-face with Tommy, and she understood his worries.
Ethan wanted to be there to make sure there was no buyer’s remorse, as in Gene changed his mind and left him to go back to his other fiancé.
Someone had a history of being sucked into this city, and breaking up with Ethan.
Oh, it was only once, but that one time had done some huge damage on Ethan Blackhawk’s heart years ago.
Because of that, Elizabeth wasn’t a fool.
She was not letting Ethan anywhere near Thomas Bernard.
That just screamed dangerous.
The man was a loose cannon, and she had issues with him that just wouldn’t go away. In fact, it was so bad, and the man was so far up their asses in New Orleans , that she had no choice but to get mean.
As in she broke his arm last time when he got a little handsy with Ethan.
Again, that was another reason as to why she wasn’t letting her husband come to this city with Gene.
It was beyond sketchy, and she normally loved sketchy shit.
It was her middle name.
Now, the man beside her was about to have a flash to his not-so-distant past, and they needed to see if he would hold up, break down, or leave their circle.
The timing was shit and she knew it.
It had been a rough couple of weeks for her, and the men in her life—specifically Gene and Ethan.
They’d had to uncover old wounds and work through them. Only, that was never an easy thing to do.
But they made it.
Somehow.
First and foremost, they’d been called to Philadelphia when an old killer came back to finish up what he’d started all of those years ago.
David Neives, a maniac who liked to play hide-and-seek as a priest, and had sexually assaulted Ethan, had made a return to the scene of that horrific crime.
Having to face him, and the truth, down, had rattled Gene to his core, and unfortunately for him, the hidden secrets had come out.
Ones that were hard to swallow.
When the truth was free, it only made the family circle around Ethan more, protecting him.
Eventually, they won, but it hadn’t been easy.
If that wasn’t enough to tax the family, then, they began their move into the new house, and the planning of a wedding.
That was stressful to the max, but then, add in this trip back, and having to leave Ethan behind…
Oh, the Blackhawks weren’t Blackhawking well this month.
That was for sure.
Yeah, this was pushing their family to the limits, and that was always worrisome. Oh, she had faith in her family, and the love that bound them together, but sometimes, things were just a little too much.
Like the last month.
Deep down, Elizabeth knew this return to the city for Gene was going to be rough because he was silently sitting beside her.
Normally, he’d have a book, or he’d be chatty Cathy, but not now. He was staring out the jet window, and had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
That told her everything she needed to know.
This might just be the two, in the one-two punch, that kept the man down.
Gene was one of the toughest men she knew. He loved fiercely, he fought tirelessly, and he cared endlessly, but he was fraying at the seams.
Even she could see that.
Now, Gene was about to face down old demons, and she needed him to do it so that they could put this part of his past behind him and move on.
He wanted to marry Ethan, and there was clean-up on aisle ex-relationship first.
The lesser priority was so that Thomas Bernard would finally leave The Hunters alone.
The more important reason was to make sure that this man was really over his ex before he had a ceremony with Ethan.
He couldn’t be a runaway groom on the day of the wedding. She’d have to hunt him down, kick his ass, and get mean if he hurt Ethan.
And no one liked her mean.
NO.
ONE.
When the silence between them was giving her anxiety, she went there.
“Want to talk about it?” she finally asked, broaching the subject once and for all.
It was the best time to do this.
They had privacy.
In the back of the jet, Ivan, Raphael, and Gunny were having something to eat as they stayed back to give her space to deal with this.
Turning his head, Gene stared at her.
“I don’t know where to even start when it comes to talking about it,” he admitted. “All I know is the closer we get to this city, the more nervous I get. I feel twitchy as fuck.”
Oh, she wasn’t shocked there.
To help soothe him, Elizabeth took his hand in hers, and held it.
She loved Gene, and they had become close in the last few months. The man was sweet, kind, and part of her family.
Only, she was in a precarious position here.
New Orleans was a pet project—and by that, she meant a bastion of chaos that The President of the United States wanted stabilized.
It was his pet project—and her mess to clean up.
That was her job.
BUT…
Gene was her family now, and she was a little afraid of the potential outcome too. She knew how much this man brought Ethan out of his shell, and the hell they’d been through.
There was no doubt that Gene was in love with Ethan, and vice versa, but she didn’t like unknown factors.
LIKE.
THIS.
CITY.
Gene had run from Ethan all of those years ago when Ethan had been so sure nothing could break them, and that they’d been a couple until death did they part.
That wasn’t the outcome.
Out of the blue, Gene said he wanted to leave the FBI, and he wanted Ethan to leave it too.
Her husband couldn’t do that, and Gene just walked away, like a ghost in the mist.
Ethan had been left behind to pack up all of his books and put them in storage. Get rid of his lover’s things, and then revert back to the broken man he’d been when he’d left home at eighteen.
Now, he was expecting another sucker punch to the soul. He was genuinely happy and at peace.
They had a daughter together.
Now, Ethan’s life was on hold.
Honestly, Elizabeth was worried about his well-being. After the David Neives thing…
Now this?
Jesus.
Ethan was being bombarded with the past, and struggling to hold up.
All four of them were worried.
With this mess, her allegiances in this case…they were divided. She couldn’t be the one to fix this.
It had to be Gene’s decision.
And his alone.
If Gene went back, and decided that he wanted to stay here with Thomas Bernard, well, then, she had to let him.
She loved him enough to do that, but she also had to protect Ethan’s heart.
That was what was on the line, and this whole thing was incredibly shitty all around.
Now, it was time to play marriage counselor.
“What are you nervous about?” she asked.
He didn’t hold back.
“Seeing him.”
Oh, fuckity.
Yeah, Elizabeth didn’t like the sound of that.
Not.
At.
All.
With her, she liked to punch her ex’s in the face after they hurt her.
That Gene wasn’t going there first…
Ruh-roh.
The bottom line was Ethan was stupid in love with Gene, and always had been. When he left last time, that put Ethan on her path. Then, so many years later, she put Ethan back on Gene’s.
Fate had a plan, and now, she had to worry about mitigating the outcome.
What was the potential outcome?
Ethan’s.
Broken.
Heart.
Elizabeth knew it was now or never.
“I need to be honest with you, Gene,” she admitted to him. “We’ve all been waiting for this moment before you and Ethan get hitched. We’ve all been fearing it.”
That seemed to have caught him off-guard.
He blinked.
“Why do you fear it?” he inquired.
That befuddled him.
To.
His.
Core.
“Because Ethan feels like you might change your mind about this, and honestly, we’re all in that same boat, thinking that too.”
From beside her, Gene went silent for a good minute before he finally spoke.
“You guys really believe that I’ll change my mind? About my family?” he asked.
She nodded.
“I think we’re all scared,” she admitted, being honest with him. “The outcome of this affects all of our lives.”
That was the truth.
Because Gene didn’t want her to worry, he reached over and put his hand on Elizabeth’s leg. They’d built a bond so deep and strong that he knew leaving was never an option. What he felt for Ethan was titanium, but what he felt for her was just as important to him.
Did he lust after her?
No.
Did he love her more than words would ever be able to convey?
Yes.
The bottom line for Gene was that Ethan was the love of his life, and he finally had him back.
There was no way he was risking that.
AGAIN.
As for the woman beside him, Elizabeth was the safe place where that love flourished. She protected them, and in exchange, he wanted to do the same for her and the family.
The bottom line was that he needed to prove to them that he deserved to be in the family, and by cutting ties here, permanently, he could do just that.
“Have you changed your mind about us?” she asked, knowing someone had to go there. “Since yesterday, you have been quiet, and that’s terrifying.”
Oh, he understood that.
Only, he was worried about something different. What if Ethan was done with all of this nonsense? After the David Neives insanity, and now this?
What if he was just over him?
Because he needed to trust in someone with all of his fears and terror, he went there.
“I’ve been thinking about this, and Tommy.”
She let him take his time.
This was likely the most important decision he’d ever make.
“I hate him,” he said, finally getting it out. “The second he threatened Ethan, he was dead to me. Before, I would have played nice—to keep the peace. I don’t care what he says about me, but I won’t let him hurt my family. When I see him, I’m afraid I’m going to wrap my hands around his throat and throttle him.”
His admission immediately calmed her nerves.
Someone was invested in the relationship, and that was all they wanted for their family.
Gene wasn’t done.
“If he hurts Ethan, I’ll take him out myself. I’ll need an alibi, a shovel, and some privately owned land somewhere. I’m not playing around. I didn’t protect Ethan when I chose to leave him, and I’ll never make that mistake again.”
Elizabeth believed him.
That was the reassurance she needed. Because he looked rattled too, she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
“Don’t worry, Gene. I’ll be your ride or die. I’ll get us some shovels—or better yet, I’ll get us some Spiders.”
Why wasn’t he surprised?
Because he loved her, he dropped his arm over her shoulders, and kissed her on the temple.
For him, now, there was no doubt what he needed to do.
Defend.
His.
Family.
“It’ll be okay,” she reassured.
He hoped she was right.
“I’m being quiet because I’m raging inside. I heard what Reaper told you. I heard the hell Tommy has been raising here, and how he’s looking for me. I know he blames Ethan, and it’s not his fault. It’s mine. I shouldn’t have started something with him. In fact, I never should have left Ethan’s side all of those years ago. It was my worst mistake and biggest regret.”
Well, they all had them.
She certainly did.
Because he needed it now, she soothed him with her hand on his thigh, connecting them.
Gene kept talking, getting it off his chest.
“I should have seen the warning signs so much earlier,” Gene admitted. “The comments about Ethan. The way he twisted everything up. I would have never cheated on him. I’m monogamous.”
She laughed.
“Are you?”
He snorted.
“You don’t count. You have tits. I’m dick monogamous. I’m a one dick kind of a guy.”
She leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. They had come a long way, and because of Ethan, lines were crossed.
Willingly.
Now, she had her ‘come to Jesus talk’ with him.
“Listen, don’t kill him,” she said. “He’s going to try and stir you up. We have to stay on focus here, and we’re going to be walking a thin line. If he pushes, don’t snap.”
That wasn’t going to be easy, but he trusted Elizabeth to know what needed to be done. This was her thing.
“I’ll be good. Just let me lean into you when I need it. I’ll never leave Ethan, but I’m so afraid I’m going to go insane if he says shit about the man I love, or my family.”
That she got.
Perfectly.
Because Gene didn’t want to think about this anymore, he changed the focus.
What he wanted right now was a distraction.
“Want to tell me what’s going on here with The Hunters? I’m sure it’s bad if you flew out this fast, and you alerted Reaper that you were coming. I know it won’t all be about Tommy.”
He was right.
It wasn’t all about Thomas Bernard and her family. It was about CIA bullshit, that was on US soil, so now her bullshit.
As for Reaper, he was going to have him find Thomas Bernard and ‘borrow’ him.
Temporarily.
They were going to have a little chat. Hopefully, seeing Gene would resolve it, once and for all.
As for the rest…
“Well, Axelle got intel in from a CIA source that she once worked with outside of the country. There is some shit going down, and word is that it’s migrated to New Orleans , and it’s potentially bad news for us.”
“Oh, boy. Not CIA shit.”
Yeah, tell her about it.
That was never good.
Because the CIA couldn’t work in-country, that meant it was dropped in the FBI’s lap. Because she was Gabe’s right-hand woman, and New Orleans was hers to protect, this mess was all about giving her a migraine.
“How bad is it?” Gene asked.
Honestly, that was a good question.
She shrugged.
“Right now, we aren’t sure. It could be minimum, or it could be maximum fallout. Details are sketchy, but if it’s popping up on the president’s radar, it’s on my plate. You know how it is.”
Yes, he did.
Everyone in DC knew that if Gabe sent her out, it was top-level security and a situation that needed to be handled with discretion.
Well, as much as it could be.
When the captain’s voice came over the jet’s speakers, they were instructed to buckle in for the descent into CHAOS .
Meaning New Orleans .
Because of the sensitivity to this little situation, they were landing at the private airfield, and then, they were being helicoptered into The Hunter’s lair.
The fewer people who saw her on the ground, the better her chances of keeping this from exploding in the media.
Plus, she didn’t want Thomas Bernard given the heads-up as to their little talk.
Because she had the weight of the world on her shoulders, Gene reassured her.
“We’ll handle it, Honey,” he said.
Oh, she knew it would be handled.
It was always just the mess afterward that made her twitchy. She didn’t have time to be moving here for the unforeseeable future.
Elizabeth had a division to run.
To reassure herself, she linked fingers with Gene, and squeezed his hand in hers.
“Take that advice yourself, Gene. We’ll handle your situation too.”
He hoped so.
Only, there was that lingering fear that had him by the balls.
What was it?
Well, maybe the fact that Tommy Bernard was going to try to stop him from being with Ethan at all costs, and what that outcome might mean.
When he looked over, as the sleek jet was touching down, he was curious.
“You won’t leave me here, will you?” he asked.
She blinked.
“Like leave you behind?” she asked.
He nodded.
That was exactly what he was worried about happening here. It was his second biggest fear besides throttling the shit out of Tommy.
He was to the point.
“Because I don’t want to stay here, Elizabeth. This is the city that caused me to lose Ethan. This is the city that cost me Preston. I need to be able to get out of here if it becomes too overwhelming.”
As for Gene hurting Ethan, they all knew he was helpless to that. They’d all been bamboozled by the Shaman, and his sneaky ways.
In one way or another.
So, she was to the point.
“I’d never leave you, unless you told me that you’ve changed your mind and wanted to stay. Even then, leaving you would be difficult, but I’d do that for you, Gene. I’d give you that freedom because I do love you.”
That touched his heart that she loved him that much.
He squeezed her hand.
“I don’t even want to be here to deal with this. I’d never stay here. Preston died here. I lost Ethan when I came here. I just want to go home and see my man and my child. I miss them both.”
Spoken like someone in the Blackhawk tribe.
Because he needed it, she reassured him.
“We’ll get you out of here as soon as we can. I won’t make you suffer here. I promise, Gene.”
God.
Getting the fuck out of here wouldn’t be soon enough for him.
That was for sure.
As the jet touched down, and rolled to a stop, they began grabbing their messenger bags and getting off the jet.
As he was following Elizabeth, Gene heard his phone chime, but they were on the move, so he ignored it. He knew who it would be.
The chime told him.
He’d set a specific one for the man he loved, in case he needed him.
As they got into the big, black helicopter, flown by another soldier, they were up in the air fast.
That’s when Gene pulled out his phone.
And saw that he’d been right.
It was from Ethan.
As he read it, he was worried about Ethan, and what he was feeling.
‘I feel off. Are you okay? My heart is racing, and I’m off balance. Gene, please come home to me. I can’t do this without you. Please don’t leave me again. I won’t survive it again. I barely survived the last time. I love you and need you.’
God.
His heart hurt.
The message was raw with pain, and all of that was because of him. His sweet, gentle lover was scared, and Gene hated that he’d put him in this position.
The last thing he wanted was Ethan scared by this whole thing. What he wanted was to be there to reassure him, and kiss him so he knew.
His heart belonged to him.
FOREVER.
Since he couldn’t do that, he’d do the next best thing. He’d reassure him.
So, he replied.
‘I’m good, my one and only. I’m coming home when this is over. I promise I’ll never leave you again. I just have to make sure you’re safe. I have to take care of this, EJ. He’s not going to threaten my man, my life, or my family. I’ll be safe, and I’ll take care of Elizabeth. I won’t let either of us get hurt. Just hold on for me. We’re getting married, and we’re going to get old together. We fought too hard for our relationship, and our lives to not win this. I’m only yours. Mind, body, and soul. I promise you. I love you.’
He hit send, and showed the woman beside him what was going on. He knew she’d be aware. After all, her phone had been blowing up the whole trip there. There was no doubt in his mind that Ethan was messaging her too.
After reading it, she kissed him on the cheek.
It was clear that Ethan was struggling. He’d texted her five times, and each one sounded more and more desperate. Honestly, she understood his fears.
He genuinely loved Gene and needed him to be whole. Gene was the man who fixed him first.
Not her.
Only, he was the one who broke him too.
“Call him,” she said. “He needs you. We have a few minutes until we get to Area Fifty-Two . You’re good in here. Security will mind their business,” she said. “Won’t they?” she asked.
As if on cue, they each pulled out earbuds and popped them into their ears. They had privacy in the back of that luxury helicopter.
At her suggestion, Gene did just that. There would never be a time he wouldn’t gladly call Ethan to hear his voice.
So, he made a video call.
The second that Ethan answered, he looked strung out, worked up, and a mess. It was crystal clear that his nerves were shot, and it was all because of him.
“Hey,” Gene said.
Ethan had tears in his eyes already, and his man was tough. That said it all.
He was scared.
“My love.”
Gene went into protection mode for his man. Since getting back from Philadelphia , and handling the David Neives mess, Ethan had been struggling.
Then, this…
It was causing havoc.
The last thing any of them needed was chaos added to their family.
“We’re good. I’m with Elizabeth, and we’re safe.”
Ethan was still edgy, and Gene saw it.
“Baby, I need you to breathe and calm down. Where is Chris?” he asked because the man was supposed to be on Ethan duty.
Callen was in California working on his movie, so Chris was wrangling the man.
“He’s on the phone in the next room, dealing with some morgue things. I just feel edgy. Like the energy is off. Please be careful. He’s not well in the head, and I’m scared that I’m going to lose you.”
Gene knew he needed to defuse this.
So, he smiled warmly at him, and fought for Ethan and his sanity.
“Someone loves me.”
Ethan stared into his eyes.
“You have no idea how much I love you,” he admitted. “If anything happens to you, how do I tell Willa one of her fathers is gone?”
Gene understood that.
When they’d been fighting David Neives, he’d felt the same thing.
“You have nothing to worry about. When you see our daughter, you give her kisses from me, and tell her that Daddy loves and misses her. I’ll bring her something home from my trip.”
Ethan nodded.
“Okay, Babe,” he stated.
Then, Ethan went there.
“Where is my wife?” he asked. “Is she safe?”
Oh, there was no shock he’d be worried about her too. Ethan loved them both, and he stressed over their safety whenever he couldn’t be there.
Because he needed to be reassured, Gene turned the phone.
She smiled at him.
“We’re good, EJ. I won’t let anything happen to your love muffin. We’re going to get The Hunters working, and then handle the ‘situation’ . Then, before you know it, we’ll put this behind us, and move on.”
That’s what he wanted.
Only, there was one more thing he wanted equally as much.
Ethan wanted Thomas Bernard’s head on a silver platter if he touched either one of them.
There was no doubt in his mind that he’d handle it himself if Tommy kept coming at them. Ethan would die protecting his family.
So, he was to the point.
“If he touches either one of you, I will be handling this, Elizabeth. Don’t think I’m not irritated that you made me stay here, took my personal security with you and sicced Demeter on me. Demeter of all people,” he stated. “That’s the crazy train.”
She laughed.
Everyone knew that Demeter would do absolutely anything she asked him to. He listened to her, not Ivan. That was EXACTLY why he was all over Ethan like tan on sexy Native man.
“I wouldn’t try to make a break for it. I told him to hold you down. He likes shit like that. He gets humpy.”
Gene laughed.
Ethan tried to, but until they were home, he was going to be stressed.
To get rid of the tension, Ethan rubbed his temples wearily.
“Please just be safe. I need both of you to make it home to me. That helicopter holds my whole heart in it, and that’s valuable to me.”
Oh, she was aware.
Because he looked strung out, she knew what he needed to do.
“Go smoke some peyote in the tipi, and commune with the spirits. I’ve got this, and Gene has my back. I’m not going to get hurt, and neither will Gene. I promise you, EJ.”
He stared at her.
Was she telling him to get high?
Like he already wasn’t.
“Why the hell do you think I’m stirred up? That’s why I have a bad feeling about this. My grandfather was insane to like walking through the smoke when he was stressed.”
That made her laugh.
She reassured him.
“Again, Gene and I are good. We have three Marines all over us. Raphael is looking testy, Ivan is bitchy, and Gunny is following those two. We’re good.”
That made it a little easier to breathe. When she showed him how close the three Marines were, he tried to chill out.
He trusted them.
“I promise that nothing will happen to us. I need you to trust me. I’m not leaving him here, and I won’t let him get arrested for felonious Voodoo shopping for that love spell he wants to make you his sex slave.”
Gene knew that she was trying to soothe the savage Ethan, so he played along.
“I mean, is that a thing?” he asked. “I love me some sex slave,” he joked. “I better stop at the Voodoo shop too,” he added.
It made Ethan calm down.
If they were joking, then he need not be so freaked out.
“Just both of you come home to me, okay? If anything happens to either of you, or both of you…”
They knew what he meant.
They were all in the same boat.
“We’re good, sexy man,” she said. “We’ll bring you home a present. Just stay out of trouble, and don’t be a pain in Demeter’s ass.”
That worked for him.
“You guys are the only present I want. I’d like you back in one piece.”
Yeah, that sounded like him.
Ethan worried about his family all of the time.
“We’ll be home later tonight,” she admitted. “Maybe. We might have to shack up at Hotel Monteleone,” she teased. “Wanna get a room, Love Bunny?” she asked Gene.
He laughed.
“Ethan. Help. This kitten has claws, and tits. I’m scared.”
That helped calm the man down even more.
He actually laughed.
“I know. I like her like that. She’s not allowed to change,” he admitted.
Then, Ethan went there.
“I love you both. I’ll see you when you get home, and neither of you had better be dinged-up. Got that? If you are, I’m going to be bitchy, and no one likes me in a mood.”
Oh, they did not like a bitchy Ethan. A calm one was so much better for everyone involved.
“Bye, sexy man,” Elizabeth said, as Gene kissed his phone like a total smitten nut.
Yeah, she got that.
Hanging up, Gene tucked his phone away. As soon as he did, Ivan pulled out an earbud. He saw the hand signals through the glass from the pilot, alerting them to being at their destination.
“We are about to land at Area Fifty-Two ,” he warned. “Wrap it up.”
That worked for her.
When they had privacy again, Elizabeth reassured Gene in case he was still nervous about being left behind, or how they all felt about him being part of their family.
“He loves you so much, and so do I,” she admitted.
Oh, Gene knew how lucky he was.
His family was his world.
Between the family, and the fact that he and Ethan had Willa together, that cemented him into that world. He was never leaving.
And Tommy had better not threaten what was his or he was in for a big surprise.
Gene would get mean.
As they touched down onto the roof of the new Hunter lair, they were met with the keeper of the concrete bunker. She was right there as they stepped out onto the landing pad.
“Hello, MATE,” Elizabeth said.
Zen curtsied.
Then the hologram moved toward her, as the helicopter went silent, and the pilot would wait here.
“Elizabeth, welcome back to my home,” MATE said. “The Hunters are inside, having coffee.”
She was curious.
“Do they know that I’m here?”
MATE shook her head.
Today, she was a redhead, and dressed like she was going to a rave. One of the best things about MATE was that she was learning who she was, and changed identities like most people changed their underwear.
Someone couldn’t make up her circuits as to what she wanted to look like.
That she was changing meant that Chris’ AI was getting smarter, and his wish to make one hell of a scary-ass computer that could take over the world might just happen.
“Unfortunately for them, Elizabeth, they do not know,” she admitted. “You can’t hear that helicopter from inside. All of that concrete blocks the sound,” she admitted. “Plus, when you messaged me that you were arriving, I may have shut the alarms down.”
She laughed.
“Ah, and there is my accomplice,” she said. “You never let me down, MATE.”
Gene protested.
“I thought that was me. You know…ride or die to the end? Sound familiar?” he asked.
She winked at him.
“I live to get Zayn stirred up. It annoys the hell out of him that I can just show up. That’s half the fun of messing with him.”
MATE had bad news for her.
“He’s not here,” MATE said. “He’s on the screen, checking in, but he’s not in the building. He’s with Stella and his new daughter.”
Oh, someone had tried to keep that secret, but she’d been three steps ahead of him. If they didn’t think she didn’t have eyes on her people…
They.
Were.
Wrong.
Truth be told, Elizabeth loved messing with him. MATE wasn’t her only intel gatherer.
“Is the baby’s name the same?” she asked, hoping it was. She had already planned some fun.
Well, fun for her.
Because this was the woman she was modeled after, her mother, of sorts, MATE played accomplice. That was, after all, why she was created—to help Elizabeth at all costs. Her father had made that perfectly clear.
“Honestly, he went tame this time. They named her Tulip. He tried to keep that name from us, at first, but when I searched the database, using all of his aliases, I found it.”
Elizabeth grinned.
Oh, well, let the fun begin.
“Let’s get The Hunters working, and let’s torment a big, paranoid nut.”
MATE chortled.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Oh, boy,” Gene said.
Elizabeth winked at the hologram. She was like a child to her, and she and Chris never had biological babies together. They made MATE together.
So, she was hers.
As for tormenting Zayn…
The insanity was about to begin.