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

“That’s good,” Ares said, his voice low, almost gruff. “She can’t live with that pain forever. Could you reverse what they did to her nerve responses?”


“Very likely, yes. I can’t be completely sure until we’ve finished all the blood workups and analyzed all of our results, but considering what I’ve seen so far, I’m optimistic.”


Optimistic. Her choice of verbiage was meant to inspire hope, but Anicka struggled to feel it as Dr. Iara returned to her examination. This wasn’t what Ares had wanted. Hell, this wasn’t what she’dwanted, and a fresh well of anger at Mariel for stealing her life away burned its way through her veins.


Chapter 43