For two years, Ares Gallo has been ransacking the galaxy for the woman who meant everything to him. They trained together, killed together, loved together, but now, Anicka Dekker doesn't even know who he is. All she knows every time she meets the enigmatic, scarred stranger is that a part of her trusts him. An even larger part desires him. In any and every way she can have him. Ares wants his wife back. Despite the scars that have changed his appearance and the chronic pain that destroyed his career, he follows Anicka from planet to planet, finding her in seedy bars, stately palaces, and everywhere in between. Every time they have a few moments of pure bliss, his hope blooms that this time…things will be different. Then, STRIKE, the organization that wanted them dead, tears them apart, erasing Anicka's memories, and Ares has to start all over again. But even if she can't remember him, he's certain she'll recognize their bond. Sooner or later.

Across the Universe

“Mariel is using you. I have proof. I can give you whatever you need.”


She snorted. “You won’t even give me your real name. Why should I believe whatever proof you’ve trumped up?”


The name came with a shock of recognition. Not because she’d heard it before. Because she’d seen it. Or at least, she’d seen part of it. Printed in a cramped, unfamiliar script in the middle of her private journal.


Her ears throbbed as she considered the implication. It was entirely possible it was a different man. There could be more than one Ares in the galaxy. But the coincidence of it created a whole new cascade of images, ones she deliberately blocked off to keep from revealing her weakness to him.


“Your reputation doesn’t precede you.” Another step away. She kept the blade lightly in her grip, ready in case he did something. “You must not be very important to STRIKE after all.”


Chapter 10