Unconditional

by Holly Copella

  Flynn and Jackson simultaneously rolled their eyes and shook their heads with disgust at their comrade. Margo held her trembling hand to her head and just stared at Harlan.

  “I’m going to kill him,” Margo muttered. Her expression hardened, and she suddenly lunged for Harlan. “You bastard!”

  Jackson caught Margo around the waist and swiftly returned her to where she originally stood. Indy frowned and smacked Harlan on the arm. He was possibly the only one who thought that was funny. Harlan yelped with surprise, gingerly rubbed his arm, and eyed her with annoyance.

  “No sense of humor.”

  A jeep was heard speeding across the courtyard toward them, leaving a trail of dust. As the jeep came to a screeching halt, Nate looked around at the destruction. He met Harlan’s gaze and grinned his approval.

  “I see someone's feeling much better,” Nate teased then removed the bound, gagged, and nearly naked Santiago from the jeep.

  As Jackson cut the zip tie binding Liz to Kale, Liz and Santiago silently exchanged shameful looks and frowned. Flynn again folded his arms across his chest and arrogantly cocked his head while glaring at Nate.

  “A little late, aren't you?” Flynn demanded.

  “What are you talking about?” Nate asked with surprise. “I've been here for over forty minutes. Harlan said I was supposed to wait down the road for his signal. I assumed blowing up the rest of the compound was his subtle signal.”

  Jackson zip tied Liz’s wrists behind her back and allowed Nate to secure her in the jeep with Santiago. They then carelessly tossed Kale into the jeep with them. Indy clung to her father’s arm with a sympathetic look.

  “I'm sorry about Liz, Dad,” she said softly.

  She knew he had to be feeling bad about being used by the woman he thought loved him.

  Flynn looked at Indy and affectionately patted her hand on his arm. “Ironically, I'm not.”

  Indy looked at her father’s hand and saw his wedding ring proudly displayed on his ring finger. She smiled gently and ran her finger over the wedding band. They exchanged knowing smiles. No other words needed to be exchanged. It was understood.

  Flynn released Indy then glanced at Harlan and grinned slyly. “So you remember everything?” he asked in a tone that conveyed a verbal lashing was about to ensue.

  Harlan drew a deep breath and nodded with embarrassment. “Yes, but there are things I wish I didn't remember.”

  Indy avoided looking at Harlan. She knew they’d eventually need to discuss their exploits, but it had been a long day, and that would be something she’d want to discuss with him in private. It could wait. Flynn placed his arm firmly around Indy's shoulder and glared at Harlan.

  “Yeah, remind me to punch you later,” Flynn muttered while hiding his smirk.

  Harlan appeared stunned and cast a quick look at Indy as his mouth fell open. “You told him we’d slept together?” he suddenly gasped.

  Indy’s expression dropped. She felt her heart stop and her entire body twitch as the words left his mouth. Jackson, Margo, and Nate simultaneously whirled around and looked from Harlan to Indy. Her father’s look hardened while staring at his comrade and best friend. Flynn’s teeth gritted as he gripped Indy's shoulder to the point of hurting her. She squirmed slightly under his grip.

  “You slept with my daughter?”

  Chapter Forty

  It had taken all night and a better part of the following day to secure prisoners on highly classified ships and brief bigwigs of the events that eventually brought down the remaining compound. Harlan was sent on his own, special mission to return his ‘borrowed’ plane to a secured military base that Indy wasn’t supposed to know about. Although someone else could have returned the plane, Flynn left it up to Harlan, leaving Indy secretly suspecting her father wanted to keep some distance between them. Indy and Margo managed to catch a few hours’ sleep on the flight home, but it took nearly the entire day to get everything straightened out. Despite being exhausted from their long day, Indy and Margo stayed up while waiting for the men to return from yet another briefing. Her father fondly referred to a mandatory second briefing as an ‘ass chewing from hell’.

  Indy and Margo sat at the bar with Roman while huddled over their drinks and a nearly empty pitcher of Cosmopolitans. All three looked a little disheveled but retained some enthusiasm to share their survival tales. Most normal people would probably be traumatized, but Indy and her friends viewed it as a chance to swap war stories with the commander. After their ordeal, sleep was the last thing on any of their minds. Roman shifted uncomfortably and gingerly rubbed his injured shoulder. His harrowing tale of survival intrigued both women, and the story wasn’t about to get old anytime soon. Indy studied her friend and relived the entire incident at the funeral home. She knew she’d nearly gotten him killed, although neither expected to be ambushed that night. Indy still felt at fault, since she talked him into going to the funeral home with her without calling Sheriff Lerner for backup.

  “I can't believe you're not dead,” Indy announced as she stared at her friend. “Not that I was seeing straight, but I thought for sure he shot you in the chest.”

  “Thankfully Kale was a lousy shot,” Roman remarked. “In my condition, I knew your best chance for survival was if I played dead and called for help.”

  “We're grateful,” Margo replied.

  “About that other thing--?” Roman announced, studied Indy, and appeared tense.

  “Don't worry,” Indy replied with a knowing smile. “I explained everything to my father. The FBI is going to handle the murdered nurse case. You and Harlan are in the clear.” She studied her friend and noted his relief. “Liz confessed that the nurse was on Santiago’s payroll as well.”

  “I can’t believe those two played all of us like that,” Roman remarked. “I mean, we all fell for their act. I thought Kale was my friend.” He groaned softly and shook his head. “Your poor father. I can’t believe Liz used him like that.”

  “I don’t know,” Indy remarked knowingly. “He seems to be handling it rather well. Only time will tell, I suppose.”

  “I'm glad you're both home safely,” Roman announced and straightened with added stiffness. “Tell your father I'll talk to him another time. I'm a little worn out. I didn’t get any sleep last night worrying about the two of you. Now that I know you’re safe, I’ll probably sleep for a week.”

  Margo grinned slyly while mocking his soreness. “Your first time being shot,” she announced a little too cheerfully. “Guess that makes you a big shot around here, huh? Congratulations.”

  Roman hid his grin. “It’s probably best if you don’t bring that up,” he replied then appeared uncomfortable. “Sheriff Lerner tore me up one side and down the other for not calling him for backup at the funeral home.”

  “Just an overly protective father figure, huh?” Margo teased.

  “Are you kidding?” Roman blurted out. “He's been itching to fire that new weapon of his, and I ruined his one real opportunity. He’s not happy with me.”

  “Jealous is more like it,” Indy muttered to Margo.

  “Well, we’ll just keep that between us for now,” Roman replied and slowly stood. He was obviously hurting more than he led on. “We can talk more tomorrow at lunch.”

  Both nodded and watched Roman head through the kitchen and leave through the back door. There was an odd silence between the two women as they fidgeted with their drinks. Margo finally sighed and looked at Indy.

  “So,” Margo began as she leaned on the bar and raised her brows with added curiosity. “What did Harlan say about what happened between the two of you?”

  “Nothing,” Indy casually replied. “We haven't had time to talk. My father was on him since he accidentally let it slip, and then he sent him to return that plane. I think he’s purposely keeping him away from me.”

  Indy shifted in her chair and reflected on her indiscretions with Harlan. She wondered what the conversation would be like once they finally did discu
ss it. Eventually, her father would have to allow them some time alone. She snapped out of her trance and stared back at her friend. Margo sat quietly watching her, as if attempting to read her mind.

  “Did you want to wait up for guys?” Indy finally asked her friend.

  Margo grinned and raised her brows. “Hell, yeah! Jackson and I have some unfinished business to discuss.”

  “Oh?” Indy asked with surprise then noted the lustful look in her friend’s eyes. She attempted to hide her smile. “A little gratitude for saving your life?”

  “Nah, we’re even with that,” Margo casually replied. “This is just straight up sex for the sake of sex.”

  Indy held back her laugh. She never thought she’d hear those words coming from Margo’s mouth, but she admired her honesty. Indy was sure Jackson wouldn’t complain either.

  “Are you sure you’re ready for that?” Indy inquired. “I mean, you’ve been happily celibate since I met you in college. That’s quite the track record.” She hesitated and offered a timid smile. “You know Jackson can be, well, a bit of a whore.”

  Margo leaned closer to Indy and stared into her eyes. “I have two words in response to that.”

  Indy studied her friend with great interest.

  “Five years,” Margo announced firmly.

  Indy held back her laugh. The front door was heard opening followed by arguing male voices. Indy felt her heart skip a beat. She didn’t want to confront either her father or Harlan about what happened, but she wasn’t looking forward to anymore awkward moments between them either. She needed to talk to Harlan and get things out in the open before it drove her insane. Margo, on the other hand, was enthusiastic for her fun filled evening of uninhibited sex with her own member of Delta Force. Indy envied Margo. She wanted to repeat that night with Harlan again and again, but this time, without the guilt. Sadly, there could never be anything between them. It was a complex situation exacerbated by friendships, loyalty, and honor among teammates.

  “I didn't say that,” Flynn was heard saying gruffly from the foyer. “Don't any of you ever listen?”

  “We listen,” Jackson announced, “but all we hear is blah, blah, blah, blah.”

  “Really? I'm carrying you know.”

  Flynn, Jackson, and Nate entered the bar area, saw both women were still up, and appeared slightly surprised to see them. Jackson smiled when he saw Margo and the seductive way she stared at him. It was obvious there was something already set in motion between the two. Margo grinned and stood without hesitation. Jackson pushed past Flynn, nearly knocking him down to reach Margo. He pulled Margo into his arms and kissed her passionately. Flynn and Nate watched the exchange while frowning. It was quite possible they were jealous. Flynn tore his eyes away from the kissing couple and shook his head with disgust.

  “I'm going to regret retiring early, I know it,” he muttered under his breath.

  Jackson broke off the kiss and smiled lustfully at Margo. “Did you want to have a drink--?”

  Margo took Jackson's hand and pulled him through the kitchen and toward the backstairs. “Good night,” she called back to the others.

  Jackson grinned and eagerly ran up the backstairs with her. All four watched with added surprise.

  “Unbelievable,” Flynn muttered.

  “No one's getting any sleep in this house tonight,” Nate muttered then turned to leave. “I'll be in the study having some brandy and a cigar.”

  Nate headed back for the foyer, leaving Indy alone with her father. They actually hadn’t been alone since before his world was rocked by news of her indiscretions with his best friend. Although she was disappointed Harlan hadn’t returned with them, it was probably best if she straightened things out with her father first. She wasn’t sure what he was going to say, and she wasn’t sure she really wanted to know. The feeling between them was awkward. Flynn poured the colorful drink from the pitcher into a clean glass and took a sip. He immediately made a face.

  “God, this is like drinking pure sugar,” he nearly gasped then glanced at her with a strange look. “How did your mother drink this stuff?”

  “I can pour you a glass of whiskey,” Indy interjected, wanting to please her father to keep from having their awkward conversation, and made a motion to round the bar.

  “No,” he announced gently and took another sip of the drink, making the same face. “I want to drink this.”

  Flynn remained standing while casually leaning both elbows on the bar. He stared blankly at his reflection in the mirror behind the bar. Indy watched him in silent concern. She didn’t like that he didn’t bring up Harlan. She hoped he hadn’t secretly done away with him. Indy immediately shamed herself for thinking such things. He took another sip of the colorful drink while remaining transfixed on his own reflection.

  “Did I ever tell you Harlan’s last words before he ran back into the compound?”

  Indy studied her father’s profile and appeared curious. She didn’t know where this was going, but at least he spoke Harlan’s name without gritting his teeth.

  “No,” Indy replied and leaned on the bar facing him. “I don’t think you did.”

  “He said, ‘tell my girl I love her’,” Flynn announced in a firm but soft tone. He finally looked at her.

  She stared at her father and the expression on his face. Her mind was reeling from the words. “He always said I was his girl,” she announced, feeling a little baffled by what her father had just told her.

  He nodded while raising knowing brows. “Yes, I know that,” Flynn remarked. “I never realized the magnitude of those words until last night at the compound.” He looked back at his reflection in the mirror and appeared lost in another world. “If it ever came down to you or him; you’d win every time, you know that.” There was a strange pause. He again looked at her. His look was serious and commanding. “Please, darling, don’t ever force me to make that decision.”

  Her father finished his drink, set down the glass, and headed across the kitchen. She watched him slowly take the backstairs as if the world was weighing him down. Indy looked at the drink on the bar before her then frowned and allowed her head to fall into her hands. She wanted to cry. Her world officially shattered. There could never be anything between her and Harlan. Everyone knew it, but her father was the only one willing to say it aloud.

  Chapter Forty-one

  Indy entered the kitchen from the backstairs. It was a little after two in the morning. She was exhausted, but she wasn’t able to sleep. Thoughts of Harlan and her father’s words continued to play on an endless loop through her mind. As she approached the refrigerator, she noticed a faint glow coming from down the hall beyond the family room. The light had to be coming from the guest bedroom. She knew Jackson had reclaimed his usual bedroom connected to hers through the shared bathroom. Unfortunately, she knew this because she could hear Margo and Jackson going at it all night. Both were apparently making up for lost time. Indy veered away from the refrigerator and headed through the archway of the family room and into the connecting hallway in the back. She could hear sounds from the television as she approached the guest bedroom. She hesitated a few feet from the partially open bedroom door and considered her next move. Did she really want to have this conversation with Harlan tonight? It seemed pointless, since there wouldn’t be any winners.

  Despite that she decided against a confrontation at such a late hour, Indy was drawn to the partially open door and the light seeping out from it. The sound of the familiar cartoons caught her attention and momentarily sent panic through her. She hoped Harlan hadn’t had a relapse of some sort. He hadn’t been officially seen by a doctor since his memory returned to him. Something could be wrong. She owed it to him to make sure he was all right. Indy knew that was a lie. She wanted to see him! She didn’t want to have that awkward conversation about their behavior, but she didn’t want him pushed out of her life either. He was always going to be important to her, and she would always love him. Nothing was going to change tha
t, and she couldn’t allow her fears of what might be said to keep her from being near him. Indy drew a deep breath while feeling her heart pounding with anxiety. She gently tapped on the door. When there wasn’t a response, she realized he might have fallen asleep with the television on. If he was able to sleep, she certainly didn’t want to wake him. She felt her heart sink then turned to walk away.

  The bedroom door opened, spilling light from the television into the hallway. Indy turned and stared at Harlan in the bedroom doorway. He stared back, sharing almost the same look she wore. He was still dressed, although without his shoes, indicating he’d only recently returned.

  “Trouble sleeping?” Harlan asked gently.

  “My mind is cluttered,” she replied. “A lot has happened over the last two days.”

  “Happens a lot with new guys seeing action for the first time,” he replied. “The mistake is thinking alcohol will help. Usually just makes the situation worse.”

  Indy felt her body start to relax as a smile crept across her face. “So what’s the secret?”

  Harlan grinned and motioned her into the room. She reluctantly followed him. He stood inside the bedroom, grinned, and indicated the cartoons playing on the television. She glanced at him and held back her laugh.

  “Cartoons? That’s the secret?”

  “Worked for me for the last seventeen years,” he replied then smirked. “Trust me; I’ve seen plenty of action. I know what I’m talking about.”

  Harlan approached the bed and cast himself upon it, landing in a sitting position against a headboard filled with pillows. Indy watched him only a moment then gently shut the door. The clicking sound was enough to catch his attention. He looked at her and appeared curious.

  “Are we having ‘the talk’?”

  “Don’t you think we should get it out into the open, so we can return to some sense of normalcy?” she replied.