Page 137 of The Defiant Curse

Well, that helped a little. At least they knew it wasn’t something nefarious that gave it away.

“Still, this is ridiculous,” Ivan stated. “The more I tell you guys not to slip away, the more you do it!”

Gene wanted to get some sleep, so what was ridiculous was having this conversation at three in the morning. They were all running on absolutely nothing, and if a case came in…

They were up to bat.

“Can we stop this merry-go-round of bullshittery? She needed to leave. Let’s leave it at that, and respect her wishes. Ethan knows the dangers, and he weighed them before doing this. We all know he doesn’t do rash things.”

Ivan recalled the conversation he had with her.

Still…

That didn’t mitigate his job.

“Are we sure she’s safe? Michael has his own life and issues there.”

Gene laid down the law.

“Michael has this, and even if he didn’t, this is what Elizabeth wants. Maybe locking her in that gilded cage is her breaking point, Ivan. Lighten up. She went out with The Hunters, and survived that. I think she can manage Scotland in a castle. Now, leave her alone.”

Ivan was aware, but why were they all missing the point? They had security for a reason!

“But she’s not safe.”

Gene was getting bitchy. While he didn’t mind a family meeting, they shouldn’t be at this time of the night. When he’d found out at eleven at night that Ethan was MIA, there was no doubt where he was.

They weren’t children.

Someone needed to stop acting like they were.

“She’s had enough. Can’t you see that? She’s had enough of being a fucking prisoner. She’s had enough carrying everyone, worrying about your kids, and the Marines who died. How about we just give her a little leeway and cut the shit? She’s not coming back if we keep making her hurt as much as we are. Ethan went after her to make sure she eventually comes home to us! Now, back off!”

Ivan said nothing because Gene was NOT prone to outbursts. This one was out of his norm, and caught him off guard for a few reasons.

Had they done this to Elizabeth by locking her down too much? Come to think of it, they all got to go home at night, or could leave the family compound.

She couldn’t.

Not alone.

Only, Gene wasn’t done.

“She’s overwhelmed. Callen’s second job takes him away, and she picks up the slack going to parties and book signings with him. Chris has his conferences where she plays arm candy for the doctor. Plus, she worries about his health. Then, there’s Ethan who opted to be Shaman, and she had to carry that too in a place she hates. I don’t know why no one sees how close to the edge she is, but me. Everyone needs to leave the poor woman alone!”

No one said a word because that was directed at all of them, and they knew it. Who here hadn’t asked for something from Elizabeth?

When Gryphen had been shot, she sat with Ian in the hospital, making sure they were okay.

When Jet died, she stayed with him on the trip back.

When Ivan’s daughter had a hole in her heart, she sat with Blue and Ivan for the twelve-hour surgery to repair it.

It seemed like a lot of take and very little give.

“She worries about your family, too, Ivan, and your daughters. Elizabeth stresses over each and every person in this room. When Demeter was depressed, who did he go to?”

He knew.