Page 19 of The Team

Malla gawped a little at Rhett’s scrutiny and turned toFrankston, throwing him right under the bus. Malla was a tall Spanish guy, neat as a pin. Frankston was the complete opposite. He reminded Rhett of an English version of Jack Black. Shorter, pudgy, and unkempt in a way that was made more obvious working with military folks. But he was proficient with all things tech, and he’d got their asses out of a few sticky situations on assignments before.

“Yeah,” he said with an awkward wave of his hand. “I relayed transport details to get them into Georgia, but there was no response.”

Rhett gave him a nod, then he gave King a look that saidfuck youin no uncertain terms before turning to his team. “Let’s go.”

The team climbed into the back of the black van, four a side, facing each other. Rhett knew that Yin was looking at him, but he was still too pissed off to face him. Fucking bureaucracy made him so mad. If they had any doubts about including Yin and Chen, they shouldn’t have been brought into Milvus at all. And if they were doubting Rhett’s ability to run his team, well, they could all go get fucked.

“Thank you,” Yin said, breaking the silence.

Rhett looked at him then. “Still trying to figure out if they doubt you or if they doubt my leadership. Fucking assholes.”

Director King’s voice broke through their earpieces, a warning of its own. “Full comms, Captain Ouston.”

Rhett smirked. “Good. Saves me repeating myself in my report.” Then he thought better about being too disrespectful, so he tacked on a curt, “Sir.”

Yin’s eyes widened, Chen grimaced, but Jay laughed, and the rest of the team smiled.

Rhett was defensive of his team, and the fact that his team now included Yin and Chen was Director King’s doing. And quite frankly, King should have known better than to question that in front of his team.

The residual anger helped keep the pre-mission anxiety from setting in, and Rhett felt better once they were in the air. They’d be refuelling in Croatia, so he told his team to rest, and he spent his time squeezing King for all the intel they had.

The basein Croatia hadn’t changed much since the last time Jay was there, over a year ago now. When they’d extracted Asher Garin and Oh Yunho from the underground bunker with the help of his favourite cranky tank, Harry Harrigan.

They were there to refuel and, of course, Rhett was off with Director King, going through the latest intel.

The base had since beenrelievedfrom the multinational crime ring fronted by Istomin in a trade-off with the Croatian government and was now a detail base and refuelling station for the Milvus Division whenever needed.

Jay didn’t care much for the political bullshit that went on. He knew it was necessary. He knew it was all a game of bargaining and give and take. Just like he was aware those rules were murky as fuck, lies were a given, and nothing was ever black and white.

Grey was a whole fucking colour.

Jay couldn’t let himself get consumed by that side of it. He knew Rhett straddled the sidelines every day—his role as team leader had him with a foot on either side ofthe military and political line—but Jay wasn’t built for that.

As much as it drove Rhett crazy sometimes, or just downright pissed him off, Jay was glad it was Rhett and no one else.

Not just because he knew Rhett was capable, but also that his loyalty would always be for his team. He put them first, always. And he would stand up to the likes of Director King to defend his team when maybe others wouldn’t have the balls to dare.

Rhett had always been that way. From the first day Jay had met him, he’d stood for what was right, what was rule and regimented.

It also helped that he had the skills to back himself.

Jay remembered seeing Rhett that first time. They were barely eighteen, and Rhett was much scrawnier than he was now. Their sergeant had ordered team obstacle course runs through mud and sleet, and Rhett had taken charge, taken the lead, and got his team through it. They might not have come first, but every member crossed the finish line, and that was a win according to Rhett.

The other team had failed because they’d not worked as a team, and their leader did nothing but yell at the weakest links, two not finishing the course and one ending up in the infirmary.

The drill sergeant had yelled at Rhett about efficiency, and Rhett stood toe to toe with him, never backing down, yelling that he’d stand with his team, win or lose, because that’s what a leader does. All of eighteen years old and already a better leader than most.

Jay had only had eyes for Rhett after that day.

And he’d worked harder to never be one of those weakest links again.

He’d trained, he’d practised, he’d studied, just to make Rhett proud. To maybe make him notice...

And take notice, Rhett had.

Eyes that lingered a beat too long, a smile for no one else but Jay. Until Jay got caught looking and Rhett noticed. Now, to Jay’s defence, Rhett was hot as fuck, ripped physique, but the confidence...

The sexiest fucking thing a man can have.

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