Page 25 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“Don’t think like that. Man, I’ve never seen you like this. We all need a little good in our lives. Jason is yours.”

“What am I supposed to tell him? I’m a mercenary that kills people for a living? That I work for a secret society that everyone thinks is a myth and have a fuck ton of people who want me dead?”

“Why don’t you start by telling him your real name?”

“What?” Ari demands, looking at me like I’m insane. “My name is a cover for a reason.”

“He’s not an undercover agent, Ari. It’s not like he’s going to go digging.”

“What if he does? Do you know how many red flags my real name will throw up? We’re talking National Security level red flags.”

I know he’s right, but I feel like him hiding his real identity will ruin whatever he’s started with Jason. Jason hears more than anyone thinks he does. He’s learned that skill as a bar owner. For whatever reason, people talk freely in front of him, thinking he’s not paying attention. We’re even guilty of it. “I still think you should tell him. If he finds out later, he’s going to be pissed.”

“Why are you pushing this so hard? If he gets pissed, that’s on me to fix. Unless there’s another reason.” Ari gives me that all-knowing look that pisses me off, so I face toward the windshield, my face carefully blank. “Ke, what aren’t you telling me?”

“Nothing. I’m just looking out for you.”

“Bullshit,” Ari laughs. “We’ve been doing this a long time together. I know you better than that.”

Fuck it.“I was going to ask Jason out until I figured out he wanted you.”

Ari pulls over to the side of the road and throws his truck in park. “What?”

“Then I realized you wanted him too and didn’t want to overstep that.”

“Why the hell didn’t you say something?”

“Because you finally looked happy, man. We hide a lot behind humor and bullshit. But like you said, we’ve been working together for a long time, so I saw through it.”

“I don’t know what to do with this information.”

“Nothing. You continue like you don’t know shit.”

“Is this how you knew I was attracted to him? Because you felt it, too?”

“Can we drop this?”

“How the fuck am I supposed to drop it, Keon? You just told me you want Jason.”

“Wanted,” I clarify.

“Who are you trying to lie to? Me or yourself?” Ari pulls back onto the main road, and I know he’s pissed.

“It doesn’t change anything.”

Ari laughs, but it’s without humor. “It changes everything.” Ari’s phone ringing interrupts anything I can say, which I’m thankful for because I don’t know what to say. Ari stabs the steering wheel to answer. “What?” Ari barks.

“Man,” Tyler groans. “I was really hoping your horizontal tango with Jason made you quit being a dick.”

“Now is not the goddamn time, Tyler. What do you want?”

“Okay,” Tyler says slowly, already sensing that he shouldn’t push. “I was just calling to see if you were going to High Flyer.”

“No. I’ll message Jason and get him after work.”

“Is Keon? I just need to know whether to wait or not.”

“No. He won’t be coming either.”