Page 57 of A Moment Never Forgotten
“How much longer is this process going to take?” Logan asked.
The doctor shifted from one foot to the other.
“Answer the question,” Hennel demanded.
“I don’t know. I’ve never reversed the procedure on one that has been in place this long. The subject was one of our first.” He smiled proudly. “We greatly improved the process in the past ten years. We can now embed full backgrounds into an agent so they can go undercover. When the operation is over, we just remove the cap. Keeps and maintains all memories then both past and current. It’s very effective.”
“Hennel, should we move Matthew to a more secure location?” Micah looked around. “And cleaner?”
“Dr. Petersen, your opinion.” Hennel was neither polite nor rude. Simply direct.
“Moving him at this point could kill him. As I said, this is a very delicate procedure.” The doctor stared at one of the monitors. “Although he seems to be reacting within normal parameters.”
“Dr. Petersen, you will be allowed to continue. When Matthew Saint Clare is lucid, I’ll deal with you. Until then, you better make sure he comes through.” Hennel faced Rock. “Shoot him if he does anything sudden.”
Micah still wasn’t sure about this procedure, but obviously, Hennel was familiar with it. He exchanged a glance with Logan who immediately moved over next to their friend, carefully watching the psychiatrist.
Berit sat on the chair she’d been tied to, Mak tenderly dealing with her wounds. He hesitated, but then kicked his own ass. He walked past Hennel as he questioned Joseph Lambert who lay face down on the floor, his hands and ankles bound behind him. Briefly, Micah wondered if being hung for treason was still legal. He’d volunteer to put the rope around the fucker’s neck.
As he closed the distance to Berit, he could see the extent of the damage inflicted by the son of a bitch on the floor. He was by her side in three steps and fell to his knees. “Berit, my wondrous warrior, I’m so sorry.” He kissed the side of her mouth that wasn’t swollen.
“Hi, Micah. Thanks for saving me.” Her words were rather slurred.
“He injected her with some kind of happy juice. She is in and out of it. When she fights it, she’s pretty coherent.” Mak slowly soothed salve on her wrists. “Then she’s like this.”
“Close your ears, Mak. What I’m about to say to your mother isn’t something a son needs to hear, nor a SEAL of his CO.” But they were words that he needed to tell her.
Mak grabbed the medic bag he’d been using. “Why don’t you finish her up? I’m going to go check everybody else.”
“Thank you.” And he meant it from the bottom of his heart.
“Berit, are you with me?” He stared into her eyes. Her pupils were pinpoints.
“Yep. I’m listening.” She blinked rapidly, as though trying to focus on his face.
“I was an ass Sunday night. I said things…I was mean. You didn’t deserve to be treated that way.” He dropped his forehead to meet hers. “I was scared…” He whispered. “When Hennel said you were missing…”
He rubbed his cheek against hers as he leaned back. “Can we try over again? Clean slate?”
She slowly shook her head side to side. “Nope. No can do.”
His heart sank into the pit of his stomach and roiled. He didn’t beg. No woman was worth that. Then he studied her battered face and changed his mind. Berit was worth it.
“Can’t start over.” She awkwardly lifted her hands to his face. “Because I think I’m in love with you. Nope. I’m sure. So, if I’m already there, how can I do that all over again? All we can do is move from this point forward.” She leaned in and bumped her forehead against his. “Can we have more sex?” She hadn’t whispered.
He lifted her chin and gently kissed her lips. Hugging her, he whispered in her ear, “I thought I was falling in love with you, too. But now I’m sure. I love you, Berit. And yes, we can have all the sex you want.”
“Good.” The word came out as three syllables. “I’m really tired. We can start with morning sex.” She closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Micah finished dressing her wounds, then carried her to his SUV. He was tempted to take her to the Saint Clare’s’, but decided she’d sleep better in her own bed.
Once at her home, he stripped her torn, dirty clothing off but took a moment to admire the gorgeous body in nothing but a red bra and matching lacy panties. After placing her in bed and covering her, he shucked off his own clothes, and crawled in behind her, holding her throughout the night.
He could sleep that way the rest of his life.
Epilogue
Christmas afternoon at the Saint Clare home was exhausting and invigorating. Matthew—since he decided to stick with that name—and Elizabeth had invited everyone to join them for a few hours to celebrate.
