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

“I suppose I could help you,” he murmured, and pressed his thumbs to her nape.


As long as she was looking away from him, she couldn’t see the pain in his eyes. Her muscles were tight, and it seemed like he found an endless number of knots beneath her skin. Each time he found a new one to work out, she moaned, dropping her head forward with an obvious sense of bliss.


“I had an accident on a job a few years ago. I lost some memories then. I usually only get the headaches when I’m trying to remember something.”


“What kind of accident?” Ares asked, doing his best to keep his voice even.


“I don’t remember the details. They told me about it after, when I woke up. I learned not to ask too much. These headaches are awful.”


He hadn’t been aware of them before. Now that he knew, could he in good conscience continue his mission? Every time he tried to tease out a memory, he was hurting her. Mariel had even warned him the last time she’d intercepted him from Anicka.


Chapter 20