Page 40 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“Why?”

I lay my head on the back of the couch and look at the ceiling. “We’re mercenaries.” I can’t even look at his face when I say that word. I’ve never been ashamed of what we do, but I can see how it looks from the outside. To them, we’re just a bunch of hiredguns that kill people for kicks. They don’t see all the good we do, and no amount of saying that makes what we do any better. We’re judge, jury, and executioner. You don’t get a trial when you cross us. You get a bullet between the eyes. “The guy that was asking questions was a CIA agent.”

“Am I in trouble now?”

I lift my head to look at him. That’s not what I expected him to ask next. “No. But being associated with us could cause you to be.”

“That’s where you went, isn’t it? Did you kill him?”

“No.”Not for lack of trying.I still have no damn idea how he got past Gavin on the inside and three of us on the outside. It’s been a long time since I’ve found someone that plays the game better than we do. “We need to talk to him.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Jason gets up and starts pacing. “Everyone has been lying to my face, including Chelsea, apparently. Then I find out you’re all a bunch of murderers.”

“Hold up. We don’t just go around killing people. We only kill for a cause.”

“You still kill people! Holy shit. I knew something was off. I’ve known this whole goddamn time and ignored it because I wanted you.”

“No one can know about this. I’m telling you in hopes that you’ll trust me.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No! Jesus fuck.” I jump from the couch and block his path. “I’d never hurt you.”

Jason steps back, and I can feel my heart start to shatter. “I don’t know what to say right now. I need time to think.”

“Sweet cheeks, please don’t do this. I’m still the same person.”

“No. You aren’t,” he says sadly. “Out of everything you could have said, I never expected that. You’re dangerous.”

“Not to you. You can trust me. Please, don’t make me leave.”

“I don’t know if this is something that I can handle. You and your whole team are criminals.”

I can see in his eyes that he won’t hear a word I have to say. I nod and walk toward the door. Before I open it, I turn to look at him. “There’s more to us than meets the eye. I just wish you’d give me a chance to prove it.” I jerk the door open and shut it behind me, then slide down to sit on the floor. Just because he won’t let me stay inside doesn’t mean I won’t be here to protect him.

I pull my phone and text the one person that I can think of that will help with whatever I’m feeling.

Ari: I told him the truth. He hates me.

Chelsea: You have to give him time. This is a lot to digest. Why don’t you come by the house?

Ari: I’m not leaving his apartment. We’re still under threat until we find this asshole.

Chelsea: Okay. Axel wants to know what you told him.

Of course, he does.

Ari: He knows we’re the Saviors and what we do.

As soon as that message is sent, my phone starts vibrating, Axel’s name flashing across the screen. I hit ignore, letting it go to voicemail. I can’t risk Jason overhearing me talking while camped out in his hallway. The voicemail notification pops up, and my finger hovers over the delete button. Knowing I’m going to get my ass chewed out, I hit play.

“Hey, man. Chelsea told me what’s going on because she’s worried about you. None of you have been the same, and I see the change most of all in you. I get why you told him, and for what it’s worth, I think we can trust him. But what about when you have to tell him who you really are? That day is going to come because you can’t run from your past your entire life.Maybe you should start by telling the rest of my team. It isn’t going to change how they look at you. Don’t give up on Jason. He’ll come around.”

The message ends, and I just stare at the phone like it has four heads. I thought for sure Axel was going to be pissed because I told our secret. I know he’s right about being honest about where I come from and how I got involved with the Saviors to begin with. There’s so much more than just breaking ranks with my black ops team and getting dishonorably discharged.

Maybe itistime to face my past.

I’m stilloutside Jason’s apartment the next morning when he leaves. He sees me, and panic flares in his eyes.