Page 6 of The Team

Director King stepped back to join Commander Zihao. Zihao was neat as a pin, and Rhett recognised no-nonsense when he saw it. “I apologise for the actions and behaviour of agents Yin and Chen,” Zihao said. “Rest assured, such insubordination will not happen again.”

Rhett looked over at Yin and Chen, taking in their exemplary posture and banged-up faces. At the two men who were now on his team that he now outranked. He owned their asses. Then he turned back to Commander Zihao. “I can assure you it won’t.”

Zihao nodded before the three of them turned and walked out. The remaining silence in the room was deafening.

Director King moved to stand in front of Rhett. “Report for duty at zero six hundred, where you will be debriefed in full. This is an exercise in diplomacy and international relations in an official exchange of intel and goodwill. It’s a goddamn olive branch, and so help me god, you will play nice. Do you hear me?”

“Understood, sir.”

“It better be. Now get out of my face,” King said. “Before I change my mind and fire you both.”

Rhett and Jay got to the door.

“Captain,” the director said, stopping them.

Rhett turned. “Sir.”

He pointed his cane at him. “Play. Nice.”

Rhett couldn’t help it. He almost smiled. “Yes, sir.”

THREE

Rhett and Jaywere at the London HQ well before the required 0600. They’d fucked up last night and Rhett wasn’t giving them one more opportunity to punish him.

Director King had threatened to separate them last night, and that had been enough to knock some sense into him.

The truth was, they’d become complacent. Arrogant in thinking they were untouchable.

Had they been on separate missions before?

Sure.

Had they spent a week or two apart in the last eight years?

Of course.

But separated? And sent to opposite ends of the planet for fuck knows how long?

Never.

Rhett couldn’t even stand the idea of it.

Jay was his entire world.

It had been a massive issue in the beginning. Whenthey’d been selected for Milvus, the powers that be considered culling Jay from their list of ideal candidates.

Rhett had said he’d decline. They were a package deal or no deal at all.

The thing was, Jay was exceptional at his job. He was brilliant at this life. Covert ops, forever on the move, sleepless nights, relentless fatigue and strain on their bodies and minds.

Jay made it look easy.

He was an outstanding field medic. He was the best. And Rhett was the best leader, the best soldier, their best recruit.

And Rhett had sworn, promised and vowed that their relationship, their bond, would not compromise their work.

It would make their team better, Rhett had said. Their dedication to Milvus was unwavering, resolute, and true. But it was a two-for-one deal.