Maximus (Guardian Security Shadow World #15)

Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

E lena sat outside the small farmhouse. The others had told her Max would be there at sunset. The sun had set about an hour ago, and he still hadn’t arrived. Val came out and sat down on the bench with her. “They’ll be here.”

Elena made a noncommittal noise and searched the darkness for Max and the other man.

Val leaned back. “Have you ever been to the States before?”

“No. I always hoped to move to London and take a position in a museum.” She leaned back with Val and tried to relax, but it was almost impossible.

“New York has galleries and museums. I’m not sure where Max is home-based, but that would be a great job market for you after you find the owners of the paintings.”

“He lives in New York,” Elena told her. “How do you not know that?”

“Max is a specialist. We don’t know much about him on purpose. If Guardian wanted us to know, we would. He trained with us, but he was separate. There were two in our group who were there but were held separately. It's weird but accurate.” Val chuckled. “We’re all weird in one way or another. Max just seemed to tune everything out. A couple of us thought he was on the spectrum.”

Elena shook her head. “No. He was bored.”

“Bored?” Val laughed. “Those were some of the most intense classes I’ve ever been through.”

Elena shrugged. “He works on problems in his mind when he’s bored.” Or didn’t have a connection with the people he was with, which was interesting. Max worked with those people, but he wasn’t connected to them.

“There they are,” Val said, standing up.

Elena was on her feet and running across the field. She launched at him, and Max caught her. “You’re late,” she cried as she held him tight.

“Late?” he asked as he held her. The other man continued toward the farmhouse. “Was there a time set?”

She leaned back. “Sunset.”

Max smiled at her. “Then I’m sorry. I would’ve been if I knew I needed to be here then.”

“Is it over?” she asked, knowing he’d know what she meant.

“It is. Are you ready to start your new life?”

“I am. As long as I’m with you, I can do anything.” She dropped her head again and held him tight. “I was so afraid something would happen, and you wouldn’t be able to come to me.”

“Hey, I’m here now.”

She nodded, still holding him tight. “I was afraid for you. They were horrible men.”

“They were,” he agreed. “But we never need to worry about them again. Okay?”

She nodded. “When do we leave?”

“As soon as I call in and tell them we’ve arrived. They’ll send an airplane for us.”

“An airplane? Where will it land?”

“You didn’t do much exploring today, did you?”

She shook her head. Her eyes had been glued to the horizon all day. “No. I just waited for you.”

“Up behind the farmhouse is a flat field Guardian has used several times as an extraction point. Grandmother is crafty and will let her goats out in the field after we take off. The goats will obliterate any tracks left by the aircraft. Guardian provides for her and checks on her as much as they can. She won’t leave, or we’d take her with us.”

He took her hand, and they started walking to the house. “When we reach the States, we’ll tell your father you’re safe, and you can call your mom to let her know where you are.”

“With you?”

“Yes.”

“Max?”

“Yes?”

“What is your last name?”

“Olsen. My name is Max Olsen.”

She smiled at him. “Mrs. Max Olsen. It has a ring to it.”

He grabbed her and crushed her against his chest. “Are you asking me to marry you, Elena?”

“No … yes … will you?”

“As soon as we reach the States.” Max dropped to kiss her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She’d never felt so safe in her life.

“That is what we’re flying to Athens in?” Smith asked as the little plane circled for a landing, well under radar detection.

Max nodded. “That’s an Eclipse 550 with a range of two thousand eighty-four kilometers. Seats seven.”

“Seven normal people,” Smith grumped. “We’re larger than normal people.” He looked at Reaper, Malice, and then Max. “It won’t make it.”

Max chuckled. “It’s only just over fifteen hundred kilometers to Athens. Considering an average headwind and the extra weight per male in the plane, we’ll make it with just over one hundred kilometers of gas to spare.”

Smith turned to stare at Max. “Why? Did I have to know that? Couldn’t you have just said we’ll be fine?”

Val laughed and patted her husband’s back. “We’ll be fine, dear.”

Malice narrowed his eyes. “Did you count our luggage? I’m not leaving this rifle. Anya made it for me, and I’ll be damned if it stays.”

“Cargo and fuel were calculated into the equation.” Max shook his head. “Do you think I would get in if I didn’t know it would make it?”

“Probably,” both Reaper and Malice said.

Elena laughed and squeezed his hand. “I believe in your calculations.”

“And you’re the only one who matters.”

“Hey, I matter,” Val said.

“Not to him,” Malice quipped.

“That’s not nice,” Val pouted.

“Here she comes.” Max watched the small plane land and taxi up to them. They stowed Malice’s weapon in the cargo hold, then entered the plane. Within three minutes, they were airborne again. Max looked down as Grandmother opened the gate for her goats. The pilot kept them low, under any radar detection capability, and they flew that way until they were out of Russian airspace. After that, they reached a comfortable cruising altitude and headed east. Elena slept against his shoulder as the day stretched on. As the lights of Athens appeared under them, he woke her. “We’re almost there.” He pointed at the lights below.

“The first step of our new life.” She smiled excitedly. He studied her face. She was the most beautiful thing in the world, and he’d spend his life proving that fact to her.

“Our first step until our last on this earth. My heart is yours, forever.” He kissed her softly, sealing his vow.