Unconditionally (Operation FALLS Trilogy - Book 1)

Chapter 3

Vince sat in his office at SafeHaven Solutions headquarters, finishing up the last bit of paperwork from his latest assignment. There weren't many details he could add to the basically blank file that had been curated prior and placed on his desk awaiting his signature for the moment he got back. He underlined a few details, before neatly signing his name. As he flipped the file shut, Vince closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. Flashes of the latest mission flashed through his mind's eye; crying eyes and bruises, the silenced pop of a gun...blood.

"Now, I know you have four youngin's waiting for you to get home."

The voice of his boss, Henry Walker, had Vince's eyes popping back open and the memories disappeared into a box he tried not to ever open. Vince flicked his eyes in the man's direction, Henry looked as he always did. Well put together in a nice suit, not one that would make him stand out, but still nice enough to be respected on look alone. His hair was all white, Vince suspected that it was thinning some based on the change of styling that happened about three years ago. The man had wrinkles that aged him, more frown lines by his mouth than smile lines by his eyes. At one time, Henry's eyes had been brighter, over the years that Vince had known them they had started to fade.

"Ty is bringing them," Vince responded, looking down at his watch to notice for the first time that his best friend was running late.

"Ah, mystery solved, then. In all the years, I've known Ty I don't think he's made it anywhere on time." Henry chuckled, making his way a little further into Vince's office. "Mix in your crew and it'll be a miracle if he makes it at all."

Vince's lip ticked up in a hint of a smile. That was true. He had teased Ty on more than one occasion about his inability to get anywhere on time. At the time the man had told him that whether he was late or not the clock kept ticking. Vince didn't see the sense in that at all, but Ty had been so sure of himself that Vince hadn't ever pushed the issue after that.

"He'll get here eventually."

Henry hummed in agreement, "I'm surprised you chose Ty to watch them."

Vince had to consciously keep himself from tensing up.

"Shelia and I would have happily watched them."

Vince narrowed his eyes; he wasn't sure what exactly his boss was getting at. Why wouldn't Ty have been his choice? Sure, in the past he had asked Henry and his wife, but he hadn't asked them to step up like that for several years. This wasn't Ty's first rodeo taking the reins, so why did it suddenly matter?

"It's better that they are in their own home, in their normal routine."

Henry nodded as he fixed one of Juliet's paintings that hung framed on Vince's office wall.

The silence stretched to the point Vince couldn't take it and he added, "Plus, they love Ty and he's great with them."

"But they aren't his responsibility."

Vince bristled, "They aren't yours either."

"No, they aren't."

"I don't know what you're trying to get at-"

"Then allow me to spell it out. Clearly," Henry's gaze was dark as he turned to look at Vince. "I'm concerned about Ty."

A bubble of panic set in over Vince. What was wrong with Ty? Was he sick? Had Vince asked too much of him? But Ty would have told him if it was too much, right?

Henry sighed, "Ty can't make his own life if he's always taking care of yours."

Vince opened his mouth, ready to shout and yell until he was red in the face, but Henry had already left. Letting the door shut with a soft snick behind him. Vince wanted to throw something, to hit something, to yell, to do anything that would make the ache in his chest stop.

Was he keeping Ty from having a life?

That couldn't be true. No one could make Ty do something he didn't want to. Right? Or was Vince missing a piece of the puzzle?

"Whatever," Vince mumbled. He began to gather his things, his shoulders slumped as he did. He took extra care with safely concealing his firearm in his duffel bag. As he was zipping the bag up he heard a knock on his office door.

"For fuck's sake, Henry-"

"Your fucking Henry?" The familiar teasing voice of Ty was like a breath of fresh air.

Vince snorted as he turned around taking in the sight of his best friend standing in his office doorway with his hip cocked and leaning against the frame. His heart stopped pounding in his chest, returning to its normal hum of contentment. He was home. The file on his desk didn't matter. The memories he suppressed didn't even exist. The conversation with Henry was lost to the sands of time. Vince was far from it all.

"You ready to go?"

"More than," Vince responded. He nudged Ty out of the way, moving past him into the hallway.

"I do want to warn you," Ty started as he fell into step with Vince. "You're probably riding in the trunk on the way home."

Vince stopped in his tracks, "I might have to ride in the trunk of a car that I paid for?"

"Well, technically, it was a gift," Ty corrected.

"A gift to myself. From me."

"Seems selfish."

Vince just rolled his eyes and continued to the exit. Ty chattered on beside him, Vince wasn't really listening to whatever justification Ty was making about the car situation. To be honest, Vince didn't really care. He was at peace just knowing that he was going to be back under the same roof as his family. That the control he had over himself and his life had been returned to him.

At least, for the time being.