Sometime in the not-so-distant future...
Dr. Danica Lawson’s eyes flew open, darting to each corner of the dim room. The only sounds that marred the silence were her soft, labored pants and the pounding heartbeat that infiltrated her inner eardrums. Touching her tongue to the dry roof of her mouth, she tried to swallow, but her throat failed to bob. A soft whimper escaped her lips, and she placed her palm flat on the bed, attempting to push into a sitting position.
Pain seared her side and she gasped, collapsing on the mattress as her fingers found the wound. A thick bandage covered the tender skin, and she wondered how she’d sustained the injury.
Closing her eyes, she took a moment to center herself.
You can do this, Dani. Try to remember.
Cobwebs clouded her brain, obstructing any semblance of rational thought. Her pupils roved under closed lids, searching the darkness for a trace of where she was...how she’d been injured...and how she’d ended up in a strange bed in a dark room.
Obscure shadows were her only answer, and she struggled with the realization she needed to run. Lifting her lids, she hastily scanned the room. Whoever had placed her here wasn’t present, but they could return any moment.
Now was the time to break free.
Sucking in a breath, she palmed her side, holding the bandage tight, and maneuvered into a sitting position. Glancing down, she noticed the thin shorts and tank top that covered her frame. Black sneakers sat at the foot of the nearby nightstand, and she grabbed them, tugging them on under the small shaft of light that filtered through the curtains of the lone window in the room. Once the shoes were tied, she gradually rose to her feet, placing a hand on her head as the room began to spin.
“Come on, Dani,” she whispered, lowering her hand and straightening her spine. “Let’s go.”
Gritting her teeth, she began to push forward—one foot, then the other—inching toward the door. Her shaking fingers gripped the knob and turned. Ever so gently, she eased the door open, relieved to find an empty hallway. Gathering her courage, she stepped across the threshold.
A muscled arm snaked across her line of view, causing her to flinch as she drew back. The hand attached to the sinewy arm landed flat on the nearby wall as a warm body pressed into her uninjured side. Closing her eyes, she balled her fist, ready to strike.
“Not so fast there, slugger,” a rugged baritone chimed in her ear, causing her to shiver. “You need rest before you charge back into the world—”
Swinging with all her might, Dani brought her fist high, aiming for the man’s face. Although she didn’t have time to align her blow, she aimed to strike his nose above the lips that had brushed her ear as he spoke.
The man’s hand caught her fist, crushing it as he lowered her arm, causing
her to cry out.
“You son of a bitch!”
“I don’t want to hurt you, Dani,” he said, his tone soothing even though her body was fraught with nerves and fear. “Take a deep breath and relax.”
Lifting her gaze to his, she noted the silver flecks that glinted in his gunmetal gray eyes. His features were angular as he loomed over her although she was five feet, eight inches tall. She might not remember much, but for some reason, she remembered that.
“What do you want?” she asked, struggling to keep the fear from her voice. “Whatever it is, I’m sure we can negotiate.”
His firm lips curved into a roguish smile, causing her knees to shake. Dark hair fell over his forehead, tinged with a bit of gray at the temples, and she had the insane thought he might be the most attractive man she’d ever seen. Dangerous. Mysterious. Hot.
“You try to negotiate every time,” he murmured, lowering so his warm breath floated across her cheek. “It’s so cute, babe.”
Attempting to wrench her fist from his grasp, she glared at him until he released her. Drawing back, she let another blow fly, but he quickly caught her fist again, smirking as she writhed to break free.
“I know your tells by now, Dani. Believe me, you got me pretty good the first few times we did this, but now I can read your punches from a mile away. Don’t get me wrong, it’s sexy as hell when you try to slug me, but it’s not conducive to moving the mission along.”
“What mission?” she asked, infuriated by his tender endearments along with the fact he was all but laughing at her. “I have no idea who you are! If you want to kill me or...worse...then do it. But I’m certainly not involved in any sort of mission with you.”
Something flashed in his eyes—tender and almost sad—before his grip relaxed on her fist. “I know this is scary. I’m sorry. It’s my fault—”
“Why can’t I remember anything? Did you drug me?”
Remorse crossed his features as he slowly shook his head. “It’s your brain injury. You sustained
it over three months ago, and your memory hasn’t recovered.”
“Three months? I’ve lost my memory for three months?”
“Yes,” he softly confirmed. “You sustained it at your lab while you were working for Sendaxa.”
Furrowing her brow, she tried to recall her last memory. “I don’t work for Sendaxa. I work at Columbia University as a professor and head of their genetics lab.” Pausing, she indexed her thoughts for any memory of working for the largest pharmaceutical company in the United States. “I vaguely remember receiving an email from an executive at Sendaxa expressing interest in working with me. That’s all I remember about them.”
Gray eyes assessed her as he nodded. “They recruited you to work on EverLife.”
Blowing out a breath, she racked her brain, frustrated at the murky images that didn’t quite form. “But I was so close to a cancer vaccine.”
“Yes. Sendaxa offered you a deal: work for them to develop EverLife, and once it was approved for use, they would fund your cancer research.”
Latching onto his gaze, she swallowed. “I’m assuming things didn’t exactly go as planned.”
Huffing a laugh, he shook his head. “You were successful in creating the EverLife formula but didn’t realize it would be highly addictive. Once the side effects became known, you dedicated yourself to developing an addiction antidote. Cancer took a backseat to reversing the damage.”
“Damage?” Dread filled her heart as her throat bobbed. “How much damage?”
Lifting his hand, he slowly extended it toward her cheek. Dani’s brain screamed to recoil, but her body subconsciously leaned toward his.
Once he’d placed his rough palm over her cheek, his lips curved into a sad smile. “I’m happy to tell you everything, but you’re hurt and I don’t want to reopen your wound.” Craning his neck, he eyed the side of her body with the laceration. “We have a protocol for when you wake up. I messed
that up today and I’m sorry. I thought you’d sleep longer since you’re recovering. I should know by now not to underestimate you.”
Butterflies of anxiety flitted in her belly as she studied him. A strange desire to arch toward him and seek comfort in his muscular arms overwhelmed her. Squinting up at him, she asked, “Who are you to me?”
His broad lips twitched, causing her heart to slam between her ribs.
“One of these days, you’re going to remember, and it will be the happiest day of my life, babe.”
“Don’t call me that,” she said, feeling her nostrils flare. “I hate that endearment.”
A deep chuckle rumbled in his chest. “I know. You seem to prefer ‘slugger.’ But I like ‘babe.’ Call me old-fashioned.” Lifting his hand from her cheek, he tucked a strand of silky brown hair behind her ear.
“Please stop mocking me. I don’t recognize you, but you seem so familiar...” Lifting her palms to her temples, she squeezed. “Fuck, my brain hurts.”
“Hey,” he murmured, gently encircling her wrists and dragging her hands away. Drawing her hands to his chest, he splayed one of her palms over each of his pecs. His heartbeat thrummed beneath her skin as he covered the backs of her hands with his. “It’s okay, Dani. Look at me. Feel me.”
Shallow breaths exited her lungs as his pulse ticked beneath her fingers. Staring deep into his stunning irises, she waited.
“Good,” he soothed, lifting one hand to cup her jaw, stroking the skin with his thumb. “Who do you think I am?”
Her mouth opened and closed as she struggled to form words. “I have no idea. I have so many questions—”
“Do you remember my name?”
Tears stung her eyes as she shook her head. “I don’t know you...”
Sighing, he removed his hand from her jaw before harshly rubbing his forehead. Lifting his gaze to hers, he said softly, “I’m Maverick.”
Her features contorted. “Like Top Gun?”
Rolling his eyes, he scoffed. “Yes, like Top Gun. You ask me that every time I tell you my damn name. From the first time we met until right now. One day, you’ll just accept that my parents were weird and gave their kid a strange name.”
A laugh escaped her throat, surprising her as she stared up at the man who was both reassuring and mysterious. “When did we first meet?”
“Five years ago.”
Dani gazed down, trying to remember.
“Since your brain injury, you only seem to remember as far back as your last days at Columbia and Sendaxa contacting you. But you don’t ever remember moving to Bethesda to start the job.”
Rapidly blinking, she worked to amalgamate the thoughts racing through her mind. Concern jolted down her spine as visions of her sisters’ faces appeared. “Where are Raquel and Arianna?”
“Your sisters are safe,” he assured, his tone calm. “They’re here with us and you can see them, but first you need to rest. You’re pretty banged up there, slugger.”
Filled with trepidation—and a hefty surge of curiosity—she cemented her eyes to his. “Are we...lovers?”
White teeth flashed as he smiled, transforming his features into something so sexy her knees almost buckled.
“I guess you could say that...”
Narrowing her eyes, she regarded him.
“But I’m a lot more than your lover.”
Swallowing thickly, she whispered, “You are?”
Nodding, he leaned closer, those swirling eyes searching hers.
“Danica Lawson, it’s nice to meet you all over again. We do this dance every day, and it never gets old.” Drawing back, he extended his hand. “Maverick Ward.”
Tentatively shaking his hand, she tilted her head. “Maverick Ward...my lover...and...”
“Husband,” he said, lips twitching at her rapid inhale. “I’m your husband, Dani. Pleasure
to meet you, as always.”
Suddenly, the floor seemed to melt away as the wound at her side throbbed. Unable to stand, she collapsed into her husband’s arms, wondering if she would remember him the next time she regained consciousness.
Maverick caught his wife in his arms, careful of her wound, and lifted her as her head lolled.
“She fainted again?” a deep voice asked, attached to the man striding down the hallway.
“Yeah. I don’t want to restrain her, but I might have to if she keeps waking up and trying to bolt.”
Striding toward the bedroom, he placed Dani on the bed before tugging off her sneakers. Tossing them to the floor, he checked her wound before covering her with the comforter.
“Why didn’t you leave the phone by her bed?” Dominic asked.
“I didn’t think she’d wake this early. Her wound is healing, but the phone was almost dead last night so I decided to charge it. Rookie mistake,” Maverick said. “If there’s one thing we know about my wife, she’s determined to escape every time she wakes up if the phone with the video she recorded isn’t accessible.” Grinning, he softly stroked her cheek. “For a geeky scientist, she’s pretty badass.”
“That’s why we all love her,” Dominic said quietly.
Maverick glanced at the man, six feet, six inches of thick, sinewed muscle under a buzz cut and austere features. A jagged scar ran from the corner of one eye, over his nose and ended at the opposite corner of his broad lips. Tattoos covered the arms crossed over his chest, and his dark eyes were filled with concern. It made sense considering one thing they both knew to be true: they both were in love with Maverick’s wife.
An unspoken agreement lingered between Maverick and the stoic man with whom he’d forged a solid friendship over the years. They would never discuss Dominic’s feelings as long as he never acted on them. It would be futile anyway considering Danica loved Maverick as fiercely as he loved her. Gazing at her, he stroked her chestnut-colored locks atop the pillow as she slept, thanking the universe she’d chosen him. Dominic was a good man, but for some reason, Dani had chosen Maverick.
Perhaps miracles were still possible.
Dominic and Maverick were aligned in the cause, and his friend was a damn good soldier, so Maverick was content to overlook the fact he was in love with his wife. He hoped that one day, once they set things straight and returned to some sense of normalcy, Dominic would find a woman who would capture his heart too. Only time would tell.
“Has Arianna returned from the scouting mission?” Maverick asked, tucking the covers around Dani’s shoulders before rising.
“No, and she didn’t take a comm device with her either,” Dominic muttered, rubbing his forehead. “Stubborn woman. She looked me straight in the eye and told me she’d have one in her ear at all times, but I found it lying on the table by the front door. It’s like she left it there to tell me to go fuck myself.”
Breathing a laugh,
Maverick cupped his chin. “I’ve never seen two people who detest each other work so brilliantly together. It defies logic. Half the time, I’m convinced she’d rather kill you than the Sen Force soldiers.”
Dominic scoffed. “Or I’d rather kill her. I swear, most days I’m this close.” He formed a circle with his hands, mimicking choking someone. “But then she usually ends up doing something cool, like protecting Raquel when she goes on her berry-picking excursions or kicking my ass when we spar, and I don’t have the heart to go through with it.”
Grinning, Maverick strode by his friend, gesturing with his head for the man to follow him so they could leave Dani to sleep and heal. As they trekked down the hallway, he patted Dominic’s shoulder. “Are you admitting Arianna is a better fighter than you?”
Dominic’s eyebrow arched. “I’ll admit she’s one of the best soldiers I’ve ever met. Better than me? No fucking way. But she’s pretty damn awesome.”
“That’s a pretty big declaration from the best fighter I’ve ever met,” Maverick said, entering the large back room of the abandoned home where they’d set up their temporary headquarters. “I have a feeling she’d say she was better than you, but who’s keeping score?”
Dominic grunted in annoyance as they entered the makeshift lab Dani and Raquel had built in the den of the home they’d been residing in since Dani’s brain injury.
“Where’s Raquel?” Dominic asked, craning his neck to look outside. “I told her to stay inside until I was ready.”
“She’s obsessed with the mushrooms growing by the old shed,” Maverick said, gesturing toward the window. “Maybe she’s picking them.”
“She’s determined to recreate the antidote,” Dominic said, craning his neck to look out the window.
“She was a preeminent biologist before the world went to shit, and I appreciate her trying to formulate an antidote,” Maverick said, shaking his head. “But Dani is still our best hope...if her memory ever comes back.”
“It will, Mav,” Dominic said, cupping his shoulder. “And then we’ll break into the Sendaxa lab to steal the secret antidote stash, and the world can begin
to wake up from this nightmare.”
“Raquel insists she can get Dani’s memory back with some perseverance. ...
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