Chapter 32
The world might be falling into utter pandemonium, but being in the house with Eden, Maks found a sense of contentment he hadn’t dared to dream could be his.
For four days, they worked through the pages of intel he’d gathered.
He went out twice more for supplies, and each time, things were more and more dangerous and chaotic out there.
They had the basic essentials at the house.
And they had each other. When they took breaks from looking through the intel, they checked on how the virus was progressing around the world.
The sheer number of fatalities struck terror in Maks.
He wanted to check in with his family to see if they were all right, but he didn’t dare.
The Saints would be monitoring them for just such a communication. Maks couldn’t do that to them or to Eden. The only thing he could do was hold out hope and focus all his attention on what they had.
The nights, however, were the best. He got to hold Eden in his arms. Sometimes, they talked.
Other times, they just held each other. Whether it was before they fell asleep or first thing in the morning, they always turned to each other and made love.
Each time bringing him closer and closer to her so that he could no longer deny that he loved her.
Eden was the love of his life, the one he’d never thought to find. He’d accepted his Fate, which was what made it all the sweeter that they were together now.
He also accepted that this might be the only time they had together. The knowledge was a bitter pill to swallow, but if it meant Eden, his family and friends, and the rest of the world could go on in safety, then it was worth it.
A new dawn was breaking. Their fifth day in the city. He would need to go out for food later. It was becoming scarcer with people hoarding as well as those too sick to deliver food to those who weren’t. If something didn’t stop the Saints and this virus soon, then…
He couldn’t even complete the thought. Maks released a long breath and turned his head toward Eden’s to inhale the coconut smell of her shampoo.
It made him smile, thinking about how she wanted to go to a beach.
He really wanted to take her. He prayed that he got to do that and so much more. She deserved it.
Her head shifted as she stretched and looked at him. She smiled sleepily. “You’re frowning.”
“Am I?” He immediately smoothed out his brow.
“Mm-hmm. That means you were thinking about everything again. I thought this was the one place we agreed not to think about the Saints or the virus.”
He grinned and gave her a soft kiss. “You’re right. Sorry.”
Her lips twisted. “No apology necessary. I do it, as well. We can’t help it.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Just tired, but that’s from working such long hours. You’re the one getting out. How are you?”
He shrugged as he took stock of his body. “I’m fine.”
Eden sat up and shoved her blond locks away from her face. “How much longer do you think we can stay here?”
“We aren’t going anywhere until we get through everything. How much more do we have?”
“I don’t think there’s much. What’s going to take time is putting it all together.
With your help, I’ve been able to do a lot of research as we went through the files.
Once we complete that, then it’s just a matter of sorting through it all and putting it in order.
There might also be more research involved, but it shouldn’t be anywhere near what I’ve already done. ”
Maks ran his hand up and down her bare back. “Want some breakfast? I think there’s still a little bit of sausage left.”
“I can wait for lunch for that. I’ll go with my usual.”
He chuckled. “You mean coffee and toast.”
“Yep,” she replied with a smile and got out of bed.
She sauntered into the bathroom, glancing over her shoulder at him.
He stayed in bed until she turned on the shower.
Then he rose to dress and make his way downstairs to start the coffee.
As he was leaving the room, he saw his jacket had fallen.
Maks picked it up to put it back on the chair, and the burner phone he’d gotten fell out.
He powered it on, thinking of the Loughmans. That’s when he saw the numerous calls that had tried to come through. He recognized the number and immediately called Callie.
“About damn time,” she answered testily. “Now, tell me you’re okay.”
He sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m good. Eden’s good. We’re holed up in a house in Romania. How are all of you?”
“So far, so good.” Callie sighed. “Maks, this virus was the Saints.”
“Yeah, we figured that out for ourselves. I don’t know how the States are, but I can tell you that things here are grim.”
“Maks, its Wyatt,” the eldest Loughman brother said as he joined the conversation. “Do you think you and Eden can get home?”
Maks glanced into the bathroom. “There’s nothing we’d like more, but I don’t think that’s possible.
The trains haven’t run in days, and I hear getting on flights is damn near impossible.
There is also talk that they’re going to shut down the borders soon to try and contain whatever the hell this thing is. ”
“It’s a strain of the flu,” Callie said. “One that has a lot of other really horrible things in it. At least, that’s what some of the private messages from the CDC to the Department of Justice are saying.”
Maks ran his hand down his face. “Is there any hope for a vaccine?”
“Not yet,” Wyatt answered.
Callie snorted. “Everyone is just trying to keep it contained. Have you seen the death totals?”
“Not as of this morning. We just woke up. I’ve been helping Eden translate the pages of intel I stole from the Saints in the hopes that there’s something in there we can use to bring them down.”
“Anything we can help with?” Callie offered.
Wyatt immediately said, “We’ve got extra hands here. Send over anything you think we can assist with.”
“Thanks for the offer. We might. We’ve been limiting our time on the internet for fear that they’re monitoring things.”
Callie snorted louder this time. “Of course, they’re monitoring it. But you’re right, if you send over a huge batch of data, that will raise some flags.”
“Let me talk to Eden. There might be something we can send over. She wants to get through all the files first. She’s making a wall with documents and what she’s found.”
“Is she looking for something in particular?” Wyatt asked.
Maks got to his feet and walked from the room and down the stairs. “I’ve not prodded her. She has a way of finding information that I would’ve overlooked.”
“Might be wise to let her do her thing,” Callie said. “Once she finishes this wall, you might be able to both see something.”
“That’s what I’m counting on. If things go well, it might be today. The problem is that I had no idea how much intel I’d gathered. I didn’t think there was much in any of it, but it turns out, I was wrong. Eden has uncovered a lot of things I wasn’t even aware of.”
There was a smile in Callie’s voice when she said, “I can’t wait to meet her. I bet there is so much I could learn from her.”
“I’m pretty sure the feeling is mutual,” Maks said.
Wyatt blew out a breath. “We’ve been on enough missions together that I know you’re thinking ahead. What’s going through your mind?”
Maks was silent for a moment as he listened to the sound of the water from the shower.
“Before the virus, it was just making sure that I kept us ahead of the Saints. I know how to deal with men with guns. This, however, is something else entirely. Food is still available, but it isn’t as easily accessible as before.
We aren’t starving, but that’s low on my list of concerns when there are so many coming down with this illness.
My worry is that I’ll pick it up. If I’m sick, then I can’t keep us away from the Saints.
Eden is smart, and she’s learning quickly, but it isn’t enough. ”
“She’s not trained,” Callie said.
Maks blew out a breath. “Then there’s the problem of if Eden gets sick.”
“Do you have any plans in place for either scenario?” Wyatt asked.
“There’s nowhere to go, nothing to do. It’s why I haven’t moved us since we got here.”
“That’s probably the smart thing.”
Maks leaned back against the counter. “How are all of you holding up?”
“We’re secluded here on the ranch, which makes it easier.
Callie is monitoring everything with the help of Natalie and Mia.
We take turns scouting the property. The good thing is that with the ranch and the garden Natalie started a few months ago, we’re doing pretty good.
We go into town once a week for the things we can’t get anywhere else.
Things here aren’t as bad as where you are, but we’re ahead of things at the ranch.
We’re keeping our distance from others and already self-isolating. ”
Maks wasn’t surprised by the news. “That’s good. From what I hear, it’s making its way through the US at a good rate, but not nearly what’s happened here.”
“We had time to see what was happening and prepare. At least, some of us,” Callie said sarcastically. “Some people in the government are just dumbasses of the first order.”
That made Maks chuckle. “I’ll keep you all posted of things on this end.”
“We’ll do the same,” Wyatt said. “If things get too hairy over there—”
“I won’t call,” Maks interrupted him.
Wyatt sighed loudly. “You’ve done a lot for us. You were even there for Lev. You’re good at what you do, Maks, but you should take help when you can.”
“I’m not putting all of you in danger. I’ll figure things out with Eden. One way or another, this thing with the Saints is coming to an end. They’ve done enough.”