Page 78 of The Team

Chen nodded. “Feels”—he put his hand to his chest—“personal.”

“Personal? How so?”

“Personal for Tao. They take Jun-mei. So maybe they not want Milvus. Maybe they want Tao. Milvus is bonus.”

Jay studied Chen’s face in the darkened cabin and realised that the big guy maybe wasn’t just all brawn after all. “Hm, maybe.”

Jay looked over again at where Rhett was studying something on the laptop with King and Zihao. Their expressions were serious.

Chen checked his watch. “Ugh. Should sleep,” he mumbled, closed his eyes and then five seconds later, was snoring.

Just like sleeping next to Rhett.

Jay sighed and closed his eyes.

Rhett managed a few hours’sleep before they’d refuelled in Astana, Kazakhstan, where it was bitterly fucking cold and no one wanted to stick around for long.

They were back on board, fed and watered, and by the time they were at altitude, King’s laptop chimed with an incoming video link.

Yunho.

When his face filled the screen, Rhett could see he looked tired but otherwise well. Behind him was a wall of screens that looked much like the intel room back at HQ, only better.

“Ah, Captain, it’s good to see you again,” he said.

“You too,” Rhett replied. He noticed the heavy set of Yunho’s eyes. “Did you manage some sleep?”

“About the same as you, I’d guess.” His smile was brief. “I have news.”

Everyone on board stood where they could, and Rhett turned the screen around better so they could see him.

“Agent Myles’ condition is stable. He’s been intubated and is in an induced coma. He’s not out of the woods yet by any stretch, but his condition hasn’t worsened. When I know more, I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you,” Rhett replied.

Yunho gave a brief nod, his expression turning grim. “We have located Yixing in Paris. I believe it’s a safe house.He has a burner phone, and his only contact is Director Depraz.”

What the hell... Rhett’s eyes went to King’s, but this was clearly news to him as well.

Yunho continued, “We only have timestamps and lengths of their first phone calls, but recordings of subsequent phone calls make it clear that Depraz put him in that safe house to protect him. And,” he added, “she’s not telling anyone in HQ. In fact, several times when in discussions about Yixing’s disappearance, she’s withheld disclosure.”

“She doesn’t trust them,” King said. “She knew there was a leak, about Frankston, but not how far it went.”

Yunho gave a nod. “It would appear so. We are keeping an eye on the situation and on Yixing. He’s safe for now.”

“Do you know who informed who?” Rhett asked. “For certain, I mean. We were only assuming before. Did he tell her about Frankston, or did she tell him?”

Yunho’s lip twitched in an almost smile. “Good question, Captain. Yixing told Depraz. From their conversations, he alerted her to the fact Frankston was intercepting the intel and not relaying details to your Milvus team on mission in Tehran.”

Rhett glowered, rage brewing in his blood. “We need Frankston alive,” Rhett sneered. “So I can kill him myself.”

Someone off-camera snorted and Yunho’s eyes darted to the left, then he sighed. “Birds of a feather,” he said, then turned his laptop to show who was sitting beside him.

Harry Harrigan looked as big as Rhett remembered,but he looked... more relaxed. Happy, even. “Hey, Captain.”

Rhett grinned. “Harry. You look good.”

“You look like shit.”