Page 2 of The Cold Ride

“I’ll get them.” Ben rose and headed inside. I knew it was harder for Ben. He and Evan had been as thick as thieves.

Ben wasn’t inside long and returned carrying the pan with the potatoes to the picnic table.

Wyatt brought the pan of steaks over to the table. “Get ’em while they’re hot, boys.”

It wasn’t long before the five of us were chowing down on steak and potatoes. Fuck, it hit the spot too. Ribald stories flew around the table, courtesy of Aiden and me. But that box sat dead center of the table like a beacon, a constant reminder of Evan.

“You’re staring,” Wyatt said to Ben with a nod toward the box before taking another bite of steak.

“I want to get on with it. We’ve waited. I want to know why—just fucking open the damn thing already,” Ben snapped. His emotions were raw.

Conversation halted around the table. All heads turned in his direction.

Wyatt studied Ben, then glanced at the rest of us. We were the last of our original unit still serving. All the others either died or retired or had been reassigned and were scattered across the country and the globe.

Wyatt shook his head at Ben’s outburst. “Still no patience.”

“Still controlling everything. Just open the fucker,” Ben demanded. The guy looked ready to snatch the package off the table and rip into it with his bare hands.

With an agitated sigh, Wyatt moved his empty plate and put the box in front of him. Pulling out his pocket knife, he cut open the container. From inside the box, he withdrew a thick stack of letters in sealed envelopes. On top was something he started to silently read.

“No. Do not read it quietly,” Ben blurted with a snarl.

Wyatt handed the stack over to him. “You read it out loud, then.”

Ben snatched it from his hands. He became choked up for a moment, then cleared his throat and read.

Hey motherfuckers,

We’ve had quite a ride. And I wish I could stay, but after everything that happened, I just can’t. My story, my life, was always going to end in flames. I’ve seen too much. I’ve done too much. And I can’t stay.

I know it’s going to piss you fuckers off. But get over it. It’s my life and my death we’re talking about.

I can’t go on with the burden we carry. By the time you read this, I’ll be worm food. And I’m good with it. I’ve made my peace with it.

But I’m going to ask you all to do one final thing for me. It’s my last command. I’ve included five letters. The names and addresses are on the envelopes. Hand deliver them for me and make sure they each read them.

I don’t know that they will be happy to see you. Most likely, they won’t want to take the letter or read it. But make them. For me. I need them to know my failures were never about them and make amends from beyond the grave.

As for you fuckers, take care of each other. I consider you all my family. I know this is gonna piss you off and hurt you. And for that, I’m sorry. But we each have to go on our own way.

Serving with you was the best thing I ever did. Know that I will be waiting on the other side to greet you.

See you in hell, boys.

Your friend always,

Evan Ryder

Hooyah, bitches!

Ben glanced at us. We all had tears in our eyes as he said, “Let’s look at where he wanted us to go. Anyone who doesn’t want to go—”

“Like we’re backing out of this mission. We’ve all got the leave time. Just tell us where we’re fucking going,” Lucas stated. I nodded in agreement with him. No way I was backing out of this. It was the only way I could atone.

Wyatt handed over the envelopes, and Ben flipped through them first with a scowl.

“So we each take one and deliver it.” Ben passed them around the table.

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