Lethal Memory (A Counterstrike Novel Book 2)

by Jannine Gallant

  Noah unloaded the grocery bag onto the counter, turned on the oven, then took two potatoes to the sink to scrub. “Could be they expected you to retrieve the elusive backup device.”

  “The one that probably doesn’t exist?” She bent to pull off her tall boots and dropped them to the floor before planting her elbows on the granite countertop. “I sure hope that data is saved somewhere. I have a feeling I gave my grandpa some sort of treatment before I was kidnapped. He’s regained a portion of his long-term memory, although his timeline is still pretty shaky. He recognized me to some extent, and he remembered the accident that killed my parents. But when I left, he thought I was going away to college. He also talked about his farm and was anxious about why he wasn’t there.”

  Noah put the potatoes in the oven and turned to face her. “That’s pretty incredible, considering he has advanced Alzheimer’s.”

  “A doctor at the care facility examined him and couldn’t explain the improvement, or so I was told. Whatever I did must not have been documented.”

  “A human trial might correlate with the breakthrough Charles said you’d recently had in your research. I can only assume you didn’t tell your lab assistant exactly what you’d done.”

  “Would I really have used my own grandfather as a guinea pig without any sort of formal approval?” Her chest tightened as she stared at him. “Was I that confident it was safe?”

  “We don’t know the circumstances, but any treatment that wasn’t carefully regulated would pose significant risk.” Noah frowned as he studied her. “You don’t seem like a careless person, and it seems clear you love your grandfather a great deal. Would you really have risked his health, possibly his life, with such a bold and ill-advised move?”

  “I certainly hope I didn’t do anything life-threatening. I don’t doubt for a minute how much he means to me. I could feel the love between us, even though I couldn’t remember him. Even though he was confused about exactly who I was.” She let out a shaky breath. “Surely my actions were nothing short of criminal. Is that why I was so secretive?”

  “Let’s not jump to conclusions. There’s no evidence you did anything wrong.” His eyes were troubled as he met her gaze. “Not yet, anyway.”

  Tears blurred her vision. “I’m sorry to dump all this on you, to be such a burden.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” He approached her and sat down on the adjacent stool before taking both her hands in his. “I like you, Riley, and I want to help. You aren’t a burden. Not by a longshot.”

  She didn’t believe him, but she appreciated the kindness behind his words. And the warmth of his hands holding hers was a comfort. His touch also sent a tingle straight through her, and she shifted on the barstool.

  Not the right time, Riley. With a gentle tug, she pulled her hands free. “Enough of my drama. What can I do to help with dinner?”

  He rose to his feet. “I’ll wash the veggies, and you can cut them up for a salad while I grill the steaks. When she started to slide off the stool, he stopped her with a hand on her good knee. “Don’t move. I’ll bring everything to you.”

  She felt the imprint of his palm long after he removed his hand, and it took her several minutes to grapple with emotions that seemed to be spiraling out of control. By the time he returned with a cutting board covered with an assortment of vegetables and a chef’s knife, she was able to give him a bright smile. “Thanks.”

  He smiled back, and the warmth in his eyes destroyed all her hard-won composure.

  “I only have one question.”

  “What’s that?” The breathy response made her sound like a besotted nitwit. This is not how you normally act. Get a grip, Riley.

  “How do you like your steak cooked?”

  Maybe it was how she acted. How would she know? Maybe she was one of those irritating women who lost her mind around a handsome man. She couldn’t imagine a less attractive character trait.

  “Riley, your steak?”

  “Huh? Oh, medium rare.”

  “Thank God. If you’d said well done, it would have been a deal breaker.”

  A giggle broke free, releasing some of her tension. “We certainly can’t have that. If the steak isn’t mooing back at me, I’ll eat it.”

  “Riley?”

  “What?” she asked softly.

  He touched her cheek with a gentle brush of his fingers. “You’re definitely not a burden.”

  Chapter Six

  Noah wiped off the counter, set the sponge in the sink, and joined Riley at the door leading to the back patio. The outdoor light revealed a good two inches of snow coating the yard and capping the pickets on the back fence, unusual for the first day of November.

  “The sleet turned completely to snow while we ate.” She shifted on her crutches to face him. “While it’s certainly beautiful, driving in this will be hazardous.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Her eyes widened. “What do you mean? Didn’t we have this conversation yesterday?”

  “And I was an idiot to leave.” He’d finally caved in when she’d been adamant about not taking advantage of him. He’d known at the time he was making a mistake. “That’s not happening again, certainly not after you were followed.”

  “But—”

  “Humor me, okay? I’ll crash on your couch. You’ll barely know I’m here.”

  “While I appreciate the gesture, I don’t want to put you out.”

  “Your couch will be the height of luxury compared to some of the places I’ve slept.” He met her troubled gaze. “Tomorrow, Wolf will have a chat with the CEO at Vortex since he apparently didn’t take our previous warning seriously, and we’ll decide what to do going forward. For now, I won’t risk leaving you alone.”

  After staring at him for a moment, she nodded. “Okay. Thank you, Noah. I’ll definitely feel better having you here.”

  “You’re welcome. Come sit down. You’ve been on your feet most of the day. I want to take a look at your knee and have you ice it.”

  She headed into the living room while he put ice cubes in a zip-lock bag and wrapped it in a dishtowel before joining her. “Not a professional icepack, but it’ll do the job.” He sat next to her and waited while she pulled her skirt up over her knee.

  “I didn’t find a lot of medical supplies in the house. A few Band-Aids and a bottle of ibuprofen. I guess I don’t get hurt or sick often.”

  “Which means you’re tough, and you have a strong immune system. He rested her sock-clad foot on his lap. Gritting his teeth when his body responded immediately to the touch of her toes, even through thick denim, he shifted her foot and unwrapped the bandage around her knee.

  “Hey, it looks better.” She flashed a smile. “Not nearly as swollen as it was a couple of days ago.”

  “Definitely an improvement.” Noah felt her knee, making sure he didn’t let his fingers stray any farther up her thigh. Her skin was smooth and soft, and the lotion she used smelled like coconuts.

  Don’t be a jerk, Kimball. Keeping it professional with Riley was proving to be a challenge. One of the more idiotic reasons he’d let her talk him into leaving the night before. He’d been worried he might make a move on her he’d later regret.

  Cutting off the thought, he focused on the job at hand. “You’re healing nicely. If you stay off this leg a few more days, you should be able to ditch the crutches.”

  “I can’t wait.” She touched his arm. “Actually, before you rewrap it, do you mind if I shower? I’d love to take the bandage off my head and wash my hair, too.”

  “Of course. Just make sure you’re gentle with that scalp wound. I’ll put the ice back in the freezer until you’re finished. Do you want help removing the bandage on your head?”

  “No, I can get it off. Replacing it isn’t as easy.”

  He stood and handed her the crutches. “How about those stairs?”

  “I have a system. I hold onto the banister and hop. The exertion is probably good for me since I can’t exact
ly go for a run or to the gym or do whatever it was I used to do for exercise.” Her tone revealed her frustration. “Since I’m in decent shape, I must have worked out on a fairly regular basis.”

  Without waiting for a response, she turned and hobbled away. When the soft thumps stopped, he picked up the bag of ice and took it back to the kitchen. Flipping on the outside light, he stood at the sliding glass door and watched the snow fall. Maybe he should go cool off. Or drop a handful of snow down his pants. He could attest to Riley’s excellent shape. He’d been damn tempted to examine a whole lot more than her knee.

  “A total sleaze ball move,” he muttered beneath his breath. “The woman is injured and vulnerable.”

  Even though he was pretty sure the attraction between them wasn’t all one-sided, he knew better than to take advantage of the situation. Right now, he represented security and familiarity. Once she regained her memory, Riley would resent the hell out of him if he used her weakness to his advantage.

  When the water turned on, he imagined her stepping gingerly into the shower. Long legs, slick with water as she— “Jesus.” Taking a deep breath, he pulled out his phone and called Wolf, a move guaranteed to cool his libido.

  Their team leader answered on the first ring. “Hey, Patch. What’s up?”

  “Some asshole in an SUV followed Riley earlier. She wasn’t able to get a plate number.”

  “Did he confront her?”

  Noah flipped off the light and turned his back on the falling snow. “Fortunately, no. She called me and then did an excellent job of following my instructions until I could get to her. If she’d been any less aware of her surroundings, though, it could have ended differently.”

  “Are you with her now?”

  “Yeah. I’ll stay at her house tonight.”

  “I’m disappointed Murdock didn’t heed my warning.” Wolf’s tone was filled with sarcasm. “The man swore he wasn’t responsible and that no one at Vortex would dream of making a move against Riley. He was lying through his teeth, but I thought fear of bad press alone would insure he’d lay low while the cops are investigating Vortex. His explanation that those two thugs broke into their Georgia estate wasn’t very convincing.”

  Noah frowned. “I was thinking about that, wondering if the moron who tailed Riley today was sent by somebody else. Or maybe Murdock isn’t the one in charge at Vortex.”

  “That would certainly complicate things.”

  “As it is, I’m not comfortable leaving her alone without protection.”

  “I can make a phone call,” Wolf said. “With a little pressure, the local cops will put her on an hourly drive-by schedule to check for any sign of trouble.”

  “That’s not good enough. We both know it would only take a couple of minutes for someone to grab her and disappear. Again. She needs twenty-four-hour protection until she recovers her memory and turns her research over to someone trustworthy, which should take the target off her back. Right now, she’s vulnerable.”

  “We can certainly recommend a good security company.”

  Noah massaged the back of his neck where tension had settled. “I suppose that’s the best solution since I can’t stay with her if we get a new case. I’ll talk to Riley about her options. In the meantime, you can reach me on my cell.”

  “While you’re keeping an eye on Riley, I’ll make damn certain no one at Vortex went after her again and let you know what I find out.”

  “Thanks, Wolf. I appreciate it.” Noah disconnected and slid his phone into his pocket. When the shower turned off upstairs, he glanced toward the ceiling. Time to pretend just the thought of Riley damp and smelling like a tropical paradise didn’t give him a boner.

  Too bad his acting skills weren’t up to the job. Shoving through the door, he headed outside without his jacket and walked around the house, ostensibly to make sure no one who didn’t belong was hanging out in the neighborhood. By the time he returned, he was soaking wet and chilled to the bone. Shivering, he shut the door and locked it.

  The rubber caps on the bottom of the crutches squeaked as Riley approached him. “I wondered where you went.”

  “Just to take a look around. Anyone out on a night like this would be suspicious, but all was quiet.”

  “Good. You must be freezing. Why didn’t you wear a coat?” She headed into the kitchen. After pulling a hand towel from a drawer, she held it out.

  “Thanks.” He took it and rubbed his wet head. “Not a very smart move, I agree.”

  Riley wore a bright blue robe that matched her eyes, belted tightly around her waist. Beneath it, her calves were bare, and her feet were encased in thick socks with a snowflake pattern. Refusing to let himself imagine what was beneath the robe, he dragged his gaze upward. Without any makeup, the bruises on her face were more prominent. She looked young and defenseless.

  After dropping the damp towel into a basket beside the stacked washer and dryer in the corner, he retrieved the makeshift icepack from the freezer, along with the fresh bandage she’d left on the counter. “Let’s take care of your injuries.”

  “It felt great to shower. I put a stool in the tub to sit on.” She scrunched up her nose. “Staying off this knee is a total pain in the butt.”

  “Agreed, but you’ll heal much faster this way, and have a better outcome.” When she reached the living room, he took her crutches and leaned them against the end of the couch before sitting down next to her.

  She parted the soft fleece several inches up her thigh, and his hands faltered. After taking a couple of deep breaths, he settled the ice over her knee and delved his fingers into her still damp hair. Lifting strands that slid through his fingers like silk, he examined the wound.

  “The laceration is healing nicely. Actually, I think we can leave off the bandage at this point since I’m not too worried about infection. Better to let it get air.”

  “Oh, thank heavens. The visible bruises are bad enough. At least that’ll be one less thing to explain. Not that I’ve been telling everyone the truth. Falling down a set of stairs is apparently more believable than being kidnapped and tortured.”

  “I’m sure it is. Is your head still aching?”

  “Not if I take ibuprofen. Even when it wears off, the throbbing isn’t too bad.”

  “Excellent. The bruises are changing colors.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb. “The black has turned to blue, and soon they’ll be a greenish yellow.”

  “Great. I’ll have to coordinate my outfits to match.”

  He grinned broadly. “You make me laugh, Riley.”

  “Hey, we all need a talent, and since I’m not sure what mine is, I’m happy to amuse you.”

  “Well, you’ve succeeded.” His smile slipped away. “Unfortunately, we need to discuss something serious.”

  She let out a sigh. “That doesn’t sound good. All right, let’s hear it.”

  “Wolf and I aren’t one hundred percent certain the CEO of Vortex sent the man who followed you earlier. While I’m not opposed to coming down hard on the Vortex chain of command, following through on our threats might not ensure your safety if someone else is after your dementia research.”

  “What do you suggest I do? Buy a billboard to announce to the world that all my work is lost, along with my memory?” Her tone dripped sarcasm.

  He studied her for a moment. “I totally get your frustration. However, since you’re right that I can’t commit to being here twenty-four seven since work will interfere, I was thinking more along the lines of a bodyguard.”

  Riley leaned against the sofa cushions, her mouth drawn into a tight line. “I went to the bank today. While I appear to do okay financially since I don’t seem to live an extravagant lifestyle, I’m not independently wealthy. I can’t afford to pay a bodyguard indefinitely.”

  “It would only be until you recover your memory. At that point, you can make damn sure someone else is privy to whatever records you saved or are able to reconstruct. Make a statement about your research findings
to the press if you need to.”

  She stared at him, her eyes filled with shadows. “You really believe protection is necessary?”

  He nodded. “I really do.”

  “Ugh. Fine, since I’d prefer not to go through another kidnapping. Do you have any suggestions?”

  “I have the names of a couple of reputable agencies we can contact in the morning.”

  She raised a brow. “Anything else I should know about?”

  “That’s it.”

  “Good. Let’s talk about you, for a change. I’m sick of discussing my problems.”

  “My life isn’t terribly fascinating. Mostly, I’m all about work.” And professionalism. Don’t forget professionalism. He wouldn’t take advantage of Riley, even if keeping his hands to himself was killing him.

  “I’m pretty sure your job involves more excitement in a week than most people experience in a year, but my guess is you won’t discuss it.”

  His gaze was drawn to her shapely calves as she rested her feet on the coffee table and crossed her ankles. He forced his attention back to her face. “No, what we do at Counterstrike isn’t something I’m free to discuss.”

  “You’re a doctor, but you don’t practice medicine in the traditional way.”

  “After med school and residency, I joined Doctors Without Borders. Seeing such abject poverty first hand was life-changing. People have no concept of the endless violence and oppression . . .” He stopped speaking as images he’d rather forget filled his mind.

  “I can’t even imagine.” Riley spoke softly.

  “I was able to do a little good, and for that, I’m grateful.”

  “I bet you’re being modest.”

  He shook off the memories of the war-torn region and managed a weak smile in response. “The experience was rewarding and frustrating and infinitely challenging. After a year, I came home. When Wolf approached me with a unique proposition, I joined Counterstrike. I guess that visceral need to help victims is something I couldn’t put behind me. At any rate, my time in Africa gave me the necessary skills to work under adverse conditions. Some of the people we rescue are in pretty bad shape and need on the spot care.”