Chapter 18 Ari
ARI
Between the pain, Tyler’s words, and the constant threat over our heads, I didn’t sleep for shit last night.
After Tyler dropped his bomb, he gently woke Jason up, and they helped me to bed. I can’t even say I tossed and turned because I can barely fucking move, which is already getting on my nerves. I want to get back in the field, but until Keon and I are both healed, this is all falling on Tivon.
Which brings me back to the main reason I couldn’t fucking sleep.
Does Tivon really feel out of place here?
We’ve done everything we can to make sure he knows he's part of the team, but I could also see him feeling like an outsider coming into what I’ve built here.
The problem is, I don’t know how to change it.
With a groan, I try to swing my legs out of the bed but before I can move fully, the door opens, and Gavin walks in. “Where are you going?”
“I have to piss. Were you standing guard at the door?”
Gavin shrugs and walks to the bed. “No, I was coming in anyway. But if you’re going to try to do shit yourself, maybe we should.”
“I fucking hate this shit.”
Gavin helps me sit on the side of the bed, wraps my arm around his neck, and gets me to my feet. “Trust me, I remember this feeling. But you’ll get there faster if you’re smart about this recovery.” We walk slowly to the bathroom, and Gavin gets me situated. “Do you need me to hold it?”
“Fuck off.” Gavin chuckles and I have to grit my teeth to keep from snapping. He keeps a tight hold on the back of my shirt while I take care of business, then helps me to the sink to wash my hands. Once that’s done, we walk toward the living room. “I want to sit outside for a bit.”
Gavin changes direction and grabs some pillows from the couch on the way. When we get to the small porch, he sits me down on the chair and pulls another over to prop my feet on, tucking pillows around me as he goes. “Tivon is cooking breakfast. I’ll bring you some out when he’s done.”
“Gavin,” I call out when he’s almost to the door. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“What do you think about Tivon?”
“I like him. He’s more than proved himself already, and has made up for how he entered our lives.”
“You trust him?”
“I let Tyler go with him alone yesterday, didn’t I? He’s one of the most important people in my life. He wouldn’t have stepped foot outside of this house without me if I didn’t trust Tivon. Why do you ask?”
“Because of something Tyler said last night.”
“About Tivon joining us?”
“You know about that?”
Gavin laughs. “Of course I do. That’s all I’ve heard about. He’s got it in his head that Tivon is our missing piece, and you know Tyler is like a dog with a goddamn bone.”
Gavin goes into the house and leaves me with all these fucking thoughts.
Does Jason want him? Kira? I know Tyler does, I can see it all over his face.
He doesn’t hide shit from me. Shaking my head, I focus on this Cryptic guy.
He’s obviously working for Abraham because of the listing being very specific for me and Jason.
My question is, is this guy the one who ransacked Jason’s apartment, almost ran us off the road, and left that note on Tyler’s car?
Or are we dealing with a whole team, on top of my father’s bullshit?
The flash drive they were looking for, they’ll never find, especially if the dumbasses are looking in obvious places like my house. It’s hidden somewhere that even my team couldn’t find.
I need to get my father under watchful eyes before I can release it, or Israel won’t survive his wrath. It’s enough to get him out of Mossad and put in prison, if I don’t kill him first. Abraham, I’m going to torture for weeks before I put him out of his misery.
The longer I sit here, the more my mind keeps going back to Tivon.
I was pissed the fuck off when he bossed me around in the hospital room, because there wasn’t anything I could have done anyway.
Being manhandled like that isn’t something that I’m used to.
That motherfucker had me back in the bed before I could blink and I just…
let him. I couldn’t even talk shit, I was so fucking stunned.
“May I join you?” Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
I focus on Tivon instead of staring off into the distance and nod.
He sets a plate on my lap piled high with pancakes, sausage, and hashbrowns.
He disappears into the house after setting his own plate down, and returns with two steaming hot cups of coffee.
I accept one gratefully, and he sits in the chair to my side.
“Thanks.” I take a sip of coffee and contain a growl when Tivon reaches into his pocket, pulling out my pill container. I take it more forcefully than necessary, and the asshole just raises a brow.
“You need those to get back to one hundred percent.”
“I’m aware,” I bite out.
“Then don’t be a dick about it. Eat your food.”
Instead of snapping like I want, I grab my fork and start eating. In between bites, I start swallowing the pills. I look at Tivon out of the corner of my eye and swear the asshole is fighting off a smile. We eat in silence until I can’t take it anymore. “Anything on this website?”
“I talked to our friend downstairs last night. I’m going to go get his laptop after breakfast to take it to Nolan.”
I can’t help it, I laugh. “Talked?”
“Yes. Weapons may have been involved, but we talked.”
“Is he still alive?”
Tivon shakes his head and sets his plate on the table before taking mine to do the same. “No. I took care of them last night and cleaned the basement up. We need to move soon.”
“Do you sleep?”
Tivon stares off into the distance. “Not really. A few hours is all I need.” Something tells me there’s a lot to that story, but I don’t ask. Tivon was raised like I was. Weaknesses get you killed. “I have my guys clearing out another safe house. Twenty four hours and we’ll go there.”
“You know Abraham might be sitting on that guy’s place if he hasn’t checked in yet.”
Tivon acknowledges that with a nod. “Nolan is already watching the street cameras. He’s very good.”
“Nolan is one of the best.”
“I will be taking him some upgraded equipment I brought with me as a thank you for his help.”
“You don’t have to do that, Tivon. This is what he does.”
“He can do so much more with this, and I want to.”
“You can’t go to that apartment alone.”
Tivon leans back in the chair, crosses his arms over his chest, and finally locks eyes with me. “I can’t?”
Something about his intense dark eyes throws me off, but I fight against it. “No. That’s not what we do. If you’re going to be a part of the Saviors, we don’t go alone.”
“Am I a part of the Saviors?”
Before I can answer, Jason comes outside with a bright smile. He kisses me on the lips. “How are you feeling?”
“Pretty good, Sweet cheeks.” I pull him down to whisper something in his ear, and his smile widens at my request. He gathers our plates, and to my surprise, kisses Tivon gently on the cheek, making the big guy blush.
“Breakfast was fantastic. I’ll be right back.”
Jason walks back into the house, Tivon’s eyes on him the whole way.
When he finally looks at me and notices me watching him, he clears his throat, quickly looking away.
So, Jason does have an effect on him. Smart man.
Jason comes back, hands me what I asked for, and disappears back inside.
I hand it to Tivon, making his eyes widen when he realizes what it is.
“That is much more than a mask. You’re committing to the Saviors when you put it on.
I don’t know what your plans are when this is done, but my team seems to want you to stick around.
” I blow a breath out. “And I do too. You stepped into my shoes when you didn’t have to.
You could have dumped us here and kept your hands clean.
You didn’t have to come save my ass in the first place. ”
“Yes I did. Whether you see it or not, I owe you, Aryeh. I took my oath to protect you in Israel seriously. It doesn't just go away when you cross country lines.”
That’s when I see it. The more Tyler keeps talking about.
The question is, what the fuck am I going to do about it?