Page 67 of Play the Game

TJ stepped to the center of the room. We raised our glasses.

“You’ll want to put those down because tonight’s toast is going to take a while.

“You’re going to subject our boss to that?” Bond asked.

X smiled. “Who do you think told him to do it?”

“Not that I needed prompting,” TJ said. “The third largest city in the nation, people. Still standing tonight because of this team.”

We clapped and cheered. Most of the world would never know our role in foiling the dirty-bomb plot and would never celebrate us, but we could celebrate ourselves.

“I’m going to call out a few people by name. I have to start with Tamela Sparks.”

We all clapped before he could say more about her.

“To Tamela,” TJ continued. “Alpha Team’s newest cowboy who ran into the face of danger, put her life on the line, and saved tens if not hundreds of thousands of people. She took a page out of someone else’s book,” he glanced at me, “and it paid off.” He stared at Tam. “Donotmake a habit of it. And enjoy your well-earned vacation.

“And to Penn, who, despite three broken ribs, charged in after Tam and risked his own bodily harm to keep her and Jensen safe.”

“And bruised two more ribs in the process.” Penn glared at me.

I raised my eyebrows. “Oh, really? We hadn’t heard. You’re so quiet about these things.”

The team chuckled as Penn glared at me.

“To Kessler and Li,” TJ said, “who act as one, a well-oiled machine. As always, your work is a sight to behold. And to Kat, who fit right in with both our logistics and tactical teams. I’m not sure what that says about you, but...”

Hart grinned. “Thanks for welcoming me. It was an honor working with all of you, and a pleasant surprise to have survived it.”

“Then there’s Alder,” TJ said, “who stepped into the lead IT role and executed it flawlessly, and who also has insisted I tell everyone in this room she does not want Jensen’sfuckingjob.”

I raised my glass to Alder. “Message received.”

“Which is good, because no one on this team is going anywhere,” TJ said.

Needless to say, my request for a transfer had been flatly denied. Even Penn had told me he was glad to hear it, so I took that to mean that Tam and I had proved we could work well together, and as long as we were discreet, our private lives were our own. At least, I hoped that’s what it meant.

“And to Pasco,” TJ said, “where the hell did you come from? We’re thrilled to have you at HEAT. I’m sure we’ll all have the chance to work with you again soon. And we can’t forget Dr. Bond, who by some miracle keeps all your sorry asses alive on mission after mission.”

“Hear, hear,” Penn said.

TJ turned and focused on me. “I haven’t forgotten about you, Jensen.”

The way he said it kind of made me wish he had.

“We got to see a whole new side of Jensen on this mission. He stepped aside when it was best for the team, handed over the reins without hesitation, and actually asked permission before pulling a death-defying stunt. I’m not ever going to ask if he would have listened to me if I’d said no.” TJ lifted his glass to me. “We’re going to miss you during your three-week suspension.”

I glanced at X. “I thought it was four weeks.

She arched her eyebrow. “You’re not getting paid for four weeks. You’ll be back with your team in three.”

I didn’t protest. The truth was, I’d probably work with this team for free, although I wouldn’t mention that at my next performance review.

TJ lifted his glass to finish the toast.

“Hold up. Hold up,” Kessler interrupted. “I’d like to add our sincere thanks to our uber-boss, Ms. X, who brought this band of misfits together in the first place.” She lifted her glass to TJ. “And to TJ, who truly is our north star. He—”

“Enough about me,” TJ said. He grinned and lifted his glass high in the air. “To the Alpha Team!”

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