Page 90 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One
“We’re on our way,” Keon says, disconnecting the call. “I’ll take my car, too, so we have more of a chance of blocking them in.” He turns to a wide-eyed Jason. “Do you know how to use a gun?”
“Yeah.”
Keon pulls the Glock from his holster and hands it to him. “I have one in the glove box. Get in the back and keep your head down when we get there. If someone walks up on you that you don’t know, pull the trigger.”
Keon gently pushes Jason into the backseat when I lift the seat for him to climb in. Tyler’s backing out of the garage as soon as my door shuts. We take off at breakneck speed with Keon right on our asses. “Are Ari and Kira going to be okay?” Jason asks, voice shaky.
“For sure,” Tyler says softly, but I can see the tension in his body.
We’re silent on the way there. The only thing you can hear is the roar of the engine and Jason’s quick breaths. I turn around in the seat when Keon messages and says that we’re getting close. “I need you to put this on and get down, okay?” I hand him a bulletproof vest and help him tighten the straps.
“Okay.” His voice is so shaky that I want to reach back there and wrap him in my arms. He slides down in the seat, and Tyler’s phone starts ringing. He stabs the button on the steering wheel.
“Yeah?”
“I just passed a sign for a bed and breakfast. Old Lakes.”
We pass it two minutes later, and Tyler stomps on the gas. I hear Jason squeak when it slams us back in the seat. “We see you.”
I grab my AK and throw the strap over my shoulder. I call Keon, put it on speakerphone, and set the phone in thecupholder so we can all be on the call. “What’s the plan?” Keon asks.
“Shoot his fucking tires out. He’s tried twice to run us off the road.”
“How’s Kira?” I find myself asking.
“She’s fine. Strapped in a vest and packing.” Pride fills in my chest, and I know she’s prepared, given what family she comes from. Kane might have protected her from most things, but Ari told me he made sure Kira could take care of herself. “Jason?”
“We had to bring him,” Tyler says, and I watch him wince, waiting for Ari to explode. “He has a vest and a Glock. He’s hanging in fine.”
Ari growls under his breath. “Good call not leaving him alone. This could be a diversion.”
I stab the button for the sunroof. “Get me closer.” Tyler steps harder on the gas until he’s right on the guy’s back bumper. Keon might be our resident car thief, but Tyler can drive anything with ease, even in intense situations. “Can you hold it right there?”
“Yep. Get ‘em, Pop Tart.”
I put my knee on the console and push my head through the sunroof, balancing the AK on top of the car. I know as soon as I see the black bag covering the back glass that this is the same asshole at Jason’s apartment. I watch him look in his rearview mirror and frantically look around for a place to go. “Not today, asshole,” I mutter, looking through the scope, lining up my shot. Keon flies up on the other side in his Mustang and rides right behind the sedan’s driver’s door, blocking him in. My finger tightens on the trigger, and the asshole slams on the brakes, causing Tyler to do the same. The momentum sends me forward, and I feel someone hook their hand in my belt, holding me still.
“What happened?” Ari barks, hearing the squeal of the tires and seeing us back off.
“Motherfucker tried to make us hit him. We’re good.” The car speeds up again and taps Ari’s back bumper, making him swerve a little.
“Shit. Take him out!” I pull the trigger, and the guy swerves into Keon. He corrects easily and drifts back, ready to knock this asshole off the road.
“I can’t get a clear shot.” He’s obviously a professional, being able to handle the car like that with bullets whizzing past his head. All I can do is keep shooting and hope that I finally hit something.
“Ari’s going to take the next exit,” Tyler calls up to me. “We’re going to stay on him.”
We watch Ari take the exit, and Tyler inches up so the guy can’t follow without risking spinning out. He stomps on the gas, trying to pull away from us. That car has to be modified if it’s outrunning Tyler’s Camaro and Keon’s Mustang. Keon whips in front of him, gradually slowing him down, swerving when he tries to pass him. I slide back in the car and have my hand on the handle, ready to jump out when this is finally over.
“Talk to me,” Ari barks. “Do I need to circle back?”
“No,” I answer. “We’re slowing him down.”
The guy slams on his brakes, bringing the car to a complete stop. We’re out, guns ready before we blink. Keon comes in slowly from the front while Tyler and I walk up on different sides. Tyler is just getting to the driver’s side window when the guy opens fire. Tyler jumps back and hisses in pain. I shake off the urge to run to him and make sure he’s okay. “Get out!” Tyler yells. “Or I’ll blow your fucking head off.”
We stay at a standstill until the guy jerks the car into gear and stomps on the gas, going straight for Keon. He jumps out of the way, rolling to the side of the road. Tyler and I open fire, listening to bullets bouncing off the metal of the car. When it’s too far away, we drop our weapons and jump back into the car.We’re close to a residential area, so someone is bound to call the cops. We relay everything to Ari, telling him to meet us back at the house, and disconnect the call.
My hands flutter around Tyler once we’re back on the road. “I’m fine,” he soothes. “It was just a graze.”
