Page 34 of Saved By the SEAL

JORDAN

“Have you heard any news yet?” Michelle asks me as she slides closer to me on the couch. “Has Max been in touch?”

My cellphone is about the only thing connecting us to the outside world from the safehouse we’re existing in for the time being to keep us away from the dangers the rest of the world holds. I love this place. It’s honestly the loveliest, most remote place in the world, and I could live here forever with Michelle. I was nervous at first. I didn’t know what it would be like, but this is perfect. It’s made us so much closer and so much happier with one another. After everything we’ve suffered, we need this.

“Not yet, no. I’ll let you know as soon as I do. He and Landon are working day and night, though. The rest of them too.”

“It must be hard.” Michelle pouts out her bottom lip. “I feel bad, to be honest. Knowing that some of them are trying to help get my father out of his horrible situation, some are trying to locate my brother, and others are sorting out the mess Alexander and Katya are trying to create in this country. It’s a nightmare, I’m sure. I feel bad hiding out here away from it all.”

“That’s all we can do,” I remind her. “I don’t like it either. I’m much more used to being smack bang in the middle of the action, but we’ll be making it more dangerous if we don’t hide out. Plus, between us, we’ve paid Max enough for this work.”

“I didnotwant you to sell your house to help me out,” she argues, yet again as if this isn’t something we’ve covered a million times. “It makes me very uncomfortable that you don’t have anywhere to go back to. I don’t like it.”

I can’t stop a giant smile from spreading across my face. Selling my home for Michelle was the easiest decision I’ve ever had to make. I didn’t even think twice. Max didn’t need it to happen either. He wasn’t pushing for it or anything, but I just knew that I wanted to play my part. I don’t need a home in a city far away when I have Michelle. I prefer to keep her safe. Plus, I have plenty of cash in the bank from my Navy SEALs career, so I’ll be able to start over again when the time comes.

“I want to try and make sure that your whole family is safe. This isn’t just about us anymore. We have to try, don’t you think?” I hold her tightly. “From what you’ve told me, your father has been through enough. He’s lost everything just because he tried to do the right thing. A man like that doesn’t deserve to be tortured anymore. This is the right thing to do.”

Michelle cups my cheeks and pulls me in for a sweet kiss. “You are a good man, Jordan Miller.”

I know that all this waiting is hard on her, though, not the remote location away from the rest of the world—she loves that part—but the not knowing when it comes to the people in her life. I can try and distract her as much as I like, but it isn’t going to change that. I can’t take the worry away from her. Until I get updates from Max, we’re in limbo.

“Did you want to take a little walk?” I ask her while pointing to the endless fields behind our little home. “Get some fresh air?”

In the city, the idea of being outside used to scare the living shit out of her, but here, she loves it. There aren’t any other people for absolutely miles, which means we can walk about freely and enjoy nature in a calm and collected way without the worry of anyone even saying hello to us. At this point, where we now know that we were watched from afar and we didn’t notice it, we’re wary of anyone, so this is perfect. Michelle nods happily and agrees that a walk is what we both need.

“Yes, I could definitely use some fresh air. I think being stuck inside just waiting is starting to drive me crazy.”

There is such an ease between us as I take Michelle’s hand and lead her outside. Being together these days is as natural as breathing. There isn’t a scrap of uncertainty between us at all. We know one another better now, we understand each other, so the feelings continue to grow. The fiery passion also remains, intensifying every day, which only makes this a million times better. If I’d known that this was what a relationship could feel like, then I wouldn’t have put it off for as long as I did.

Then again, maybe that all happened for a reason. I had to wait so that I could eventually find Michelle.

“I think I could live in the countryside, you know,” she murmurs happily as the sun washes all over her gorgeous skin. The honey tones are back in her hair now. She’s sliding back into being a blonde, which is assisted by the sunshine, but it doesn’t matter so much anymore. Hiding her appearance never changed things anyway, so it’s better for her to be herself.

“Maybe that’s something you should think about once all of this is over,” I reply idly. Right now, while we’re here in this glorious moment surrounded by greenery and only the sound of the birds chirping, I could live this life too. “You can do whatever you want then, can’t you? You can finally reinvent your life in whatever way you see fit. Whatever makes you happy.”

I know she hasn’t had much chance to put her own happiness first before, which makes me want it for her even more. Michelle Lebedev deserves that sort of happiness more than anyone I’ve ever met in my life.

“That was your phone.” I was so distracted, looking into her eyes and considering her happiness, that I didn’t hear the one thing we’re waiting for, the thing it feels like we have been listening out for forever. “Oh, my God, that might be an update.”

All the color drains from her cheeks as I pull my phone out. I’m shaking too, wondering what this will be. Michelle needs some good news now, and I know I won’t get any wishy washy details from Max to confuse us. He’ll only let us know when things are finalized and sorted out one way or another. I can barely stand to look at what’s written in front of me.

“Oh, God.” Relief floods me. This is one part of things solved and it’s good news. “Alexander and Katya, plus two other accomplices which they have been working with, have been arrested. They are currently locked up in jail.”

Michelle’s face relaxes and she nods happily before everything tenses up again. I suppose that reaction makes sense. It’s good news for her, but it doesn’t give her any news on her family yet. I guess we’ll have to wait some more for that.

“Good, they deserve to be locked up. And is everything okay for Buck? I mean, with the documents they found on them.”

“They didn’t have anything useful, Max says, but they had enough to get arrested. Buck should be fine.”

Poor old disgusting Buck. Urgh, that story made me feel a bit sick as Michelle told it to me, but it soon died down into a sad tale of two people who were in situations they couldn’t control. I get why Michelle is worried about the poor guy.

“Oh, wait, something else is coming through…” It takes a couple of moments before the next message arrives. It’s about Michelle’s father and is a lot to scroll through. From the corner of my eye, I can see Michelle trembling the whole time. “Okay.” Oh, God, this isn’t going to be received quite so well.

“They have met with your father and tried to discuss plans with him, but he has resisted leaving. He doesn’t want to create more drama than he already has, so he’s content to stay where he is as long as he knows that you are safe and happy. It’s been communicated with him that you are. Now, he only wants to stay in touch with anyone related to Max’s company to hear about his son when they get news. He wants his children to be safe.”

“I see.” Michelle sags forward slightly. “You know, I kinda expected this outcome, to be honest. I didn’t think it would be easy for him to walk away from his position, considering how under stress and surveillance he is all the time, but still…” She sighs loudly. “It’s sad, but I do know that all he wants is for his kids to be happy. I guess that’s all we can do.”

“Are… are you sure?” I stammer back. “Because I can get them to fight harder if that’s what you want.”

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