Page 48 of Chaos has a Name (An FBI Romance/Thriller #66)

“Holy shit,” he muttered. “Vivian, don’t pop out at Elizabeth like that. She punches. Her reflexes are a lot faster than mine.”

The woman laughed.

“I’m sorry. It’s habit. I ordered you and Director Whitefox lunch. It will be here shortly. Will you be staying here for the rest of the day?”

He didn’t know.

At any point, anything could happen. Ethan had learned that when he’d lived out here.

FBI West, and Damascus, were anyone’s bets.

Oh, and he didn’t know how right he was.

“If I’m not here, shove it in a refrigerator or let someone on the team have it. My wife is in the field, and I might be heading out. I’m waiting on Callen and we’re going to finish working on the assignment Elizabeth gave us. We might do it here, with her, or at home.”

That seemed to work for her.

As they walked toward the lobby, Ethan saw that they had a visitor.

The Reservation Chief of Police had arrived there. She was also holding something in her hand.

“Rayna,” he said, heading her way as Vivian went back to her desk.

She held out the book.

“I met with my father, and he gave me this. I’m assuming you know why?” she asked.

He did.

So, he explained.

“He mentioned there was a book at the council house that talked about The Hollow, and what is going on here. We needed it.”

She rolled her eyes.

“He told me not to help you guys,” she admitted. “He ordered me to back off from this case.”

Oh, well, that was interesting.

Only, he said nothing.

“In fact, he doesn’t want anyone digging into this. Apparently, bad shit happened the last time.”

Blackhawk was to the point.

“We can’t overlook things just because ‘bad things happen’,” he admitted. “As the FBI, we let tribes handle their own problems, with the exception of guns and homicides.”

She was aware.

“Well, I’m still in,” she admitted. “I want to help, and this is my home—and yours. I hope Elizabeth won’t boot me off of the case.”

Oh, he doubted that she would.

If anything, she was very Native friendly, and having a cop who policed the reservation on her side would make it so much easier.

“I can’t see that happening. You’ve been helpful, and you just shared what your father said. That’s honesty, and she likes that.”

Oh, her too.

“Can I ask you something?”

He nodded.

“Sure. What’s up?” he asked, curious about the book. He was going to dig into that journal to see what they could find as soon as he had a moment.

In a perfect world, it would have a list of all of the people who went missing on the reservation.

A guy could hope, right?

“What’s the deal with Caspian?” she asked. “Is he always quiet? Because I think I freaked him out.”

It took him a second. Normally, they all called him by his Archangel name.

Finally, he knew who she was talking about. So, he helped her.

“He’s very much shy, and keeps to himself unless he trusts a person. I remember when he was first assigned to protect me as Director of the FBI. I didn’t hear him say ten sentences that first month.”

Oh, well, that was good.

It was normal behavior.

“Why?” Ethan asked, knowing that the woman must not know too much about him, or she’d know why he kept to himself.

Truthfully, Rayna wasn’t sure why she was so fixated on the man. All of the way over here, she was thinking about him and his big hands.

“I was talking to him, trying to get information out of him, and he was not making it easy. I wasn’t sure if I insulted him, scared him, or turned him off.”

Oh, Ethan knew what she was up to.

That last part clued him in.

Big-time.

“Attracted to him?” he asked.

She shrugged.

“I mean, he’s handsome, and has pretty eyes. He feels like a genuine guy. I know he has five brothers, and two of them died. I know he likes gum, and smells nice. I just can’t get anything more.”

He actually laughed.

“You know more than most people. Uriel is someone who watches and stands in the background hiding. He’s kind, he’s funny, and he’s unique.”

Interesting.

She wouldn’t mind learning more about him. Rayna was crazy like that.

“Is he staying with you guys?” she asked, trying to get some intel on him.

He shrugged.

“I mean, he’s copping a squat in the RV parked in the yard, so I guess that’s a yes. Why do you ask?” he inquired, already guessing the answer to that.

Someone was hot for a bodyguard.

Rayna didn’t know why she was still interested. Caspian had pretty much made his stand clear.

Still, she took a shot.

“I was thinking of asking him to dinner. I think that would freak him out though, and I don’t know what to do.”

Oh, he was amused.

Ethan wasn’t the matchmaker in the family. For the best advice, she would need to talk to his wife.

Or as they called her, CUPID.

“That would absolutely rattle his cage.”

Yeah, she should probably back off then. Rayna didn’t want him upset.

“He’s off duty in the evenings. You should find him and ask.”

She blinked.

Oh, she hadn’t expected that.

Ethan wasn’t done.

“Cas, doesn’t eat meat, so find a place that’s Vegan—if you’re going to woo him.”

That wasn’t what she expected either, but now, she was curious, and not sure why she was telling this man, other than the fact that he, too, was Native.

“Do you think he’d be receptive?” she asked.

Ethan profiled for a living, so everyone knew he had a rolodex of information in his head about just about everyone on their team.

“Yes, but he’s not someone who is going to be open at first. He’s reserved, and has some scars, Rayna. Don’t be upset if he rebuffs you. Uriel is protecting his heart.”

She was to the point.

“Does he prefer Uriel? Or Caspian?” she asked. “He told me his name, but it was more in passing.”

Yeah, that was huge, and Ethan knew it.

Very few people were privy to his name. They did, since they were family, but even the Marines didn’t know for the longest time.

That he’d told her…

It was important.

“Mostly, he prefers Caspian,” he admitted. “Unless he’s at work. Then, he answers to Uriel.”

Okay, well, that she could do.

If she could build up the nerve to do it.

“The Marine and the man have very different personalities. Think of him as split in two. At work, he’s very much a Marine. Off duty, he’s shy and reserved.”

Yeah, she could pull this off.

Before he could say anymore, Gryphen appeared, and he was hustling it down the hallway toward Ethan.

Immediately, he knew.

“What happened?” Blackhawk asked, fearing the worst. Their security didn’t run unless something bad had happened.

“Don’t panic.”

Uh-oh.

“What?” he asked, knowing anytime someone started with that, there was plenty of need to freak the fuck out. Oh, and now, he absolutely was doing just that.

Gryphen clued him in.

“They were at the scene, and someone shot arrows at the team.”

Ethan looked panicked.

And with good reason, so Gryphen continued.

“Both Elizabeth and Ivan took down Chris and Gene, and then they ran after the person who shot at them with the arrows.”

Oh, no.

He didn’t like that.

At.

All.

Immediately, Ethan texted his brother, telling him to get to the lobby—ASAP.

Then, he went back to focusing on Gryphen—who’s work phone was chiming non-stop.

Ethan went there.

“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked, as his brother approached, looking worried.

Gryphen was honest.

“When Ivan realized the thing they were chasing was long gone, he backtracked toward where they split up.”

Oh, no.

Ethan already knew.

He could feel it in his bones. A husband knew when his wife was in danger.

When Gryphen told them, his whole world, and Callen’s, turned upside down.

“Unfortunately, he can’t find Elizabeth. She’s gone. She’s disappeared.”

Oh, holy fuck.

That was all they had to hear.

Without another word, Ethan and Callen took off for the elevator.

Gryphen followed, and Rayna did the same.

Elizabeth wasn’t unfamiliar with the reservation. The only way she’d ‘disappear’ was if something happened to her.

And by happened…they meant abduction.

By The Hollow.