Remember Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #3)(29)

“I know. I just…tests.” I shivered. “If I could have nightmares, I’m sure they’d be about being locked up and tested on.”

“I’ll stay with you,” Ryan offered while Dr. Haggerty said, “If?”

I answered Dr. Haggerty first. “I’ve never dreamed since the accident. I don’t know why.”

Dr. Haggerty cocked her head to the side. After thinking about it for a moment, she nodded. “It makes sense that you’d have a few other side effects from your brain damage than just the amnesia. The damage was mostly done to your medial temporal lobe, but not all of it.”

I sighed. “So you’ve seen Dr. Rajeet’s files, then?”

“Yes.”

I wasn’t surprised. If Major Wilks talked to Dr. Rajeet after the superbreak-in, of course they’d have asked for copies of my scans. “So…” I swallowed thickly, bracing myself for the answer to my next question. “Do you agree with Dr. Rajeet that the damage is permanent?”

Dr. Haggerty’s face melted into a sympathetic smile. “Yes. I’m sorry. Your memory is essentially dead, and there’s simply no way to bring it back to life.”

The news was just as crushing the second time. Ryan placed a soft kiss to the side of my head. “You survived, Jamie. At least we have that much.”

I sucked in a breath, forcing my emotions down, and nodded. He was right, after all. At least I was alive.

Dr. Haggerty handed me the medical nightgown. “Why don’t you go ahead and change, and we’ll get your examination over with? You look exhausted. I’m sure you’d like to rest.”

I nodded again, and both Dr. Haggerty and I looked at Ryan. He didn’t seem to know what we were waiting for. “Time for you to leave, Goldilocks,” Dr. Haggerty said.

The guy frowned—no, he pouted—at the request. “I’m going to stay with Jamie.”

I lifted the gown in my arms. “Not if I’m changing into this thing, you aren’t.”

Ryan’s eyes dropped to the gown and he grinned. It was a wicked smile that made my breath catch. He leaned down and put his lips to my ear. “I’ve seen you in a lot less, Sunshine.”

My body wanted to melt, but my dignity wouldn’t allow it. I gave him a little zap, just enough to let him know he’d better watch himself. He grunted and pulled away, but the smile never left his face. “Good night, Jamie. Come find me as soon as you wake up tomorrow.”





Major Wilks was waiting for me when I finished my medical exam. The diagnosis was as I’d expected—a mild concussion and lots of bruising in my neck. I’d be stiff and have a headache for a few days, but then I’d be fine.

“She needs rest,” Dr. Haggerty warned Major Wilks when he asked me if I’d like to take a walk with him.

“Just taking her to her sleeping quarters,” Major Wilks promised.

“No wake-up call in the morning.” Dr. Haggerty all but stomped her foot as she gave the order. “Let her sleep.”

“You have my word, Doctor.”

As soon as the door to the infirmary was shut firmly behind us, Major Wilks pretended to shudder. “That woman terrifies me. She’s the only person in the world who can order me around and get away with it.” His gaze cut to me. “So don’t get any ideas, Angel.” His harsh words were made playful by the twinkle in his eyes. It was the first hint of personality that I’d seen from him. It gave me hope for the man.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, not agreeing one way or the other.

My answer made his eyes crinkle around the edges.

We turned a corner outside the infirmary into another empty corridor—I was going to get so lost in this place—when Major Wilks broke the silence. “As I mentioned before, the ACE division and the existence of PACs is very classified information. There aren’t many who will know who and what you are. But anyone with access to this base has proper security clearance, so when here in headquarters, you are allowed to speak openly and be yourself.”

“That’s…interesting.” I took this in stride. The idea of being safe around a whole group of people that knew my capabilities was such a strange concept to accept.

Major Wilks raised a brow at me. “Tyson and Abiodun seem to appreciate it. And I know they enjoy having a team they can be honest with and trust.” He set his gaze forward again and held his hands together behind his back as he walked. “Because of the nature of our organization and our dependency on complete secrecy, the ACEs are a very tight unit, sort of like a family. You might be surprised at how happy you could be here. Having friends you trust, being able to be yourself, and using your gifts for good.”

I reached up to rub my head. “I know what you’re trying to do, Major, and it does sound appealing, but I just don’t know. I think Ryan’s right about me having an inability to take orders.”

“You could do it, if it were from someone you respected.”

He sounded sure that he could earn my respect. I wouldn’t admit it to him yet, but from how he’d handled me so far, I suspected he could earn my respect, too. “It’s tempting, Major, but there’s more to it than that. Ryan mentioned my parents, which means I have a family out there somewhere. I have a life out there. I may not remember that life, but I want it back. I have so much to learn, to catch up on. I’ll help you with Donovan, but I’m not sure I could commit to anything more than that right now.”