Re: Military lockdown: Cat & Matt
Emotion hadn't been an option when Matt was still purely an Asset, capital A. Now that he could feel whatever he wanted, emotion spilled over, years overdue, out of date and often too strong. Still, he had a head for strategy, and to his mind, joining the government without any proof they had purged their ranks would have been stupid. Really, really stupid. Cat might trust them, but he never could, not really. And 'compliance for convenience' wasn't an appetizing option - not for him, not unless backed into the corner he was in now.
Matt smiled a little, but this time he eyes followed suit. "Jealous?" There was nothing between him and PJ, but the fact that she thought so gave him something to think over. He would take note too.
He tipped his head. "You didn't really think I would," he said. She had to know there was no way he would come in willingly. Even the most calculating soul couldn't have believed he would be just another member of the team, not with what they knew. He could be made their puppet, if they wanted. They didn't need to offer him the benefits of cooperation - only command, if they chose to. He didn't trust anyone to resist that temptation forever. It was why he asked her how much to trust them - how far, how long. From her response, not at all. It wasn't comforting, but he hadn't been looking for lies.
At the mention of an old friend, his gaze didn't so much as flicker. "If I join," he said, "I need to trust someone." His eyes were on her, so he didn't mean McRory. "Someone who can do whatever needs doing."
The people watching and listening could interpret that how they liked. Maybe he was looking for a ruthless killer, something she could be and McRory could not. He assumed Cat would understand - they'd known each other long enough. If he lost his head in the field, or the government decided to abandon their scruples and send him to kill who they liked again, he wouldn't be able to say no. Someone would need to stop that from happening. With a bullet, most likely.
"I'd owe that person." When had his English gotten so fluid? His eyes burned on her. "More than I already do."