Page 106 of The Team

Yunho smiled. “Changes that you’ll like. More checks and balances for the council, more transparency from your handlers. Basically, an overhaul of systems and procedures and,” he said with a smile, “more autonomy for the Milvus teams. You’re right about your original purpose. Milvus was supposed to be a team of kites. They lost sight of that trying to play by the rules.”

“There are no rules,” Asher said, taking his seat next to Harry.

Jun-mei sat beside Tao, her hand resting on his arm and smiling at him in a way that made his heart sing. He loved how happy she was.

And he was happy to sit here and talk about their jobs like they were. To vent frustrations and to be reassured.

What a different life this was. Tao could barely believe it. His choice back then, to volunteer for Milvus may have been selfish in the beginning, but now he knew just how right he’d been.

“You did a good thing back in Tehran,” Yunho said to Rhett. “The whole Milvus team. You stopped an act of evil that would have changed the world as we know it. There are no parades, no medals, no accolades for that. You will walk past people on the street any time from now who will have no idea that your actions saved them. Milvus has the potential to be a weapon used for the good of the world; don’t lose sight of that.”

And then Jay had to go ruin it. “You know what I think?”

“Oh god,” Harry grumbled. “Here we go.”

“I think the captain and the pit viper need to have another round of Sanda fighting. I didn’t get to watch, and it’s pretty much all but gone from the internet now.” He smiled brightly. “I wanna see who’d win.”

Rhett looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “Jay. What the...?”

“Sanda fighting, huh?” Asher said, excited. “I’m down to watch that.”

“What the hell is Sanda fighting?” Harry asked.

“A specialised form of combat fighting used by the Chinese special forces,” Jay replied.

Tao looked at Rhett. “You never did say where you learned it.”

“I learned several forms of fighting techniques,” Rhett said.

Harry nodded, smiling now. “Come on, then. Now I wanna see.”

“You’re not allowed to try it,” Asher mumbled to him. “Your shoulder won’t forgive you.”

Jay snorted. “I’ll put a fiver on Rhett.”

Rhett stared at him. “You put your money on Yin last time.”

Jay made a face, and Hanyu, who was over by the barbeque, held up a giant pair of tongs and clicked them together. “I have ten on Tao.”

Tao laughed and stood up. “Come on, Captain. No holding back.”

Rhett groaned as he got to his feet. “Jesus Christ.”

Yunho sipped his wine, bemused. “No bleeding on thetiles, please.”

Tao walked over to the open space beside the pool, rolled his shoulders, and cracked his neck.

Rhett joined him. “Jay, have you got your medic kit? I’m probably gonna need it.”

“Sure thing, babe,” he replied. “Yin, no aiming for his junk. I need that.”

Rhett turned to face him, deflated. “Thanks,babe.”

Jun-mei laughed, her hands to her mouth. “Same, please, Rhett. Be careful with his...”

“Junk?” Jay supplied.

Everyone laughed, and Tao stood there, shocked that she would say such a thing. He turned to Jay. “You’re a bad influence on her.”

Rhett burst out laughing. “You’ve got no idea.” Then he spread his feet apart, lowered his centre of gravity, and beckoned Tao with both hands. “Come on, let’s get this over with.”

The end