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

Dry, sulfuric winds whipped around his ankles, across the landing pad, and tunneled between the buildings to create a whistle that was louder than the approaching ship. Ares slapped the mask on as he skirted a neighboring vehicle. It filtered out the worst of the smells and sediment, and protected the eyes, and he hated it. The upper portion eradicated his peripheral vision. He would have much preferred tolerating the aggravation than risk losing any advantages, but Anicka had been firm in her original instructions.


“Everybody planetside wears them after dark,” she’d said. “Don’t, and they’ll suspect something’s up.”


Chapter 13