Silent Ranks

by USMC Best Friend

  “I love you” he held my face in his hands bringing my lips to his, There was a need and urgency about his kiss that made me want to make him feel safe. I pulled off my t-shirt and pushed him back on the bed and we lost ourselves in each other

  Chapter 66

  Run if I run

  The sound of my door knocking woke me. I got out of bed and pulled on my robe and opened the door. Ryder was standing there leaning on the door frame.

  “I was checking you hadn’t killed each other”

  “No we’re fine” I smiled at him “And jack called and I spoke to Dad twice yesterday”

  “Ana’s picking me up in ten minutes to go to the doctors and see how this is healing” he looked at his leg “That stuff you got from Marek’s Mom is amazing”

  “You just want to get back on the front line” I sighed walking out and down the stairs leaving Ryne sleeping soundly Ryder followed me

  “Yes I do” he nodded “It’s what I do and I miss the guys in the Platoon” I poured us both a coffee “so you and Ryne doing okay”

  “Yeah he’s had it rough makes my shit seem like nothing” I rubbed my neck “he said Justin’s still around and came by gate twice last night”

  “He can’t get on the base without getting by a ton of Marines and Sailors” Ryder put his arm round me. “You know where it is right?”

  “I know but I don’t’ want to have to d something like that” I yawned

  “Okay I think you still need sleep and I’m sorry Mom almost broke his neck you’ve hit him Uncle Flynn had a rifle on him and Ryne beat the shit out of him, take the gun and put it in your room”

  “I’m not going to live in fear on base” I shook my head “Hey has Ana said anything about what Ryne does?”

  “He’s a Marine I thought the ink and the uniform gave it away” I rolled my eyes at him

  “You know what I mean” I sat down on the couch “I know he’s not a sniper and I know he graduated at the top of his class in hand to hand”

  “He could just be a grunt” Ryder shrugged

  “I know but” the door knocked

  ‘That’ll be Ana” Ryder beamed He went and got the door Ana walked in with a bag.

  “I take it Ryne’s here?” She said walking over to me after kissing Ryder

  “He’s upstairs asleep” I nodded “He told me about Sarah” She looked at me the color draining a little from her face

  “It almost destroyed him” She sat down slowly on the chair next to me “I’ve never seen anyone in that much pain inside” she swallowed “He closed down the only thing that meant anything to him was the Marines and even then he was written up four times in two months for being reckless and putting himself in danger” Ryder looked puzzled I just shook my head at him “I love my big brother so much, and sometimes I wish to god he didn’t do what he does and I wish things were different for him, and since he met you I’ve actually seem glimpses of the old Ryne, the fun Ryne not the reckless didn’t give a damn if he lived or died Ryne”

  “What is it he does?”

  “He hasn’t told you”

  ‘No we got done with the Sarah stuff and he was in pieces” I shook my head

  “Ryne wanted to do a job that would push girls away if they found out what it was” Ryder rubbed her shoulders “He didn’t want to get hurt again” I looked at Ryder and then back to Ana.

  “Hey sis” Ryne walked into the room and dropped a kiss on Ana’s head without taking his eyes from me

  ‘I think I should get Ryder to the doctors” Ana got to her feet She and Ryder walked out of the house

  “You like leaving me alone in bed?’ Ryne asked reaching for my hand and playing with the ring on my finger.

  “No but Ryder was knocking to door and I didn’t want him walking you”

  “You not being there woke me” he linked his fingers with mine “So I guess now you need to know what I do” I nodded

  “I have an idea” the thought of it terrified me I closed my eyes.

  “You want to tell me” he’d moved closer to me I shook my head. “Does it scare you”

  “More than anything” my voice was little more than a whisper

  “Tell me” his lips were next to my ear

  “You’re EOD” I looked at him “You blow shit up for a living” I watched him smile a little before he nodded “You make it safe for the others to travel”

  “We try we don’t get all of them” he sighed “This is normally a deal breaker for anyone meeting me and finding out I disarm bombs for a living”

  “Wow’ I got up and walked to the window and looked out into the backyard

  “People get the wrong idea about how bad it is” he put his hands on my shoulders “as long as I can run fast I’m good” I turned and looked at him “Sorry EOD humor”

  “Okay” I took a deep breath “do you love your job or is it still away to push people away and you have a higher chance of not coming home in one piece?”

  “To begin with I didn’t give a damn if an IED blew me apart or instead of disarming the land mine I trod on it” he shrugged “But now I love my job I make safe for guys like Ryder to do what he does and for kids to be kids and not worry about landmines” he looked at me “I need to know if you will still love me and if you’ll still be with me”

  “You love your job right” he nodded “I understand the thinking of a Marine, and I know the Corps and your role in it is always first, and at the end of the day a Marine is only as strong as the girl waiting for him” I pressed my lips to his “And I’ll be waiting for you no matter what happens” he rested his forehead against mine.

  “Thank you” he murmured “Thank you”

  Chapter 67

  Yellow roses

  The next few days Ryne and I spent most of our time together when he wasn’t on duty. The only time I’d left the base was to spend the night at Ryne’s place. No one had seen Justin so I was kinda hoping that he’d taken the hint and left the state. Ryder had been given the all clear to return to active duty in a week’s time so we were all determined that the summer ball was going to be a night to remember.

  “Ana come on” Brit leant out of the window of my truck and yelled toward the apartment. Ana ran down the steps laughing and jumped in to the truck

  “I’m sorry I was being held captive in bed” she grinned.

  “Ew… I think I just threw up my breakfast” I groaned “so we ready for the whole hog pampering?”

  “Hell yeah” Ana and Brit laughed

  “Did Marek get his Blues?” Ana looked at Brit

  ‘Yep and hell he looks hot in them”

  “He put them on for you?”

  “Hell yeah” she rubbed her hands together “believe me it was like opening the best Christmas present ever unwrapping him”

  “Okay now I know I’m going to throw up do you do anything other than screw each other” I shook my head “You’re like rabbits”

  “Yeah well he’s going to go away again for six weeks in three more days I’m getting it while I can” She sighed “I’m not as lucky as you two”

  “Hey Ryder gets sent back next weekend as well which only leaves us with Ryne”

  “Hey don’t look at me like that I can’t help it if he’s not getting sent away” I smiled at the two of them. I pulled into the parking lot “So just how hot does Ryne look in his Blues?”

  “Okay that’s icy using Ryne and hot in the same sentence” Ana swatted me as we walked inside. We spent the next 4 hours getting hair’s done and makeup along with Manicures and Pedicures.

  “So are you going to be there Friday to see Ryder off?” I asked Ana as we waited for Brit to be done

  “Oh yes, I’m nervous as hell though” she nodded

  “Why?”

  “Well its one thing Ryne going but someone like Ryder” she looked down

  “You’ll be fine you have us” I nudged her leg.

  “I know. Ryder said something about your Mom flying back”
>
  “Yeah I spoke to her last night she’s coming back with my Uncle” I nodded “He’s got a meeting or something here”

  “Wow so I get the full force of the twins” She pulled a face I looked at her “Is it true they have a really weird twin link thing?”

  “Oh yeah he knows when something’s wrong with her and she’s the same right down to they know when each other is in a bad mood” I nodded “You get used to it. Are you nervous about meeting her?”

  “Hell yeah from what I heard she’s intimidating”

  “Okay are you intimidated by me?”

  “Sometimes” Ana chuckled

  “As long as you don’t do anything to hurt Ryder then she’ll like you, but the minute you hurt him she will tear you to little pieces” Ana’s face was a picture “I’m kidding” I laughed “She’s not that bad and Brit and I will have your back” I said getting up as Brit walked out.

  “Have whose back with what?” Brit looked at the two of us

  “Ana’s with Mom” I shrugged

  “Oh yeah” Brit nodded “She won’t eat you if we say you’re okay?”

  “Okay not helping” Ana sighed as we walked outside

  “Hey at least when you meet her you’ll be dressed and on your feet unlike someone we could mention” they both looked at me and started to laugh.

  “Yes okay funny I know” I groaned “now get your damn asses in the truck” I stopped in my tracks.

  “Wow roses on the hood” Brit whistled walking over and picking up the bouquet of Yellow roses that was on the hood

  “That son of bitch”

  “Who?” Ana was looking confused “and wow I really didn’t think Ryne would be quiet this romantic”

  “He’s not” I hissed through my teeth looking round

  “Well if it’s not Ryne then…” Brit trailed off “That damn mother fucking cowboy” I nodded

  “Get in the truck and we’re going” I walked by the two of them and unlocked the truck and got in. Today was supposed to be a fun day of girl time before we went to the Ball. Brit and Ana got in leaving the roses on the side walk.

  “This is crazy we thought he’d gone?” Ana said shaking her head.

  “He’ll leave when he can’t see me and he can’t get on to the base” I rubbed the back of my neck

  “We hope” Brit shook her head “I think we get ready and yours not at Ana’s just in case he’s still around or following us”

  “I agree” Ana nodded “if he can’t get on the base then at least he can’t show up and ruin the night”

  “Okay call Ryne and ask him to bring your dress over” I nodded “Yours is hung in my closet so Marek didn’t see it” there was a rush of calls being made and a lot of raised voices when Justin was mentioned I pulled up at home Ryder walked out of the house.

  “You have to be kidding me didn’t anyone see him”

  “We were all inside” I sighed shaking my head he put his arm round me and hugged me “There was just the flowers on the hood”

  “I think we need to tell Mom and Uncle Flynn and then we can get the cops involved”

  “I agree” I looked round as Ryne walked up the driveway carrying a dress bag “This is insane” He handed Ana the bag before kissing me.

  “Look can we just forget what happened” I sighed “and get ready to have a good night”

  “Sure” Ryne smiled at me but you could see the look in his eyes that he was pissed.

  “Hey I’ll go get Marek and we’ll all get ready here”

  “He’s here” Ryder looked at Brit “We all had lunch together and got to know each other better” Brit groaned and hung her head “Hey it’s all good I like the guy” I walked into the house and into the kitchen

  “Hey” Ryne put his hands on my hips and dropped a kiss on my shoulder “You okay?”

  “I’m pissed that he’s still around” I shrugged “I’m pissed that I’m letting it bug me so damn much” I turned round in his arms and put my hands on his chest

  “Well, if it’s another beating that he wants then its another beating he’ll get because he ain’t coming near you” he stroked my cheek.

  “Okay Mr. body guard” I laughed

  “Hey stop making out with that Marine and get your ass up stairs we have an hour” Brit grinned “Ryne you need to get your ass in the shower as soon as Marek is done”

  “Yes Ma’am” Ryne chuckled letting go of me and saluting Brit.

  Chapter 68

  Ball time

  I cranked up the music as Ana and Brit walked up the stairs to get dressed.

  “Can I call Mom?” Ryder asked catching my hand before I walked upstairs.

  “You mean you haven’t already?” I sighed

  “No I haven’t” he shook his head.

  “I’ll call her tomorrow… please Ryder I just want to have fun tonight” He closed his eyes and nodded. I know my brother and I know he’d much rather hunt down Justin and view him through a scope on his rifle and I was damn sure that Ryne would be right behind him and stealthy Marek would go ninja Marine on his ass if it came down to it.

  “Beer” Ryne held a beer out to Ryder

  “Thanks” I walked up stairs as Marek walked out of the bathroom.

  “You ready to go for more training”

  “Yes and no” he nodded “I found my place in life with the Marine Corps but I think I’ve found my soul mate with your cousin”

  “Jack” I teased

  “No but I have spoken to him and thank you for vouching for me” he bowed his head a little

  “You were so raised differently to the rest of us weren’t you?”

  “My sister and I had a good life but My Mother had a past should we say” He leant on the wall “And it caught up with all of us and the people who wanted to get to my Mom took me and my sister away and hurt us”

  “You don’t have to tell me all of this you know if it’s private” I smiled at him and rubbed his arm “as long as Brit knows the truth then that’s all I want”

  “I know and yes I told her everything and I was amazed she still wants to be with me” he tipped his head to the side “And I know how much Brit loves you and Ryder and I want to stay on the good side of her family”

  “You make her happy and you won’t have to” I went to walk to my room where I could already hear Ana and Brit laughing and talking.

  “Aly” I looked at him “This guy that hurt you” I nodded “He will be taken down if one of us sees him that I can promise”

  “Somehow I don’t doubt that with any of you” I opened my door and walked into a cloud of perfume.

  “Come on what took you” Ana grinned as Brit zipped her dress for her

  “I was talking to Marek and to Ryder” I walked to my closet and pulled out my dress.

  “Wow that’s so pretty” Ana whistled.

  “I know isn’t it” Brit grinned “She didn’t want a white gown but when she tried it on I told her it looked like it was made for her”

  “Hell you make it sound like my wedding dress” I started to get changed.

  “you never know” Brit giggled you know the track record the women have in this family hell how old was your Mom when she Married Uncle JJ?”

  “19” I laughed

  “Okay fill me in” Ana looked at me and then at Brit

  “A lot of the time with the Marines and I guess most of the Military things tend to move fast” Brit sat on the bed next to her and put on her shoes while I reached for my Jewelry box and put on my things.

  “As long as we know when they’ve met the right Marine they’ve married them as soon as they could” I shrugged looking back at the two of them in the mirror “But times change” I shrugged “it doesn’t have to be like that”

  “So everyone married young in your family”

  “Yup averaging out at 19” Brit nodded “Things can happen as you know and too many times There’s a girl left behind maybe with a kid and because there’s no marriage they don’t
’ get anything if that Marine comes home in a casket”