Page 3 of Betraying Bexley

Chapter 1

Present day...

Jamie met Ale and his team at the main gate of the base and escorted them in. How Alé had become the group leader, he didn't know. Didn't care either. He accepted the position and found he did all right taking charge of the group—sometimes. The airstrip lowered, and he slowed, taking it easy down the sharp incline—bypassing all the rigmarole of the locks and doors—the fancy shit Asher used for shock and awe. Alé wouldn't say it hadn't been some cool stuff when he first arrived, but now, it took too much time, and, due to the text he received, they were running out of it.

He parked his ’67 Impala beside one of the other vehicles already there and raised the ragtop to protect his interior, while the others got out. They still weren’t a cohesive team, but the more they spent time together, the better they were getting at it. Hell, at least they were all on speaking terms. When Jamie joined them, they crossed to the elevator on the left and waited. The doors opened moments later, and they stepped in.

“We’re going to the C&C level,” Jamie said. “You’re going to be privy to a shit ton of information. Don’t take it for granted.”

The old man was like a father Alé never had. He could be strict and an ass, but he also knew Jamie cared about all of the kids who came through his door at his Gang Intervention Program center. “We won’t.”

“Do you know what this is about?” Iliana glanced up at Jamie.

“Yes. It’s better if we talk about this with your whole team.” The doors opened and they stepped out onto the Command and Communication floor. The soft murmur of conversations along with the flash of images were displayed across several big screens. Every station had a person sitting at it working, while one man, Asher, if Alé had to guess, stood with his back to everyone, watching what played out before him. “We’re here.”

Asher spun. “Finally. Took you five long enough.” He strode toward a glass room to the left of where they stood.

“School happens.” Alé shrugged. “We got here as quick as we could.”

“Some shit doesn’t change.” Asher eyed Alé. “Nice school uniform, tough guy.”

Alé rolled his eyes. He hated it. There were some rules meant to be broken and not being able to do so with his clothing choice, rubbed him wrong. “So, what’s going on?”

“We’re waiting for a few more people.” Asher glanced up at the door. “Ah, there you four are. I was telling the kid, it took them long enough to get here. What’s your excuse?”

“I work at the same school?” Mateo placed his satchel on the floor before he sat at the table. “Plus, I had to wait for Noah, who was at work, here, with you.”

A satisfied smirk crossed Noah’s face. “Mattie hates being late.”

"It's my job," Mateo answered. "I can't do what needs to be done properly if I am late. It also isn't professional."

"You two are awfully quiet." Asher stared at the remaining two people Alé and his team considered bosses. AJ and Scotty.

“We were digging into that case in South America,” AJ said, giving Asher a pointed look while signing for Scotty. “Not like we had to hurry or anything since we were here already.”

“Someone mind telling us why we’re here and not meeting at the school like we’re supposed to?” Eito took a seat across from Mateo. The guy didn’t talk much, but when he did, his voice was startlingly deep and rough.

“Yeah.” Asher stood near the projection screen. “Iliana, we’re going to have to pull you from the mission.”

Alé’s attention snapped to her as she gasped. “Why? I don’t understand. I thought I was doing good.”

“It’s not you, mija,” Jamie said. “There has been an incident.”

"O-kay, what kind." Her confused expression matched those of the team that surrounded her.

“I received a call Saturday, but I couldn’t confirm all of the details until today. It appears Raul has been spotted.” Asher killed the lights and brought up a picture of a small home somewhere near a beach. It was the west coast for sure and, if Alé had to guess, near Escondido. “Raul used the net to track movement and to track families.”

A whimper escaped Iliana. “No.”

“There’s no way you could have known. None of us thought about you or your family.” Asher rubbed the back of his neck. “Your mom and dad have passed.”

“Call it what it is,” Alex said, leaning back in his chair. “The bastard murdered her family.”

“Bella too?” Iliana blinked several times. “Did he find her?”

"No." Asher shook his head. "She is with Enzo. We have them in a safe house, only me and three others know about it. Two of them are here with us."

“Technically, we know, but don’t know-know,” AJ said. “She’s in good hands though. Thomas trusts the agent with them with his life. If he didn’t think they’d be safe, they’d be here with us.”

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