Page 50 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One
“Okay,” I say slowly. “Why?”
“Because I have you working with Sean on your sneaky shit.”
“I’m sorry that agent got the drop on us.”
Ari waves that away. “That wasn’t on you. We underestimated him. I also wanted to talk to you.” I nod for him to continue. “You have to get your head back on straight, and that means dealing with this shit head-on.” I open my mouth, and he holds a hand up. “I know I give you a lot of shit, but you’re a damn good addition to this team. I know I don’t say it enough, and I should. But I need you all in. You don’t eat or sleep for shit. That makes you a liability.” Ari turns around and grabs a plate from the counter behind him. He slaps it down in front of me with a glare. “Eat. I’ll be in the garage.”
“Do you want me to show you I ate it all like a good boy?”
“Don’t push me, Gavin. Just because I said you’re an asset doesn’t mean I won’t shoot you on the spot.”
He leaves the kitchen before I can reply, so I do the mature thing and flip him off behind his back. With a shake of my head, I dig into the eggs and bacon on my plate but can feel it drop like lead into my stomach. Every time I eat, I see how malnourished those people were. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and finish my food. It takes everything in me not to throw it back up as I set my plate in the sink.
I go to the garage, slide my boots on, and open the door. Ari is loading shit into the back of his truck. “I made a happy plate, Sir.”
“Get in the fucking truck, Ace.”
I can’t help but laugh as I climb inside. Ari gets in and slams the door behind him. “Where are we going?”
“Sean said he has the perfect place to train, so we’re meeting him there.”
Ari backs out of the garage and is on the main road before I turn to face him. “What did you mean I need to face this shit head-on?”
“You need to deal with what happened that day. Go to the hospital and see with your own damn eyes that you saved lives.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Probably, for dealing with you assholes, but I’m right about this.” Ari sighs and glances at me. “I’ve seen a lot of bad shit in my time. Starting from a very young age because of where I come from. Sometimes you just have to remind yourself of the good shit. I know you’re hell-bent on stopping these trafficking rings because of Grant, and believe me, I get it. You want to right the wrongs of your father. But that doesn’t happen in a day. We’re doing the best we can with what we have. Nolan and Holden are still looking for the ones who started the last one. Wewillfind them.”
I nod and swallow the lump in my throat. He’s right. Grant fucking Augustus is what lit the fire under my ass to stop human trafficking rings. Before, all I could do was fund their recovery and give them safe refuge until they could get back on their feet. But since joining the Saviors, I’ve felt I need to do more. Ihaveto do more. As much as I want to hate my sister, Gemma, I know she was just another victim to Grant. I went to see her once and haven’t been back because she told me everything he did to herand then told me it was all my fault for leaving her. She doesn’t know everything I did to try to keep her safe from him.
Ari pulls into a parking lot, and I look around. “What the hell is this place?”
“It used to be a training camp for the Army. Now, it’s a paintball arena.”
“We’re playing paintball?”
Ari laughs and shoves his door open. “Sort of. Get out.”
I slide from the truck and help Ari carry the stuff from the back of his truck through the gates. To my surprise, Sean walks toward us with Ghost following behind him. “What are you doing here?” I ask, giving him a hug.
“Sean called and said he needed help getting your ass into shape.”
Sean claps and bounces on the balls of his feet. “I’m so excited.”
“I’m afraid to ask why,” Ari replies.
Sean starts passing out vests and paintball guns. “I set it up like a regular mission. Your goal is to get through without being seen and shoot them first. You have the course, and there’s a big ass house back there you need to get to. Bridget is your damsel in distress. You get shot? You have to start again.”
“Who all is hiding in there?” I ask, strapping my vest on.
“Alexey, Dmitri, Nik, Caden, Kai, Cole, and Axel. Les said she would have loved to shoot your ass, but Willow is sick. So she sent Gage and Zane.”
“I’ll also be in there,” Ari says with a grin.
“So, will we,” Ghost adds. “You’ve got this, brother.”
“If you can out-sneak the sneaky,” Sean laughs. “They don’t call us Ghost and Shadow for nothing.”
