General Phillip’s gaze was full of rage, but to her surprise he slowly set his gun down. The other man followed suit. They backed toward the rocks. Melene panted for air. Would he really just leave? Would he bomb America?
He pointed a finger at Aiden. “I will find you … squid.”
Aiden tilted his head, all the teasing he usually displayed gone from his face. “You know, it’s humorous when the Army or Air Force guys throw that term at us, but I don’t like it coming out of your mouth.” He pulled a knife from his belt, then flipped it open and pointed it at the general. “Maybe your tongue is the one that needs to be cut out. Then nobody would have to be subject to your vile, filthy lies any longer.”
The general’s eyes widened at the threat and suddenly he was hurrying up the mountainside.
Aiden winked at Melene, closed the knife, and fastened it back on his diving belt. “Bullies never like a taste of their own medicine.” He lowered his voice. “Let’s go. He won’t give us much lead time and sadly, the pathetic worm wasn’t bluffing about his power or his connections.”
Melene was shaking with the fear of what could’ve been, but if she understood Aiden correctly, General Phillip would track them down, and he would bring an army next time.
Aiden pushed through the water to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. The warm pressure of him close somehow dispelled the fear and the darkness. She felt a sense of home she rarely experienced. She looked up into his handsome face and breathed out, “Thank you.”
She wanted to gush about him being a hero and if she were being honest, she’d love to give him a kiss of gratitude, but she and Aiden weren’t romantically involved and she could still feel the danger pulsing outside the circle of Aiden’s arms. Sadly, there was no time to gush over him, catch up on family back home, or see if the spark crackling between them could go somewhere with this incredible Navy SEAL who’d just saved her from a fate worse than death.
There might never be time for any of that. General Phillip would be back, and he’d fulfill his threats. If they were lucky, he wouldn’t unleash nuclear weapons on America.
She shuddered and clung to Aiden as they made their way to the boat. The water embraced her as surely as his arms. Aquaman had come for her. Could he keep her safe, or had she signed his death sentence and her own?
ChapterThree
The next twelve hours went by in a rush of interrogations, discussions, and chastisements. Aiden had been in the military long enough to not let any of it bother him. He answered each question honestly, and he kept praying the Navy would take the threat to Melene seriously. General Carl Phillip was a sneaky devil, and he hadn’t been lying that he had connections all over the world. Where would Melene be safe?
If only Aiden could’ve shot him between the eyes, but that would’ve definitely caused an international incident. Bullets could be traced, and an unsanctioned hit like that would somehow get out. They always seemed to. Nobody knew if Frederick truly had nuclear weapons or if it was all rumors and bluff. America currently wasn’t willing to find out.
Aiden and his SEAL Team 8 had been diving near the coast last night, mostly in a training exercise, but they were all open to the gift of any intel they secured so close to the war zone. They weren’t supposed to be anywhere near here, but the sub they’d boarded a few days ago was quietly patrolling the Baltic Sea and the Banida and Frederick situation. All of them were hoping or praying, depending on their religious affiliations, that they would be allowed to help fight against the pathetic bully “King” Frederick and stop the atrocities he was committing. Finally, the Skipper had agreed to allow the elite SEAL team out to get a closer look. Aiden and his team had finished their dive and been ready to load into their small boat to head back to the sub when Jace, their CO who’d stayed in the boat, quietly told them he’d seen a woman and teenage boy running from two grown men. They’d slid back under the water and moved quick.
They probably shouldn’t have intervened, but Aiden would do it again in a second. The fact that it was Melene Collier they had rescued still stunned him and had him saying prayers of gratitude every time he thought about it. The exotic beauty from their hometown of Summit Valley, Colorado, probably had more world experience than Aiden did. She’d traveled the world on one humanitarian mission or another for the past ten years. He hoped she’d never been in danger like last night, but he wouldn’t doubt it. To think that scum General Phillip had almost kidnapped her and added her to his harem of women. Aiden’s hand balled into a fist.
Melene’s and Thomas’s information had been passed on and prevented the German Chancellor from being murdered as well as made everyone realize Frederick’s immediate plans were not only focused on conquering Poland. That helped ease a little of the pressure of a Navy SEAL team intervening where they didn’t have permission and truly weren’t supposed to be anywhere near this mess.
The Skipper, Executive Officer, and Chief of the Boat had been meeting with Jace to determine where they should take Melene to ensure her safety from General Phillip and his henchmen. They also had to decide what to do with Thomas. It was one thing to offer protection to an American citizen but quite another to harbor a refugee from a war-torn country that the U.S. wasn’t an ally to.
Political crap like this ticked him off. All he wanted was Melene and the boy safe. He’d love to get her home to her family. He could ask his family to protect her. They were more than capable, but that might be exposure for the Delta secret that they couldn’t afford right now. Having only recently defected from the British military, General Phillip would have many American associates and may have already heard whispers about the Delta “weapon,” as those who’d tried to come after it recently called it.
Jace had overheard, and shared with Aiden, that General Phillip had already sent mercenaries to search the refugee camp for Melene and Thomas. They’d injured and threatened quite a few people but hadn’t killed anyone. That was lucky, and surprising. Apparently, they wanted information about who Melene was, where she was from, and how they could find her. The threats and beatings were to warn them what would happen, and worse, if Melene and her little friend weren’t turned over to them.
Aiden hit his clenched fist against his leg. He and Melene were only friends, but he felt fiercely protective of her. General Phillip wouldneverfind Melene and subject her to his filth . Not while Aiden was still breathing. But how could he protect her? He couldn’t leave his team, and she couldn’t travel around with a bunch of Navy SEALs.
He’d shot a message off to his grandfather late last night. Papa Delta would figure something out to help Melene. They had suspicions that King Frederick was after the Delta secret that Aiden’s grandfather and family had been tasked with protecting. They would all do everything in their power to keep the secret safe from the likes of Frederick and Phillip and their evil cronies.
Watching over Melene could play into that, but the secret and Melene might be easier to guard in separate locations. He wondered at what point Papa would call him home to protect the secret full-time and retire from active duty. Papa had explained that he wouldn’t be Secret Keeper—too obvious with his training and expertise—but he still felt the responsibility to protect his family and the secret deeply. He loved his family, but he hated the thought of settling down in the mountains and not traveling and engaging in training and combat. From what his family had been through lately, he supposed he would get plenty of combat and they were always training, but Aiden loved the travel and excitement and the ocean was his home. He’d wither and dry up without his salty seas.
A rap on his bunkroom door yanked him to his feet and across the small room. He all but ripped the door open.
“Lieutenant.” A young enlisted man saluted him. “The Skipper would like a word, sir.”
“Of course.” Aiden hurried after the kid, grateful he’d showered and dressed and been awaiting this command. He was led down a hall, up a flight of metal stairs, down another hall, and into a conference room of sorts. No area was too spacious on a submarine, but the table could easily seat twelve and there was room for visual displays on one wall.
Melene was across the table, seated next to the Chief of the Boat. Aiden almost forgot to salute and come to attention when her big, dark eyes focused in on him, her full lips turned up in a welcoming smile, and her exotically beautiful face seemed to sparkle at his presence. Was it just the warmth of someone from home, or was Melene unique and the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen? Did she look a little pale and exhausted? Anyone would after what she’d been through.
He saluted everyone and waited. The Skipper, commanding officer on this submarine, said, “At ease, Lieutenant. Would you like to inquire anything of Miss Collier?”
Aiden wasn’t even aware the man had a personality, but he caught the mischievous smirk on the man’s face.
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” He rushed around the table and Melene hurried to stand. He resisted the urge to pull her close but took the hand she offered, loving the warmth of her smaller and infinitely softer hand in his. “You’re all right?”
“Thanks to you. I was terrified, Aiden, and praying so hard for a miracle. I didn’t even know what to hope for or expect, but I was pretty certain we were dead. Then you and your men show up like angels from the ocean. Like Aquaman. Only more handsome.” She winked and Aiden didn’t know the last time he’d blushed, but he was right now. His cousin Maddie had informed him that as a SEAL he should embrace the Aquaman reference, as Jason Momoa was “extraordinarily hot and appealing.”