Chapter Five
Washington DC
En Route
To The Hospital
Morgue
After getting changed, and patched up, Elizabeth was hustled into a waiting vehicle. She had a meeting with Gabe, but he was going to do it on a video call so that she could get to the hospital.
It had been her insistence, and thankfully, he wasn’t busting her balls. She was barely holding it together, as it was, so that was the last thing she needed.
Jet was going to be brought there, and she needed to be there for him.
There was no doubt that if it was her, he’d stand by her body non-stop to make sure she was respected, and she would do the same.
Ooh-rah.
While she couldn’t bring him back, she’d do everything in her power to make sure he got the dignity that he’d earned. He’d died in service to his country by protecting her.
And she’d never forget it.
As she was driven to the hospital, Kate was in the car beside her, and up to that point, she’d said nothing. Tiffany was behind the wheel, and both Uriel and Raphael were with them.
“I’m ready,” she said, as she glanced over at Kate.
The woman put her hand on Elizabeth’s arm, and she saw the emotion in her eyes.
“Before we start this, I want to say something to you.”
Elizabeth turned her head, and there was that icy-cold chill in her eyes and her demeanor.
“Go ahead,” she said, bracing for it.
Kate did.
“I don’t know what kind of relationship you had with Axelle while working, but ours won’t be the same.”
Oh, great.
More pressure.
The timing couldn’t be worse.
Kate continued.
“I want you to know that I support you one million percent, and you no longer answer to me. I want you to leapfrog me and go right to Gabe. As your partner in this, I trust you. Putting you on a short leash only inhibits your effectiveness, and I don’t want to do that.”
That surprised her.
Hell.
It surprised everyone in the car. Even Raphael had that look on his face.
This was new.
Axelle had been her sister-in-law, but she’d said in no uncertain terms that Elizabeth was to obey the rules and listen to her. That the new Director of the FBI was giving her space made a world of difference and took some of the pressure off of Elizabeth.
Kate continued.
“I know that this job was supposed to be yours, and you didn’t take it so you could stay in your division and help people.
That is beyond admirable. That tells me one thing about you.
You are doing the job to help the citizens of this country.
My father was just like that. He retired out of the FBI, and he loved helping people. It’s why I followed in his footsteps.”
Elizabeth went there.
“I remember your father. He was an agent for the first ten years of my career. He was a good man, Kate. He talked about you all of the time. You were his Katie-bird. Flighty but smart. That’s what he said. Don’t kill the messenger on that one.”
She laughed.
“Oh, well, sometimes, you gotta fake being flighty so men don’t know you’re a cunning fox,” she stated. “They try to cage the bird, but when they think it’s tame, they let their guard down.”
That was the truth.
Elizabeth knew that feeling.
Kate wasn’t done.
“I know about The Hunters, and I want to make this as easy for you, and me. We will work well together, because you’ve been my idol.”
Tiffany chimed in, trying to make Elizabeth laugh. Her heart ached for her.
“She just called you an old bitch,” she stated. “In case you needed translation.”
That did what it was intended to do.
She did laugh.
“Thanks, I think.”
Kate smiled.
“I’m not Axelle, and I need to know we can do this together. See, there may be two positions, but they act as one. We are the FBI. We’ve had very different careers, working very different things, but we balance.”
Elizabeth relaxed.
“I don’t want to fight you, Kate, but I handle some crazy-ass shit. I can’t be leashed. It risks this country.”
She was aware.
“Gabe said. He vetted me in on The Hunters, and how you lead them. Carry on, bestie. You and I are going to be tag team partners in this, and hopefully, we’ll be friends.
We can’t do this alone, Elizabeth. The men in this town are betting against us.
Axelle hit the glass ceiling. She didn’t break through it.
I intend to do that so the next generation of women don’t have to carry the weight on their shoulders. ”
Elizabeth stared at her.
“Do you mean that? Because I can’t butt heads against you, Kate. I’m tired. I’m older, and I’m afraid I’m losing my edge. He got away.”
Kate put away the job and just became the friend.
“Well, want my opinion?”
She nodded.
“You’re not losing your edge. You’re at the top of your game.
You took down a Russian spy who was going to kill you.
That’s not easy. You are smart, you’re wise, and you’re no match for a lot of people due to your skills.
I’ve seen your file—what is in my classified reach?
” she said. “On top of all of that, you were recruited. You’re a cunning linguist.”
Raphael didn’t miss a beat.
“That’s what she said,” he joked. “The victims being Ethan, Callen, Chris, and we suspect Gene.”
She snorted.
Only, Kate continued.
“We got this, and when I retire in thirty years, I want the world to remember us. Elizabeth Blackhawk, you’re at the top of your game, and I want to learn from you.”
She was honest.
“Kate, you’re already there. I watched how you protected those children, mine included.
I watched how you neutered those senators to make them pay.
You don’t need to learn from me. You’re already there.
Gabe asked me who I thought could do the job, and you were the one I said could. I believe in you.”
She put her hand over Elizabeth’s.
“And, bestie, I believe in you. Let’s show this town how it’s done. Fuck the patriarchy.”
The men gasped.
“I feel threatened,” Raphael said. “As a gay man who also likes fucking the patriarchy, I protest.”
That amused Kate.
“You in?” she asked.
Elizabeth nodded.
“Thank you, Kate. Bear with me while I handle this. Normally, I have it under control. I’m just tired.”
She smiled.
“I think a nice vacation on a beach with those tits out would be the best thing in the world for you. Sun, sand, and a pool boy or four—since that’s your kink.”
That really was a good idea.
“I think I’ll take you up on that plan,” she stated. “I could use a vacation.”
Kate was honest.
“If you said you didn’t, I’d be shocked as shit.”
Tell her about it.
As Kate’s phone rang, she picked it up, and it was Gabe calling in. Answering, she held it so he could see both of them.
“Meeting time, and then, I’m going to bed. Elizabeth, you’re heading back here. Kate, you’re welcome to sleep at the White House.”
She accepted.
“I’ll take you up on that, since I’m dying to see what those bedrooms look like,” she admitted.
Yeah, everyone always was.
“Now, about your partnership,” Gabe said.
Elizabeth stopped him.
“We worked it out. We’re good. Kate and I have this, and we came to an agreement. You’re stuck with me,” she said. “She wants nothing to do with this train ride to Hell.”
He wasn’t surprised.
“Just don’t marry her brother,” Gabe said. “That seems to be a problem.”
Kate blinked.
“Uh, does your brother have girl parts?” she asked. “Because like Raphael, I’m gay as fuck. I’ve been burned by men, so I lean towards girls. Then again, if he is a male version of you…maybe I could get back into that game.”
The Marine laughed.
If he didn’t, he’d cry over Jet.
“How are you going to fuck the patriarchy if you don’t like dick, Kate?” she asked.
She didn’t miss a beat.
“I’ve done dick. I just learned from it,” she joked.
At their very candid conversation, Gabe had big eyes.
“Oh, no. I have two of you, don’t I? She’s going to be just like you, Elizabeth, and you tricked me by suggesting her!”
Kate winked at Elizabeth.
“Nah, she likes dick. We’re two different animals. Do you have a sister?” she asked.
Elizabeth shook her head.
“Nope. I guess we’re safe then. Although, my brother was emasculated by his ex-wife. Does that count?”
She snorted.
“With me, one never knows,” she admitted.
Oh, she’d had relationships with men, but they were more problematic than anything.
Gabe was keeping it light, mostly because Alessandra told him to. If you wanted to bed down your younger, pregnant fiancée, you did what they wanted.
Period.
“Then we’re good?”
She nodded.
“I mean, I’m as good as I can be,” she stated. “I need a favor,” she added.
Gabe waited.
“I want Jet interred at Arlington. He died a hero, being my bodyguard. I want full honors and a grave he deserves.”
Gabe held up the paper.
“I already have it started. Ethan sent me a text, asking me to do it for you.”
Yeah, he’d sent her a text, too, but she simply couldn’t go there. Right now, she needed to not break down with her husbands. They needed her to be strong.
Jet needed her to be strong.
Later, she’d text him back when she could have a minute to think. She was going to be there for Jet, and then, she was going to get some sleep.
Tomorrow, there would be bodies.
She could feel it in her balls.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
“Pumpkin, anything for my sister from another mister—a psychopathic mister who was batshit insane like his daughter—may I add.”
She didn’t argue that.
Charlie was a menace, but God…
She missed him.
What wouldn’t she give to have one more day with him to have him help her find her footing? The world was caving in, and she was on the edge.
“We’re at the hospital,” Elizabeth said. “I need to do this,” she added.
Gabe clued her in.
“He’s in the back of the hospital, still in an ambulance. I knew you’d want to walk him in with your Marines. Jack had them hold him for you.”
Already, she wanted to cry.
“You have this, Elizabeth. Do this for Jet.”
Oh, that was the plan.
“I need to do it. Want has nothing to do with it. I want him to be alive still. As for me handling it, I will. I always do.”
Wasn’t that the truth?
He reassured her.
“I know, Honey. I know. I’m sorry you lost him, and if I could do anything to bring him back, I would.”
She was aware.