Page 27 of Free
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dyson glanced over at Rob, who was concentrating on getting by the construction zone they were driving through. They had just left New Mexico and were finally in Colorado. The trip had been long, and they still had a few hours left to drive. They hadn't talked too much, and that gave Dyson way too much time to think.
Saying goodbye to the team had been hard, and he'd barely held it together as he hugged everyone, promising to be in touch as soon as it was safe to do so. As hard as it had been to leave, he couldn't get in the car fast enough just so he wouldn't be staring at them, wishing he could stay.
He needed to get his mind off of the old team and concentrate on the new. As overwhelming as building a new team seemed, he was actually excited. "So, have you met Jeremy?" he asked Rob.
"Yeah, I brought him to Denver right before I came to meet you." Rob glanced over at him. "He's a good guy."
"What's he like?" The more information he had up front, the better prepared he would be.
"Honestly, a bit like you. He's going through some changes, struggling to let go of the past. Pissed off and angry, but also determined to make this all work."
"What did he do before this?"
"Not my place to say." Rob glanced at him quickly before looking back at the road. "I don't give personal information to anyone. If he wants you to know his past, he'll share it with you. I will say, he's a solid guy from what I can tell. Jokes around, but when it comes to the shit you'll be doing, he's serious as hell. He wants to make a difference."
Dyson hoped so. He was used to having a trained team with everyone on the same page. He didn't have to ever ask what any of his old team members needed or wanted because they just knew how to read each other most of the time. Learning to do this with a whole new group was going to be a challenge.
Silence settled between them again as Dyson stared out the window, taking in the landscape. Colorado really was a beautiful place, but then it wasn't covered in snow like it would be in a few months. The first thing he was going to have to buy was winter clothes. Not that he had any clothes with him other than what he'd gotten from Rob. He really did need to start over in every way possible.
As they neared Denver, Rob broke the silence. "Do you want to see the team house first or your house?"
Dyson's gaze flashed to Rob. "You mean I have a house?"
"Sure. Bryon wasn't going to make you live in the team house, though you might spend a lot of nights there. You still need your own place to get away from it all. Bryon bought a home for you and got everything set up. You should have everything you need inside other than clothes and personal things he figured you'd go get on your own."
"Shit, he hadn't mentioned a house. I figured I was on my own to start over."
"Nah, he knows you left your home and money back there. The team will get into your old home when they can, Carter was working on all the paperwork. I don't know what the plan is, but I was told they'll take management of the house and accounts and go from there. He'll send you anything personal you might want and he's already set up a bank account and credit cards in your new name. I assume there is also a business account to handle all STK money, but I'm not sure on how they work all that since you need it under the radar." Rob turned off the freeway. "House or work first?"
"Work." Dyson wanted to see what kind of place the team would have. It was more important than his own home. He could sleep anywhere, but the team house needed to be in the right location and blend in with others in the community. "So what do you know about the area?"
"Not too much. I've spent a little time in Denver, but not a ton. I know Arvada is just outside the main city, and it's a small peaceful community. You won't draw a lot of attention there. When you are in the main city, be prepared, traffic is a mess, though no worse than you're used to in California. A ton of one-way streets. Winters can be a bitch, but that's coming from me, and I'm a beach bum."
"Yeah, me too. Wasn't very excited about the location." Dyson sighed.
"If you like the outdoors, you'll enjoy it here. A lot of great lakes and trails. I hear the hunting is amazing too, if that's something you're into."
"I haven't been, but sounds like something I'd enjoy." He tried to follow where they were headed so he'd know how to get around later.
"This is your street." Rob turned off the main road.
Dyson looked at the homes along the side of the street, liking what he saw. It was a simple middle-class neighborhood. It would be perfect to play off that he was just moving in and starting his life in a new state. People wouldn't question it. "Here we go." Rob turned into a driveway and parked behind a large SUV. "The Ford Explorer is Jeremy's. I think Bryon had your vehicle delivered to your home. I can give you a ride over there before I leave later today. I have to catch a flight at seven tonight."
Dyson nodded as he climbed out of the car. He quietly followed Rob to the front door, not shocked at all when he pushed it open and walked right inside. Dyson grinned as he walked in, taking in a large entryway that led to a good-sized kitchen off to one side and a living room off to the other. "So far it looks great. How many bedrooms?"
"Five."
Dyson turned at the unfamiliar voice. "You must be Jeremy?" He eyed the tall man, with a solid but not thickly muscled body, and black hair accentuated deep blue eyes.
The man nodded. "William?"
Dyson made a face. "Call me D." He offered his hand.
The man quirked an eyebrow as he shook Dyson's. "How about Blondie?"
"Fuck off." Dyson tugged his hand back and ran it through his hair. He hated his light-colored hair. It was like he was staring at a stranger every time he looked in the mirror. He was dyeing it back to his old color as soon as things calmed down. There was no way he was keeping it light.
