His gaze got serious, and he looked around quickly. Even though her friends were giving them plenty of distance and had only reacted when he yelled he loved her, he lowered his voice and leaned close to her ear. “It’s kind of a long story, but the Delta family is sworn to protect a secret hidden in a cave above my family’s valley.”
Her eyes widened. “Is it a weapon?” she asked quietly, remembering General Phillip’s words.
“I honestly don’t know. One of my siblings or cousins will be tasked as Secret Keeper whenever Papa decides. Maybe he’s already chosen one of them. But only the Secret Keeper knows the secret. Prevents the rest of us giving away information under duress.”
Her eyes widened. “Why wouldn’t you be Secret Keeper?”
“Papa told Colton and I years ago we wouldn’t. Too obvious.” His brow furrowed. “And maybe not being Secret Keeper is no insurance. Alivia and Klein have been kidnapped. Thor and Shelly were attacked. Remember how Greer killed Emery’s brother?”
She nodded, shocked by all this info, but at least she was in Aiden’s arms. She could handle anything if she was in his arms.
“Well, the reason Emery’s brother almost killed Alivia was to force her to take him to the secret. Greer also had to protect Emery and kill the man who sent Travis and his guys after the secret.”
Her stomach was doing crazy things that had nothing to do with the romance and joy of Aiden being here. “So this secret’s a pretty big deal.”
“Yes. Like a saving-the-world kind of big deal. My entire family is committed to keeping it safe.” He looked her over. “Are you having doubts about marrying me because of it?”
“Aiden Delta!” She could not believe him. “I would marry you if you had warts growing out of your nose and we had to live on the river in Jamaica next to that crocodile.”
He smiled.
“But you haven’t even asked me properly, and I have no idea what our future holds.”
“God will help us work the future out,” he reassured her. “All that matters is we’re together, and we trust in Him. Fear not.”
She felt that deeply. “You’re right. I’ll trust you and I’ll trust God.”
They were quiet, and then he gave her a tender kiss.
“And the proposal?” she asked sassily when the kiss ended.
He laughed. “Sadly, I haven’t had time to get a ring, but I will remedy that soon.” His brow furrowed. “In Jamaica ,when we were waiting for Thor and Greer and the helicopter, did you realize we were on an old sugar plantation?”
“No, but that makes sense.”
“I remember looking at the foundation of the home and thinking about how the plantation owners and the slaves who fought for their freedom and all the stories those foundations could tell. Those people are gone, but they probably left a legacy behind of family and traditions and memories and even footings of their home. It made me sad that I have no legacy to leave behind.”
“You’ve done so much good in this world,” Melene interrupted. “You can’t think that.”
“Thank you, and I know people would honor me for a hero’s death, and my family would mourn me, but maybe I’m getting old.” He smirked. “I want a legacy, a family, children.” His voice deepened. “Children with you.”
She beamed at the vision of their future family.
“Most of all, I want you by my side for whatever life throws at us and whatever adventures, joys, heartaches, and lessons come our way. We can share adventures, the philanthropist life, the military life, life in Summit Valley. Wherever we go, whatever mission either of us need to do, our legacy will be our love and fighting to be together and having faith that we will be together, in this life or the next.”
Melene trembled from his sweet words and blinked, but the tears still spilled over.
Aiden tenderly wiped a tear away with the pad of his thumb and then murmured, “Will you marry me, Melene? Will you choose faith, let me love you and protect you, and build a legacy together?”
“Yes,” she managed.
He bent and kissed her. When he pulled back, he lifted her into his arms and she thought he’d carry her up to the camp and meet her friends. Instead, he turned and carried her into the ocean.
Melene laughed and waved at the crowd, then wrapped her arms around his neck. “We’ll be back soon,” she called. “Aquaman needs a dip in the salt water.”
Several of the people laughed, though most just looked confused as they either didn’t speak English or had never seen the movie.
Aiden kept pushing until he was waist deep, then he grinned at her. “Do you trust me?”