Page 12 of The Team (The Milvus Files #3)

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.

“It is quite the development, yes?” Azrael said. “King was not mincing his words.”

Totoro nodded. “It is a... what do you call it in English? When you born into fire?”

“A baptism of fire,” Jay guessed .

“Yes. Our first assignment. It’s been three days. Old job not like this.”

Jay laughed. “No job is like this one. But we’ll kick butt and next week it will be something different.”

Azrael’s mouth pulled down into a grimace.

“I don’t know. I think this one’s different.

I mean, who the hell would want to cause so much devastation?

Isn’t a terrorist attack a statement of sorts?

To harm or disrupt lives on political or religious grounds, to spread awareness.

No matter how fucked up. But what purpose does this one serve? ”

Jay knew exactly what she was saying, what point she was making, but he had no answer.

He kept thinking about Kowalski and Myles. Two good men. Two of their team.

“Someone with the fix,” Totoro said. “Ask who benefits? The one with the... answer. The fix. Remedy.” He made a frustrated sound. “Jiě yào.”

“The antidote,” Jay translated.

“Yes. I try to use only English,” Totoro said. “Antidote. One who gets paid to fix.”

“Hm.” Azrael scowled into the sunrise. “I think you might be right. It’s the only logical answer.”

Jay had to agree. He didn’t like it, but it made sense.

They passed a grocer who was just opening their store, pulling a cart of fruit onto the sidewalk.

“Should we get some fruit and water?” Azrael asked.

“On the way back,” Jay said. They were close enough to the bakery—he could smell pastries and caffeine—and his stomach growled loud enough for them all to hear. “My stomach has spoken.”

Totoro laughed. “Me too, little man. Me too.”

After everyone had demolished their coffees and bags of pastries and packed away the fruit and bottled water for later, they’d showered, freshened up, ready for whatever the day would bring.

They were ready.

Rhett was ready. He was in go-mode and focused.

Jay wanted to take Rhett aside, into the bathroom, even, and just hold him. He took so much strength from Jay’s embrace, Rhett had sworn once that it gave him a full recharge.

But he couldn’t. Not here, not now.

This was the hardest part sometimes.

Being with Rhett every step of the way but not being able to be with him. Not being able to offer any more than a quiet word of comfort when everyone else slept, or a knowing glance.

He knew Rhett could read his eyes.

All the things they couldn’t say out loud.

Would the others care if Jay gave him gentle words of encouragement in front of them?

Probably not.

But there wasn’t any room for that. Especially on a job. If they were off the clock, sure. But not getting ready for transport, not preparing to avert a possible worldwide terrorism catastrophe, and not when they were aligning with the Iranian military.

A country where being gay was punishable by death.

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

Did it apply to them? Did their alliance with the Milvus Division 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.

Jay had to 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 his team. 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.

Rhett gave a nod like he understood every word Jay didn’t say out loud.

Jay hoped it would be enough.

Then Rhett held his finger to his earpiece and gave a nod. “Okay, let’s roll out.” They collected their gear, and as everyone filed out, Rhett grabbed Jay’s arm. “Thank you,” he whispered.

Jay smiled at him. “When this assignment is over, you’re gonna rail me so hard.”

Rhett smirked, fixed the strap on Jay’s gear, then shoved him toward the door. “Fall out, soldier.”

With that, they left the apartment as they found it—empty—and went downstairs to the waiting van.

The ride out of Baku was quieter. Jay guessed everyone was clearing their minds, focusing, and preparing mentally for what they were about to do.

Eventually, the quiet got the better of Jay.

Totoro was sitting across from him, and when Jay’s eyes met his, the big guy smiled.

Jay liked him. He wasn’t entirely sure what to make of Yin. He was serious, quiet, and he reminded Jay a lot of Rhett. They were so alike.

And Chen was more like Jay.

“Ever been to Tehran before?” Jay asked him.

Totoro shook his head. “No.”

“It’s a beautiful city,” Jay added.

“Not Iran, but did training with Saudi National Guard two years ago,” Totoro said, and everyone turned to watch him. Except Yin. He kept his gaze straight ahead .

They’d done training with the Saudis?

That was . . . unexpected.

“Oh?” Jay asked. “And how was that?”

“Hot,” Chen replied. “We Sea Dragons like water. Desert no good.”

Jay chuckled. “I get that.”

“Where else have you done training?” Rhett asked. He was still looking at Yin, so everyone waited for Yin to answer.

Yin stared back at him for a long few beats before his lips twitched in what might have been a smirk. “Officially or unofficially?”

Rhett laughed. “Does it make any difference?”

Yin shrugged. “Not at all. My answer is the same.”

“It’s classified,” Sid said with a wry smile.

“Every job we’ve ever done has been classified,” Coyote added.

“I’ve never set foot outside of France,” Azrael said, her grin wide.

Jay laughed and raised his hand. “Never left Australia.”