Page 96 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One

This meeting didn’t do anything but make me want to watch him closer. I felt a brief sense of recognition but nothing more concrete to say where I even knew the guy.

Either way, I’m keeping my eye on him.

32

KIRA

Iwatch Ari stare at the door Professor North disappears through, and then he makes his way back to us. When he reaches me, he pulls me into a hug and kisses the top of my head. I melt against him and wrap my arms around his waist. I’ve gotten used to the constant touches from all the guys, and I’m not ashamed to admit how much I love them.

“What was that about?” I ask.

“I don’t know. Something feels off with him.”

I pull back to look up at his face. “Off?”

“I feel like I know him, or he knows me. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

I give him a doubtful look. “I know I haven’t been around long, but something tells me your gut is usually right. Should I be worried?”

Ari shakes his head and pecks my lips. “No. Just stay alert when you’re around him.” He kisses down the scarred side of my face, just like he always does. It used to make me want to jerk away, but I find myself leaning into him now. “Chelsea called earlier and wants to know if you want to come to their girls’ night.”

“Aw, man,” Tyler says, and I don’t even have to look at him to know he’s pouting. “I want to go to girls’ night.”

“Shut up,” Ari sighs. “Les, Evie, and Bridget will be there.”

I jerk back. “Les? As in Alessa Poletti?”

Ari smiles and nods. “Yeah.”

“Oh. Okay. Wow. I’d love to.”

“Someone has a girl crush,” Tyler sings, making me laugh.

“I’ll happily admit to that. I’ve looked up to Les for a long time.” Kane speaks very highly of her, and I’ve heard the stories. I know she went through some really bad shit when she was younger and with her guys, but she came out stronger because of it. Some of that is what gave me the strength to move forward. If she can go through that, run an empire, hold a relationship, and be a mom, I can’t find it in myself to wallow in self-pity. “When?”

“Tomorrow. I can drop you off after class.”

“Okay.” I wrap my arms around Ari’s neck, go up on my tiptoes, and lay my lips against his. I don’t even care what people on campus think anymore. I don’t owe these people anything. Ari kisses me sweet and slow. I pull back when I feel eyes on me, but it’s not the usual stares I feel when I kiss Tyler or Gavin. Shivers race down my spine as I slowly look around, only to connect with Professor North’s gaze. He looks almost…angry.

“Three o’clock,” Gavin mutters before I can say anything.

Ari nuzzles into my neck, but I know he’s looking without Professor North realizing. “We need to go.”

Ari helps me into Tyler’s car, pecking my lips one more time. “I’ll see you at home.” He shuts the door before I can respond, slowly walking to his borrowed car. Home? Is that what their house is to me now? Butterflies attack my stomach, and I can’t help the smile spreading across my face.

“What are you smiling at, Baby girl?” Gavin asks, leaning his elbows up on the console from the back. I hate making him sitback there with his long legs, but he refuses to sit up front when I’m with them.

“Papi Ari,” Tyler answers, backing out of his spot. He shifts into first and follows Ari from the parking lot. “She said she gets all tingly when he’s close.”

“Shut up,” I laugh, punching his shoulder. He shoots me a wide grin and looks back out the windshield. “I’m just…happy.”

Tyler slides his hand onto my thigh and tangles our fingers together. “Me too.”

Gavin pecks my cheek. “Me three.”

I settle into my seat and let my mind wander back to Professor North. Why did he look pissed? Was he mad because I was kissing yet another guy, or was it something more? I’ve never gotten any weird vibes from him when we’re alone, and growing up a Lyubava, you learned real quick how to read people. Ari is convinced he knows him, but I wouldn’t know from where. From what I know, Ari was in the Army before he joined the Saviors. He said that his time in the Army kept him overseas most of the time, and when he joined the Saviors, he was basically a ghost. They didn’t “exist” technically, so I don’t know where he would have met a teacher. I think about it until Tyler is pulling into the driveway. He loops around to my side, helps me from the car, and then bends at the waist like a bow, helping Gavin out. Gavin rolls his eyes but slides his hand into Tyler’s.

“We’ve made it to our destination, Princess.”