Darkness Of Truth (An FBI/Romance Thriller~ Book 6) (44 page)

He hugged her. “Thank you for being kind to my
daughter. I appreciate it more than you’ll ever know.”

When the doors opened, she led him to the morgue doors. “I’ll wait out here for you to escort you back up.”

Callen walked in, completely at home and familiar with the chilly room. A year ago, this would have creeped him out, including the body under the sheet. From the size and shape, he already knew who was waiting underneath.

“I’ll pull it back for you, Sir,” said the technician.

When he did, Callen was surprised. Desdemona didn’t look like he remembered. Her face had worry lines around the eyes, and she just looked…older. It was a testament to what hate and anger could do to a person. The six months since last seeing her hadn’t been kind.

“Can I have a minute?” he asked.
When the man was gone, he turned to the woman he once thought he loved.

“I’m sorry
this was the path you took in life. I wish you could be here to see our daughter grow into a woman. I’m angry that you planned on keeping her from me, Desi. You deliberately planned to hide her to make me pay. That’s a great deal of hatred you were carrying on your shoulders, and I’m glad it’s finally gone from weighing you down. If we pay for our sins when we die, you’ve a great deal to answer for and so do I.”

Whitefox closed his eyes, trying to dig deep and find
any compassion.

“Last time you saw me you told me you hated me and that I ruined your life.
Since this is the last time I’ll see you, I’ll tell you this. I forgive you. I know you were angry, and I promise to tell my child about you if she asks. I won’t disparage you or tell her you were cold, angry and bitter in the end. I’ll tell her you loved her and would have been a good mother. Have a safe passage to the afterlife, Desi.”

Callen slid the sheet back up her body
, momentarily resting his hand on her cooling forehead.

“Go in peace, Desdemona Adare.”
Now that he’s said his goodbyes, it was time to take his daughter and leave.

Exiting the morgue, she was waiting for him and the anger on her face was palpable.
The nurse looked panicked and unsure what to do to contain what was about to erupt.

“You killed my granddaughter with that half-breed bastard child of yours!” Morgana Adare raged, pointing at him.

“Condolences in your time of loss, Morgana,” said Callen. “I said my goodbyes, and I’m going to let you have your time with her now too.” Callen remained completely calm, because he no longer had anger towards the woman that wanted to hurt his heart. She’d made her choices, and she paid dearly for them.

“She died because of you!
If you never crossed her path, she’d still be alive! Take that spawn of yours and get her out of here. I never want to see her or you ever again!”

Callen
didn't care what the woman called him, but to direct anything at his daughter was crossing a line. The generally calm man snapped, anger bubbling up. “This is all my fault, Morgana? This is all about her meeting me? FINE! I’ll own my portion of her death, if you carry your weight too.”

The woman was outraged. “How is this my fault? You got her pregnant and left her.”

“I didn’t know she was pregnant, and as to your fault, she never would have met me if you didn’t start this all rolling with your own daughter. You pushed her to a man that killed her and set all this into motion. If you weren’t a bitter old hag then, she wouldn’t have died full of hate. You made her into you, so congratulations.”

The woman looked appalled.

Callen continued. “You carry this cross on your shoulders, but my child isn’t to blame for your sins, Desdemona’s or mine. You stay the hell away from my daughter and my family, or it’ll be you that’s lost in this hell hole of a swamp!”

Callen stormed away, leaving the older woman to stand there in tears
as his words hit their mark.

Getting in the elevator, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Nurse Marly touched his arm. “Take her and go. Get her away from that old woman. She’s the town crackpot.”

He was well aware
. The whole gene pool was one big mess on both sides. “I’m glad I’m not the only one that thinks so,” he said, patting her hand on his arm. “Again, thank you.”

On the maternity floor, he buckled his child into the car seat that Desdemona had the fortitude to bring with her to the hospital. As he walked out the door, he made a promise to himself and his daughter. They’d never be back.

Finally all the ghosts in Cypress Grove were no longer his concern. The only thing he needed to worry about
now was his child.

There were bigger battles ahead.

The fate of their lives hung in the balance. Would Elizabeth forgive him?

Or were some sins too big for
redemption?

~ Chapter Twelve ~

Early Saturday Morning

Lying in wait in the darkness, he was able to watch the man stumble from his truck to his front door. Obviously, he was inebriated. How he managed to drive that big truck home without killing anyone was beyond him. For that alone he deserved to be punished.

This was going to be easier than he thought.
At first, he believed the man would put up a fight. Now he realized that if he even did recognize him, his response would be dulled- thanks to the booze bender. Here they said Natives were alcoholics, but they should see this man. Now it was simply a matter of knocking him out and then dragging him away to his demise.

He patted the pouch at his side,
knowing the herbs waiting to be utilized would give him the fortitude to take the skin and wear it through the ritual.

Soon it would be time
to make him pay for all the harm he’d done.

Creeping up to
his side, he patted him on the shoulder. When he spun around, the rock clocked him hard against the temple, and he crumbled.

The only good thing was the man lived far enough out of the way. Now he wouldn’t have to transport him
until the job was done. Then he knew where he was going to be placed.

It was time.

Someone had to pay.

             
                            *   *   *

There was no hell like the one
, where you anticipated your family being mad at you for a very long time. Leaving Red River without an explanation and heading to Cypress Grove was going to be a sore point between them all for a very long time. All he could hope was at one point, there would be forgiveness.

He knew deep dow
n that he should have told them. Now that his child was safe and in flight with him, there was nothing but remorse. At first, Callen was terrified he wouldn’t get to leave with the baby, and his family already had to clean up enough ‘Desdemona related’ messes. This was his to handle or screw up.

Yet n
ow there was fear.

Elizabeth had some
firm rules about lying and not telling the whole truth, and this was surely going to come back and bite him on the ass big time.

He stared down at his phone
, re-reading the few texts his woman had sent him. They ranged from pleas for him to call her, promising they could work out whatever was wrong, and inquiries if he was safe. The panic in the words alarmed him, and Callen knew right then, he should be dialing her and giving her a heads up as to what was coming.

Something in him just wouldn’t allow him to do it. He knew the appearance of his child was going to be a vicious wound, and desperately he wanted to just rip the
Band-Aid off all at once. Not little by little, exacerbating the situation. Bringing home another woman’s baby and asking Elizabeth to love her as her own…it was bound to hurt.

The peeping from beside him drew his attention, as his child struggled with the flight. Gently, he cradled her in his arms and left kisses across her face and forehead. “I love you,
sweet pea. Daddy loves you so much.” He began pacing back and forth with her, up and down the FBI jet aisle. “It’s okay my little one, I have you. I promise I always will too.”

The baby stared up at him, eyes blindly seeking something, anything as she sucked on the pacifier.

“Let me tell you about your family. Your momma didn’t make it, but it’ll be okay. We have a family for you.” He prayed they’d accept her, and he wasn’t lying to her on day one. “You have a baby brother coming and you have a step brother too. CJ is going to take care of you his whole life. You’re lucky because you have two little men to keep you safe. I know one of them will be like your Uncle Ethan and guard you fiercely.”

She held onto his fin
ger and his heart melted. “When I was a boy, my mom died too. She wasn’t a great mom, but I survived.” Just barely, he thought. “There’s a woman at home who’ll love you.” Again he hoped and prayed he wasn’t lying to his child. “She’s beautiful inside and out. Whenever I’m afraid, she takes care of me. I think you’ll like her. I hope you call her mom and love her like I do.”

Callen kissed her as her eyes slowly closed.

“I’m sorry I missed the last ten months. I promise you that I won’t miss any more time with you. I’ll walk beside you down the path of life and pick you up when you fall. I’ll carry you when you’re too tired, and keep you safe. I love you, little one.”

When the door to the cockpit opened, Callen glanced up.

“Director, we land in five minutes. Please buckle in and hold onto the child.”

Callen nodded,
carrying her to her car seat. “It’s just about time to meet the family, sweet pea. No matter what, you won’t be alone anymore. Despite it all, you have me.”

He sat back and closed his eyes
, as he prepared for the wheels to touch down and the cabin to depressurize. “Please let this go well,” he whispered, praying to anyone that would hear him. “I need her to love this child and want her. How do I choose between my daughter and the woman that owns my heart?”

Callen took a deep breath, sincerely hoping that
even in death; Desdemona Adare wouldn’t be his total destruction.

             
                            *   *   *

The man lay prone beside the fire. His hands were
bound behind him and his eyes closed. The knock on the head took him down, but the alcohol helped make him manageable. It was always entertaining to watch a big strong oaf hit the dirt hard.

It was like David and Goliath.

He watched him with gleeful eyes at what was going to be happening. After knocking him out, he stripped the man and prepared him for the ritual. Eventually he’d move him, but not until it was all done. Since the FBI enjoyed going back to his ritual site, in hopes of tracking and finding him, he’d take the dead man there.

There was the pause for laughter,
as he thought about the look each FBI agent would have when they found the next body.

He loved a twist in the plot and a surprise in the end.

The reaper enjoyed his work. He stood among them invisible, and when they least expected it, he stole their lives. It was easy to judge them of their sins when you watched them unnoticed. This man had to pay for the blight he’d brought down on the Native people.

Enough was enough of his vicious words and hatred.

Now he’d pay with his worthless life.

             
                            *   *   *

Elizabeth woke with the sun beginning to peek through the windows. She was facing the spot on the bed that would normally be holding Callen. It was empty and cold
, much like her heart. He promised he’d be back, and still he was nowhere to be found.

“He should be here soon
. He’s just landed in Red River,” stated Blackhawk from behind her. “I’ve been tracking him all night. I knew when the plane landed, and when it took off again.”

“Is he alone?” she asked, softly. Elizabeth knew that he’d know. Ethan would have asked how many passengers
were on the manifesto.

“No. He’s not alone.”

Elizabeth began crying again, at the idea that he’d bring Desdemona back there with him. It crushed her heart and made her want to scream in pain and frustration. For the life of Elizabeth, she couldn’t imagine what the woman could say to make him take her back. She didn't know why she was surprised.