Dying to Love (An FBI Romance Thriller Book 18) Read online

  “What?”

  “If this is Broderick playing a prank, I’ll neuter him. Seriously. This can’t be the right place.”

  Callen wasn’t sure.

  “He knows better, but you did stuff his gym bag full of children’s underwear.”

  She snorted.

  Yeah, she did.

  “He superglued my coffee mug to my desk. That is payback, my friend. I broke the damn handle off, and it was my favorite.”

  “Yeah, pedophilia isn’t taking a prank too far.”

  “I like to be thorough.”

  That was why Callen liked to stay on her good side. Don’t get him wrong. He loved a prank, but Elizabeth was evil when she was hell bent on getting even.

  They walked up to the doors. When they rang the bell, some guy showed up.

  “We need to see Edward Becker, also known as Big Daddy.”

  “That’s me.”

  She stared at him.

  “You’re the pimp?”

  “I get that a lot.”

  He welcomed them in. “You’re pretty. I saw you on the news, and it didn’t do you justice.”

  “Thanks, I think.”

  “What can I do for you?”

  “You can start by telling me why you’re not freaked out that there are two Feds at your door.”

  “You don’t have warrants, or you would have served them first, and you also are a Fed who handles murder. From that alone, I’ve deduced that you’re here about Cheeky.”

  Great.

  They had a smart one.

  “We are. Someone killed her, and it wasn’t a particularly pleasant death.”

  “I saw on the news. It’s a shame.”

  “Yeah, I bet she thought so,” Elizabeth stated. “Was anyone bothering her?” she asked.

  “No. She was happy. She had a job, and all she had to do was shake what the good Lord gave her. I got fifty percent, and she got the promise of protection.”

  “Can I talk to your girls?”

  He laughed. “No. I don’t disclose their names.”

  “Why not?” Callen asked.

  “They have my babies.”

  She stared at him. “You have to be shitting me. I know I must be hearing things because it sounded like you just told me that they have your babies.”

  “I did.”

  She stared at Callen. “Naked Jesus in a jungle.”

  Callen agreed with her on this one.

  “I don’t see why it’s so hard to understand. I’m not yanking your chain. It’s fairly simple. I hire them, I get them pregnant, and then I pay for the child support while they work for me. The few that don’t want to have kids with me…”

  “What?” she asked. Elizabeth was afraid to even go there, but this was her job.

  “I sabotage their birth control, they get pregnant that one time, and they don’t know it’s me. I still help them out. One day, when the kids are older, I’ll admit paternity.”

  She stared at him.

  “You’re one hell of a sick animal.”

  Callen was on alert. He fully expected Elizabeth to vault the coffee table and kick this guy’s ass.

  “I can’t believe this.”

  “It’s true.”

  She started at him.

  Was this guy nuts?”

  “Later in life, my girls might actually be my girls. It’s a family business.”

  She went to get off the couch to hurt him.

  Callen stopped her. He almost wanted to let her beat him into a puddle of blood. He had a girl. A good father would hope his daughter became a doctor, a lawyer, or President—not a hooker.

  “Oh, I’d love to have a filly like you in my stable. Is she good in bed? I bet she is.”

  This time it was Callen who tried to get up, and Elizabeth who stopped him.

  “Really, we need to talk to your girls.”

  “Well, I can’t stop you, but I won’t tell you where they are either. I’m under no obligation. Again, you didn’t show up with a warrant. That gives me the right to say no.”

  “I’ll follow you.”

  “We move nightly. I sit in my car, they stroll, and I make more money.”

  “Do you care that the child you created was cut open and her internal organs were all over that crib?”

  “Yes, I do. If she were like her mother, she’d be an asset. Now I need a new girl.”

  “What the hell?” she asked, staring at him in confusion. “Are you insane?”

  “No. I just like women and think that men should be allowed to purchase sex. We buy booze, and in some states drugs. Why not a little comfort on a cold, cold night?”

  “I don’t know what to say to any of that. My first instinct is to vomit on your shoes. You have to be a sociopath.”

  He smiled.

  “You’re funny.”

  Yeah, only she wasn’t joking.

  “Nice whorehouse you have here,” she stated.

  “If you’d like, I’ll show you around.”

  “No. I think I’ve heard plenty,” she said, standing. “Mr. Becker, you’re a piece of work.”

  “Thank you. I try. If you’re ever out of work, even at your age, you could still cater to the men who have mommy fantasies.”

  She started for the door.

  She just couldn’t.

  “Seriously.”

  Elizabeth shook her head.

  “That’s really not a compliment,” she stated.

  “Oh, it is. Men love MILFs.”

  She looked at Callen as she practically closed the door in Becker’s face. “What the hell is a MILF? Why do I feel like I need to bathe in bleach and say a prayer?”

  “Google it,” he stated, trying not to laugh. Callen knew, but he loved when she discovered something new.

  It was always entertaining.

  As soon as they were in the ride, she did.

  “What the hell? Is she breastfeeding that adult man?” she asked, showing him the picture.

  He laughed.

  “You realize that’s government equipment. You’ve been tagged by the tech department as looking at porn.”

  “Callen James, I live porn in the real world. I don’t need to look it up. Besides, I know what you’re searching at night. I’ve gotten the report from the tech department.”

  He flushed red. He was, but it was for books and creative sex positions to do with her.

  Really.

  “Guilty as charged.”

  She looked at him. “What is the fetish with mothers?” she asked.

  “Don’t look at me. That’s not my thing. I like you dressed up like a slut. I have my own issues to work through.”

  She shook her head.

  With each day, she realized something important.

  The world was going to hell in a hand basket before her very eyes.

  That pimp was the proof.

  “Where to, Slutty McSlutterson?” he teased.

  “The vet to get you neutered if you ever call me that again,” she responded in jest.

  He shut his mouth.

  Fast.

  “Let’s get to the Hoover building. I have to ask my other husband one thing, and tell him about tonight.”

  “What are you going to ask him?”

  “If he likes MILFs, and then ask if I can borrow his car. I need a hooker mobile for you to hide out in for surveillance. His tags aren’t tied to us, and that makes it perfect. You can’t take my ride. Everyone knows what I drive.”

  He laughed.

  “What?”

  “He’s going to shit a brick. Tell him about Miss Kitty first, and when he’s distracted, knock him unconscious, and then maybe you’ll get the keys to his car.”

  She crossed her arms. “I bet I have the keys before we have lunch.”

  He shook his head.

  “No way. You drive like a maniac. He’ll never do it after he finds out why you need it. Ethan loves that ride more than he loves anything in the world.”

  “Even me?�
� she asked.

  He laughed. “No, but it’s a close second.”

  “Want to bet?” she asked, holding out her hand.

  “It’s on. Mr. Suit and Tie won’t go for it.”

  She knew the one way to her husband’s heart.

  It was through his penis.

  Chapter Seven

  Wednesday

  Afternoon

  When they arrived back at the office, Callen went off to coordinate with the team. Elizabeth had some time, so she opted to find Ethan, get him all hot and bothered, and then ask for his vehicle.

  It was a good plan.

  She knew it would work.

  As she was waiting for him to finish up with his meeting, she noticed Ginny was sporting a brand-new ring.

  A huge sparkly diamond.

  “Someone got engaged,” she offered.

  “I did. You have to meet him,” she said, showing off the sparkler.

  “Well, I know he’s not a Fed. We can’t afford a ring like that,” she stated.

  “That’s funny since you’re married to a Director and Callen. We all know he’s rolling in it.”

  Yeah, he was, but she was still skittish about using his cash. He offered it up, but she felt…

  Like a freeloader.

  “What’s he do?”

  “He’s a surgeon. We met on a singles cruise, and it was love at first sight.”

  Elizabeth was happy for her. She really believed that love was the best thing in the world. Her job had yet to taint that.

  Yet.

  “Who is he in with?” she asked, pointing at the door.

  “Some newbie. She’s wearing a skirt hiked up to her hoo-ha too. She’s trying to catch the director.”

  Elizabeth lifted a brow. “Seriously? There’s a huge problem with that. He’s already caught.”

  “Yep, and she was out here slathering on enough lip gloss to coat every mistress in DC.”

  She sighed. “Do they not talk amongst themselves about me?” she asked. “Have I not terrorized and left enough comments on the bathroom stall walls to scare them shitless?”

  Ginny laughed. “Your picture is in the breakroom with a warning on it.”

  “I know. I put it up.”

  “Are you going to make her bleed?”

  “Why?”

  “I want to get my rain gear on. I have a date after work, and I don’t have time to go home and change.”

  She snorted. “No blood.”

  “Whew.”

  Elizabeth leaned against the desk as she heard motion from behind Ethan’s door. “Can I borrow that cup of coffee?” she asked.

  “Yep. It’s cold.”

  “Perfect.”

  Elizabeth didn’t worry about fidelity when it came to her husbands. She trusted them. She knew both men were faithful to their cores. She worried about hussies who didn’t know their boundaries.

  It was time to add one more rumor to the mill. Call it protecting her family.

  As the door opened, the woman backed out of the office. Her ass cheeks were nearly hanging out from under her suit skirt.

  “Oh, it’s on.”

  Ginny had to stifle a laugh. One of the reasons she loved working with the bosses was what was about to go down. You didn’t mess with Elizabeth Blackhawk, and you didn’t ogle her men.

  It was trouble in the making.

  “Director, it will be a pleasure working under you. I can see it being hours of amazing fun.”

  Over Elizabeth’s dead body.

  No.

  Not her dead body.

  This woman’s.

  As she backed up, her mouth gushing all kinds of innuendo, Elizabeth had quite enough of it.

  Ethan was standing there, and the second he saw her, he knew.

  “Elizabeth!”

  The woman turned and walked right into the cup of ice cold coffee. It poured down the front of her very revealing shirt, staining the baby pink material a sick brown.

  “Oh. My. God!” she blurted. “You’re a freaking idiot!”

  Elizabeth smiled. “I’m so sorry.”

  “What the hell were you thinking?” the woman asked. “This is cashmere!”

  Ethan tried to stop her, but the tirade continued.

  “You’re paying for this! It was brand new! I can’t believe you’re so freaking incompetent!”

  “Ethan, who’s the girl trying to poach my man?” Elizabeth asked.

  The woman stared at her. “What?”

  “Oh, you heard me. He’s mine as in the biblical and legal sense of the word.”

  Ethan took over.

  “Nadine Mackovich, meet your boss, Director Blackhawk. She’s in charge of the unit that you were just hired for, and she’s right. I’m her husband.”

  Ethan knew it was over.

  Elizabeth had that look on her face.

  “Oh, is she my newbie to work on Chris’s crew? MY PERSONAL TEAM?”

  The woman actually went pale, then green, and then gray like a corpse.

  That was ironic.

  “Yes, baby.”

  “Well, not only am I your new boss, but he’s my husband. Pull your skirt down, tuck your breasts into your shirt, and have some class. You don’t meet your bosses looking like this.”

  The woman’s mouth flapped.

  Elizabeth was loving it.

  “Am I fired?” she asked.

  Ginny actually laughed. “Oh, you’re going to wish you were by the time Mrs. B is done with you.”

  Wasn’t that the truth.

  “No way! You get to be my pet project. If I catch you dressed like this again, I will make your life hell. We have a dress code here, and on my team, at the morgue, I don’t want to look at tits and ass unless they are attached to a very dead corpse!”

  She glanced over at her husband, and he was grinning. Well, she wasn’t in trouble.

  There was that.

  “See you in the lab!”

  Nadine took off.

  Ginny gave her a high five. “I’ll tag her file. I have a feeling she won’t be staying.”

  Ethan shook his head. “Do you think?”

  “I need to see you,” she said, pointing at his office.

  “Oh, well, I’m free. Where’s Callen?”

  “He’s handling the team. I needed to see you alone,” she stated.

  He headed into his office.

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “Do you get all hot and bothered by MILFs?”

  His coffee mug paused halfway to his mouth as he sat behind his desk.

  “Is this a quiz, a test, or a trap?”

  “None of the above. I’m curious.”

  “Uh, the MILF I’m married to gets me all hot and bothered, so, yes.”

  She snorted.

  “Why?”

  “I need to borrow your car.”

  “For?”

  Here’s where it got tricky.

  “I need to talk to some ladies tonight, and I can’t use my ride. The media knows it’s mine, the plate traces back to me, and I need to go incognito.”

  “Why do I feel like you’re keeping half of it back from me?”

  “I’m going to dress up like Miss Kitty and interview hookers. Callen needs a ride to sit in to watch my back while I’m going undercover.”

  He put his mug down.

  “Please?”

  He laughed. “You want to use my Mustang, the car we’ve christened multiple times, with my brother to scope out hookers?”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Uh…”

  “I’ll make it worth your while.”

  He laughed.

  “Today, the one suspect said I was hot enough to be a MILF. What if I got you to change your mind?” she asked.

  “Did you really have sex with Detective Sheehan and his partner?” he asked out of the blue.

  “Yes, but not at the same time. I was young. I thought dating cops was a good idea.”

  “I’m technically a cop.”
>
  “I never dated you. We had sex, you proposed on day four, and we got married. I was never your girlfriend.”

  She had a point.

  “Callen…”

  “I was never his girlfriend either. I was his sister-in-law, I was his partner, and then we were a threesome. You Blackhawk men move fast.”

  Again, she had him.

  Elizabeth moved toward him, when he spun on his chair to face her, Ethan had that look on his face.

  He didn’t fool around in the office.

  It was like his temple.

  So, she broke the rules.

  He shouldn’t be surprised.

  Straddling his lap, she wrapped his tie around her hand. “Let me have your car, I’ll let you come watch me be a hooker, and I’ll make your day right here, right now.”

  His heart thumped.

  “That’s probably a very bad…”

  Her mouth found his, and the kiss was all Elizabeth. She was leading this one, and Ethan was helpless to stop it. She showed him what she was feeling.

  He loved it.

  It was so wrong to go there.

  This was work.

  He was the director.

  The kiss stopped.

  “May I use your car, Director Blackhawk?” she asked again.

  He was still trying to put a sentence together when she got up, stood between his knees, and then dropped to hers.

  His eyes went big.

  “The door isn’t locked,” he hissed, as she unbuckled his belt.

  Ethan heard the fly slide down, and he knew he was screwed. There was no way he was going to get out of this now. His dick was in her hand, and she was staring up at him.

  Well, he was screwed either way.

  “Just do it,” he muttered, grabbing her by the back of the hair to guide her mouth to his erection.

  Elizabeth let him take control.

  She took all he had to offer, and she loved every second of it. The more she sucked, the harder he got. His whole body shook, and she couldn’t wait.

  Pulling away, she looked at him.

  “You didn’t notice she was flaunting her whole body?” she asked.

  “Who?”

  He genuinely looked confused.

  “The new hire.”

  “No. I don’t look at other women. I have one I love more than my own life. I have my soul mate.”

  Her heart skipped.

  Elizabeth stood, headed toward the door, and locked it. When she turned, he was already standing.