Page 67 of Tactically Acquired

“Any problems?” IRIS asked as we took off.

“No, we’re clear.”

“No one recognized her?”

Baldy shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of. I think our cover story held.”

That got my attention. “Cover story?”

Baldy winced as he turned around. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

“About what?”

“You know, the whole married thing.”

I didn’t understand. “What?”

“Well, I had to bring you to the hospital, but I couldn’t tell them who you were. So, I told them you were my wife.”

I was still all muddled from waking up in the hospital, finding out I was married, my mother had died, and the massive knot on my head. And now…wait…”You told them I’m your wife.”

“Yeah.”

“But…I’m not your wife?” I asked in confusion.

He looked at me strangely, like I’d knocked my head, which I had. “Do I need to take you back to the hospital?”

“Wait, so…I don’t have amnesia?”

He huffed out a laugh. “No.”

“And…I haven’t lost years of my life?”

He had the good grace to actually look slightly abashed. “Look, I really am sorry, but since we don’t know who’s after you, I didn’t want your name out there.”

I still couldn’t believe it. Here I was thinking years of my life had gone by and I had missed it all. But…he was saying it was the same night as…as earlier when I was kidnapped for like the tenth time. “Wait. Does this mean my mother’s not dead?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

I was angry, that much was clear, but…somehow not as angry as I should be. That was weird, right? Shouldn’t I be on the verge of killing him or something for making me think I had memory loss and was missing family members?

But his plan worked, and he took care of me like he said he would.

“Well, thank you.”

“That’s it?” IRIS scoffed. “Man, I would have been kicked in the balls for that.”

I glanced at IRIS and wondered who he was married to that would kick him in the balls. That didn’t seem like a very loving relationship. “So, what’s the plan now?”

“We get you back to the safe house and try to figure out who wants to kidnap you and why.”

That seemed simple enough. “Thank you, by the way.”

“For what?”

“For rescuing me. Again,” I added.

“Slider.”

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