New Orleanswas a pet project—and by that, she meant a bastion of chaos that The President of the United States wanted stabilized.
It was his pet project—and her mess to clean up.
That was her job.
BUT…
Gene was her family now, and she was a little afraid of the potential outcome too. She knew how much this man brought Ethan out of his shell, and the hell they’d been through.
There was no doubt that Gene was in love with Ethan, and vice versa, but she didn’t like unknown factors.
LIKE.
THIS.
CITY.
Gene had run from Ethan all of those years ago when Ethan had been so sure nothing could break them, and that they’d been a couple until death did they part.
That wasn’t the outcome.
Out of the blue, Gene said he wanted to leave the FBI, and he wanted Ethan to leave it too.
Her husband couldn’t do that, and Gene just walked away, like a ghost in the mist.
Ethan had been left behind to pack up all of his books and put them in storage. Get rid of his lover’s things, and then revert back to the broken man he’d been when he’d left home at eighteen.
Now, he was expecting another sucker punch to the soul. He was genuinely happy and at peace.
They had a daughter together.
Now, Ethan’s life was on hold.
Honestly, Elizabeth was worried about his well-being. After the David Neives thing…
Now this?
Jesus.
Ethan was being bombarded with the past, and struggling to hold up.
All four of them were worried.
With this mess, her allegiances in this case…they were divided. She couldn’t be the one to fix this.
It had to be Gene’s decision.
And his alone.
If Gene went back, and decided that he wanted to stay here with Thomas Bernard, well, then, she had to let him.
She loved him enough to do that, but she also had to protect Ethan’s heart.
That was what was on the line, and this whole thing was incredibly shitty all around.
Now, it was time to play marriage counselor.
“What are you nervous about?” she asked.
