Page 32 of The Team

A fact that stuck in the back of Jay’s mind like a thorn.

Did it apply to them? Did their alliance with the MilvusDivision and whatever bonds Directors King and Depraz had made put them above scrutiny?

Not that they wore their sexuality on their sleeves, and not that they had any intention of being in Iran for long, and they certainly wouldn’t be caught in any compromising positions... but still.

Jay knew Rhett had more to focus on than that, but he didn’t doubt Rhett wasn’t fully aware.

And the fact that Milvus was now aligning with Iran, and China now as well. It was a different world, Jay knew that. He didn’t care to know the political intricacies, which made or broke alliances. He just did what he was told.

He would heed whatever order Rhett gave. He would follow him, right or wrong. Jay could afford to be blinkered. That was his privilege, he knew that.

He also knew that Harry Harrigan had done the same—followed orders blindly—believing he was doing what his country needed him to do.

What his country had ordered him to do.

Except he’d been lied to, used as a pawn for personal gain by the very people he’d entrusted his life to.

Jay had to believe it was different now.

The purpose of the Milvus Division was to ensure it was different. Moving forward, they were the right hand of a global counsel who could be moved at the instruction of a democratic panel, ordered to strike with the best interest of the world at its core.

Jayhadto believe that.

And if that meant working with the Iranian government or the Chinese, then so be it.

Jay felt secure in the fact that it was Rhett leading histeam. Rhett would make sure they completed their mission. He would make sure they did everything humanly possible to stop whatever biowarfare atrocities Gordian and Askarov had in mind.

And he’d do everything possible to bring Kowalski and Myles home.

Jay believed that too.

He hated that Rhett bore the weight of such responsibilities on his shoulders, but there was no one else Jay would trust to make it right.

And Jay knew, better than anyone else in their team, that while Rhett appeared to take it all in stride, appeared to roll with it, all without hesitation, and how he made it all look so damn easy, he did, in fact, have moments of self-doubt.

He worried about the team’s safety, and he worried about failing, letting the team down. Not being enough.

So when they got the word transport was arriving, Jay did what he usually did.

He called the team to gather, and held out his fist. “Alpha One,” he said. “Let’s get this done the only way we know how.”

Everyone added their fist to the centre and gave a nod. “Hell fucking yes,” Sid said.

“Hooyah,” Coyote crowed.

“Let’s take these fuckers down,” Azrael said.

“And bring the team home,” Echo added.

Jay held Rhett’s gaze. “We can do this,” Jay said, aiming it solely at Rhett.

You can do this.

You can lead us.

I’ll follow you anywhere.

I fucking love you.