Page 56 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“Because that team can’t handle these people,” Ari answers.

“Why? Because they got caught? You’ve never put your team in a bad position? It happens, even to the best. Maybe you should offer your insight to this other team instead of automatically assuming they aren’t good enough.” Ari tilts his head to the side, studying me, and I want to sink into a hole in the floor. “Sorry. I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“No,” Ari disagrees. “You’re right.”

“I am?”

Ari laughs. “Yeah. I’ve been stuck on the fact that Axel put someone else on this instead of asking why he did.”

“And?” I prompt.

“We asked for a break,” Keon answers. “We’ve been moving nonstop for almost a year, and he knows that case would put us right back in the middle.”

“So, that’s how you got stuck with me,” I joke.

“We didn’t get stuck with you,” Keon argues. “We could have said no.”

“Why didn’t you? I would have. This has to be a boring job.”

“Your file,” Ari answers. “If you would have been just another spoiled mafia princess, I would have told Axel and your brother to fuck off. But you’re just a woman trying to live her life after some bad shit. We could use some of that positive in our lives.”

“It’s really just because I didn’t want to listen to my brother fucking his husbands anymore,” I say, trying to downplay what he’s saying.

I’m not used to compliments, and they just throw them out like it’s nothing. I know if anyone knows what I went through, it’s them. I made Kane give me a generic rundown of who they are. The rest I want to find out on my own.

But now I’m not sure if it’s because I’m curious.

Or interested.

I walkinto my advisor’s office the next morning and take a seat to wait. When my English professor, Professor North, walks in, I’m confused because this isn’t the man I met when I enrolled.

“Where’s Mr. Porter?”

He smiles and sits behind the desk. “He had some health issues, and I’ve picked up his students for the time being. I’ve been trying all morning to get caught up, Ms. Croft. Can you fill me in on what this meeting was about?”

“Just a check-in.”

Professor North nods and flips through a file. “Do you like the campus so far?”

“I do.”

“Dorm and everything is working out?”

“Yes.”

“I see here that you’re in my English class. Sorry, I’m just getting to know all the students.”

“It’s okay. I’m sure you have a lot of faces to keep up with.”

Professor North smiles and shuts the folder. “This is my first year having my own class.” I picked up on the whispers in class that he was new. He’s young and attractive so all the girls were falling all over themselves to get his attention. “You haven’t picked a major yet?”

“I’m not sure what I want to do.” I haven’t picked one because this isn’t for a career. It was to be normal for once.

“That’s okay. You have a good start on the prerequisites to go in a few different fields. You’re originally from New York?”

“Yes.”

“What brought you all the way to California?”