Prologue #4
Well, they’d deserved that. It had been a free-for-all the last few days, and everyone was beyond tired.
Her included.
What she wanted was to sleep for a week, and she just might do that too.
“Thank you,” she said, hugging him.
Because she was a doll, and he genuinely loved working for her, he squeezed her hands.
“Call when you need a ride back. We would fly into a warzone to get you.”
Oh, she was aware.
“Let’s not hope for that nonsense, Jim. I know you like flying the new jets.”
He laughed.
“The Blackhawks have the best jets. Just take care of you, Elizabeth, and call when you need us.”
Yeah, well, Chris had a company that made those too, so he could get her one for shits and giggles if she asked.
As for the rest…
“I will, Jim. I will.”
When would that be?
Unfortunately, she had no idea. Elizabeth had to deal with some things, mainly—who was she now that she’d crossed all kinds of lines?
Oh, she knew the answer to that, but deep below what everyone saw, she didn’t know who she was anymore.
Was she a mother?
Was she a Fed?
A wife?
Where was the woman she’d once been?
Truthfully, as of this moment in time, she was desperately seeking Elizabeth Renee LaRue.
That woman went suspiciously missing a long time ago, and she wanted to get her back. That woman was her core, and how she’d become who she was today.
Getting off the jet, she walked down the steps and took in the early evening air.
It was cool, crisp, and smelled like fall. It had been so long since she’d been able to actually enjoy the seasons.
Here she was, approaching Halloween, her most favorite time of the year, and time was flying. There were things to do, and while here, she’d be working on that too.
She was still in charge of Gryphen and Ian’s wedding, and for them, she’d never drop the ball. While they might think she’d forgotten, she hadn’t.
Not.
Even.
Close.
It appeared that she was killing two birds with one stone while here. Hopefully, this place could keep her busy, and her brain occupied.
Honestly, she wasn’t one to like downtime or vacations. All she really craved was staying busy.
Just not serial killer busy.
“Lass?” a man called, getting her attention. “Aye! This bike is for you, if ya name is Elizabeth.”
Oh, well, that was her.
Trust and believe no one wanted to steal her identity. If they tried, she might just let them.
Now, as for how she was getting to the castle…well, that solved that problem. It was evidently clear that someone was watching out for her.
Her money was on Gene.
There was no doubt he gave Michael and Graham a heads-up as to her arrival.
Well, now, it appeared that she was going to enjoy a little evening ride at a very high speed.
“Thank you,” she offered.
Surprisingly, he didn’t even act like he recognized her, and that did something to her.
It gave her peace.
Could she actually be around people without them asking about Callen’s next book, or one of her husbands?
Could she just exist?
That was so crazy to her, and it was also befuddling. By now, at home, she’d have paparazzi up her ass.
Here, as she stood on the tarmac, people were around, but none of them were even paying attention to her.
Thank.
Freaking.
God.
It not only gave her hope, but it also gave her peace that she’d actually have time to recoup.
“That’s me.”
With a nod, he was done with the conversation.
Uh, okay.
This day was looking better already.
When he walked away, she pulled on the helmet and got on the sleek black bike. It was like the one she had at home, and she appreciated the amount of work Chris, or Gene, did to help her get through this.
Did she miss them?
Yeah.
Oh, walking away from them had been one of the hardest things she’d ever had to do.
Leaving her family behind to be selfish and take time for herself…
It went against everything she believed as a mother and wife. Only, it had been a necessity.
She’d cried herself to sleep on the flight, but that didn’t mean she could go back before she healed herself. What she’d said in the letter had been true, and she was on a new case.
The case of the missing Elizabeth.
For the foreseeable future, her job was to help Kate run the FBI remotely, after taking a week or two off for good behavior.
Then, hopefully, she’d find her footing again, and be able to go back to being the woman she needed to be.
A mother.
A wife.
A boss.
Kickstarting the bike, it purred to life, vibrating between her legs as she pulled on the gloves that had been laying over the gas tank.
Then, she was off.
It was time to see what kind of adventure was waiting for her, and hopefully, she’d get a good night’s sleep.
Her phone would be off, and her heart would have the time it needed to heal. At this point in her life, she needed a break, or she wouldn’t be able to keep giving to her family.
The well…
IT.
WAS.
EMPTY.
As she tore out of there, she hit the hills and enjoyed as the darkness was falling on the mountains ahead of her. The chill caught her off guard, and she made a mental note to find some warmer clothes.
The air felt wet, like snow was coming. It seemed that the higher she went into the mountains, the more likely that was going to be.
Unfortunately for her, she’d not been able to pack before she left, so tomorrow, she’d need a little retail therapy.
Well, it gave her something to look forward to. The last time she’d done something alone…
It had been decades.
Normally, she had a husband by her side, or she was locked down like a prisoner. If she wasn’t taking a child somewhere or helping a husband with one of their side quests, she was working.
Tomorrow was a new day, and a new beginning for her. When the sun came up tomorrow, she knew the truth.
She didn’t have to answer to anyone, or have to micromanage anything.
This was going to be an adjustment.
As she was riding the bike to the castle, there was that peacefulness all around her. Hopefully, after a few days, that sorrow would stop pressing down on her, crushing her soul.
She needed a break from it.
For now, though, she was focused on the ride. Elizabeth loved speed so much, and as she rode like the Devil himself was chasing her, she felt…at home.
And it was odd.
While she’d never been to this place or the castle before, knowing it waited for her, offering quiet, solace, and protection was cathartic.
Already, she was adjusting to being alone, and finding herself.
Up the incline, and through the rocky cliffs she headed, her watch giving her directions. MATE wasn’t on her arm, currently. That tech was back in Damascus in Gene’s pocket, and she was just wearing normal gear.
Here, she would be Elizabeth not the Deputy Director of the FBI, or a hunted woman. Here, she was just some normal person.
That in itself was a miracle.
No one knew where she was, and that was for the best. Maybe she’d have time to work on herself, and to figure out what she’d done to deserve all the shit that was heading her way.
Because someone’s karma needed a clean-up.
And fast.
When she rounded the curve, that’s when she saw it up ahead. Looming there, Elizabeth knew she’d found the place.
Yeah, the irony wasn’t lost on her.
Not.
At.
All.
When she told the men that she needed to find the raven, that had been her clue as to where she’d be.
Now, she was surrounded by them.
The Raven was returning to the Raven’s nest.
‘Ravensmire Castle.’
As she approached, the gate was open, inviting her in, and she didn’t hesitate to do just that. As she sped up the driveway, lined with trees losing their leaves, and going dead, she knew the feeling.
That emptiness had her by the throat.
Why she chose to come here…
She wasn’t sure, but it called to her. When trying to find a place to lay low, this had popped into her mind, and been the choice.
Why it felt safe, and like coming home…?
She didn’t have a clue.
Maybe it was her love of a mystery, or maybe it was because if she was going to be chased by ghosts, they should be ones that haunted her house.
The Devil she knew.
Or was going to know.
As she came to a stop, Elizabeth parked and sat there staring at the monstrosity.
Holy shit.
This place was a spectacle.
Ravensmire was the most ridiculous place she’d ever seen, and Gabby had been right.
It was beautiful.
Honestly, she couldn’t wait to get a tour, and see what made this place tick.
Or what made it go BOO in the night.
That should be her first clue that she was out of her damn mind. No one with a lick of sanity came to a haunted castle to roam around in it for funsies.
Her egg was definitely scrambled.
When the massive wooden door opened, creaking on the wrought-iron hinges, that was when she saw him.
“Hey,” Michael offered. “We got the message. Welcome home,” he said, standing in front of the grand old castle in all of her majestic glory.
Hearing his words…
That’s when she broke down.
The tears came all over again, and hearing ‘home’…it rocked her to her core.
She didn’t know where that was anymore. Never in her life had she felt more lost than she did at that moment. It was like being alone and adrift at sea.
To be here…
That should say it all.
She wasn’t fooling anyone—not even herself. She was in pieces and had no idea how to put herself back together again.
As soon as he saw the tears, Michael headed her way, and when she went into his arms, he held her.
Yeah, she was in bad shape.
In fact, she was down bad worse than he’d imagined her to be.
“It’s okay, Mom. Nothing can hurt you here. You’ll figure it out,” he promised. “You’re safe here, and we’ve got you,” he said, meaning him and his husband.
Would she solve this mystery of why she was cursed?
She didn’t know.
She didn’t know if she had it in her.
The bottom line was that Elizabeth Blackhawk didn’t know who she was anymore, or why she was cursed to walk through the hell she’d been given.
But she’d find out why, and if she got lucky, The Defiant Curse might be broken.
Until it was, the ghosts here weren’t the only ones damned to walk alone.
So.
Was.
She.