“Sergeant Ovechkina and Captain Callahan are checking in with the brass. They should be here shortly,”Donovansaid.
“Where’d you all comeoutof?”
The chorus of “Recon Marines” was followed by Annabelle’s lone “Night Stalkers” call out, earning Alexei and Kyle an approving nod from their oldcaptain.
“At least they aren’t some fucking paper-pushers,”hesaid.
“Such faith,” Alexei said. “Think we stay with people we don’t like? Have more optionsinMDF.”
They spent a couple more minutes catching up, the two teams mingling a little more, before Matthew drew Kyle and Alexei aside for a quickconversation.
“They been treating you two good?” Matthew asked in a low voice, looking from one to the other to gauge theiranswers.
“Would’ve asked to transfer off Alpha Team and form our own if we didn’t get along,” Kyle said with a shrug. “The MDF likes to keep its metahumanshappy.”
“Your team looks rock solid. How’s theleadership?”
“I’d follow our captain anywhere,” Kyle admitted without hesitation, looking Matthew right in the eye. “Same way Ifollowedyou.”
Matthew’s expression didn’t change. “Thatso?”
“Is fact,” Alexei said. “Wetrusthim.”
“Good to know. I want tomeethim.”
Alexei peered at the entrance to the hangar where a small cluster of MDF stragglers was making their way over. “Have chance soonenough.”
Matthew followed his gaze, eyes widening a fraction once he got a good look at the newcomers. “You called him Captain Callahanearlier.”
“Yeah,” Kyle said, watching Matthew throughnarrowedeyes.
“That’sJamie Callahan, the senator’s son, comingthisway.”
“It’s a good thing you Special Forces types get stuck with the same NDAs and security clearances we do. That information isn’t something you get to disclose toanyone.”
Matthew slanted Kyle an unreadable look. “I’m not going to run mymouth.”
“Callahan’s a good man. He’s nothing like hisfather.”
“Probably a good thing, otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” Jamie said easily enough, coming to stand byhisteam.
Alexei and Kyle stayed where they were, watching as Matthew and Jamie had a quiet, intense stare down for a long minute before Matthew smirked at Jamie. “So you’re the one that got stuck with my crazyRussians.”
“I’m not Russian,” Kyleretorted.
“Closeenough.”
“Actually, Jamie got stuck with three. I broke him in long before these two showed up,” Katie said with a shrug as she stepped forward, extending her hand. “Sergeant Ekaterina Ovechkina. Alpha Team’s second-in-command.”
“Stuck is such a terrible word,” Jamie said. “More like assigned.Gifted,even.”
“Gifted at keeping youinline.”
“That, too,” was Jamie’s easyresponse.
Matthew shook Katie’s hand, taking her measure with a quick flick of his eyes. “Captain Matthew Gailani, at your service. You got a good team, SergeantOvechkina.”
“It’s only as good as its leader, and we’ve followed Captain Callahan through hell and back. Ready to do it again tonight,” she said, neverblinking.
