Gage (THE GOLDEN TEAM #3)

Chapter 31

31

LYON

I remembered the girl who saved me when I was fifteen. I knew I’d never forget her.

My mother had moved us to Los Angeles, settling in a rough inner-city neighborhood. I had to fight constantly just to survive. But the worst day was when three older boys dragged me into an alley. I was sure I was about to die.

Then, like an angel sent from heaven, she appeared.

Her hair gleamed in the sunlight; she was all legs and fists. She launched into the fight without hesitation, knocking all three of my attackers down. I had always been small for my age, and she was taller than me. She probably thought I was just a helpless kid.

“Shame on all of you! That’s dirty fighting, and if you keep this up, you’ll never be anything,” she scolded, her voice fierce.

Then she turned to me and offered her hand. The moment my fingers touched hers, I fell in love. I’m not exaggerating. She looked to be around twelve, but I didn’t care. I knew, one day, I would find her again.

As we left the alley, a boy stormed toward us. “Where the hell did you disappear to? And who’s this?” he demanded.

“I don’t know his name,” she replied, unfazed. “Those guys were beating him up. Of course, I had to help.”

She glanced back at me.

“I’m Niki. This is my brother, Max. We’ll walk you home.”

“Niki, we’re not supposed to be on this side of town,” Max warned. “We need to get back to Grandma’s before Mom finds out where we are.”

“What’s your name?” Niki asked, watching me as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

“Lyon. You don’t have to walk me home. Was that martial arts you used to fight those guys?”

“Yes. You should take lessons—it could save your life.”

“I will. Thank you, Niki.”

“You’re welcome, Lyon.”

Then, to my utter shock, she leaned in and kissed my cheek. Just a peck. But it sealed my fate.

At fifteen, I hero-worshipped her. As I got older, I thought of her differently. I often imagined what she might look like now.

I had told that story to my buddies once, and I regretted it ever since. Now, every time they saw a red-haired woman, they teased me, claiming it was Niki. I used to draw pictures of her, sketching that beautiful red hair, that perfect face, and those striking green eyes.

“Are you daydreaming?” Raven’s voice snapped me back to the present.

“No, just resting my mind,” I replied. “Do I ask you if you’re daydreaming when your eyes are closed? You’re probably wondering if you have more siblings, but I don’t ask you nosey questions.”

Raven dropped the subject immediately. “How’s Brutus doing?”

“He’s in love with Gage. Every time Gage comes around, Brutus whines and runs to him. Hell, he even tried climbing into Gage’s lap. I had to put him outside because he was acting love-struck.”

“I heard Gage stayed with him through surgery and carried him everywhere while they were looking for you.”

“Thank God they found Brutus before those men killed him. I was glad to get out of that country. So, where are we going?” I asked.

“We just found out there are hundreds of Americans still in Afghanistan. Some people in the government thought it would be a good idea for us to check it out.”

“What people in the government?”

“I don’t know. River has that cousin who never made it out of Afghanistan. Remember how they told River he must have died?”

“Yeah. I had to tackle River before he killed the guy who suggested that. So, River thinks he might still be there?”

“He was just eighteen, a kid. River says he’s the smartest person he knows. So maybe he’s alive. Who knows?”

“I know,” River said, walking to the back of the plane where we were sitting. His voice was firm, edged with certainty.

“Leo was always sharp, always aware. If he was left behind, he wouldn’t just sit around waiting to die.”

He’d gather as many Americans as he could and take them somewhere safe. I believe that’s exactly what happened,” River said, glancing at both of us.

I turned to River. “I want a truthful answer. Did the government send us over here?”

River met his gaze. “No. I sent us over here. Because I want every American in that hellhole home; their families already grieved for them, believing they were dead. Now, they hear there are hundreds still alive.

“Do you know how many people called The Golden Team yesterday? Five hundred and sixty people. All asking what we knew about the Americans left behind and if we were going to get them out.”

“So you lied to us and said the government sent us,” I said, laughing as he clapped River on the back. “You’re turning into me. I never thought I’d see the day when River Channing would be just like me. I’ve told you before—sometimes you have to say screw them and do it on your own.”

“I never said you were wrong about that,” River admitted. “Most of the time, I silently agreed with you. I’m saving Americans. That’s all I’m doing.”

“Where are we landing this plane?”

“Where we would if the government had sent us.”

“Did you tell them the government sent us?” Lyon asked.

“Yes, I did. And I don’t want to hear any more about it.”

I must have dozed off because when I woke up, my neck ached, and River and Raven were asleep. I stood and walked up to the cockpit, where Gage was piloting.

“Nap time. I’ll take over from here.”

“Thanks,” Gage muttered, yawning. “I could sleep for twenty-four hours.” He left the cockpit, leaving me alone with my thoughts as I flew us toward Afghanistan and the Americans.