Chapter Four #4
“We had a Russian assault on American ground a year ago. The Black Butcher was trying to take over our ports. Elizabeth was in charge of handling it.”
Kate was curious.
“And did she?”
He nodded.
“The threat was neutralized. The Black Butcher was killed by a special team in NOLA, but before he could be stopped, he set three Russian spies free into the country. For the last year, they have been trying to kill Elizabeth out of revenge.”
Kate stood there.
“Okay, and?”
“Tonight, she executed the one that shot her Marine and ran them off the road to kill them.”
Kate went there.
“That sounds justifiable.”
This was where he broke it to the woman.
“Even if it wasn’t, you’re about to learn that there are things that we have to do to keep America safe. Sometimes, they are outside the box. Elizabeth plays best in that area. Let’s just say her specialty is ‘handling’ things for me.”
She lifted a brow.
“What are you saying?”
He was to the point.
“She was offered the position of Director and turned it down. She has twenty-plus years of experience and works with the military and CIA. She only turned it down because then she couldn’t be on the streets chasing killers. Whenever I need her help, she steps in and does the job.”
Kate was curious.
“And? Because I can feel the ‘and’ with this one.”
He dropped the bomb.
“She also manages an elite team of Marines who work out of New Orleans. They answer to her, and they help rehab soldiers coming back from war who need help. They fight the boogey-man for us when we can’t.”
She took it all in.
Kate knew she’d be learning on the fly, and that didn’t matter to her.
Not.
At.
All.
“They are called The Hunters, and they are all decorated Marines. They are damn good at what they do, mostly special forces things. Right now, they are working on taking down Von Donore and The BlackStone Group.”
That she knew about.
Gabe had vetted her in earlier today.
“The dudes that betrayed our military and got soldiers killed?” she asked.
He nodded.
“They are a weapon, and she is the handler. In fact, she’s the head of them. They are her people, and they answer to her. Without them, we would have been infiltrated a few times. You’re going to learn that her job is not cut-and-dry. Nothing in her life is, but she’s vital to America’s safety.”
“Okay. What do you want? Because I can still feel the lead up to it.”
He went there.
“She won’t be wrangled. I’m telling you right now that if she needs something, let her have it. If she makes a decision, give her the leeway to do it. She is my most trusted ally in DC, and she is an asset. Let the dog off the leash and let her do her job.”
And there it was.
Kate was to the point.
“For the record, Gabe, I understand. She’s a good egg, and a damn good agent.
Again, like I said, most of us all came up wanting to be just like her.
If you think I’m hassling my idol, I won’t, but you have to tell me what the boundaries are.
I’ll stay in them. I’m a color inside the lines kind of girl. ”
He didn’t mince words.
“You were hired because you are her opposite. Axelle was hired for the same reason, but it failed. You never know when a team will work or fail, but I need you two to work. You don’t have to be her best friend, and you don’t have to understand her motives, but you need to know they are sanctioned by me. ”
She shrugged.
“Okay. I get it.”
He wasn’t done.
“You will run the FBI, and she will continue to run her division, and handle the military, as she does. You two have the chance to change DC as a power couple. Two women working side-by-side to break through that glass ceiling is something not seen often here.”
She was confused.
“Axelle is a woman.”
He stopped her.
“Axelle was a CIA agent who never stopped being a CIA agent. They play by different rules. You’re an FBI Fed to your core. Your father was an agent. You and Elizabeth have bled for this badge. Axelle was more loyal to the CIA than the FBI.”
That hung there.
“Did she go back to the CIA?” she asked. “There are rumors about that.”
He nodded.
“She did. That is also off the record. As for you, you were picked because of your loyalty, and because Elizabeth told me you were going to do the job the best, even better than her. You’re the one who will handle the media, and she’s going to handle the dirty things most people don’t want to handle. ”
She was honest.
“We all know she’s your pitbull, Gabe. There is no mincing of words when her name comes up. She’s your golden child and always has been.”
He said nothing.
Because it was the truth.
Only, few saw the reason that was the case. Elizabeth was loyal, and she’d always had his back.
Loyalty in DC was a commodity.
When you found it, you didn’t squander it.
“I can play nice with Elizabeth because I respect her. She’s a good agent and always takes care of shit when it needs to be handled. My dad used to speak highly of her.”
He was aware.
“Give her grace. That’s all I’m asking. Well, for that and some room to do her thing. She’s an asset.”
She could do that.
“Absolutely. I understand.”
He relaxed.
“Now, I have to call her husbands. Can I have a few minutes to do that before we have our meeting?”
She was surprised.
“She was nearly killed. We’re having a meeting?” Kate asked.
He nodded.
“Like I said, the Deputy Director isn’t a pushover. She’s going to keep going until she finds the person who is behind this mess. You’ll learn one thing about Elizabeth.”
She was curious.
“What’s that?”
“If you want shit done, you give it to her. As a woman and mother, she’s a miracle worker. Her priority is the American public.”
Then, they were on the same page. Kate was down with that since they had a country to protect.
“See you in a few.”
With that, Kate left the room, and Gabe made a video call to his bestie. Hopefully, Ethan was going to stay calm because they were NOT going to enjoy this update. Only, he knew it was better to alert them than let them find out by way of the media.
As he called him, it didn’t take long for his face to appear on the screen.
“Hey,” Ethan said, smiling. “What’s up?” he asked.
Gabe was curious.
“Are you at the morgue?” he inquired.
Blackhawk nodded and turned his phone so Gabe got the whole view. They were ALL in the morgue. Since Chris had to work, they were all on ME watch duty.
Not far away, Chris was looking at the three women that had been flown in from Corpus Christi to help Elizabeth. Callen and Gene were running them to see if there was something out of the ordinary to give them a clue, and he’d been profiling.
Nearby, along the wall, was their security.
Gryphen.
Ivan.
Saint.
And Demeter.
Gabe could see it was all of Elizabeth’s inner circle, so they could have this conversation.
“We need to talk, Ethan. Send me to the big screen. Anyone you don’t want hearing this should step out.”
He paused.
What?
Where was this going?
“Uh, hear what?” he asked.
Gabe didn’t mince words. Instead, he reiterated what he’d just said to the man.
“Send me to the big screen.”
Ethan did as he was asked, and now, his belly was rolling with worry. Gabe had that look on his face, and it didn’t look like it was going to be a good conversation.
As Gabe popped onto the screen, he could see them all from his phone.
So, he began.
“Tonight, a Russian spy made an attempt at the transport carrying Deputy Director Elizabeth Blackhawk.”
There was a gasp. Suddenly, this sounded like a notify call, and that didn’t bode well for them.
The tone spoke volumes.
Someone.
Was.
Dead.
Hearing those words, Chris actually dropped his clipboard and pulled off his gloves. His heart was racing.
“I don’t like this,” Callen whispered, as Gene put his hand on the man’s lower back.
Gabe continued.
“There is a casualty,” Gabe admitted. “In the attempt on Elizabeth’s life, Captain Jet Donato was killed, and both Marines and Elizabeth barely escaped with their lives.”
Chris stood there, shellshocked, and he looked scared.
Hell.
They all looked scared.
Saint moved closer, and Ivan followed in case he needed him. There was no doubt the man was scared for his husband.
Join the crowd.
They all were.
“Where is my wife?” Ethan asked, his whole world bottoming out. “What happened?”
Gabe shared.
“Elizabeth is here. She’s rattled and asked that I update you,” he stated.
Ethan felt like shit.
There was no doubt his wife didn’t want to deal with him, and now, she was alone and scared.
Gabe continued.
“As she was being transported, a car approached to pass, and it shot the window out with Jet driving. He was killed instantly, causing the car to go out of control when the Mercedes shoved it over the ravine. It tumbled down, landing on its hood and injuring both Marines.”
No one spoke.
Likely because they couldn’t.
Gene approached Ethan, and put his arm around his waist, as they listened to the horror that had unfolded.
Gabe told them everything he’d heard, and Elizabeth had said to him when she called.
“It was one of the Russian spies. Apparently, she got her intel on the Dark Web as to where the director would be. She followed Jet, likely in tandem with her sister spy, saw the pickup at the airfield, and tried to execute them.”
Saint was worried.
Suddenly, his whole world, like that car, was rolling in an uncontrollable spiral.
Gabe continued.
“When the car came to a stop, upside down, Raphael and Uriel were out cold. Elizabeth was able to climb out, and she hid in the bramble until she saw who had just tried to kill them.”
Ethan’s heart was pounding in his chest.
Oh, what wouldn’t he do to go back and undo the mess he’d made by telling her his faith was waning? That his wife had nearly died…
It put shit into perspective.
Gabe wasn’t done.
“When the Russian spy came down, she was about to kill Raphael when Elizabeth moved on her and executed her. She saved herself, and her two Marines. Had she not been on her game, no one would have survived, and I’d be calling with different news.”
Saint moved to stand right in front of the big screen.
“Is my husband okay?” he asked. “Is Winn okay?”