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

“Or what?” she said, keeping her voice low. “You’ll scramble my head a little bit more? It’s already soup up there. You’d just be wasting your resources.”


“You’ve been through a lot, Anicka. And I know you think you know everything that’s going on. But you really don’t understand anything.” The last was said gently, like Mariel was breaking bad news to a small child. “And if you don’t do what I tell you, I’ll have no choice but to force your compliance.”


The second she tightened the muscles in the arm Mariel held, she saw understanding flash in her commanding officer’s eyes. Had they done this before? Was this another version of events that had somehow been erased from her memory? Anicka didn’t know, but she didn’t have time right now to debate whether or not she was repeating moves Mariel had already bested. Every ounce of her concentration had to be on getting to Ares. No matter what the consequences.


Chapter 33