Lethal Memory (A Counterstrike Novel Book 2)

by Jannine Gallant

  Before she could explain further, Stormy slithered through the partially opened door, launched herself at her mistress, and planted her paws against Riley’s thighs. She staggered backward against Noah. Gripping his arm with one hand for balance, she stroked her ecstatic dog with the other.

  “I was only gone a couple of hours. I didn’t desert you, sweetie.”

  When Stormy finally calmed down enough to quit jumping, Noah shut the door behind them. “Does she do that every time you come home?”

  “Pretty much. I probably need to take her to obedience school.”

  “Or at least tell her to get down. I take it the dog is a permanent fixture?”

  “Yeah.” Riley stepped away from him and bent to hug Stormy. “I couldn’t bear to let her go. The vet said the only thing wrong with her is she’s underweight, and I think she’s already gained a pound or two. She eats like a horse.”

  “I’m glad you make each other happy.” He strolled into the living room and dropped down onto the couch. “No trouble since you hired Dex?”

  Riley sat on the cushion next to him and shook her head. “No sign of anyone following me. No suspicious strangers checking out the house. I feel like I’m wasting my money, although Dex is an excellent cribbage partner.”

  Noah eyed her for a moment. “I hope that’s all he’s good at.”

  Her cheeks heated. “He’s married and has two kids. Not that I’d be interested since . . .” She let out a breath. “Should I ask why you haven’t slept in two days?”

  “We were out of the country working. I can’t say much else.”

  She clenched her hands so hard her knuckles turned white. “Did you rescue whoever it was Counterstrike went after?”

  “Yes.” Reaching over, he covered her fist. “I’m sorry I wasn’t able to return your call. That’s why I came straight here after taking a quick shower. I didn’t want you to think I was ignoring you.”

  “Hey, you don’t owe me any explanations. I’m just happy you made it home safe. But you should have done just that—gone home to get some sleep instead of checking up on me.”

  “I wanted to see you.” He rested his head against the back of the couch and turned to regard her. “Your knee is better. How about your brain injury?”

  “I have flashes of memory now and then. Just enough to make me frustrated because they usually have no context. I visited my grandpa again, but after we took a walk, he seemed tired, so I didn’t stay long. I also bought a new computer since the police have my old one in evidence for who knows how long.”

  “They’re still actively investigating Vortex but apparently don’t have enough concrete evidence to make an arrest in your kidnapping yet. We know the CEO contacted those Cretans who beat the crap out of you, but information Luna gathered while hacking into phone records isn’t exactly admissible in court.”

  “That sucks.” Riley glanced over at the closed laptop resting on the coffee table. “It was weird. I set up the computer by rote, not thinking about what I was doing. Then I searched through a medical database specific to immune genes involved in neuroinflammation. Don’t ask me how I knew where to look because I don’t have a clue. I kept zeroing in on a single nucleotide on a chromosome . . . It must be specific to my research, but I drew a blank at that point.”

  He reached over and picked up her hand. Lacing their fingers together, he squeezed. “That type of memory is similar to the way you remember how to dress yourself and eat. Without going into a technical explanation, information you’ve probably gone over dozens, if not hundreds, of times is hardwired into your neuropathways.”

  “I feel like I should talk to someone at the university, ask if they knew what I was working on.”

  “Hold off since you weren’t inclined to share your research before you were abducted. In a few more weeks, you may know exactly what genetic modifications you were trying to make. Hopefully by then the police will have arrested someone.”

  “Wouldn’t that be nice?” She took a moment to brood quietly. “If there’s even a chance I was successfully treating my grandfather, I want to pick up where I left off.”

  “You had concerns about the safety of what you were doing.” His grip on her tightened. “Have a little patience.”

  Riley grimaced. “I’m pretty sure patience isn’t one of my stronger virtues. However, I’m learning to distract myself when frustration gets the best of me.” She pulled her hand away and sat straighter. “Are you hungry? Can I make you a sandwich?”

  Stormy leaped to her feet and barked.

  “Smart dog.” Noah grinned. “Her vocabulary obviously includes the basic food groups.”

  “I’ve been trying not to feed her people food, but sometimes I cheat. She loves cheese.”

  “Who doesn’t? Actually, I’m pretty hungry. The last thing I ate was a bag of trail mix on the plane ride home.”

  “You should have said something.” Standing, she stepped around the dog and headed into the kitchen, happy to only limp slightly.”

  Noah followed her. “I’ll help.”

  “You don’t have—” She turned quickly and bumped into his chest. When he reached out to steady her, she wound up in his arms, and her breath caught in her throat.

  He didn’t move away but held her loosely, his palm cupping her side just below her breast. Brown eyes that stared into hers took on a sensual glow. “I wasn’t going to do this. Not yet, anyway.”

  “Do what?” Enunciating each word became an effort.

  “This.” With his free hand, he gently funneled his fingers into her hair before bending to kiss her.

  Riley melted against him as he deepened the kiss, turning the simple touch of his lips into an expression of need. Pressing her palm against his back, she drew her hand downward to the hem of his shirt and encountered warm, bare skin above the waistband of his jeans. A thrill shot through her, and a little sigh of pleasure slipped out.

  Finally, he opened his eyes and pulled back a few inches. “That’s why I wasn’t going to kiss you before. I knew I wouldn’t want to stop.”

  “Do you have to?” The question was out before she could stop herself. Not that she really wanted to.

  “Yes. You need to get to know yourself again before we take this any further.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “But it won’t be easy.”

  “I know I have major issues right now.” She spoke the honest truth. “But I’m beginning to care about you. If we’d met under normal circumstances—”

  “Unfortunately, we didn’t.” He released her completely and stepped back. “Unlike you, I am a patient person. We don’t need to be in a rush.” The sultry glow in his eyes darkened. “Even if you do look extremely hot in those yoga pants.”

  She drew in a breath and nodded before she abruptly turned away. “I’ll make you that sandwich now.”

  When Stormy barked again, they both burst out laughing, and the tension she was feeling eased. While Noah ate a giant ham and cheese sub with all the trimmings, Riley nibbled on an apple and discussed everything from the movie she’d watched the previous night to global warming. All the while, enjoying his views, which seemed similar to her own.

  “It’s strange to read a story in the paper or online and know nothing about the broader context, yet still have an instant opinion.” She tossed the core in the trash. “Learning about the most recent school shooting made me think losing my memory isn’t such a bad thing.” She gripped the edge of the counter. “What the hell kind of world do we live in?”

  “One filled with violence and hate and greed, which is why Counterstrike stays busy.” He finished his sandwich and took his plate to the sink. “It seems pretty evident you’re a caring person. Maybe your focus was primarily on your research, but I’d bet my grandpa’s ’57 Chevy the impetus behind your work was a desire to help people, not to get rich.”

  “I sure hope so. Still, why the secrecy? Was I doing something illegal or immoral, or was I afraid of someone, even before I was kidnapped
? I hate feeling so defenseless and out of control.”

  “You aren’t. You’ve made solid decisions in the last few days. Anyway, there’s no point in speculating and driving yourself crazy.”

  “I suppose not.” She slid off the bar stool. “Should I call Dex? Now that you’ve eaten, you should go home and get some sleep.”

  “I’m not in a rush.” He rested his hand at the small of her back and guided her toward the living room with Stormy trailing behind them. “The sandwich gave me a jolt of energy.” He paused. “Unless you have plans?”

  “Nothing exciting, that’s for sure. I found a box of lecture notes from a couple of the classes I teach. I was going to go through the material, hoping . . .” She shrugged. “Probably pointless, but I feel the need to do something to reclaim my life.”

  “Not pointless. Proactive. Sit.” He nudged her down onto the couch and took a seat beside her. “You mentioned you met your friend earlier. How’d that go?”

  Two minutes into recounting her awkward visit with Becca, Riley realized Noah had fallen asleep. His lashes formed dark crescents against his cheeks, and the lines of stress and fatigue smoothed out as his lips parted. He shouldn’t have come to see her, yet he had. The fact that he cared enough to personally check in with her, despite his obvious exhaustion, created a warmth inside her similar to the feeling she got when Stormy rested her furry chin on her knee and stared at her with complete adoration.

  Riley shifted a little as Noah’s thigh pressed against hers, and a slow burn started, one that had absolutely nothing in common with her feelings for the dog. Not that she intended to do anything about it when he was completely beat and she was still confused about damn near everything. Except her feelings for Noah. Those were escalating at an alarming pace. She was falling for him, and the knowledge scared her silly since she feared he was simply being kind.

  Careful not to waken him, she got up off the couch and went to the kitchen to call Dex. Noah needed to go home to get some solid sleep, and she needed to take a step away from her attraction for him until she had a solid foundation to build on. Not the quagmire of confusion and danger that was currently her life.

  * * * *

  “What do you mean, she has a bodyguard? Riley didn’t say anything about that.” Charles hurried across the Trimountaine campus, the brisk wind off the bay slapping his face. He held his phone pressed to his ear beneath the edge of his wool hat.

  After she’d busted him following her the previous Friday, he’d been reluctant to try again. Not that her activities had been the least bit suspicious. He was just thankful he’d convinced a buddy to loan him his SUV, or his lack of skill at tailing her could have been an even bigger disaster.

  “If she didn’t mention her new security detail, maybe she doesn’t trust you the way you think.” The voice on the other end of the line broke into his thoughts. “I know muscle for hire when I see it, and this guy was definitely muscle. If you can’t give me decent intel, then what good—”

  “Hey, I still have the inside track.” He tightened his grip on the cell as the wind lashed at him. “When I called Riley this morning and gave her a sob story about how I couldn’t finish my dissertation without our research, she hedged a bit and then admitted she’d been able to isolate a specific gene on a chromosome that she felt was critical to her work. Maybe not a huge step, but it seems like an excellent sign of progress to me.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you call me sooner!”

  He jerked the phone away from his ear. “Because I had a meeting with the professor who’s finishing up Riley’s intro to biology class. I’m her TA and—”

  “I don’t give a crap about excuses. Get your priorities straight. I want specifics. What she remembered could be information you hadn’t retrieved before those idiots broke into the lab.”

  “No, it isn’t. The treatment she created blocks transcription of the gene she’s focusing on, but she didn’t say anything about remembering the formula. She did assure me the flashes of recall are a positive sign, at least according to the doctor from Counterstrike who always seems to be hanging around her.”

  “Then maybe it’s time we put some pressure on the professor to jog her memory, despite the damn bodyguard. I’ll talk to you later.”

  When the call ended abruptly, Charles stopped walking and returned his cell to his pocket. Dead leaves swirled past him in a gust of wind as he pressed a hand against the burning pain in his gut. Hopefully the discomfort was only indigestion and not a damn ulcer.

  With the luck he’d had lately, he wasn’t counting on it.

  Chapter Eight

  Footsteps in the hallway caught Noah’s attention, and he glanced up from the computer screen where he was updating the medical chart on their latest rescue victim. When Wolf stopped in the doorway, he waved him inside. “What’s up?”

  “I didn’t expect to find you here.” His friend entered the room and dropped onto the couch. Shadows marred the skin beneath eyes that lacked their usual keen focus. “Shouldn’t you be at home?”

  “I slept for a solid ten hours after I checked in with Riley. I figured I might as well finish the paperwork on Saeed since his father whisked him back to the Saudi embassy in D.C.” Noah paused for a moment. “Have you gotten any rest?”

  “I slept for a few hours, but I had things on my mind.”

  Noah brought his elbows down on the desktop. “That thigh wound isn’t giving you any trouble, is it?”

  “Huh?” Wolf’s brows shot up. “Oh, the bullet graze I took in Georgia? I won’t even have a scar from that scratch. No, this is . . . personal.”

  Noah knew better than to ask what was bothering his friend. The team didn’t share details about their lives outside of Counterstrike.

  Wolf seemed to push whatever was bothering him to the back of his mind as he straightened. “Since you’re here, I’ll update you on Vortex.”

  Noah sat forward. “Did the police make an arrest?”

  “I’m afraid the money trail to the two kidnappers we eliminated in Georgia was a dead end. The detective I talked to said the case is still active, and while they have a couple of suspects, they lack solid evidence.”

  Noah swore softly. “So, that asshole Murdock, and anyone else who might be working with him, simply walks?”

  “The cops aren’t giving up, Patch.” Wolf rubbed the two-day growth of beard on his jaw. “You’re taking this one pretty hard.”

  Noah picked up a pen and clicked it a couple of times while he gathered his thoughts. As a rule, they didn’t get involved with the victims they rescued. And he certainly didn’t date patients. Even if he wasn’t technically her doctor anymore, he felt dangerously close to crossing that line. Maybe he already had.

  “I care about Riley. And I feel sorry for her. Without any memories, she’s struggling to find herself. Not to mention she’s likely still a target.”

  “She hired a bodyguard, right?”

  “Yes, but—” He broke off and clicked the pen again. “I’ll admit I’m attracted to her, pure and simple. And I feel like she needs me.”

  “When her memory returns, your whole relationship dynamic may change.” Wolf’s gruff voice held a warning.

  “True. I’m trying to keep things on a strictly friendly basis, but—” Noah tossed the pen on the desk. “I don’t know how well I’m succeeding. If anyone comes out of the situation feeling bruised, I’ll make sure it’s me and not her.”

  “I’m not going to give you advice. You know what you’re doing.”

  He wasn’t so sure that was true, but he let the subject drop. “Anything else I should be aware of?”

  “I’m pretty sure Murdock didn’t hire the man in the SUV who followed Riley. When I showed up at his office, he vehemently denied any knowledge of the incident.”

  “I’m surprised he’s still talking to you.”

  “I made it clear I have connections in high places who could ruin him.” He hesitated for a moment. “That’s not a lie.�
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  In the past, Wolf had pulled off a few moves that required tapping into the upper echelons of government and law enforcement. Noah didn’t doubt his words for a moment.

  “Anyway, I don’t think the guy is a good enough actor to pull off the shock he registered. My assessment is that a second party was responsible.”

  “Bloody hell.”

  “Exactly. Make sure the bodyguard is on high alert since there’s no telling where another attempt may come from.”

  “Or when.” Noah gripped the chair arms. “I think I’ll head over there and impress upon him the gravity of the situation. The man is highly skilled, but—”

  “Are you sure you aren’t looking for an excuse to see Riley?” Wolf grinned as he rose from the couch. “Hey, I’m in full support of whatever makes you happy. If this woman does . . .” He let his voice trail off.

  “I haven’t been this tempted by someone in a long time. But her safety comes first. I won’t jeopardize that.”

  “I know you won’t.” Wolf strolled toward the door. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Sure. Thanks for the heads-up.”

  “You bet.”

  After his friend disappeared down the hallway, Noah quickly finished his notes on Saeed and sent the file to the man’s personal physician. Then he pulled out his phone and called Riley.

  She picked up on the second ring. “Noah, how are you?”

  Just the sound of her voice made him smile. “Less tired than the last time you saw me. Are you at home?”

  “Actually, I’m hanging out with my grandpa.” A male voice spoke in the background, and Riley laughed. “He’s having a really good day.”

  “That’s terrific.” He hesitated for a moment. “Is Dex with you?”

  “He’s waiting out in the hallway. He said he didn’t want to be intrusive.” The joy in her tone a moment before was replaced by anxiety. “Is something wrong?”

  “Not at all. Enjoy your visit with your grandfather.” He picked up the pen again and clicked it. “Since you’re in the city, how about I meet you at Harbor House and take you to lunch?”