Page 32 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“I’m fine,” Gavin snaps.

Before I can answer, the front door opens, and Ari walks through with Kira and Keon. “Aw,” I say. “Dad bringing his daughter to school on the first day.”

Kira slaps a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. I barely dodge Ari before he grabs me by the throat. “Tyler,” he says slowly. “I wouldn’t fuck with me right now.”

I roll my eyes and sling my arm around Kira’s shoulders. “Everyone is so moody. Gramps is just pissed because he isn’t getting laid,” I whisper loud enough so he can hear.

“Tyler,” he barks.

“I think you might be in trouble,” she whispers back.

“What else is new,” I laugh. “We checked the place out before you got here and it’s clear. You want to walk the campus? We can all get a feel for it.”

She nervously pulls down the sleeves of her long sleeve shirt and fixes her gloves. “I don’t know. It was a really long flight.” I can’t imagine what she’s going through right now. I peek at Gavin, and he shrugs, not offering any help.

“We need to figure out where your classes are,” I say gently. “Plus, Ace can go and scare everyone off with his pissed off face.”

She looks over at Gavin and giggles softly. “He does kind of looked pissed off.”

Gavin throws his hands up. “It’s his fault I’m pissed off.”

“I’m sensing a pattern,” she jokes, some of the tension leaving her shoulders.

“It’s what I do best. Do you have your schedule?” She reaches into her jeans pocket and passes it to me with shaky hands. I unfold it and memorize it, already comparing it to the map of the campus I already looked up. “Looks like most of them are in the same two buildings.”

“They have it mostly separated by level. The middle buildings are for freshmen,” Keon answers, sitting on the couch. “Makes it easier to keep an eye on her but not interrupt her classes.”

“So, you’re just supposed to blend in?” Kira asks, eyeing Ari and Keon. As much shit as I give Ari, he doesn’t look old but carries himself better than a college student. Keon is covered in colorful tattoos and looks more like a gang leader.

“We are,” Gavin answers. “You’ll mostly be with me and Tyler while on campus. Keon and Ari can watch from here.”

She nods, accepting that. “I’m going to freshen up, and then we can go.” Kira smiles, but I can see how strained it is.She disappears down the hallway, and I turn to Ari when the bathroom door shuts.

“Is she going to be able to do this?” I ask.

“Yeah,” Gavin answers instead. “Kira’s strong. If she can go through what she did and still be holding her head up, she can handle this.”

“Just keep an eye on her,” Ari says. “She gets the least bit uncomfortable, you bring her back. While you guys are gone, I’m going to see if Nolan has any more information. I don’t like that he’s still lurking somewhere.”

Kira walks back into the living room, looking more than a little pale. “I’m ready.”

I nod for Gavin to come with us and lead her outside. I put my arm back around her shoulders and pull her into my side. The further we walk onto the actual campus, the more crowded it gets. I see people stop, stare, or give her a second look. Her eyes drop the more this goes on, and Gavin steps up on her other side.

“Hold that head up,” he whispers.

“I don’t know if I can do this,” she whispers.

“Sure you can,” I assure her, squeezing her shoulders. “Most of these people wouldn’t know struggle if it bit them on the ass. Look them right in the eye and tell them to eat shit.”

She laughs quietly. “I don’t know if that’s a good way to handle it.”

“It’s not,” Gavin says dryly. “But I do agree about looking them right in the eye. People judge what they don’t understand. Plus, they’re probably looking at Tyler’s stupid shirt anyway.”

I look down at my gray shirt with white writing that says, ‘Woke up sexy as hell again,’ and look at Gavin, offended. “This shirt is not stupid. Your face is stupid.”

“Your haircut is stupid.”

“Your shoes are stupid.”