Remember Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #3)(63)

I glanced down at the sleeveless purple sundress and sandals I wore, feeling self-conscious. “It’s probably too early in spring to wear it, but it already feels like summer in the desert, and I didn’t think I’d be the paparazzi’s newest headline when I packed my bag. Plus, there’s not a lot I can wear that doesn’t clash with my hair.”

“You look hot, Jamie. Trust me.”

I snorted. As if I could trust his opinion on this subject. “You’re totally biased.”

“So what if I am? My opinion is the one that matters the most, and I say you look great.”

I didn’t know how he did it, but I was smiling when I entered the lobby. Flashes went off immediately, but they came from the front doors. The crowd had been kept out of the building.

Shortstop and Smut met me with professional greetings of “Good morning, Miss Baker” that had me snorting and rolling my eyes. “I like you guys much better when you’re being obnoxious.”

“Sorry, Miss Baker. It’s part of the job,” Smut said.

“But we promise we’ll revert back to immature obnoxious soldiers just as soon as your safety is no longer an issue,” Shortstop added with a wink.

We all laughed, and it was just what I needed to really relax. “So what’s the plan?”

Major Wilks let Johnny G explain. “It’s a two-block walk from here to the cancer center.”

“We’re walking? In that?” I glanced outside. If we walked, they would all follow us the entire way.

“Driving and losing your media entourage could leave us vulnerable to a supersoldier attack. Most likely Donovan will send his partner to the testing today to approach you privately, but there’s still the possibility he’s waiting for you to be alone and will try to kidnap you again.”

Sighing, I cursed Donovan. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”

We headed for the doors when, suddenly, a girl jumped up off a couch in the lobby and ran at me. “Becky?” Ryan asked, just as the girl tackled me. “What are you doing here?”

“Jamie!” she squealed, throwing her arms around me. “I can’t believe it’s really you!” She squeezed me so tightly I couldn’t breathe.

“Um…hi?”

She pulled back and swiped at the tears now streaming from her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t remember me, but you’re my best friend in the whole world. We were roommates in college when you disappeared, and when Ryan got shot and you were kidnapped, I seriously freaked out.”

I was still staring at the girl when she turned and punched Ryan in the arm. “You found her, and you didn’t call me! I heard about it on the news, you jerk!”

She called him a jerk, but she didn’t sound that mad. And she was squeezing him in a hug as tight as the one she’d just assaulted me with. He hugged her back, grimacing. “Sorry. Things have been a little crazy.”

“I can imagine. That’s not an excuse, but I bet it’s been nuts.”

She let Ryan go and smiled at me again. When I forced a smile and an awkward wave, it set her tears off again. “He really found you,” she whispered. She stepped forward again, a little shier this time. “Hi. I’m Becky. Sorry about the attack. I promised myself I was going to stay in control, but then I saw you, and you’re really here, and I just can’t believe it.” She bit her lip and winced. “Sorry, can I just hug you again?”

She didn’t wait for an answer. I hugged her back this time, smiling a little. Her concern and excitement were touching.

“Beck, what are you doing here?” Ryan asked again.

“Are you kidding? My best friend is back from the dead and has amnesia. She needs me. When I saw that news report yesterday—and when you didn’t answer your phone”—She paused a moment to give Ryan a look that promised he was in big trouble—“I called your reporter friend to ask where you guys were.”

“And you just jumped on a plane?”

Becky shrugged. “Carter recognized my name. He knew I was Jamie’s best friend. He offered to fly me out here if I agreed to an interview. He came with me to the hotel.”

Sure enough Carter was there, smirking at me while some guy with a camera next to him was filming the entire scene. “Shameless!” I called to him. But I couldn’t keep a straight face.

Shaking my head, I thanked Becky for coming to see me and then glanced back at the ACEs. That one look was enough to get the ball rolling again, and I stepped outside into the waiting chaos with Ryan and Becky flanking me on either side.





The ACEs surrounded me as if they were some kind of secret service escort, which was ridiculous considering that if any of Donovan’s superthugs did show up, I’d be the one protecting them. As we made our way down the street the two blocks to the hospital, I tried to listen for anything suspicious, but the crowd was too loud. I couldn’t make sense of anything past the chaos of the reporters shouting questions at us.

I hoped Major Wilks was right about Donovan not wanting to blow his cover, because on top of the media our entourage had gathered a bit of a crowd wanting to see what was going on. I didn’t like it. Scanning the sea of onlookers, I frowned at Ryan. “There’re a lot of innocent people here who could get hurt if a fight breaks out.”