Page 30 of The Team

“Director,” he said, quieter this time, more subservient. “What’s the objective? What are we trying to stop? You’re talking biological warfare terrorism, right?”

A long beat of silence.

“Designed for mass carnage,” King replied.

Rhett shook his head.

Fucking hell.

“It can be detected early, like the swab tests done on you, Captain Ouston. Something to do with an elevated protein, but by then it’s already too late. One hundred percent fatality rate.”

“We believe the attack will be airborne, not contact or ingestion,” he said, his voice low and tired.

“Airborne?” Rhett said, confused. “You said it wasn’t?—”

“We believe that’s what they’re working on. Mass civilian casualties.”

Jesus Christ. Rhett’s head was spinning. “The target? Do you know that yet?”

King sounded more defeated now. “We believe the intended target is Dubai airport. A highly infectious, contagious, unstoppable virus through that airport is 260,000 infected passengers going to 250 destinations in a hundred countries in one day. It would spread around the world in twenty-four hours. Indiscriminate, unstoppable, uncurable, no known antigen. It will be many millions dead in a matter of days. Health systems decimated, economies and governments ruined. The world will be on its knees.”

Rhett’s blood went cold, his humanity and training warring in his head. Eventually, his training won. “Tell me what you need me to do.”

SEVEN

Jay didn’t like this.Not one bit. They’d dealt with the worst of the world many times over, but this was... this was bad.

And by the solemn faces of the team around him, he wasn’t alone in thinking this.

Rhett’s brow was lined with worry, focused and serious. Jay hated to see him bear the weight of it all, but he knew he was capable.

There wasn’t anyone more capable than Rhett.

And that wasn’t Jay’s biased opinion. It was fact. Rhett would lead this team and the Alpha Two if he had to. Hell, he’d help lead the Iranian troops too, if it came down to that.

Rhett had unknowingly risked exposure, and Jay wasn’t even mad. Rhett had broken orders and gone over to the apartment across the street because he was concerned about Kowalski and Myles.

And rightfully so.

HQ had given them nothing, expecting Rhett to sit and twiddle his thumbs while the minutes and hours ticked by.

The fact that he had broken orders was testament to how cornered Rhett was feeling. And if King wanted to punish Rhett for that, Jay would tell King his poor communication and lack of trust were to blame.

Besides, if Rhett was gonna be in trouble, Jay would always be right there with him.

Right now, Rhett needed some time to think, time to plan, and some time for a private conversation with King.

“Hey, Totoro,” Jay said, looking up at the big guy. “You’re on a coffee-and-food run with me. We need food and coffee.”

“I’ll come too,” Azrael said, grabbing her coat. “I need fresh air.”

“Yay,” Jay said, overly cheerful. “Did you hear that?” he asked Totoro as he walked to the door. “Az said she’s paying.”

Azrael shoved Jay so hard, he hit the door frame. “Shut it.”

Totoro laughed, and the three of them made their way down the stairs to the street.

The morning was cold but refreshing after the confines of the room they’d been bunking in. The fresh air was good for clearing out Jay’s mind, and he wondered absently if maybe Rhett should have joined them.