I jog up to unlock the door, and Gray pushes the gurney through. He takes him to the room that’s already been set up and gently lifts Gavin, and places him on the bed. “You good?” Gray asks.
Gavin blows out a breath. “Dying sucks. Have you ever been zipped into a body bag? Fuck that shit.”
I laugh and hand him his new identity. “That has everything you need in it, including a new phone. It already has the contacts you need saved. From this moment forward, you’re no longer Gavin Augustus.”
He dumps the contents on the bed and looks at his new license. “Ace Morris? I thought for sure I’d be Fred or something.”
Sean grins. “You can thank Chels for that. Nice to meet you, Ace.”
“Does this mean I’m officially a Savior?” Gavin asks.
I nod. “If that’s what you want.” I stick my hand out, and he slides his hand into mine. “Welcome to the team. Training starts as soon as you’re ready.”
I just hope he really is ready for what’s about to happen.
* * *
At nine onthe dot the following morning, the security system beeps that Ari just drove through the gate. I meet them at the garage door, and none of them will look me in the eye. I lead them to the office, where everyone else is waiting, including Chelsea. We are hoping she can be a good buffer if shit hits the fan.
Ari sits down at the other end of the table from me and folds his arms on the table. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Ari,” I sigh. “I know this sucks—”
“This more than sucks. Say what you need to say so we can go.”
“Ari,” Chelsea says quietly, and to his credit, his face softens slightly when he looks at her. “I’m so sorry it comes down to this, but they’re just protecting me. They should have talked to you, I know that, and so do they. But we need to know for sure.”
“Know what?” Tyler barks. “If we fucking betrayed you or not? Gavin would be dead by now if we were working with your piece of shit goddamn dad. And we showed up. The fact that this is even a question speaks very highly of your leadership skills, Axel.”
“Now, wait a fucking minute. Don’t ever talk to her like that again, and my leadership iswhyyou’re here. I have a family to protect. You know good and damn well that if it were the other way around, you’d do the same thing. We got the news last night and found out who leaked the information about Kai. It was Wilkonson.”
Ari’s brows furrow. “Didn’t he get locked up?”
I nod. “He somehow passed our radar when we were getting rid of Charlie’s followers. He relayed everything he could before he got popped.”
“How did he find out about Nolan?” Keon asks.
“That we still don’t know. But for the record, we don’t think it was you guys. And I am fucking sorry that we ever doubted you.”
“Mark it in the books, boys. Axel apologized,” Ari remarks, still pissed off. We cleared them late last night after we got back from getting Gavin settled. “Where does this leave us now?”
“Still with the Saviors if that’s where you want to be.”
“There was never a doubt that I’d die for you, Axel, and this team. And I might not like it, but I get why you did it. Maybe just next time, have a conversation with us before you invade our privacy.” Ari sighs and sits back in his chair, relaxing for the first time. “What’s our assignment?” I slide a folder across the table to him, and his eyes widen the more he reads. “You guys killed Gavin?”
Chelsea chokes off a laugh. “Technically, yeah, I guess we did.”
“He’s now in Forest Grove in a safe house. We need you guys on him there. Axel made sure to get one big enough for everyone. Les, Ryder, Gray, and Mateo stayed last night, but they have to head back today,” Cole says.
Keon turns his eyes to me. “You trust us with him?”
“Yeah, and no more bullshit. If you don’t want the assignment, I can find something else for you guys.”
“We’ll take it,” Ari agrees.
“Fuck this.” Tyler explodes out of his chair. “Just like that? He thought we fuckingbetrayedhim. One sorry apology, and we’re just his lap dogs again?”
“Tyler,” Ari warns. “We talked about this.”