Page 1 of Saved By the SEAL

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JORDAN

“I’ve heard a lot of good things about you, Jordan.” Who doesn’t want to hear those words said about them? It’s hard not to glow when someone recommends you for a job position. Especially one as prestigious as this. “Benji worked with you when you were a Navy SEAL, right?” I nod, too nervous to form words. “And he thinks that because of the work you did there, you’d be good here. You’ve passed all the screening processes and all my tests too. With flying colors. You’re one of the best I’ve ever had come through those doors, which is why I think it might finally be time to send you on a job.”

I bolt up straighter in my seat, my eyes blinking a little as I drink this in. At thirty-one years of age, it’s a little intimidating to be starting a new career, but I’m pleased too. I’m looking forward to knowing what the security world holds for me. I already know this isn’t going to be a typical security job. Benji has warned me how life-threatening and dangerous this role can be, depending on what job is given. But I worked for the military. I’ll be able to handle anything thrown my way.

“I’m looking forward to it.” I try to smile at Max, but it’s hard to snap out of the expected professionalism that the Navy brings.

“Good, because you’ll be protecting twenty-seven-year-old Michelle Lebedev.” He hands me a picture of a petite, buxom blonde with bright red lips and green eyes that I could only imagine a million men have fallen for. She looks a lot like a movie star, not the sort of real person who would be wandering the streets. I wonder if maybe she is famous, which is why she needs taking care of. “She’s been sent to America as a spy for Russia. From what she’s told me, she’s expected to seduce powerful men for information.” My chest grows tight. This sounds a whole lot like Max wants me to protect an enemy of our country. As much as I want this position, I can’t do that. It goes against everything I believe in. “But it isn’t what she wants to do.”

“She reached out to you because shedoesn’twant to be a spy?” My head is spinning as I try to take all of this in. It doesn’t make any sense to my extremely one-tracked mind which only wants to serve my country. “And she needs protecting?”

“Right.” Max’s lips purse into a thin, serious line. “She got her first taste of real freedom as soon as she stepped into America, and she immediately realized that everything she has been told about our country is wrong. Instead, she wants to live here to escape the oppression under which she’s had to live her whole life. She wants her own basic human rights.”

I gulp down the thick ball of emotion that lodges itself in my throat. “I don’t want to question you or anything…”

“I already know what you’re going to ask me.” Max looks totally amused by my interaction. “And I’m glad that you are asking because it means you’ll stand up for your instincts and what youbelieve. There have been times when my guys have had to go against the plan I laid out for them because their gut took them a different way, and they turned out to be correct. In this line of work, a plan can’t always work out because there are so many external factors that can’t be controlled. But yes, I do understand that might sound a little suspicious and like she’s trying to use us for a plan, but I’ve done my background checks. You can believe me when I say that Iknowwe can trust what Michelle is telling us. This is all real. I know what I’m doing.”

It’s okay for him to be so confident, but my gut is screaming at me that all of this is oh, so wrong. It just doesn’tfeelright. But I don’t want to push too far and piss my boss off before I’ve even begun. If Benji can trust him, then so can I. I’ve had to learn to trust men like Benji with my life in the Navy SEALs, so I can simply apply that here and all will be just fine.

“Okay.” I nod slowly as I actively choose to accept this. “So, she wants to live here in America from now on. Start a new life.”

“Right, which we’re going to help her with.” The tension flows out of Max. I guess he was expecting more of a kick-off from me. “Since she’s walking away from her mission and everything she’s been trained to do, she could be in some serious trouble when it comes to her country. The Russians won’t let her go easily, which is where you come in. We need to keep her safe from anyone who might try to attack her while she’s settling in, and also to help her set up her life here.”

“What does that mean, exactly? Housing? A job? Some kind of new identity?” I don’t know whether this is a bit much. It seems a lot more than just protecting her. “Will I be given a plan of what to do? I don’t want to mess things up…”

“I’ll give you instructions on everything, Jordan. You don’t need to worry. I understand that this is a new world for you and something which won’t be easy for you to navigate alone. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

I try to accept this, but still, things don’t feel quite right. I can’t easily put my finger on it, which makes it even more frustrating. It isn’t that I don’t trust Max. I’m going to have to put all of my faith into him. It’s just that I’m worried. Spies are well-trained in manipulation, in Russia especially, and I’m worried that Max might be falling for her tricks.

“Maybe it’ll be better if you meet her,” Max informs me. “I thought that might be the case, especially with this being the first mission I’m sending you on, which is why I’ve asked her to come here today. She’ll arrive soon. Once you agree to take on this job, you’ll spend some time speaking to her and we can get the ball rolling. How does that sound?”

I consider this, but only for a second. There’s no point in my making a decision I’ll later go on to regret just because I’m not too sure about it. I’m certain that if I discover this woman to be a manipulator, then I can sort it out with Max afterward.

“I’m ready to do this,” I inform him with much more confidence than I feel inside. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

“Right.” Max bangs his hands down on the table in delight. “Well, I’ll get us some coffees while we wait.” He checks his watch. “Although I don’t think she’ll be long now. She’s always been on time when I’ve met up with her.”

I can’t stop my sarcastic brain from assuming that being punctual is part of her little manipulation game. Being on time, seeming to be a nice and friendly person… it has to all be an act,doesn’t it? As Navy SEALs, we have always been trained to be so careful of spies. It’s ingrained so deeply within me, I don’t know if I’ll be able to overcome that.

“This is a different line of work now,” I whisper to remind myself. “Don’t get caught up in old thought patterns.”

I grab Michelle’s picture and look at her some more, running my eyes over the image as if I’m hunting for some kind of clue that there’s a darkness to her which Max can’t see. Even if I don’t let myself get affected by the way I’ve always been taught to think, I’ll have to be on my toes at all times. I won’t let Michelle out of my sight. To protect her, and America.

“I’m on to you,” I tell her image, as if she can hear me through it. “You won’t get one over on me, I can promise you that.”

All of a sudden, I hear voices coming from the other side of the door. One belongs to Max, I can already tell that much. He’s returning with our coffees at last, but it sounds like he has female company. A woman, which meansher.Michelle is here already, way before I’m ready for her, knocking me off-kilter and sending me into a disadvantage. I bet that was her plan all along.

I stand up, politeness coming first, as the door clicks open, and I smile at the people coming inside. If Michelle is going to manipulate me, then I’ll do the same to her. I’ll act like all is fine, when really, I’m watching her closely.

“I told you Michelle would be here on time.” Max chuckles as he enters the room first. “Here she is.”

Oh, my God.As soon as she appears behind my new boss, the world actually stops spinning. If I thought this woman was gorgeous to look at in the pictures, then seeing her in real life is on another level. She really does have an eye-catching, movie-star quality to her which leaves me a little breathless. I want to find words, but she has struck me dumb.

Shit.The attraction is real, the pull toward her is overwhelming, my pulse kicks up to a level I can hardly handle, and there is no way I can calm myself down. Even reminding myself repeatedly that this is the enemy and seduction is likely her game does nothing to snap my jaw shut. Michelle Lebedev is on another level of good-looking, and I’m a mess.

Don’t be an idiot, my brain screams at me. Snap out of this shit already. She isn’t worth it. She’s just a woman. A very dangerous woman who could unravel everything you have spent your whole life working toward. Stop staring now!

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