Consumed by Wrath: An FBI/Romance Thriller (An FBI/Romance Thriller ~ Book 8) Read Online Free Page B

strength, compassion, and sense of humor that got her though it.
    When she said that Callen handled it all, she meant it. The man had become the backbone of their family while Ethan was down for the count. From the kids to the bills, Callen was taking control and finding a way to balance it all, much like Ethan had once done. The wounded soul was now her savior.
    Elizabeth appreciated it so much, and knew that she would never be able to give him the words to express it.
    This man was the unsung hero of the family.
    He was her champion.
    As if he sensed her, he suddenly glanced up and removed his glasses.
    “Hey, angel. What are you doing up?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.
    Elizabeth took a moment to find peace. Whenever she would find him working, while wearing his reading glasses, she was touched and enamored further. So much had happened since Timothy Blackhawk had left their world. She only hoped he was still watching them with pride.
    Especially Callen.
    “I couldn’t sleep. It seems half of my bed buddies abandoned ship,” she replied, crossing to him and trying to keep it light. “What are you working on?” Elizabeth inquired.
    Callen dropped his pen and patted his lap.
    Immediately, Elizabeth took a seat and rested her forehead against his, trying to draw some strength from him. She prayed that she didn't drain him dry, and that Callen could hang in there and stay strong. If she lost him too, there wasn’t going to be a happy outcome for their family.
    It would be the end.
    There was no doubt that everything hinged on the man pressed against her. If he quit, they were lost.
    “ I’m taking care of the monthly bills and other things that needed my attention,” he replied. “I was depositing money into CJ, Cat, and EJ’s college fund and trying to catch up with some other things.”
    Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I appreciate everything you do, Cal. Thank you for holding me up,” she whispered.
    Callen took a moment to take in the woman in his lap. She was still sporting the pixie cut that she had gotten in support of Ethan losing his hair. It worked for her and made her appear more fairy -like and gentle.
    He knew that to be the opposite.
    Elizabeth was tough like forged steel. Underneath the soft, delicate exterior, there was a bad ass woman who didn't take anyone’s shit. He hoped that she would find her again and bring her back.
    When he stared into her icy blue eyes, he saw the emotion and knew that she was having a tough moment. “Do you want to talk about it, Lyzee?”
    “Are we ever going to be okay again?” she whispered as the emotion threatened to overtake her. “Is this the end, Cal?” she gushed, overwhelmed by the fear and the pain. “Did my mistake ruin our lives and destroy our family?”
    Her hurt ate away at him.
    “How long will I pay for the error that I’ve made?”
    Callen cradled her against his chest and let her bury her face in the side of his throat. “We’re strong, Lyzee. We’re going to beat this and come back with a vengeance. No one saw this coming, and you aren’t to blame. We made a mistake as a team, and unfortunately, one of us got hurt. Ethan doesn’t blame you, angel. He’ll find his way back.”
    God, she wished she had his optimism. In fact, she would take a drop of it at this point.
    “I miss Ethan so damn much.” What she wanted to blurt out was that she was pregnant and their family was adding one more member to the tribe, but she held back.
    Ethan would be the first to know.
    He deserved it and secretly, she hoped that it would heal him. It was the one ace that she had left in the biggest gamble of her life. If that failed, she would fold and lose everything.
    “ If it matters, I miss my big brother too. I took for granted everything that he did. Half of this shit, I never realized he took care of, and I don’t know how he did it in a normal twenty four hour day.”
    Elizabeth gave a watery laugh. “He ’s the king.