Rescuing Ryder (Serenity Securities, Team Hawk #1)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Ice made the excuse of a headache and stayed at his apartment while Wolf took Patch out for dinner.

Patch picked at his food and watched the crowd aimlessly go about their lives while he seemed to stand still in the moment when he watched Gunner slip away.

His brothers-in-arms lay around him, already dead. They spent the last two days waiting for rescue, and he watched them fall one by one as he tried to save them. Reliving the last moments of his best friend, Gunner’s last words, he felt helpless, knowing he failed to fulfill his promise. The words echoed all around him.

“Tell Patty and the kids I love them and didn’t suffer. I left a letter in the house safe for them in case something happened. Make sure she gets it,” Gunner ordered weakly.

“Tell her yourself, asshole, we’re getting out of here,” Patch urged his friend. “Don’t even think about leaving me, do you hear me? I didn’t spend all this time patching up your holes for you to spout this shit.”

Gunner turned his head and scanned their buddies, who bled out from various wounds from the explosion. Gunner and Patch did everything possible to save them, but they ran out of supplies, and the coms to base died. Both knew the chances of getting saved remained slim.

“Listen to me. I see what’s going on in your thick skull. You did everything. Now, it’s your job to live a life for us. I’m proud to call you my brother,” Gunner choked out as he gripped Patch’s vest.

“Let go of the wound. I’m ready. I found enough food to get you through a few more days and I’ll find a way for them to save you. You can’t hold on to me forever.”

Patch swallowed the lump stuck in his parched throat as he shook his head in denial. Refusing to let his best friend die, he held tightly to the fresh bullet hole, knowing it nicked an artery and they had mere minutes before he bled out.

“Don’t leave me, damn it, you’re my best friend, and I can’t let you go. Patty and the kids need you. We can’t let them down,” Patch pleaded with his friend of seven years.

“You never let me down, Patch. You’re my true brother. It’s not your time. Don’t worry. I’ll be watching you from below and cheering you on. I mean it. Let me go,” Gunner attempted a weak smile as he stared at his best friend.

Patch gripped his hand tightly as he let go of the makeshift tourniquet and agonizingly watched his brother slip away.

Now, he lay in the sand with a bullet in his thigh and one in his arm. Daring for death to take him, he cried out to the darkened sky, hoping one of the insurgents heard him and came to put him out of his misery.

The sounds of running footsteps made him sigh in relief. Someone heard him. He prayed for his brothers’ forgiveness for his inability to save them.

Faded voices filled the air as Patch closed his eyes and waited for peace.

“Hey, brother.” Wolf’s voice sounded low as he threw down money for the bill and stood. “Are you still here with me?”

Snapping back from the flashback, Ryder rubbed his beard, swallowed the lump in his throat, and closed his eyes. His hands gripped the edge of the table as if he tried to hold on to his dead friend a little longer. Noticing the concern in his friend’s face, Ryder attempted to brush him off. “Ice must be hungry. Let’s get the food to her,” he answered.

Wolf’s grim expression told him he didn’t fool anyone as they exited the restaurant and drove back to the apartment. Patch’s phone rang and he immediately silenced it. A few seconds later, it rang again. He ran his hand over his chin in frustration as he shut the ringer off.

“He’s only trying to help you know,” Wolf glanced at his friend.

“Listen. I’m grateful for the support, but you can’t pop in and rescue me every time I have a low point.”

“Is this only a low point? Tex believes it’s more than that. I’m inclined to agree. You’re living in an empty apartment. There’s no food in the fridge and beer doesn’t count.”

Patch raked his hand across his face. “Come on, do we really want to share feelings? You and your wife came to a wedding and anticipated a few days alone and now you’re on babysitting duty.”

“We all need support now and again. You aren’t alone,” he reminded him.

“No. I’m not. I got Tex calling daily to check on me, a local support group twice a week, and someone from your team checks on me. How can I find time to myself,” he gritted out.

“We’re concerned, Patch. I know you experienced something horrific. You lost a great team, friends and brothers. We can’t replace them, but we’ll stand by you while you grieve their loss and heal.” Wolf parked his vehicle, and they walked toward the apartment.

Patch didn’t respond and ended the conversation.