Page 12 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“What do you want me to say?!” I yell, exploding from the bed in front of him. “That I’m fucked up?!”

“You aren’t fucked up, Gav,” Tyler says softly. “You saved lives that day.”

“They might be alive, but they’ll be messed up for life because we can’t stop this shit.”

“We’re trying. That has to count for something.”

“It doesn’t. Get out of my room.”

“No. We’re getting somewhere.”

“The only place you’re getting is out.”

Tyler pounces before I have a chance to protect myself. He wraps his arms around my neck and slings me to the bed, keeping me in a chokehold. “I said no.” He squeezes harder when I struggle against him.

“What are you going to do?” I wheeze. “Cuddle with me?”

“If that’s what it takes to help you get a full night’s sleep, you can bet your ass I will. You have to be the big spoon, though. I like to feel dainty.”

That shocks a laugh out of me, which I’m sure was his intention. He feels the fight leave my body and relaxes his hold. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Take it one day at a time.” He pops a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “This is a start.” Tyler lets me get up and slide back into the bed. “Do you want me to stay? I wasn’t joking about that part.”

I take a deep breath and swallow my pride. “Yeah.”

“Cool,” Tyler shrugs, turning the lamp off. He settles against the pillows on his back and I lay beside him. “This doesn’t make you weak. Sometimes, you just need to know someone’s there to keep the nightmares away.”

“Thank you,” I say gruffly.

“No thanks needed. Now shut up and go to sleep. I need my beauty rest.”

With a laugh, I roll over with my back to him. For all Tyler’s teasing bullshit, he’s the only one who knows how to handle me. He knows when I need stern or when I need jokes. Keon and Ari try, but they seem to be struggling through this, too, just a little better than me.

I let Tyler’s even breathing lull me to a sense of comfort and close my eyes.

Tomorrow has to be a better day.

5

KEON

Ishut the door to Gavin’s room after checking on him like I always do. Gavin is on his stomach, and Tyler is on his side with his hand resting on Gavin’s back. I hear him screaming at night, but I also hear Tyler bust ass to get to him. What Gavin doesn’t know is Tyler sleeps in there every night now, just in the chair in the corner instead of the bed. I want to help Gavin. We all do, but we can’t until he opens up about everything.

I make my way downstairs to find Ari in the kitchen making coffee. Deciding now is the time to talk to him, I slide onto the stool at the kitchen island.

“Talk to me, Ari.”

Ari glances at me and then back to the coffee pot. “Nothing to talk about.”

“Bullshit. You’ve been on edge for weeks, and that’s not like you.”

He slams his mug down harder than necessary and pours coffee into it. “Maybe I’m just sick of this shit. I’ve been doing this for a long goddamn time, and I’m tired of always showing up too late to these missions.”

“Is this about Avina?”

“No. Drop it, Keon.”

“For fucks sake,” I sigh. “Look, we stay on Gavin to talk and now you’re clamming up?”