The atmosphere was somber as General Greyson, Captain Levi Zaitsev, Specialist Sergeant Dementyev Maximovich Marka, and four other men boarded the Airbus A400M Atlas at a private military base just outside of New York City.
No one bothered to say a word as they buckled themselves into the seats lining either side of the aircraft. The crew preparing the plane for take-off murmured quietly amongst themselves, their eyes drifting over to Greyson every so often. To have a general flying with them was something none of them had experienced before, and they weren't sure how to act.
As soon as the airplane took off, one of the men on the team leaned back and groaned. "My wife was ready to kill me when I left," moaned Derek, resting his head on the metal wall behind him and letting out a long sigh. "She would have just divorced me but figured that she would get more money out of my death."
Greyson cringed from where he sat across from him and nodded his head. "I'm sorry. But I am sure Mary would forgive you…"
One of the other men snorted and shook his head. "So says the man without a wife or infant. It takes a toll on them to have us just disappear like this without any notice. All of the burden falls on them, and that isn't exactly what they signed up for when they married us."
Derek gave a sad smile. "She knew that she was getting into; she grew up as a military brat overseas… but that doesn't make it any easier for her."
"Any idea why we've been called out?" asked a third man; his eyes were closed, and he looked like he was sleeping, but everyone knew better. There was a nervous energy coursing through all of them, and sleep was going to be hard to find until they knew exactly what they were getting into.
"We're headed back out into the jungle," murmured Levi. As the captain, this team fell under his responsibility. Even Greyson had to fall in line unless he was willing to overrule him and take over the team. "Apparently, we are the only ones to have been able to make it out of that place alive, and now they want us to take a second shot at destroying the cartel hiding in the Amazon."
"Fuck," grunted Derek. "I'm never going to see my baby again, am I?" he sighed, closing his eyes. Another member of the team took out his rosary and started praying, rubbing each bead between his fingers.
"Everyone is going to make it out of there alive," promised Greyson, meeting the eyes of all of the men. Natalia had assured him that whatever he needed to do to go back home to her, she would fully support him. That also meant that there was a team of Knights and a legion of demons flying out in a different aircraft to be a backup for them.
Greyson had just found his reason for living; he wasn't about to up and die now.
Dom's phone rang, and he reached into his pocket and read the message that had appeared.
"The other teams are in place, as well as locals that are willing to help us," said Dom, turning his phone so that Greyson could read the message.
'Every monster in South America has been made aware of who you belong to. Use my House, and whatever you need is yours.' The message was short and to the point, but both men could feel the concern that Natalia had for them.
"The government sent other teams?" asked the third man, opening his eyes to look between Greyson and Dom.
"No," replied Greyson with a shake of his head. "It's a personal connection that I called in a favor with. While the military has the utmost faith in us that we can accomplish the mission on our own, I wanted to… improve our chances of success."
"And they are trustworthy?" asked Derek, his eyes narrowing on Levi. He might know who Greyson was, but he considered Levi a close friend. He would always be honest. Even if it wasn't in his best interest.
"You remember Natalia?" replied Levi, a smile on his face widening as Derek's eyes widened. "She has connections that we can't even dream about, including Knights Security. They are sending a team with their best men."
"Fuck," grunted the men, the look on their faces changing.
"You have a connection with them?" asked Derek, a sly look in his eyes.
"I do," nodded Levi. "And before you ask. I can try, but not even I can promise you a place on one of their teams. Their criteria is… demanding, to say the least."
"I'd be willing to be an errand boy just to say that I was part of Knights Security," grunted Derek. "Especially if it meant that I wouldn't need to leave the city again."
"They might have a spot on their bodyguard team," shrugged Dom. "We can always ask Sasha. He'll be there with us."
There was a stunned silence as everyone looked at Dom. Greyson smiled happily. He was learning that one of the best things about belonging to Natalia was the camaraderie with the other men.
They were like a family, always having each other's backs, no matter what.
And really, what more could he ask?
"Sasha is coming?" asked Levi, furrowing his eyebrows. "I thought he would be too busy."
"Not with Viktor back and taking things over again. Nat even called in a favor with my family down there, and they are willing to keep an eye out for us."
"Sasha? As in Sasha Hatmanu? The Sasha Hatmanu that is second in command of the mercenary division of Knights Security?" blinked yet another man as his brain tried to process everything that was going on. "He is going to be providing backup?"
"Yeah," grunted Dom. "But he already has an inflated sense of self; let's not make it any bigger."
"And all this is thanks to your girlfriend?" asked Derek.
When Greyson nodded, Derek repeated the motion. "If you don't hurry up and marry her. I will. I am sure that Mary would not mind a sister-wife."
The tension dissipated as the guys ribbed each other, the smiles and the laughter flowing much smoother than they did before.
A quick text to Natalia, and Greyson put his phone away and smiled with his men, listening to the stories of what they were up to over their break.