Page 84 of Betraying Bexley

“Hook them up, guys,” the second detective said. “Each of you are under arrest. We’ll explain the charges when we’re outside. No need in making a public spectacle.”

Bex laughed then and waved as the five people who tortured her over the last four years were led away, but it was bittersweet. The mission was over for SRT. They could leave now, and she would go back to being alone. It was irrational to feel sad or a sense of loss, but she’d also be remiss if she didn’t say she’d come to enjoy having them with her every day. They were a crutch. People to help make her days in school bearable. Knowing they wouldn’t be there, left her a bit off balance.

“Congratulations team, you accomplished your first mission,” AJ said, while signing for Scotty.

“You should be proud of yourselves,” Thomas added. “If you’ll follow me to the Principal’s office, we’ll get you unenrolled and back to base.”

Bex started to walk away. She still needed to finish up the rest of the year. Though she only had a few more months, it seemed like forever without Alé and Bronx by her side. She pulled open the door to the cafeteria when a hand grabbed hers. She turned and came face to face with Scotty.

His eyes narrowed as he signed.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Thomas translated for him.

“S-School. I-I have to f-finish.” She dropped her gaze to the floor.

Scotty lifted her chin and began signing in angry slashes.

“You’re not walking away, are you? Do you think because they’re signing out, you’re not? Thomas said SRT. I thought you were SRT” Again, Thomas translated for him.

She swallowed hard. “I-I-I—”

“Easy mami.” Alé wrapped his arm around her middle, tucking her into his side. “You didn’t know.” He stared down Scotty. “You can’t expect her to know you meant all of us. She is, after all, still in high school, dick.”

Scotty smirked, flipping Alé off.

“Now, now children.” AJ joined them. “Bex, we meant all of you. I am sorry you thought it was a specific instruction. You’re done here too. You have way more than enough credits and put up with more shit than you should have. We’ve secured your diploma. If you’d like to leave now, you can.”

She blinked. Leave? With them? Now? She stared at everyone. “Y-Yes.”

“Excellent,” AJ said, holding her hand out to Bex. “Come on, let’s blow this joint.”

When Bex entered the office, Mateo and Noah were there signing her out of school. But there was also a box on the counter beside Mateo. Bex didn’t understand. It had all of Mateo’s knick-knacks and trinkets. Where was he going? Mr. Aquino loved being a teacher. He was one of the best they had at the school and even though she was leaving, she didn’t understand what he was doing.

“M-Mateo?” She came up beside him.

"Hey, kiddo. Are you ready to go home?" He smiled down at her.

She pointed to the box. “W-What’s going on?”

"Oh, I'll explain later." He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "For now, Noah, and I wanted to know if we could take you to a celebratory breakfast for graduation?" He glanced at her team and her boyfriend and girlfriend. "Of course, you're all invited too. If you'd like."

“Nah, we’re good,”Alé said. “We’ll celebrate with Bex later at the pool or something. She should spend the day with her family.”

“Thank you, Alé,” Noah replied. “We’ll see you all back at the base then.” He grabbed Mateo’s box and started for the door. “Well, come on free man. Let’s go have a little fun with our ward.”

By the time Bex laid her head on her pillow that night, she was exhausted. She’d spent the morning with Noah and Mateo while they treated her to breakfast and shopping. The black card Asher had given her, had gotten a workout, but there was enough money on it, she never had to worry about anything. It was then Mateo explained he was retiring. He’d spent the last four years watching over Bex, taking care of her, that he’d burned himself out. He then rushed to assure her, none of what he’d said was her fault. He realized last year, when he’d been kidnapped, everything changed. He changed. Now, he wanted a fresh start with his new family.

She craved the same.

Then when she returned to the base, the whole team was there to greet her. She spent the afternoon with them at the pool, eating pizza and goofing off. For the first time in her life, Bex let go. She laughed and cracked jokes, having fun with everyone.

She'd call it the best day of her life, but she wasn't sure she could. In all truth, the best day of her life was when R.O.O.T. came to her rescue. Her second-best day was meeting Alé and Bronx and her third-best day was when Mateo and Noah became her guardians. Alé called them her dads, she liked the ring of it. She hoped soon, she could call them that. Because they were her dads. They were the family she always dreamed of having.

A soft knock drew her attention to the door as Mateo stepped into the room with two mugs in his hand. She glanced at the clock on her table and grinned. Since the day she spent with Alé and Bronx in her room, Mateo had also started a ritual. At precisely ten p.m. every night he came to her bedroom with a warm mug of milk and they talked about her day. He called it therapy for the soul, it also reminded her of everything she’d accomplished for the day.

“Good you’re still awake, I thought you’d be asleep by now,” he whispered.

She shook her head taking the mug from him. “I-I was t-thinking.”

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