Greyson chuckled at Viktor's comment as Levi and Dom stood up as well. "I am more than ready," he sighed before turning to the Secretary of Defense. "And I will be putting in my resignation. Whether you accept it or give me a dishonorable discharge, that is up to you."
"And why would you be getting a dishonorable discharge?" demanded Viktor, his eyes going back and forth between the two men.
"Apparently, we are too good at our jobs, and since none of the cartel members survived to testify to the fact that I did not take any of the drugs, there is some suspicion that I might be selling them myself," grumbled Greyson.
He walked over to where the two men were standing and rubbed his face. He was tired, hadn't had a shower since before they left, and wanted nothing more than to just go to sleep and wake up next week.
"You are kidding me, right?" demanded Michael, looking at Hargraves in astonishment. "They managed to kill two teams of Knights Mercenaries, and you think that Greyson is somehow involved with them?"
The angel burst out laughing at the sheer stupidity of the human. "That's a new one."
"Yes, well, we have to make sure that we have everything accounted for," stuttered Hargraves, looking around the room for someone to agree with him.
"That's fine," shrugged Viktor. "Dishonorable discharge or not, there will be a place for you at our company no matter what. Like I said, you're now family, and we take that seriously at Knights."
Levi and Dom snorted at that statement. Of course they took family seriously at Knights. The entire company was comprised mainly of Van Helsings, except for a few humans who handled the deliveries.
"I don't think it will come to that. General Greyson has an exemplary record, and the military would definitely take that into consideration. We cannot afford to lose a man of his talents," said Hargraves, quickly backpeddling.
"You mean you can't afford to piss me off. But the later you keep us here, the more pissed off I am going to be. So, what's your decision?" smiled Viktor just as the phone in his pocket started ringing.
"Hello?" he murmured softly, his entire demeanor changing. Gone was the harsh CEO of one of the biggest weapons manufacturers in the world, and in his place was a man trying to make his woman happy.
"Yes, they are right beside me," he continued. When the Secretary opened his mouth to interject, Viktor raised his hand and narrowed his eyes at the man. "Nope, they are completely fine. Well, they need a shower, but they don't have a bruise or a scratch on them."
There was a moment of silence as everyone in the room held their breath, waiting to see what the person on the other end of the phone would say.
"Pull our contract? Yeah, I don't see that being that big of an issue. Greyson was talking about handing in his resignation, and I think Levi and Dom are on the same page?"
The men in question quickly nodded, and Viktor smiled. "The money won't be that big of an issue. There are a few other countries that want an exclusive contract. We just picked this one since we lived here, but it's not like things can't change. Whatever you want."
This time, not only Hargraves but the other men around them turned pale at his words.
"Alright, we'll be home as soon as possible. You too. Bye."
There was silence as Viktor replaced his phone in his pocket before turning his attention to the man standing at the front of the room.
"My wife was there at that village," he said slowly, tilting his head at the picture on the screen showing a village on fire. "The fact that people she loved were there too and haven't been home in a week has made her more than a bit cranky. I'll be calling the President tomorrow to see about withdrawing all military contacts with the US. I'll be sure to drop your name at the same time."
"Team dismissed," grunted Greyson, tilting his head to the door so the rest of his team could head out first and to their homes. He wouldn't take any chance with their lives, not when they were on home soil.
His men quickly filed out as Viktor continued to stare at the Secretary of Defense.
"Good to go when you are," nodded Greyson as the door closed behind his men. This might be the last time they ever saw him, and he wanted them to remember him as someone who always went to bat for them.
"Then let's go home. I'll leave it to you to pacify Natalia," chuckled Viktor, his voice low.
"Not going to be a problem," replied Levi with a smirk on his face as the five of them left the meeting room.
In no time, they were on their way home.
----
"Sorry to interrupt, Boss," interjected Mathew as he poked his head into Mike's office at the precinct. He had just gotten off the phone with a very cranky Nicholas and needed to get home fast.
He hadn't managed to get any further on the Jack case, and there was no point in spending another night at the office.
However, he wasn't expecting Mike to be in a meeting with some Internal Affairs and the Chief of Police. "Oops, sorry," he grunted. "I just wanted to let you know that I am taking off. I might be back tomorrow, but a family meeting has been called, and I need to get home before my wife divorces me."
While none of them had actually married Natalia in the human sense of the word, the moment they felt their bond solidify between her and them, they knew what it had meant. Their lives were now linked totally and completely. There was no divorce, no separation, nothing. She had chosen to spend the rest of her life with them, and there was no going back.
The timing of this latest serial killer made Mathew want to rip him apart himself. He should be enjoying his honeymoon right now, but no… he had a killer to catch.
One that refused to cooperate.