Page 51 of Beta Team-The Saviors: Part One
“When I do this, I want a cool nickname.” I pull my mask on, and they slip into the course. They will be the hardest to get by because they know the path I’ll most likely take.
I steady my breathing like they taught me and slide to the side of the course to go in the side instead of the front entrance. Holding my gun in front of me, I walk silently through the first part of the course. I catch someone out of the corner of my eye and pop a shot off before they can get me. I move back on the outside so it doesn’t give my position away and keep moving.One down. I get through the first part of the course, taking down two more before I feel a paintball hit me dead center of the chest.
“Go again!” Ari calls out, lowering his gun.
“Of course it would be you,” I grumble, walking to the start from the beginning. I give them time to switch up their positions before I start again. We go through this four more fucking times before I make it to the house.
By the time I step inside the house, my hands are sweaty and I have to steady myself again. I slide against the wall in the shadows and wait. I know this is where Ghost and Sean most likely are, and I’ll be damned if one of them takes me down. I let all of their advice roll through my head and crouch at the bottom of the stairs. I grin behind my mask and purposely lean my weight on the creak on the landing. Just like I thought, one of them materializes at the top of the stairs, and I take them out before moving back into the shadows. The staircase is spiral so I move to the other side.
Taking each step slowly, I peek around the top and see the door marked to where Bridget is. Most likely, the other one is waiting beside it or right inside. I check my surroundings and realize there isn’t enough space to hide beside the door, so they’re waiting inside that room.
Quickly but quietly, I move to the door and shove it open. I walk through and feel the air move behind me, and spin, popping off a shot.
“My hero!” Bridget calls out with a laugh, and I know it’s over.
Ghost pulls his mask off, a huge smile on his face. “Damn good job, brother.”
“It only took me four tries,” I grumble, turning around and letting Bridget hop on my back. “Just for that, I’m stealing your wife.”
I take off at a dead sprint, body checking Ghost out of my way, and take off down the steps, Bridget laughing like crazy. “Cover me!” I yell when I see Axel walking in front of the course.
Bridget grabs the paintball gun and lights him up. “What the fuck?!” he explodes, ducking for cover. “It’s over!”
“Not for me!” she sings, looking for someone else. I spot Nik at the same time as her, and he gives her a warning look that she doesn’t listen to. She pulls the trigger again, hitting him square in the chest.
We make it to the end of the course, and I collapse on the ground, both of us laughing like crazy.
Sean walks over and extends a hand down, pulling me to my feet. “Welcome to the team, Phantom.”
I know that this was just training, and the nicknames are stupid to everyone else. But it feels like I’ve finally been accepted fully by the Saviors.
That means I need to figure out how to deal with my issues, so I can give them my all.
17
TYLER
Irelax on the bench outside of Kira’s class and wait. It’s weird not being here with Gavin, and I almost argued with Ari when he said he was taking him today. But my argument that he had too hard of a night died on my tongue when Ari told me his plan. Gavin needs this more than I think he even realizes.
Kira’s class lets out, and I watch her walk out, smiling shyly at a girl walking with her. She heads in my direction, and I stand to greet her. “Did you make a friend?” I ask, slinging my arm over her shoulders.
She shrugs, and we start walking toward her dorm. “Sort of. She was really nice.”
“What’s her name?”
Kira gives me a dry look. “So you can run a background check on her?”
“Yes,” I answer truthfully. “I can find out either way.”
“It’s Jessica. I don’t know a last name. She invited me to a party Friday.”
“For real? I’m sure she’ll come back fine, but you know we need to check.” She mocks me under her breath, and I squeeze her to my side, making her laugh. “I have a question.”
“I’m afraid to ask, but what?”
“You looked awfully cozy with Ke last night.”
Her cheek blooms with color, and she ducks her head. “That’s not a question.”
