Page 25 of The Team

Rhett held up his hand, signalling for Yin to stop. He did, pressing himself against the wall, cloaked in shadow. The car drove down the street, noise fading.

“All clear,” Sid said.

Rhett gave a nod and he and Yin crossed the street, took the stairs two at a time, and slipped into their loft.

Everyone was still asleep. Rhett instinctively looked for Jay, sighing at his sleeping form on the floor.

Sid kept his eyes on the street below. “Hope you got pepperoni.”

Rhett smiled and slid the pizza box onto the small table by Sid.

“HQ’s gonna wanna little chat,” Sid said quietly, giving the iPad to Rhett.

Rhett ignored it for now. He opened the pizza box, took photos of everything—the flyer, the Turkish writing, the receipt, even the half-eaten crusts—and he sent that to Frankston.

That was his response to whatever bullshit they had to say about him going across the street.

Evidence.

Well, he hoped it would be.

At least it was something. Fucking anything was better than the nothing they expected him to accept.

Sid took out his binoculars and settled in. “Grab some shuteye. I got this.”

Rhett gave a nod for Yin to rest as well, and Rhett went over to where Jay was asleep. He took a spot next to him, not touching, of course, but close.

Always close. And always between Jay and the door.

Always protective.

The floor was hard and unforgiving, but at least this place had a bathroom and a flushing toilet. Rhett had slept in worse. They all had.

Not that he could speak for Yin and Chen, but given they were ex-Sea Dragons, Jiaolong Commandos, Rhett assumed they were no strangers to discomfort.

He didn’t want to say he’d been impressed with Yin when they went out, because he certainly expected nothing less, but he hadn’t been disappointed.

He was quick, quiet, efficient.

He understood the universal hand signals, he stayed close, did everything Rhett would have expected any of his team to do. As a very small first test, he’d passed.

Well, more specifically, he hadn’t failed.

Rhett put that out of his mind, knowing he neededwhat little sleep he could afford. He studied Jay’s sleeping profile. The curve of his ear, the line of his eyebrow, the hint of a smile at his lips.

He loved watching Jay sleep.

My god, he loved this man.

His rock, his one true thing. His entire world.

So, knowing everyone was asleep and no one could see, he reached his hand out and slid it over Jay’s arm.

Just to touch him. To ground himself. To feel connected, just for a moment.

Rhett closed his eyes and slept.

He wokeup to Sid’s voice. “Yes, sir,” he said.

---