Page 35 of The Team

“And least favourite?”

“South Sudan,” he replied quietly, flatly. The answer came easy and fast, and everyone stared at him.

No one asked for clarification.

No one dared.

“Home, huh?” Coyote murmured. “Christ, I haven’t been home in...” He sighed. “Far too long.”

It had been months for all of them. Six months since they’d been back in Australia long enough to attend Harry and Asher’s wedding, barely long enough to catch up with Jay’s family.

Though as much as he treasured seeing his family, Jay didn’t notice the time too much. He checked in with his mum every couple of weeks, of course. But it was hard to miss home exactly when hishomewas sitting right beside him.

Jay knew the others in his team didn’t have that luxury. They weren’t afforded that comfort.

Then, shifting the conversation and mood in the van, Rhett put his hand to his earpiece. “Roger that.” Then he looked at his team. “ETA five minutes.”

After meetingthe Iranian squad leader, Rhett split his team into two, and they transferred to the Iranian military’s trucks. Two black vehicles, similar to the Rheinmetall’s the Australian Army used.

He’d motioned for Sid, with no more than a hand signal, to take Azrael, Echo, and Coyote in the second truck. It wasn’t that they wouldn’t have all fit in one truck, but should one vehicle come under fire or be hit with an EID, at least their entire team wouldn’t be decimated.

The other half could still carry out the mission.

Sid had always been his second lieutenant. More than capable, and Rhett knew Sid would do him proud. Despite Sid’s tendency to run his mouth, he knew when to put his head down and get shit done.

And if, god forbid, something should happen to Rhett, he knew Sid would step up and get the team home.

The ride in the truck over the Iranian border was a quiet one.

The Iranian squad leader spoke little English and said nothing the entire ride. He and two of his men sat in the back with them, and Rhett didn’t care much for the way they kept looking at Yin and Chen, and even Jay.

Rhett didn’t care for that much at all.

Rhett didn’t doubt Jay was aware, but it was hard to tell if Chen knew he was under scrutiny. He seemed to be fighting a smile at Jay most of the way. Hell, maybe it was the reason he smiled. But there was no doubt Yin sure noticed.

He kept alert but calm, but in the end, instead of ignoring them, Yin returned their keen observations. He just stared right back at them until their leader told his men to stop.

It made Rhett smile.

And Yin. Well, as much as Rhett thought it was possible for Yin to actually smile.

The military base they were taken to was surrounded by desert mountains, and it looked small. A row of demountable buildings on one side, most likely admin, and barracks on the far side. There were two hangars, a mess hall, and an infirmary. Small, maybe, though Rhett knew, like most military bases around the world, especially those in the deserts and mountains, were mostly underground.

Bunkers and tunnels, garrisoned, fully armed, and ready for action in a moment’s notice.

The soldiers stationed there all stopped and watchedas they disembarked from their trucks. Rhett was led into the first of three large demountable buildings, while the rest of his team was shown to the hangar across from him.

There, Rhett was met by Director King. A friendlier face than the uniforms around him, though Rhett had to wonder if the smile was for show. King might have wanted to wring Rhett’s neck a few hours ago but they’d be nothing short of a practised united front to the Iranian military. King also looked as if he hadn’t slept in a week.

“Director King,” Rhett said, sharp and professional.

“Captain. This way,” King said, directing him to follow. The intel room looked like any other he’d been in, and it was air-conditioned, at least, with computers, screens, radars, and uniformed staff with headphones and headsets.

There were also other officials, and one or two national heads of state, if Rhett were to guess. Overseeing this international operation and keeping tabs on Milvus, no doubt.

Rhett was definitely in with the big dogs now.

But reputations and status aside, Rhett was more interested in the faces on the screens at the end of the room.

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