Page 10 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie to me. That would fuck anyone up. You need to talk to someone about it, Gavin.”

“I’ll be fine.” I turn to look out the window, ignoring Axel's hard look.

I don’t want to talk about it. I want to forget everything that I saw that day. But I can’t with the constant nightmares. Hell, I’m even seeing them when I’m awake. Everyone who’s ever been involved in human trafficking should be punished and not thrown in jail. They all need to fucking die for what they do to these people.

Axel’s phone ringing breaks me from my thoughts, and he stabs the button on the steering wheel to answer. “Talk to me, Bax.”

“We’re pinned down on the west side of the gate. It’s our only exit route.”

“Your whole team with you?”

“Yeah.”

“Hold on. I’m going to connect Ari.” I’m already pushing buttons on the dash to get Ari in on the call. “Ari, we need a distraction to get them away from the west side.”

“A distraction, you say?” Keon asks, and I can see him grinning from here. “I got you.”

“Okay,” Axel answers. “Make it big. The rest of us will go in for the extraction. Bax, keep your head down.”

“Got it.” The call disconnects, and Axel stomps on the gas.

He roars into a wide spot fifteen minutes later, with Ari pulling in behind us. I roll my neck and climb from the truck, clutching my AK like a goddamn lifeline. Keon pulls a case from the back of Ari’s truck and disappears into the woods.

“Grenade launcher?” I ask Tyler.

“Axel said make it big,” Tyler answers. “Nothing says big like blowing up half a building.”

“You guys are like fucking kids about those grenade launchers. I’m pretty sure Cole would sleep with his if Chelsea would let him,” Axel laughs. “Alright, let’s move. Comms check.” We all say our all clear, and Keon cackles into comms.

“These guys are about to have a very bad day,” Keon explains. We start moving toward the compound, and I let my mind clear, focusing on the task in front of me. “On my count.”

“I think the boom will be enough of a signal,” Ari says dryly.

“Come on, Ari. Let me be great,” Keon answers. “You should have let me bring a tank.”

“Because nothing says suspicious like stolen government property,” I joke.

“They left them parked unattended with the keys in them,” Keon retorts.

“Probably because no one would be brave or stupid enough to steal them,” Tyler replies.

“They hadn’t met me yet,” Keon answers. “You guys in place?”

“Close enough,” Axel says. “Go.”

Seconds later, a boom splits the air, and fire shoots above the treetops. We take off running toward the west side of the building and open fire on the guards spilling out. We get about a foot from the gate when we finally see Baxter and his team. I haven’t met any of them besides Baxter and Roland.

“You guys good?” Axel asks.

“Yeah. Our intel was bad. There were at least forty more guards than what they said,” Baxter answers.

“Keon, destroy the rest and meet us back at the trucks,” Axel orders.

“With pleasure,” he purrs, making me shake my head.

We go back toward the truck, and the next boom lights up the night. When we get to the trucks, we start taking our gear off. “Ace, this is Asher, Zeke, and Koa. We picked them up on the last recruitment mission,” Axel introduces, and I shake their hands.