Page 60 of Chaos has a Name (An FBI Romance/Thriller #66)

“I’m going to tell Ethan and Callen you’re off duty until morning. Gene can go with them. I’ll stay so I can monitor your symptoms. If I have to take you to the hospital, I will,” he added, knowing that wasn’t going to happen.

Call it a hunch.

At his words, Gene knew one thing.

It was done.

“Okay, Christopher,” she said, hoping if he found out, he wouldn’t be angry with her for this little white lie. They had a rule in their relationship not to lie, but she really couldn’t face those caves again.

Getting up, he headed to the door.

When he looked back, it wasn’t at Elizabeth, but instead, it was at Gene.

Uh-oh.

Gene knew that Chris knew.

They hadn’t successfully fooled him with the concussion act. Now, it was a matter of seeing what the fallout would be.

Honestly, Gene had only started feeling like he could fully integrate into the unit. He’d always held back for a reason, and now, he’d see if there was fallout for Elizabeth going to him, and not one of the husbands.

He was trying to read the situation.

At the door, the man was staring at him, his eyes burrowing into his soul.

Then, it was the slight nod that Chris gave him before leaving that clued him in. It appeared that Gene wasn’t the only one trying to buy Elizabeth some time.

“Thank you,” she whispered when Chris had left the room.

He lifted her chin.

“You don’t need to thank me. I love you, and you’re my family. I’ll always cover for my field partner. I’ll always cover for my girl.”

She could see that.

Oh, and she appreciated it.

Finding his mouth, she kissed him. It wasn’t heated or wild. Instead, it was sweet.

It was love and she was grateful that Ethan had brought Gene into their family. It had become something she cherished with him.

For them, this was the beginning of their journey into a relationship. While neither would ever crave sexual gratification, they craved something even more.

Love.

Elizabeth truly enjoyed that she could be in love with someone solely based on their connection, and not sex. It was nice to know that he liked being near her for everything else, and not her body.

This was peaceful.

When the door opened, immediately, Callen sighed at what he was seeing.

“I’m so worked up today about her going missing that I don’t even give a shit she’s naked in bed with a man she’s not married to. I just can’t today. What is it with this reservation? It’s like backward-ville.”

It made Gene laugh, and he broke the kiss.

Had anyone told him before this last year that he’d end up in bed kissing a naked woman, he would have called bullshit.

Yet, here he was.

Life was strange.

One of the men in the room didn’t laugh. Instead, Ethan was too concerned and headed her way.

He.

Was.

Worried.

The whole time that they were downstairs getting the kids ready to transport along with Coraline and the baby, she’d been at the forefront of his thoughts.

The last thing he wanted was her back in the woods and he was willing to beg her to stay in.

Just.

In.

Case.

The more he considered it, the more he believed that whoever was behind this was going to focus solely on her. That not only made him sick, but it freaked him out.

Taking her hand in his, he stared into her eyes.

“Chris said you don’t feel well.”

Once more, Gene covered for her.

While he didn’t advocate lying to anyone in their family, the end outcome was important this one time. If she went out, Elizabeth was going to be distracted.

That was dangerous.

If he saved face for her, they might just all calm the hell down.

So, he went there.

“She’s got some light sensitivity, and we don’t need her getting pneumonia if it rains again. It’s probably a mild concussion.”

Luckily for her, both men didn’t question it.

Elizabeth was given a reprieve and able to stay in until morning. By then, she hoped she was stronger.

It wasn’t like she didn’t want to work.

She did.

She just needed to handle a few things first to clear that mental plate that was weighing her down.

There were items on her back burner.

“I’ll be in communication the whole time,” she admitted. “I hear there’s a journal,” she said, changing the subject.

Ethan nodded.

“It’s in the living room. I left it on the table. I didn’t get to go through it too much, but it looks like it’s a book full of legends on the reservation. Mostly, bullshit stuff, but then again, before today, I wouldn’t have paid any attention to Wendigo lore.”

That made her curious.

“Tomorrow, I need a profile. I also need to know about that disease Chris mentioned—Wendigo Psychosis.”

He assumed.

“I noticed that you put Axl on my ass,” he said, bringing it up to see if she was doubting him or just needed two profilers.

For Elizabeth, this was tricky ground.

“It wasn’t because I didn’t believe you could do it. It was just a backup plan. We’ve all had a rough seven days.”

That.

They.

Did.

Ethan reassured her.

“I’ll have a profile ready for you. I just want to get a look at the cave where the bones are. You can learn a lot about a criminal when you see their hidey-hole.”

She glanced over at Gene.

“Will you babysit him? You know how he gets when left to his own devices.”

Ethan laughed before his new husband could even say anything.

“Uh, pot, you woke up in the cave. The kettle is just fine,” he stated.

Gene ignored him because Ethan had gotten himself into plenty of shit through their younger years in the FBI. That wasn’t happening again.

Bet.

On.

It.

“I’ll be all over his ass. Don’t worry. Oh, what was that?” he said, when no one spoke. “Did you just use mental telepathy to tell me you agreed and that you insist, Elizabeth, that I stay up close and personal with the Native?”

She snorted.

That was when Ethan sighed.

“Really?” he asked. “Last I looked, I’m a grown-ass man and I don’t need a babysitter.”

Gene busted his ass.

“I meant Callen,” he said. “He’s hot.”

That had the big man grinning, and he played along to keep Ethan calm. If there was one thing he hated, it was when everyone thought he was less than safe in the field.

“I mean, once the ladies go Callen, they never go back,” he responded, busting both Ethan and Gene at once time. “And there is no bigger pussy than Gene.”

That made Gene roll his eyes.

Someone was spicy.

For damn sure.

Since they were feeling better, now that a weight was off all of them now that Elizabeth was staying in, he had a question.

“What do you want to do about Rayna? She’s downstairs waiting for you?” Callen asked.

Oh, Elizabeth was getting one thing off of her to-do list.

“I’m going to talk to her, and then, I’m going to send Uriel off duty for the night. When he leaves, I’m going to point the Chief of Reservation Police right at him. Uriel needs to get laid and stop stressing that every pretty woman is going to judge him.”

All three men shook their heads.

“She’s hurt and can still play Cupid. That’s dangerous for everyone,” Callen joked. “Let’s hope that hit to her head didn’t throw off her aim and get the wrong person.”

Elizabeth explained.

“Uriel checked in with me earlier. He’s smitten, but scared stupid that if he tries, he’ll fail. Rayna, on the other hand, is more aggressive. I’m going to just give them a little push. Someone needs to get some joy out of being here. God knows it’s not going to be any of us.”

That was the damn truth.

Damascus was a difficult pill to swallow for them.

“And Dad?” Ethan asked. “While creative to ground him in the treehouse, at some point, he’s going to need to be let out.”

She knew it was time.

“I’m going to face him down first. He’s been in timeout for long enough.”

Callen was to the point.

“Sooner is probably better than later. He’s literally pissing out of the treehouse window. Michael and Uriel wouldn’t give him any bathroom breaks for the stunt he pulled running from us.”

Well, Wyler would get over it.

“He pees in the woods all of the time when he’s hunting. This is the most normal thing he’s done,” Ethan admitted.

No one said anything more.

It appeared that the explosion between Elizabeth and Wyler was about to go down.

How it would end…?

They weren’t sure. Honestly, it was going to depend on who was far more stubborn.

Elizabeth.

Or Wyler.

When it came down to it, that was anyone’s guess.

Because they had to get moving, Gene kissed Elizabeth on the forehead and then got out from under the covers.

Immediately, Callen stared right at the man’s crotch. Oh, and Gene didn’t miss it.

“What the hell are you doing?” Gene asked.

Callen was to the point.

“I’m making sure she doesn’t turn you straight.”

Somehow, he managed to say that without laughing. Elizabeth and Ethan, on the other hand, couldn’t hold back. It was so absurd.

And they all knew it.

“Cut me a break, Callen. I just had Lyzee jugs against me. I’m trying not to question my sanity. Tits are not for me, my dude. I like testicles. HIS,” he said, pointing at Ethan.

Yeah, it looked as if they were going to be okay after all. The family that lost its sanity together, stayed together.

Clearly.

“Keep me updated on the drive,” Elizabeth said. “Oh, and don’t let my brother do anything ridiculous. Cam normally keeps him from being insane.”

Oh, they would.

The irony was they were trading one crazy LaRue for another.

Same bloodline, different last names.

“I’ll get the titter monster into some pajamas,” Callen said, wiggling his eyebrows to amuse her.

That was Gene and Ethan’s sign to head out.

Leaving the room, they walked down the stairs, side-by-side. When Ethan stopped, mid-step, Gene looked over at his mate.

And he knew.

The.

Jig.

Was.

Up.

Ethan lowered his voice.

“Now, tell me what’s really going on. My wife, the Deputy Director of the FBI, and the head of the VC unit, would NEVER stop pushing and take a night off. She’d rather kiss a spider.”

Yeah, Gene had been right.

Ruh-roh.

Because this was a slippery slope, with two different sides, Gene said nothing at first.

“Really?” Ethan asked. “While we’re on our honeymoon on this delightful Native-filled reservation where something called The Hollow is running free? You’re going to play dumb now?”

Yeah, Gene was screwed.

There was no way around it, so instead, he was honest with Ethan. Well, sort of honest, but more in a way that would protect Elizabeth too.

“Babe, I can’t tell you.”

Oh, Gene knew this put him in one hell of a position. It was keep the secret from his husband and lie, or let him in and break his promise to Elizabeth. Either way, he was breaking one of the rules.

Ethan didn’t like that answer.

“She’s not okay, is she?”

Here was where he tried to do the right thing when it came to both of them.

Gene just shook his head, technically not answering him.

“Is she hurt?”

Again, he shook his head.

Ethan relaxed a little.

As long as she wasn’t seriously injured, he could deal with the rest. So, he took another stab at it to see if Gene could help calm his worries.

Because he wasn’t so much fearful of coming back here as he was to the fact Elizabeth could be in danger.

“Is she scared and worried about this case and being here?”

Someone was way too good at this game. Gene didn’t want to play it against Ethan anymore.

Slowly, he nodded.

Seeing that, Ethan calmed down when recognition dawned as to what was going down. It appeared that Elizabeth had a new partner in crime.

And he was good with that.

His one thing was that Elizabeth deserved to be protected at all costs. God knew that she put up with a plenitude of bullshit from the men in her life. As long as Gene wasn’t hurting her, that was a positive for him.

“You’re lying for her.”

Again, nothing.

Instead of getting angry, Ethan kisses him. Oh, he knew his man, and he knew that ultimately, Gene would protect the weakest in a group. Right now, that wounded person was Elizabeth.

Someone couldn’t help himself. Gene loved an underdog.

Just.

Like.

Elizabeth.

It was crystal clear that he was working on his relationship with their wife.

In his own way.

Gene broke the kiss and was to the point.

“This polyandrous relationship thing is a bitch to navigate,” Gene admitted.

Ethan just laughed.

And laughed.

And laughed.

He had some bad news for the man.

“Oh, my love, you have no damn idea.”

Uhhhh…

“It’s a wild ride. That’s for damn sure. Buckle up, and try not to lose your mind in the process.”

Gene had one issue with that.

He’d lost his mind a long time ago.

Some things never changed.