Chapter Four #2
The two men flanked her, and she leaned against Raphael.
“You saved us,” he said. “She was about to shoot both of us in the head.”
She sniffled.
“I didn’t save Jet. This is all my fault,” she whispered. “He died because of me.”
And here it came.
Well, here was the MAJOR inconvenience that was going to put her over the edge.
Trust.
And.
Believe.
Instead of talking about that, he changed the subject. No one liked to see their mom cry. The Marines had a soft spot for the woman who bought them birthday presents, made them a cake, and never let them feel like they were less than family.
“Are you hurt?” he asked. “Do you need a hospital? Because you’re priority one right now.”
She shook her head.
What she needed was a seventy-two-hour hold in a mental institution because she could feel control slipping. Oh, it wouldn’t be because she was loco.
It would be to keep her from going postal.
Nuclear.
Over the deep end.
Call it whatever, but she was on her way there.
For now, though, she was fighting to not break.
“I got bear hugged by Caspian as we began going out of control. He took the brunt of the vehicle rolling. He wasn’t buckled in. I was.”
He patted her leg.
“Listen, I’ll be your airbag any day, Mom. Nice perfume,” he said, trying to make her laugh.
Only, none of them were feeling it.
Jet had died.
His body was in the car, not far from them.
“He’ll pay,” Raphael stated. “I’ll make sure of that.”
Yeah, no, he wouldn’t. Don’t get her wrong. Devon Slater would pay, but not by their hand.
This war was hers.
When they heard more feet and saw people coming down the ravine side, both Marines pulled guns.
“Deputy Director?” one called.
“I’m over here,” she said. “My security was killed and injured. We need extrication without a scene.”
The cop came around the car and saw them. He was holding his flashlight, illuminating more of the scene. The headlights for the car only went so far to give them visibility.
He crouched down.
“The Commissioner called us, and we’re to get you to the White House.”
She was to the point.
“One of my Marines is in that car. The woman there,” she said, pointing at her, “shot him to get our car off the road. She was going to kill us. She’s not an American. I need her body transported to the FBI building. Lowkey. Call them and tell intake it’s been authorized by me, personally.”
He knelt down and shined the light into her face.
“Can we not with the flashbang to the face?” she asked.
He explained.
“The commissioner wants an update, and he told us to check and make sure you’re not injured. I’m checking for a concussion.”
Well, she didn’t have one of those.
What she did have was a suspiciously large pain in her ass named Devon Slater.
The cop continued.
“He’s en route to ensure your well-being. The President wants you transported. Capitol cops and the Secret Service are on the way.”
Then, it was time to move.
Before she’d leave, she went back over to the car and spoke to Jet.
Was it silly?
Yes.
Was it necessary?
Yes.
“We’re getting you out, Jet. I’m sorry, and I’m not leaving you behind.”
She couldn’t look at him. If she did, Elizabeth knew she’d be vomiting or having that mental breakdown.
Bet.
On.
It.
When she was done, the cop helped her up, and the three of them scampered to the top of the ravine, slipping and sliding along the way.
Uriel had the most difficult time thanks to his concussion.
At the top, she was shoved into an SUV with flashing lights.
Both Marines followed, unwilling to leave her alone for a single second.
“Sit tight, Director,” the cop said.
Before he could close the door, she grabbed his arm.
“Please make sure his body is respected,” she stated. “He IS a decorated Marine who matters to me.”
He patted her hand.
“I served in the Army, Ma’am. I’ll stay with him until we can transport. I promise.”
That was all she had to hear. Elizabeth nodded, making note to find this cop later.
To thank him.
He closed the door, and the whole thing felt so surreal. They’d been talking, joking around, and then…
This.
“Don’t blame yourself,” Uriel said. “You can’t let this get to you.”
Yeah, well, except how was she not to take the blame?
It was on her shoulders.
It didn’t take long before the sleek blacked-out SUVs showed up, and she knew who it was going to be.
All the President’s men.
It was time for transport.
In the chaos of it all, Elizabeth saw a familiar face heading their way.
When the window went down, and Tiffany’s face appeared, she looked concerned.
“Hey, are you okay, Elizabeth?” she asked.
Elizabeth shook her head.
“No. Tiff, get us out of here,” she said. “I need to get out of here,” she whispered.
All of this was too damn much. She’d been breaking before, but now, she was fighting tooth and nail to stay in control. She was only human.
That was all she had to say.
Tiffany spoke to the cop.
“We’re not moving her from this vehicle.
It’s safer if she’s inside it. Drive them to the White House and drive through the gate.
You’ll be cleared. We’re going to lead and flank you,” she said.
“Priority one escort for the Deputy Director of the FBI. You have precious cargo, so drive like it matters!”
The cop nodded.
“On it.”
She stopped Tiffany.
“Jet. He’s in the car.”
She reached in and took her hand.
“Don’t worry. Jack has this for you. You get to safety. We will make sure that Jet is taken care of now, for you, Director.”
That helped a great deal.
It didn’t make it better, but it gave her a chance not to lose control. The Marines also taught her that you didn’t leave anyone behind.
Dead.
Or.
Alive.
“Thank you, Tiffany.”
The woman smiled.
“No problem, Elizabeth.”
When the window rolled up, the motorcade of blacked-out vehicles rolled out of there, continuing the trip into DC.
And as soon as they were on the road, Elizabeth broke down.
Devon Slater got a good shot in now, and he’d hit that tender part of her heart.
He’d killed one of her Marines.
And for some reason, she didn’t think Jet would be the last.
* * * The Blackhawks * * *
The White House
Thirty Minutes Later
When they rolled down the driveway toward the entrance to the White House, Gabe and Alessandra were waiting for her. He was in a suit, proving he’d been working, and Lessa was in a dressing gown.
She was showing as she stood beside her fiancé. It was clear that someone had retired for the night.
As soon as the door opened, Raphael got out and held out his hand for Elizabeth. He helped her from the ride, and immediately, Gabe was there.
“Honey.”
More tears came.
The weight of this crushed her, and she couldn’t keep herself going any longer. While she’d cried in the car, this was going to be far worse.
The meltdown was happening.
As soon as he saw her tearstained cheeks, Gabe didn’t question it.
Instead, he scooped her up, and carried her into the White House, his fiancée beside him.
“I’ll order her something hot to drink,” Lessa said, as they found a room and went inside to have privacy.
As Gabe sat, Elizabeth was curled up like a child in his lap, the weight of the world present for everyone to see.
“I have you,” he said, comforting her. Honestly, he knew there weren’t going to be words to make this better.
But he’d try.
“You’re safe.”
She said only one thing.
“Jet.”
Gabe kissed her temple and tried to soothe her.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Honey. I know how much all of you loved Jet,” he said. “He was a hero as a Marine, and he died a hero protecting the Deputy Director. I know Marines and trust me when I say he wouldn’t be angry with you.”
It was all so senseless.
It was all so…painful.
He died because of her, and only because of her.
At some point, when would it be too much? With each person who died because of her, she knew it was only a matter of time before it took her down.
Well, she was on her knees. There wasn’t much lower she could go before a grave.
“I’m going to call your husbands.”
She stopped him.
“Uriel and Raphael are hurt. They need a doctor,” she said, worried about the men she could help.
Only, Raphael stopped that.
“We’re fine.”
Gabe glanced over.
They had blood all over them, and they were worse for wear. That was for damn sure. While they might say they were okay, Gabe doubted that.
So, he clued them in.
“I have my doctor from Walter Reed coming. He’s going to look you both over. Tiffany has new gear coming for you, too.”
Raphael appreciated that.
They were the ONLY archangels on duty on this side of the country protecting Elizabeth. They couldn’t go down.
The men at the estate wouldn’t be as ‘effective’ if they had to step in.
Gabe focused on Elizabeth.
“Don’t worry, Honey. We’ve got everything taken care of,” he said. “Just breathe and tell me what happened.”
Elizabeth wiped her eyes on her sleeve.
“She came out of nowhere,” Elizabeth said.
“Jet had just told us that he re-routed a few times to make sure that he wasn’t followed.
He took different paths. She somehow managed to follow him.
No one should have known I was flying in.
I was off radar. It had to be her following or both of them following. ”
Gabe knew how difficult it would be to follow a Marine, trying to lose a tail. Still, if Jet hadn’t been paying attention, or there were two of them, that would explain it.
“We’ll find anyone who helped.”
He hoped.
Elizabeth’s Marines were the best of the best. There was a reason she had them protecting her.
“And you know for sure it was the Russians?” he asked.
She nodded again.
“Her body is going to the FBI office, but I heard her call her partner. I managed to get out of the vehicle, and as I was hiding, she was on the phone with the last spy.”
Gabe was pissed.
“Why the fuck can’t we find them?” he asked. “Or better yet, how the fuck did they find you?”
Oh, she had a suspicion.
“The dead woman said that they got intel on the Dark Web. I know how it got there, and so do you,” she stated.
Devon Slater.
Someone was stacking the deck in this game, and it was on her last damn nerve.
“He’s a piece of shit,” Gabe stated.