“He’s crossed a line, and she’s taking away the thing he loves and hates the most. This is checkmate. She’s going to give him a piece of his medicine when she wants to make the killing blow.”
That was all well and good, but Chris was curious.
“Will she survive this?”
He nodded.
“No one is tougher than Elizabeth. She’ll make it through the fire. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
He hoped the man was right.
Ethan said one last thing.
“Brace for it. If she doesn’t play this exactly right, and he slips through her fingers, he’ll lose his mind. They are his ultimate collection—the woman who broke him, and the man who made him. They are what he cherishes and hates the most. Once he loses them…”
Well, how could this go wrong?
Let him count the goddamn ways.
* * * The Blackhawks * * *
Same Time
Callen’s office
Elizabeth’s field partner had been working on a few things, and mostly, trying to get a lead so that they could keepThe Huntersupdated.
Speaking of them, he needed to get his own update from them.
As to when they’d be saving their asses.
Pulling out his phone, Gene made a video call to the cavalry.
It was answered pretty damn fast.
“Hey, Gene.”
He could see them on the screen in the sitting area of Callen’s jet. They were lounging, and no doubt trying to get some sleep before the hunt began.
And who could blame them?
There was no way they’d know how long it was going to take, and this might not be a sprint, but a marathon.
Not far away in a corner, Rogue was behind a computer, doing some work. That was typical Rogue behavior. The man didn’t need a lot of sleep, and loved him some tech.
“What’s up?” she asked.
Only, before answering her, Gene couldn’t help himself and bust Zayn’s ass.
It was kind of their thing.
“Fat ass, put the chips down. Don’t get fingerprints on the chairs. Callen will never let you use the jet again!” he stated, annoying the man because he could.
Zayn gasped.
“HEY! Are you really calling me fat, my rotund, less-active friend?” he shot back.
Yeah, he missed these nuts.
