Page 29 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“I think you need to stop watching so much TV,” Keon says, leaning up between the seats. “Sometimes the right person isn’talways who we thought it would be.” He pointedly looks at me, and I glare at him.

“This conversation is getting entirely too deep,” Tyler says, whipping into the drive-thru of a fast-food chain. He orders too much food and pulls to the window to pay. “Oh, did you guys want anything?”

“You better have ordered for everyone,” Keon warns.

“You guys were the ones giving me shit for stopping for food, so you can starve.” Tyler grabs the gigantic bags of food from the young girl at the window. “Thank you, sweetheart.” She blushes a deep red, and I roll my eyes even though I know what she’s feeling. Tyler doesn’t even have to try, and girls fall at his feet. He passes the bags over to me, and I refuse to take them. “Stop being an ass. There might be a fry in the bottom of the bag for you.”

“I hope you choke on your food,” I grouch, jerking the bags from his hands.

“Just for that,” Tyler says, pulling out of the parking lot. “You and Keon can fight over it.”

We drive the rest of the way to High Flyer, bickering. We go inside, looking for Ari, and we find him on high alert at the bar. He sees us and motions us to a booth in the back. We slide in, and Ari glares at the food. “Seriously? Haul ass to you means stop for burgers and fries?”

Tyler huffs and starts pulling everything out. “We were going to get food when you called. I got something for everyone.”

“You asshole,” Keon laughs.

“What was so important?” I ask.

Ari leans in close. “Someone was in here asking about us earlier.”

“And?” Tyler prompts.

“Not us in particular. They were asking about The Saviors.”

“What the fuck?” Keon exclaims.

“I was at the end of the bar, and they were questioning Jason. They looked right past me, so they don’t know specifics, but they know that name.”

“What did they look like?” Tyler asks around a mouthful of food.

Ari wrinkles his nose in disgust and shakes his head. “About my height. Blond hair. Blue eyes. He looked like a cop.”

“I’m sure our names have come up in certain cases,” I shrug. “We’ve been involved in a lot.”

“We never mention that name,” Keon points out. “We don’t even show our faces.”

“I have Nolan pulling the video footage,” Ari says. “He’s going to run facial recognition.”

“What did you tell Jason?” Keon asks, making Ari’s eyes narrow.

“Nothing. He doesn’t know anything, and he doesn’t need to.”

“Ari,” Keon starts.

“No. This isn’t your decision. I called Axel and gave him a heads-up that someone was sniffing around. It’s not a coincidence that we brought the Saviors back out, and there’s a cop asking questions.” Before anyone can reply, Ari’s phone starts ringing. He checks behind him to make sure Jason is still at the bar and slides to answer before flipping to speakerphone. “What’s up, Nolan?”

“Your guy’s name is Lincoln Miller. Thirty-four. He’s CIA.”

“CIA?” Ari sighs.

“Axel said to take care of it,” Nolan answers. “Whatever that means in Axel speak.”

“Do you have an address?” Keon asks. Nolan rattles it off, and Keon types it into his phone. “That’s not far from here.”

Ari thanks Nolan and disconnects the call. “What does that mean?” I ask.

“It means that he wants us to go scare the shit out of a CIA agent,” Ari answers and rubs his temples. “What the hell am I supposed to tell Jason? That I have to leave again and can’t tell him why?”