Courage (Blackstone Book 4)

by J. L. Drake

  An upside-down bucket seemed like a good place to sit. It was in a shady spot and a short distance away from everyone else. I sat down and chugged about half of my water then closed my eyes, happy the testing was over. I knew I had done well, and it felt good.

  “Black.” My commanding officer waved me over.

  Damn. I pushed back on my tired knees and made quick work to join him.

  “Sir,” I greeted with a curt nod.

  “I’m not going to drag this out. We don’t need to evaluate you any more. You have proven yourself time and time again. Welcome to Delta Force.”

  Holy shit.

  “Thank you, sir.” I reached out to take the hand he held out. “I won’t let you down.”

  “I know.” He granted me the first smile I’d seen from him.

  As I was about to leave, his gaze moved over my shoulder, and I turned to see a general standing by an SUV. He stared right at me and gave my commanding officer a nod before he got back into the vehicle.

  What was that about?

  “He’s been out for a while.” Sloane’s voice brought me back to the present. I tried to pull myself up from the depths as I felt someone touch my arm.

  “He needs his rest, and this will help. We’ll move him later.”

  “It’s only been four days. Are you sure he’s okay to be moved?”

  I was sucked downward again, and as I let myself go, images of my time in Delta flashed before me like a flip book.

  “My leg!” Waters screamed into the dead of the night as rain pelted our faces. Chaos and panic surrounded us like a thick blanket of fog. We had done this jump thousands of times, but this time the chopper had swung up to the side to avoid being hit by incoming fire. Waters lost his grip, and the rope had tangled around his thigh as he jumped. He was now hanging upside down, staring death in the face.

  “Black!” His red face desperately pleaded as his bulging eyes latched on to mine. He dangled sixty feet above the ground, a perfect target for those below.

  I knew the rest of the team had landed and were moving into their positions by now.

  “Shit!” Waters flexed his stomach at the sound of the bullets that were randomly being sprayed into the sky.

  I hated those assholes!

  I only had one choice. I reached out, grabbed my rope with my knife in my mouth, and slid down to where he was.

  “Quick, Black. I need my leg!” he screamed.

  I clenched my rope and kicked my feet out hard, and as I slammed into him, I wrapped my legs around his stomach, and with a quick swipe of my knife, I cut the rope that held his leg. We both dropped like rocks. I couldn’t use my feet to control my speed, and he was upside down and couldn’t control the speed with his arms.

  The sound was haunting as the rope zipped through my gloves, and we picked up momentum as we fell.

  In one last desperate effort to save our lives, I shouted to Waters to squeeze the rope with all his might. I did the same, and just before we hit the ground, we were able to cut our race toward death in half.

  Whack!

  We hit hard. The air jolted from my lungs, and I blacked out for a half a second. The moment my head cleared, I was on my feet and grabbed Waters to check him over.

  “How are we alive?” Waters started to laugh.

  “Don’t ask questions we can’t answer.” I joined in on the laughter in a need to shake off my adrenaline rush.

  “Together to the end.” Waters smacked my shoulder, then we both hauled ass deep into the desert to join the others.

  Later that night back on US soil as we piled out of the chopper, I was stopped by my commanding officer, who was waiting on the tarmac.

  “General Mac wants to see you, room three.”

  Oh, shit. I knew I was probably going to be grilled for what happened. Swiftly, I moved inside and told the soldier at the desk I was there at General Mac’s request. He indicated a chair outside a closed door. I took the seat and rested my head in my hands. I really needed some time to rest so I could digest the last mission. There was protocol for what happened, but if I’d followed the rules, Waters would have lost his leg or worse.

  “Tell me about Black.” A voice came from the other side of the door and stopped my thoughts.

  “He’s a born Delta member,” General Mac replied in his distinctive voice. “Mentally unbreakable, smart, he’s liked by all, and on this last mission he risked his own life to save one of his men when his leg got tangled up in the jump rope.”

  “Impressive.” There was a pause. “Not many of them would do that.”

  “My thoughts too.”

  “I’ve been searching for the right person to complete my team, and I think Black would be the perfect fit.”

  I leaned back and rested my head on the cool tile so I could hear better.

  “You’re going to have to ask Frank. He’s had his eye on Black, and Waters too, for that matter.”

  I heard a light chuckle before the voice spoke up again. “I think we can come to an understanding.”

  General Mac appeared in the doorway, and I jumped to my feet out of respect.

  “Black, this is General Logan. He would like to speak to you.”

  “Sure thing.” I gave a nod and wondered if he was related to the Cole Logan I’d heard about. He was legendary and one of the youngest men of my generation to make Colonel. His reputation was well known, but not many people had the pleasure to meet him in person.

  “Please call me Daniel. Would you mind if we stepped outside?”

  “Not at all.” I followed him outside, curious as to why he wouldn’t want to talk there.

  “I don’t like stuffy offices.” He seemed to read my mind. “I prefer to conduct my business outside with a clear head.”

  “I’m not complaining, sir.” I shot him a friendly smile and liked how at ease he made me. We stopped at the edge of the property where the grass ended and the trees began. An owl could be heard in the background over the partying that was beginning to pick up since our mission was successful. I crossed my arms behind my back and stood waiting to hear what this man had to say.

  “Have you heard of Shadows?”

  I thought for a moment.

  “No, sir, I haven’t.”

  “I guess that’s a good thing.” He chuckled to himself. “What about Eagle Rock?”

  Now that, I had heard of.

  “Yes, I do know about Eagle Rock.”

  “Well, Blackstone is its brother company. My son Cole Logan has taken the team over, and we are looking to fill the last spot.”

  Son? Well, that made sense.

  I had waited my whole life to be a Delta soldier, but nothing prepared me for this. Soldiers would sell their souls to be asked to join one of those teams. It was an impossible dream that only a few earned.

  Daniel turned to look at me, one hand on his chin while he spoke. “I was there the day you finished your training and made Delta. What you did in training, risking your chance at running out the clock, that’s not something you see every day.”

  “No man left behind.”

  “Yes, in the field that’s true, but you were fighting for a spot on a Delta Force team.”

  “Mission or training, it shouldn’t make a difference. A life is a life. A brother is a brother. If they’re hurt, you’re hurt, your team is hurt. If we don’t stay true to that in training, how do we know the person will have our back in the field?”

  He studied me for a moment before he nodded. “You’ve been on this team for just over a year, and you’re still quick to move when someone is in trouble.” He waited a beat to let me know he knew about what had happened this morning. “And I know you went through hell and back for a spot here, but I think you’d be a great fit for Blackstone.” I cleared my throat and tried not to smile. “If you’re interested, we can meet tomorrow and go over the details. I understand a fresh head is important with an offer like this.”

  I didn’t need to think about it, I knew it was what I
wanted.

  “No need to wait, sir. I’m in. Thank you.”

  “Daniel,” he reminded me, “and I’m happy to hear that, and my son will be too. He’s had his eye on you for the past thirteen months.” He turned away and took a couple steps when I called out.

  “Daniel.” I tested his name, but it felt disrespectful. “Sir, Waters is a damn fine option too.”

  He smiled and pressed a finger to his mouth as if it was a secret. “That’s why Frank has added him to Eagle Rock.”

  “Sir?”

  “We don’t let the best of the best slip through the cracks, Black. Welcome to the team.”

  A chopper suddenly took off, and wind whipped the loose dirt around us. My lungs filled, and I fought to breathe.

  My eyes jolted open, and I gasped for air. It took me a moment to realize where I was. Still in the hospital, but the colors were different? Did I get moved to a different room?

  “You couldn’t have let me have this one moment.” The annoyed voice made my head jolt over to the side to find Daniel sucking down a juice box.

  What the hell?

  “Why am I here?”

  “Sue thought we’d like to be bunkmates.” He rolled his eyes before he stuck the straw back into his mouth. “By the way, you talk in your sleep.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sloane

  I’d spent the last ten days working inside these hospital walls, and for all ten days I’d been listening to the endless banter between Mark, John, and Mike. Mark’s favorite thing was when John would wake from a nap. He’d jam that stupid Furby in his face and watch him jump. I couldn’t wait for that toy to disappear, but they seemed to know where it was at all times.

  They were such great friends, and it warmed me to hear them keeping up John’s spirits, toy or no toy. But Keith and Cole, on the other hand, were a lot less chatty. I didn’t blame them. While the guys joked and carried on, those two had been in constant communication with Frank and North Rock. Things were not good.

  Sue refused to let Daniel work, and the poor man was going crazy. I knew he’d soon start crawling the walls. I felt bad for him, but I understood his health was much more important right now. Sue was on him like a cat on a light beam if he so much as moved.

  “Excuse me.” The day nurse scrunched her face in an apology as she once more needed me to move. It was probably for the sixth time today.

  “I’m sorry.” I lifted my laptop and shimmied out of the way. Daniel reached out and tugged me to him.

  “I will give you a twenty if you share an update with me, anything at all.”

  I laughed and shook my head. He was like a caged animal dying to be let loose, and I felt for him.

  “I’m sorry, Daniel.” But I tilted my head at Sue, who was pretending to read but really watching us. “She will have my head if she thinks, for one minute, I’ve given you food for thought, any kind of thought.” I smiled in sympathy at him.

  I glanced over at Mark, who was trying to peek under John’s blanket. We watched as Mark got a punch in the shoulder for his effort, and then we laughed out loud at John’s outrage.

  “Look, Daniel,” I patted his hand and whispered, “I promise if I find anything, I will sneak it to you when Sue isn’t around and you can help to find the answers. I know you know a lot more than I ever could about the cartel and how they work.” I saw his face relax a little. Typical Blackstone man. He needed to know he was in control of something, even if it was from a hospital bed.

  “Damn right.” His shoulders relaxed back into the mattress. “I would appreciate that.”

  “You have my word.”

  The door swung open, and the doctor came in with a chart in his hand. He smiled at the room then immediately looked down at the chart once he took in the two sets of steely eyes directed at him in anticipation.

  “As much as it’s been a pleasure having you all here.” He gave a pointed look to Mark, who hadn’t so much as taken a breath since he walked into the room. “Mr. Black, you are free to leave.”

  John’s face lit up as he sucked in a deep breath of air. His gaze then latched on to mine.

  “Free,” he mouthed.

  “Ah,” Daniel cleared his throat, “what about me, Doctor?”

  “Sorry, Mr. Logan.” He walked over to the bed, and Sue stood and joined him. “You will need to stay approximately another week. You simply aren’t ready for discharge yet.” He took a few minutes to update Daniel and Sue on his condition, ending with the need to be patient.

  Once the doctor went over the paperwork with John and he got the green light to ship out, he took the time to give Daniel a little pep talk before the nurse pushed him out the door to freedom.

  “Can you pop a wheelie?” Mark held the door for the nurse as they went into another hallway.

  “Why are you still here?” John snickered but playfully swiped at him as they moved down the hall.

  “Mia is visiting a friend downstairs.” Mark tucked his hands in his pockets as he strolled beside me. “So, I thought Sloane might need my help getting you ready.”

  “How kind,” John grumbled.

  I struggled to balance John’s bag, my work bag, and his paperwork. As soon as we got to the elevator, it dawned on me that I forgot my phone on the chair back in the room.

  “Shoot,” I hissed and handed Mark my heavy load. “I’ll meet you in the lobby. I forgot my phone.”

  “You sure?” John caught the closing door.

  “Yeah.” I turned on my heel and raced back toward the room. I quietly opened the door so as not to startle Daniel, who was already in a foul mood with his bunkmate leaving. I spotted my phone, and just as I scooped it up, I felt the three cups of coffee I’d had hit my bladder. The drive back along the winding roads of Montana’s mountains went through my head, and my legs clenched together at the thought.

  “Sorry,” I whispered to Daniel as he opened his sleepy eyes. “I just need to use the restroom.”

  “Of course, dear.”

  I rushed into the restroom, seeking relief. I heard footsteps out in the room as I stood to wash my hands and hesitated, hearing his angry voice.

  “I have never been this mad at you in my entire life.” Cole’s voice froze me to the spot.

  “Son—”

  “No,” he interrupted, “you will hear me out. You have always been a smart, methodical man. I’ve always held you on a pedestal. Never once did we go into a mission without knowing plan A, B, C, and God forbid, option D.”

  I tried to be very quiet, knowing I shouldn’t be hearing this; it wasn’t for me. It was their private moment, but I wasn’t sure what to do.

  “I’m so sorry,” I whispered and leaned my back against the wall.

  “What you did,” Cole nearly shouted, “that decision was not in the plan. If any of us did that, we would be kicked off the team without even a thought. Why?” He stumbled on his words. “Why in the hell would you make that call? Why the sudden change in plan?”

  “I thought I had more knowledge of the southern side then Mike did. I had no idea that we’d be shot down.”

  “You both were almost killed!”

  “Yes, I know that, and when we were spiraling in the air like a spin top and the ground was racing toward us, all I could think about was I’m glad it was me and not the man who had just had a baby.”

  “And what about John, Dad? He had no say in what you did. We all know the risks we take. The risks you have drilled into our heads over and over again!” Cole growled. “That’s why we have protocols in place. That’s why we practice our plans, review our maps, plan for the worst. But we can only do that when we are all on the same God-damn page!”

  “I’m sixty-three years old!” Daniel shouted and made me jump. “I’m sixty-three, Cole. I know the rules, I knew the risk of what I did, but I did it because…” He paused. His voice quieted. “I know what I did was wrong, but it was a calculated risk, and I was with one of the best soldiers we have.”

  “
That hardly makes it right, Dad, and…” He stopped as the door opened. Sue’s voice could be heard as she spoke to someone in the hall. “Oh, hello, son. I only left because I thought your father was sleeping.”

  “I was resting,” Daniel sounded grumpy, “but you two can just stop your hovering and let me sleep now.”

  As things got quiet, I waited for a few more uncomfortable minutes then quickly washed my hands and stepped out into the semi-darkened room. I quietly fled out the door and down the hall to the lobby.

  John looked happy to see me. “Mark went to get the car. We dug the keys out of your purse. Hope you don’t mind. I can’t wait to see the back end of this place.”

  Mark helped us get loaded up and waved us off as we started the short drive to John’s parents’ place. John fell asleep once we hit the road, and I let my mind drift back over what I had heard in Daniel’s room. I felt off, and I wasn’t sure how to navigate it.

  When I stopped at a traffic light, I glanced over and studied his face. The lines that normally gave away his daily stress were smoothed out, and he seemed at peace. He was such an attractive, strong man, one who apparently held a large piece of my heart. I still couldn’t believe I told him I loved him without even realizing it. It wasn’t exactly how I saw those three little words being uttered, but my subconscious apparently had other plans.

  I reached back for my purse and stuck my hand inside to fish out my lip gloss and jumped at something furry that bit my finger. I swallowed back my curse. I hated that fucking toy!

  If John wasn’t just released from the hospital, a full-out assault would be happening right now, but as for Mark…game on.

  John jolted awake when we turned off and hit the icy gravel that led up to farmhouse.

  “Damn drugs,” he muttered and coughed to clear his sleepy throat. Tripper was waiting on the porch for us when we pulled into the driveway.