Chapter 25: The Silent Vow

That night, the unit gathered for a brief before the next patrol. The atmosphere was different. There was no whispering when I walked in.

Thorne was sitting in the back, his eyes fixed on the floor. As I walked past him to get to my spot, he stood up.

"Ramírez," he said, loud enough for the squad to hear. "I... I’m an ass. I shouldn't have read it. I’m sorry."

It wasn't a perfect apology, but it was more than I’d ever expected from a man like him. I looked at him, then at the rest of the men. Jax gave me a small nod. Stitch smiled.

I looked at the front of the room, where James was waiting. He was watching me, his face unreadable as always, but his eyes held a silent vow. He had fought for me. He had risked his career to keep me by his side.

As we geared up for the 0300 movement, James walked past me. He didn't stop, and he didn't speak, but he dropped a small, smooth stone into my hand—a river stone from the Pech, worn smooth by the water.

"For your pocket," he whispered so low only I could hear. "To remind you of what’s real."

I tucked the stone into my vest, right over my heart. The letter was gone. The cellar was a memory. I was a soldier of the 3rd Platoon, and I had a Commander who would go to hell and back to keep me there.