by Kelly Oram
Major Wilks, though clearly unhappy, nodded in agreement. “We’ll take what we can get. You did really well, Angel. You’re one hell of a damn fine soldier.”
I grinned again. “Thank you, sir.”
Major Wilks turned his frown on Ryan next. “I already know your answer, but you know I have to say it: We’d love you to stay.”
Ryan squeezed me tight and flashed the major a wide, toothy smile. “Oh, I would, Major, but it sounds like the wifey needs me elsewhere.”
I choked on some spit, causing everyone in the room to laugh. “You did not just call me wifey.”
Ryan ignored me and winked at Major Wilks. “She’s been through a lot recently, you know? But maybe we’ll come back after college. I have to get a job somewhere, right? I’d never considered the military, but I’ve liked my time here. Jamie doesn’t have to join, but I’ve got no problems taking orders.” He shot me a pointed look. “Clearly, since I’m in love with the world’s bossiest woman.”
“What? I am not bossy!” At the collective of snorts and snickers around the room, I groaned. “Whatever. It’s not the worst flaw to have.”
The guys all cracked up, and Major Wilks held out his hand to Ryan. “We’ll save your spot, Romeo. You just make sure you take good care of our Angel.”
That earned the major another Jamie Baker Eye Roll. The action was practically becoming a trademark.
It was at this break in the conversation that Dr. Haggerty shooed everyone out of the infirmary, insisting she check me over one last time before allowing me to leave. I was all for it because it meant the return of real clothing.
After receiving the stamp of approval from the doctor, I got dressed and went in search of my team. Dr. Haggerty said they were in the cafeteria and decided to walk down with me since it was dinnertime anyway.
I could smell my surprise before we reached the cafeteria, but I was still shocked by the roar of applause that met me when I entered the room. The mess hall was packed with soldiers, and they were all giving me a standing ovation.
Ryan greeted me with a proud smile and a quick kiss. At my questioning look, he chuckled. “You saved a lot of people, Sunshine.”
I blinked at the crowd again, awareness donning on me. “These are the soldiers we freed from the nanobots?”
Ryan nodded. “And the team that helped us get them out. We had to recruit nearly everyone stationed here that had the right skill set for the mission since we needed the man power and they are the only soldiers who know about the ACE division. They’re all anxious to go home to their families, but they insisted on waiting until you woke up. They wanted to say thank you.”
“And as a token of our appreciation,” Major Wilks interrupted, coming up to us with a huge smile, “we figured we’d spare you the cafeteria sludge and had the party catered by the best restaurant in Colorado Springs.”
I grinned back at him as if I were a little kid and he was my favorite grandpa. “I knew I liked you. Thank you, Major.”
After hours of overeating and mingling with grateful soldiers, I was ready for some peace and quiet. Like, fifty years of peace and quiet. The entire ACE team escorted us to the airport in Colorado Springs, where Ryan and I were putting my parents and Becky on a plane back to Sacramento.
As we stood on the curb, my parents and Beck gave Ryan and me hugs. “You sure you don’t want to come?”
“Sorry.” I winced, remembering my first—and last—experience with air travel. “I think I need to leave the flying to Superman.”
“But you’ll come home, right?” Mom asked.
I hugged her again. “Of course. I think I’m going to take Ryan to the desert house for a few days. I just need to decompress a little, you know? But we’ll be home for Sunday dinner. Promise. And invite Ryan’s parents.”
Mom bit her lip and scrunched up her face as if she was going to cry again.
“I promise I’ll be there, Mom.”
“I know. I’m just so happy to have you back.”
“Me too. I’ll see you guys in a few days.”
“Do you really have to go?” Tyson blurted suddenly. He sounded on the brink of tears.
I let go of my mom to pull the kid into my arms. “Hey. No pouting. Ryan does enough of that already.” The dig made Tyson crack a smile. “You have my number. Call me any time you have free time, and I will be there. We’ll have supercontests or something. You and me against Abiodun, Betty, and Natalia.”
Tyson’s sad face turned into one of glee, but he quickly swallowed his excitement and tried to play it cool. “I don’t know. Seems unfair. Too much awesomeness on one team.”
“True. Maybe we’ll have to let Shortstop be on our team, too. You know, give us a handicap.”
Shortstop’s protest was loud and whiny. I shot him a wink while everyone else laughed and then ruffled Tyson’s hair. “We’re family now, Tyson. I’ll come hang out with you so much you’ll be sick of me in no time.”
As I said good-bye, I kissed his cheek and all of the ACEs hooted and whistled. Tyson, again, tried to play it cool, but he couldn’t hide the little pink spots that warmed his cheeks.
Stepping back to Ryan again and clasping his hand, I filled him with the energy he needed to make the run with me to the desert. We waved and turned to leave and were stopped once more, this time by a mouselike voice. “You’re really going to let her leave?” Natalia asked Major Wilks, gaping up at him with her big pale-blue eyes. “You’re really not going to stop them? Not going to force Jamie to stay with you and be part of your team?”
Her question—so tragically skeptical—broke my heart. It had been a long time since the girl had known trust and basic human decency.
Major Wilks bent down to her level. “Of course I am, Natalia. I hope she’ll change her mind and come back someday, but I understand and respect her decision to leave. She’s free to go.”
Natalia glanced at me, chewing on her bottom lip and hugging her arms around her frail little body as she looked back at Major Wilks. “And me? Would I be allowed to leave, too?”
The question shocked the entire group and brought tears to both Betty’s and my mother’s eyes. Major Wilks swallowed and took longer than normal to reply. “Of course, sweetheart, if that’s what you want. We would just have to find someplace suitable for you.”
I knew what would happen next before my mother stepped forward. “She could come with us.” My mom glanced at my dad, who smiled and nodded. “We know a little something about raising special girls, after all. You could have Jamie’s old bedroom.”
My mom and Natalia both looked at Major Wilks with so much hope that there was no way he could refuse them. Sighing, he rose back to his feet. “The base really isn’t the best place for a young girl. Mr. and Mrs. Baker, I’m sure we could work that out; however, I’d like her to stay until we can make it official, and she’s gained a little strength back. It shouldn’t take her long, considering her gift.”
“Of course.” Mom bent down to Natalia’s height. “Would you really like to come live with us? You don’t want to stay with Betty, Abiodun, and Tyson?”
Natalia chewed her lips again, making eye contact with her fellow PACs one at a time. “We could still come see them, right?”
“Sure,” I said. “I can come get you and bring you here anytime, if you’re not scared of a little superrunning.”
Natalia considered my words and then shyly nodded to my mom before whispering, “The soldiers kind of scare me, and the base reminds me too much of Visticorp.”
Holy freaking heartbreaking Batman. Thank heavens for my mother. “Oh, sweetheart!” She pulled Natalia into a fierce hug, blinking away tears, and then brushed the little girl’s hair out of her face. It looked like I was gaining an adopted sister. “Would you like me to stay at the base with you until Major Wilks says it’s okay for you to come home with us?”
Natalia nodded again, and that was that. Becky would be flying home alone. My parents piled their luggage back into the m
ilitary transport truck we’d driven here in.
With everything settled, I gave one last round of hugs to everyone and made Geek promise to call me if he ever cracked Teddy’s microchips (or the ACEs talked Teddy into giving them the password). I also made Smut promise to dress as a pirate captain for Halloween and send me the picture. The guys all got a good laugh out of that.
Ryan and I turned to leave, and Natalia broke away from the crowd to wrap her tiny arms around me. “Thank you,” she whispered.
I knelt down to give her a proper hug. “You’re welcome. Looks like you and I are going to be sisters now. I’ve always wanted a sister.”
“Me too!” She beamed a blinding smile at me and squeezed me around my neck. She placed a small, cool kiss on my cheek and suddenly whispered, “Hold still.”
The comment startled me, but I froze anyway, waiting to see if she would explain. After a second, warmth seeped into my body from her little hands. It took everything I had in me not to gasp.
Be still, Betty’s voice whispered in my mind. Don’t react.
The warmth traveled through my body, making me feel rested and energized in a way I’d never felt before. It slowly made its way to my head and wrapped around my brain like a warm blanket. I staggered a little, and Natalia whispered, “Almost finished.”
It was then that I figured out what she was doing. My disbelieving eyes found Betty’s and she smiled. No one but us PACs knows that Natalia has the gift to heal others. Even Donovan never discovered that fact. He believed she could only regenerate her own body. We told her she could never reveal her gifts to anyone. They are exhausting on her, and too many people would use her up until there was nothing left. You are special to her, Jamie, if she’s chosen to share this talent with you.
After she pulled her hands away, I could see the fatigue it had caused her to heal me. Betty was right. No one could ever know about this—not even Major Wilks. It would be far too dangerous. People’s intentions would always be good, but her power was too tempting. She would be taken advantage of.
Swallowing back a new fear and need to keep an eye on the girl, I mentally vowed I’d protect her and hugged her fiercely. “Thank you, Natalia,” I whispered. “I will take your secret to the grave.”
Her cheeks flushed, giving her some color for the first time since I’d met her. It was a good look for her. I couldn’t wait until she gained some of her strength back. I doubted it would take her long now that no one was stealing her bone marrow on a weekly basis. Superhealing, and all.
“You can tell Ryan,” she muttered, glancing up at him and blushing even deeper. “He’ll figure it out soon enough anyway.”
I laughed. “I’m sure you’re right.” Tears sprang into my eyes. “Thank you, Natalia.”
“Thank you. You saved us, Jamie. You saved all of us.”
I rose to my feet and squeezed her hand. “Take care of my parents for me. And my room.”
I was rewarded with another smile before she skipped back over to my parents and took both of their hands in hers. She was a strong kid. She was going to be fine, too. Probably sooner than I would be.
Still feeling choked up at the sight of the happy child grinning adoringly up at my parents, I took a deep breath and turned to Ryan. The moment I looked into his eyes, a flood of memories came rushing to the front of my mind—memories so beautiful and powerful that I gasped. It was all there. Every moment, every touch, every kiss, every smile. Every time I wanted to strangle him. Every time he broke me down and I gave him his way. Every. Single. Memory.
“Jamie?” His face fell with concern as my eyes welled up and I started to tremble. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
I couldn’t speak. I was still too overwhelmed. I needed to get out of there before I broke down and gave away Natalia’s secret to the ACEs behind me. Clamping down on my emotions, I forced my tears back and flashed Ryan a smile. He seemed shocked by the joy in it, but it was the first real smile I’d ever given him. He’d seen just about every emotion from me in the short time we’d been reunited, but he hadn’t ever seen joy. I’d never felt true joy before now. “Come on, Goldilocks; let’s get out of here.”
My smile quelled his concerns, and he took my hand without pushing me for answers. We waved good-bye, and less than ten minutes later we reached my desert home. The couch was still sitting out front and we stopped in front of it, and no doubt, a number of creatures had ventured inside the house through the busted wall. I sighed at all the damage that had been done. Teddy may be a sore spot for me, but I still loved this house—so quaint and secluded in the peaceful desert I loved.
“We can fix this,” Ryan insisted, seeing my disappointment. “A few DIY videos on YouTube and I’ll have this place like new in no time.”
I snorted. Ryan was a lot of things, but handy with tools was not one of them. Though, I had no doubt he’d get the job done if he decided he was going to. “We’ll get to it eventually,” I told him. “Right now we’re only making a stop to grab my swimsuit.”
Ryan’s head whipped away from the damaged house to my face comically fast. “You know,” I teased, “the white one with the pink polka dots that you love so much.”
Ryan sucked in a sharp breath and pulled me to him. “And why would we need that?” he rasped, his hands roaming over my arms and my back. He found the hem of my shirt and slipped his fingers beneath the fabric, setting my skin on fire at the contact.
Goose bumps rose all over me, and I shivered. I wanted to return the favor and let my fingers do some exploring of their own, but I forced myself to stay focused just a little longer. “That was the plan, wasn’t it?” I asked. “You. Me. Elvis and a crusty old lady playing an organ, and then we escape to our own desert island?”
That had been our plan before I left him at the Grand Canyon to go save Carter. It was a plan that Ryan had not told me about since I’d returned to him. I wasn’t sure if he didn’t remember or if maybe it had just been too painful for him to think about. I was guessing the latter, because when the words left my lips, he stumbled back in shock. “But—I—you—how—”
“Natalia. Right before we left. Seems she’s been holding out on the extent of her healing abilities.”
I never realized how much Ryan wished I remembered him until he knew that I could. He seemed to lock up, frozen stiff, while he experienced every emotion on the spectrum. And then, suddenly, without warning, he attacked me. He grabbed my mouth and pulled it to his, wasting no time. One second he was blinking at me in shock, and the next he was devouring me. He crashed into me with so much force that I stumbled back and fell onto the sofa.
He was on me in an instant, covering every inch of my body with his as he greedily drank in all the affection I afforded him. I wasn’t stingy. I hadn’t missed him this entire time because I didn’t know him, but with my restored memory, the months of separation slammed into me all at once. Longing I didn’t know I was capable of drove me to kiss him with bruising force.
The more I kissed him, the more he kissed me back, and in just seconds we were on fire, filled with magnetic energy that threatened to keep us glued together permanently. We were both shaking, and actual physical sparks began jumping from my skin to his. It didn’t stop us. This was Ryan. This was me. This was us. It’s what we did: We loved each other with insurmountable passion.
When the lack of oxygen finally forced us to break apart for a moment, Ryan leaned up to catch his breath. Eyes wild and chest heaving, I knew it would only be seconds before we made one of those lasting memories he promised me. I was ready. I was his and he was mine, and now there was nothing standing in our way of spending the rest of our lives in utter bliss.
He started to lean down again, but I couldn’t help noticing the way he was straddled over my lap after we’d gotten completely carried away. My burst of happy laughter made him pause and frown down at me. “What’s so funny?”
His pout made my giggles worse. “Nothing.” I reached my arms up over his shoulders and pu
lled him back down to me. “Just a little déjà vu.”
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Word-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed the book, please leave a review online. Even if it’s just a sentence or two. It would make all the difference and would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!
Kelly
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Every book is a journey, but this book was a trip to the deepest depths of hell and back. If not for the following superpeople, this book would never have been finished and I would probably be in an early grave.
First and foremost, I have to thank my Heavenly Father. I’m positive that I only finished this book thanks to His grace. I could not have finished this book without His help.
A close second in the support line is my family. My parents, my brothers and sisters, my loving husband, and my children. Each and every one of them has had to deal with Psycho Kelly as I struggled through the writing of this book. There was so much hand holding going on over the last four years it’s not even funny. Thank you guys for sticking by my side, encouraging me, and never losing faith in me. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Then there’s my lovely therapist, Jill. Yes, I have a therapist, and yes, I am absolutely thanking her because this book literally landed me in therapy and without the brilliant, wonderful Jill, this book would have been left on permanent hiatus. Jill, I love you. Seriously. I owe you a lot of my sanity.
And Karie and Mel, co-captains of the Kelly Oram Fan Club, you ladies rock. You go above and beyond in the fan department, and I seriously have come to depend on you both. Thank you so much for all of the million and one things you do for me, from beta reading to cheerleading, to helping out with my fan group, to simply listening to me prattle on when I need to talk out story issues. You’ve both become great friends and I can’t thank you enough for the support you show me.