Page 74 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

“Are you telling me how to handle him?” Ari growls.

“Will you put your dick away?” I sigh. “The fact that you just said handle him should tell you all you need to know. I’ll talk to him. Can you not kill Tyler, please?”

I step out from between them and knock on the door before letting myself in. Jason’s sitting on the couch, staring at the wall, when I walk in. The entire apartment is trashed, with his stuff thrown everywhere and several broken things lying on the floor. I sit on the loveseat in front of him. “Let me guess? Ari ordered you to make me go.”

“No. The decision is all yours. But can I say something?” Jason nods for me to continue. “Ari’s scared, and he doesn’t know how to handle it, so it comes out in anger. He’s never had to protect someone he has feelings for.”

Jason finally turns to look at me. “You think I should go, don’t you?”

“Yes. They invaded your personal space, and that note might be simple, but it’s concerning. Stay with us for a bit, and let us do what we do best.”

“Why couldn’t he say it like that?”

I laugh. “Because Ari’s an ass. We’ll look into it, and you’ll be back before you know it.”

Jason stands from the couch and goes to his room. “Gavin!” he calls out, and I hear the panic in his voice. I’m off the loveseatand running, skidding to a stop in his room. “I think someone was on the fire escape.”

I jerk my Glock from its holster and creep to the window. Not seeing anything, I slide it open and step one foot out. “Go tell Ari.”

I slide the rest of the way out and sweep as I move. I get to the next floor, and a shadow in the alleyway catches my eye. I move in a fast clip that way, all of my training kicking in. I drop down into the alley, and the first shot rings out. I duck behind the dumpster and focus on the sounds. My mind clears, and I hear a scuffle to the right. I jump from my hiding spot and fire off two shots before ducking back down.Breathe and listen.Ghost’s words float through my head, and I know what to do. I need to become Phantom. It will be much harder since I’m not dressed in black, but they trained me for every scenario. I scoot back against the building, blend into the shadows, and stand up. I let my eyes adjust to the dark and scan the area. A figure stands up from their hiding spot, and I aim, then fire. They take off running, and I give chase. I skid to a stop at the end of the alley right as a car speeds past me. I pop off two more shots, shattering the back glass.

Footsteps pound behind me, and I spin around, gun raised, but drop it when I see Ari and Tyler. “I lost them.”

“What the fuck is going on?” Tyler asks.

“I don’t know. But we’re going to figure it out.” Ari slaps me on the shoulder. “Good work.”

“I lost them, though,” I argue.

“It happens. You did your job.”

I can tell by the look in Ari’s eyes that Jason is about to go into lockdown. The note on the pillow is bad enough, but someone creeping outside his bedroom window will send Ari over the edge.

If I’m being honest, it will send me over too.

24

TYLER

Ilook over at Gavin on the couch, reading his face like a book. He’s blaming himself for that asshole getting away.

“It wasn’t your fault,” I say.

“I should have been able to take him down.”

“We have no idea who this guy even is. You protected Jason. That was your job.” I stand from the couch, grab his hand, and jerk him to his feet.

“What are you doing?”

“Distracting you.” I drag him toward the stairs, going straight to his room. I shut the door behind us and jerk my shirt over my head. “We can finish what we started on the couch before the phone call.”

“You’re a horny little fucker.”

“You made me this way,” I laugh. I pull his shirt off and toss it behind me. “All the teasing is driving me fucking crazy.”

Gavin hooks his hand in the front of my jeans and jerks me against his chest. “What do you want, Tyler?”

“I want to get dicked the fuck down.”