Page 30 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“Tell him the truth,” I say, earning the same glare that Keon got. “You asked.”

“I wanted a helpful answer,” Ari replies. “I’ll figure it out. Are you ready to test what you’ve learned?” Ari asks me. I’ve been training with Ghost and Sean to learn how to slip in and out of places unnoticed. I’ve gotten good but could still be better.

“You’ve got this,” Tyler answers, slapping me on the back. “Team Sneaky!”

“Let’s do it,” I say with more bravado than I feel.

Ari goes and talks to Jason, and I see the disappointment all over his face, followed by confusion when Ari kisses him and walks away. We go to the vehicles and grab our stuff from Tyler’s trunk, shoving it into Ari’s truck.

“Ari!” All our heads whip up at Jason’s voice, and Ari curses under his breath, tossing an AK into the backseat.

“Yeah, Sweet cheeks?”

“I want you to tell me what’s really going on.”

Tyler gives me a wide-eyed look and crawls into the backseat of Ari’s truck like he’s hiding. He peeks over the seat, and I have to turn away to keep from laughing. “I did.”

“You lied straight to my face,” Jason answers, not backing down when Ari walks up to him. “What’s going on?”

Ari looks at us, and Keon shrugs, telling him without words what we’ve been telling him. “I can’t tell you,” Ari finally says. “We have to go.”

Jason nods and takes a step back. “Then you can go home. Don’t worry about stopping at my place.”

Jason turns on his heel and disappears back inside. We wait for the explosion from Ari and don’t have to wait long. “FUCK!”Ari yells, turning to face us. “Let’s move,” he barks, climbing into his truck and slamming the door.

I slide in beside Tyler, and he’s biting his lip, trying not to say anything. Ari jerks the truck into reverse and pulls out of the lot with a squeal of tires. We drive the ten minutes to Lincoln Miller’s, and he pulls over a street away. We put all our gear on, including the skull masks.

“You good?” Tyler asks.

“Yeah.”

Ari turns around to face me. “I just need you to get in and find out where he is. Don’t engage unless you need to.”

“Got it.” I strap on my thigh holster with my Glock and knife. I get out of the truck and slip into the shadows. I know this is a test but wish Ari would have done it against someone who isn’t a damn CIA agent.

The agent’s house comes into view, and I run through everything Ghost and Sean have taught me. I make it to the back porch and strain to listen. “In position,” I whisper into the earpiece. “No lights. Car in the driveway.”

“We’re right behind you,” Tyler whispers back, and I feel myself relax at his voice. “You can do this.”

I pull the lockpick kit from my pocket and insert it into the lock. Two twists, and I hear the click on the other side. I gently turn the handle, holding it tightly so it doesn’t rattle. I let it swing open and step to the far side of the door, so I miss any squeaks. Pulling my Glock from the holster, I move further into the house on silent feet. I sweep downstairs, and my foot has just hit the bottom step when I hear a door open upstairs. I swing my Glock up and wait. I hear another door shut, then a toilet flushing. I wait with my breath held until they shut the other door again.

“Upstairs,” I whisper. “I’m on my way up.”

Ghost and Sean showed me where floors and stairs usually have creaks, so I move around them, trying not to put too much weight on my feet. I didn’t realize how hard this actually was until they started training me. It was Ari’s idea, stating that shit had to be in our bloodstream, and he was right. I picked it up quickly but still have so much to learn.

I get to the top of the stairs and turn into the hallway. There’s only one door shut, so I head that way. “Last door on the right,” I report.

“Don’t engage,” Ari barks. “We’re coming in. Hold your position.”

I train my gun at the door and wait. I feel the subtle shift in the air then Tyler’s stepping up beside me. Ari walks in front of us and counts down from three on his fingers. When he hits one, he kicks the door open. We spill in, looking everywhere, only to find it empty.

“I swear, he was here,” I tell them, jerking the closet door open.

“Over here,” Tyler calls out, standing beside the wide-open window. “He gave us the slip.”

“How the fuck did he gets past us?” Ari growls.

“I’m sorry. I gave our position away,” I say.