Chapter Four #6
“Reconciliation is next. You know…confession. That’s how you get forgiveness from your sins.
Being anointed when you’re sick, or the last rites is one too,” he offered, rattling them off.
“Marriage is another, and that’s being married before Christ. Lastly, the holy orders for those who want to walk in the apostolic ministry.
Elizabeth has had four of the sacraments.
She wasn’t married in a Catholic church. ”
They all looked over at Chris when he gasped.
“Um…”
Gabe was curious.
“What?”
That’s when the family knew why he’d gasped. She had been married in a church. Was this nut saying he knew about that, too?
Ethan knew they had to put it out there. There was a damn good chance that Devon Slater knew the truth. He could have found the marriage license in Colombia.
“She has been married in a church,” he admitted.
Gabe was confused.
“You guys eloped, and then you had a wedding on the rez. I was there. I remember both clearly.”
No one spoke.
Until Chris did.
“We have to tell him,” Chris stated. “If her life depends on every possible secret, we can’t pretend. That cat might be out of the bag, despite us trying to keep it in there.”
Now, Gabe was curious as fuck.
“What?”
Ethan had no choice.
“I’m not legally married to Elizabeth,” he said. “Legally, she’s not a Blackhawk.”
Gabe lifted a brow.
What?
Was?
This?
“I don’t understand.”
Chris moved closer to Ethan and slipped his hand into the man’s, knowing this was a dagger to his heart. It was something they wanted to keep secret, more so to protect him—not Chris.
Then, he explained.
“Remember the operation in Colombia where we had a fake wedding to keep our cover?”
He nodded.
“Yes. Charlie took me hostage, overtook my security, and flew in to find his ‘baby girl’. I don’t know what…”
His eyes went huge.
“Did you get married in Colombia?” he asked, finally taking that leap from point A to point B on his own.
Chris sighed.
And nodded.
“We gave Charlie the license to destroy. He took it from the priest and was supposed to trash it. Instead, he submitted it and kept it quiet for YEARS. We found a box he’d put aside for Elizabeth when a lawyer delivered a letter from him. In it, there was the license.”
Ethan stood there.
“So, that is her legal marriage. She’s not married to me, Gabe. She’s Elizabeth LaRue Leonard, and has been for all of this time. Our marriage isn’t valid. I’m not her first husband. I’m her second. Callen is her third, and Gene is last.”
Gabe knew how bad this was.
“If he drops that bomb, this is a shitshow. Why didn’t you get this handled?” he asked. “Why didn’t you get it annulled?”
They all said nothing.
And Gabe knew.
“She is risking her career and reputation for you, isn’t she?” he said to Ethan.
The man nodded.
This was just one more thing his wife carried on her back for him, and it was another dagger to his heart that he’d had the audacity to tell her his faith was gone.
He was the biggest dick.
For sure.
“So, I don’t doubt that someone dug and found something. That someone being a rich sicko who wants to hurt her.”
Chris clarified.
“The minister who did the ceremony was paid off, and there ARE NO paper trails. I handled it. It cost a lot of money, so if Devon found something, it’s knowledge only—not proof. We should be good. He’s rich, but my family’s money makes him look like a pauper.”
Well, that helped, but still.
Gene was to the point.
“He’s going to drop the bodies in a familiar place that has meaning to Elizabeth. He’s going to want to tell a story and prove that he’s researched her. Nothing will be off limits as he tries to hit her with shock and awe.”
Ethan agreed.
“Our home is a possibility, and the Den of Iniquity is another. Hell! He could hit the church where our children were baptized. It’s a limitless supply in DC.
Maybe it’s of the churches we handled a case at.
It might even be the place where the Corpus Christi services are held,” he said, rattling off just a few possibilities.
Elizabeth had reigned over DC for YEARS. The locations were limitless at this point.
Gene jumped in.
“That religious celebration is held at almost all the catholic churches, so that last one is a long shot.”
Gabe rubbed his temples.
“Why is it that the Blackhawks give me indigestion—even when I’m not eating?” he asked. “It’s been twenty-five years of babysitting, and now I find out the one rule you didn’t break, you actually broke,” he said.
Chris shrugged.
“We didn’t do it. We had no idea. You’ve dealt with Charlie LaRue. NO ONE told him what to do, but Elizabeth, and he seldom listened to her.”
Well, that was the only reason Gabe wasn’t losing it.
Truer words had never been spoken.
The man had been a menace.
Only, now, they had to keep that cat from running amuck in DC, so Gabe needed results, and ASAP.
“Get on this trail and find her something and talk to Gabby. We’re running out of time.
The Hunters are in the air, and landing in the UK, according to Elizabeth.
As soon as they get to you, make sure you handle this.
Jesus H. Christ! You guys have so many secrets crammed into all of those dark spaces. Don’t let them come out!”
And with that, he hung up.
Turning around, Ethan focused.
“Gene, get with Gabby as soon as she calls. Chris, back to the bodies and forensics. Callen, help Ivan get transport and shut down of our houses in DC. We have to regroup before Elizabeth gets blindsided again. We need to lock down all possible targets. Who are we missing?” he asked.
They all considered it.
Gene knew of only one.
“Uriel’s babe. She’s been asked multiple times about protective custody. Elizabeth asked herself. She refused it.”
Ethan considered it.
“She should be safe. There’s no way to tie her to us. Uriel’s relationship is relatively new. Anyone from long ago?” he asked.
Gene nodded.
“Gabe. Jack. Nova. Quinton Gaines. His wife, Callie. They are the only ones not in our protective custody, but Gabe has the Secret Service, Jack has Nova all over him, and security, Quinn and Callie are pretty safe.”
Well, that sounded so much better.
“Ask the Chief of Reservation Police if she wants us to bring her in.”
He could do that.
“Time is running out,” Chris stated. “At some point, he’s going to be up in our faces.”
Ethan was well aware.
Now, it was about covering their bases.
As everyone got down to work, Ethan pulled out his phone and rattled off a single text to his wife.
‘Are you okay? Please talk to me. I’ll come for you. I’ll always come for you, Elizabeth. Please answer.’
Only, she didn’t.
And truthfully, Ethan didn’t blame her. He’d not only hurt her feelings, but he’d caused all of this. Now, he had to find a way to fix it.
So much was on the line, and he knew it.
Because Devon Slater had really dug his dirty little fingers into all the private spots in their lives.
For that…
He’d pay.
With his life.