Dutiful
soldier Callum Renwick wakes up in the underground laboratory of a mercenary
organization. He learns he was the sole survivor of an attack that destroyed
his unit, his hometown, and his family. In addition to the loss of his loved
ones, he discovers that due to his injuries, half his body has been supplanted
by artificial skin and cybernetic parts. Once he has recovered, he is assigned
to the care of Ro Bernard, who leads the effort to turn him into a powerful
assassin. She is outspoken, yet secretive, and uses unconventional means to
mold him into a depraved killer. Mind games and rough sex are in her repertoire
of training tactics, and Callum is both infuriated and fascinated by her. As he
comes to terms with his grief and his new role, many of his biological body
parts fail and must be replaced. Will he adapt to survive in Ro’s world and
exact vengeance on the woman who ordered the attack that changed his life?
Her
eyebrow flicked up in response to his snide tone. “Don’t sell yourself short. I
admit to being curious as to the various ways your…condition makes you
different. But I liked what I saw in our initial training sessions. It’s been a
while since anyone’s actually impressed me.” The trademark smirk made its
appearance again. “And don’t forget, we’ve already been on top of each other.”
Callum
didn’t know what to make of her candid statements. Nor could he ignore the
memory that flashed through him for a moment of her legs wrapped around his
body. “Do you treat everything so casually?” he asked.
“You
ask too many questions.” She sighed and shook her head, further mussing the
brown spikes of her hair. “It’s just sex, Callum. It doesn’t have to be that
complicated. I’ve made it known that I’m attracted to you, and you can do whatever
you want with that information. Fucking me doesn’t mean we’re in love, or that
I’ll expect anything from you the next day.”
Silence
ensued. Ro stood up. “Well, I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time.
Enjoy the extra hour or so of sleep. If you need me for anything….” Her
sentence went unfinished as she walked towards the door and opened it.
Callum
stood up as well, and turned away from her. He remembered her fingers on his
skin, and how it had made him feel whole again. The fleeting thrill conflicted
with thoughts of how Meyta used to touch him, and sorrow stabbed at him once
more. He struggled with the opposing emotions. The desire to cling to what he
had left won out. “Ro…wait.”
Her
bare feet stopped moving across the floor. Without facing her, he spoke again.
“Since waking up here, I haven’t given a lot of thought to…certain things. I
don’t even know the extent to which my injuries or the resulting modifications
to my body affected….”
The
door clicked shut. “Is that all you’re worried about?” she asked.
“It’s
high on the list. Don’t you think it’s rather important?” He risked a glance at
her.
She was
leaning against the closed door, hands tucked behind her back. Her lips curled
into a coy smile, and she peered at him through her messy hair. “Only one way
to find out,” she said.
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