Page 35 of The Saviors: Part One

I laugh and stand up. “You’ve never been an issue, man. Come on. We can go to Ari’s and go get dinner or something.”

“And avoid Axel since he’s a ticking fucking time bomb?”

“Exactly that.”

I just hope we don’t catch the shrapnel when he finally does explode.

* * *

We pullup in front of Ari’s house, where he’s staying with his team, forty-five minutes later. I push the front door open. “Hello?” I call out, kicking off my shoes, Nolan doing the same.

“In here!” I follow Ari’s voice to the living room and flop in the chair while Nolan packs his stuff. Ari’s kicked back on the couch, watching TV. “What’s going on, Cole?”

“Not much. Same shit. Nolan’s getting his stuff.”

Ari nods. “He’s staying with you, then?”

“Yeah, it’s time he has a more permanent place to stay.”

“Probably not a bad idea. I’m guessing that’s not why Axel called cussing a little while ago?”

I bark a laugh. “No. He’s pissed at Sean and Kai.”

“So I gathered,” Ari says dryly. “He didn’t like what I had to say.”

I run my fingers through my hair. “He doesn’t want to listen to anyone. If we don’t end this soon, I don’t know how much of this team will be left.”

“I told him that, and he hung up on me.” Ari’s the leader of our secondary team and a damn good one, and he’s usually the only other one that can talk some sense into Axel. Until now. “Does this have to do with the girl?” He’s also the only one who knows about her only because I got drunk as fuck one night and spilled the whole goddamn tale.

“Hell, I don’t know at this point, Ari.”

“You guys are close to getting Charlie. See what you find out from this meeting with Daybreak. I have a feeling it’s the right path.”

I nod and look around. “Where’s everyone at?” He lives here with Tyler and Keon since I’ve made the executive decision to take Nolan with us.

“Out. They were getting itchy sitting around the house.”I know the feeling.“I can call and see where they are if you want to hang out.”

I shake my head. “Nah, I’m going to take Nolan to get something to eat.”

Nolan comes around the corner with his bag over his shoulder and rubs Ari’s head on the way by. “Bye, Pops.”

Ari growls under his breath. “You’ve picked up bad fucking habits from Tyler, you little shit. And stop calling me Pops.”

“What can I say? You’re old enough to be my grandpa,” Nolan laughs.

“I’m thirty-seven, asshole. Not ancient. Get out of my house.” His eyes cut to me when I choke back a laugh. “You can get the fuck out too.”

I hold my hands up, still chuckling. “We’re going.” I follow Nolan to the door, sliding our shoes back on.

“And don’t come back either!” Ari yells, making Nolan lose it, laughing.

We slide into my car and head into the city to find something to eat. We settle on a small Italian restaurant and slide into a booth in the back. Nolan orders enough food to feed a small army, and I decide on a pasta dish.

Our food comes, and we eat in silence until his phone starts pinging like crazy. He swipes it open, and I raise a brow.

“You’re popular,” I comment.

Nolan chuckles. “Yeah, right. I set my laptop at home to notify me when anything new pops up.”