Colonist's Wife by Kylie Scott Page B

table he left a box of aspirin tied with a bow and next to it a glass of water. Sure, the bow was a shoelace, but she would understand. They were okay. And they were going to stay that way.
    Whatever Louise was keeping hidden, he would find out about it and deal with it. Keep her safe.
    They might have only been together for a week, but he knew his wife. She was a good person. Whatever skeletons lurked in her closet couldn’t begin to stack up against his.
    So while it might be preferable for her to tell him in her own sweet time, he wouldn’t be waiting around. If she hadn’t been afraid, it might have been a different story, but she was. His wife was scared of something, and it wouldn’t do.
    He found the person he needed lounging against a shuttle, flicking through reports on his com unit. How the man could manage to look as if he had a cocktail in his hand in the middle of the hangar, he had no idea. It seemed a gift peculiar to Nathan Hillier. Because of his dapper ways, many had underestimated him—to their loss.
    “We need to talk,” he told the chief.
    Nathan cocked a brow. “We tried that. I don’t think I’m up to another scuffle just yet. The rib still hurts. They had to tape it.”
    “Don’t be such a baby. And I mean talk about Louise. She needs help.”
    The chief straightened and slipped his com unit into a pocket. “What do you need?”
    “Information. A full background check.”
    “How deep we going to have to dig, Ad?”
    Adam stared off into the distance. A storm was drawing closer. He could see it gathering, through the wide hangar bay doors. Heavy gray clouds hung low over the equally gray landscape. A shuttle powered up not too far away, the whine of the engines loud enough to make conversation an issue. Lights flashed red and white as it moved slowly out and mechanics scurried out of its path.
    “She got out here,” he said, raising his voice to be heard above the noise. “Got through all those background tests. I’m thinking whatever we’re looking for, it’s not going to be just lying around, waiting for us to find it.”
    “All right, let’s bring Bon in on this. Might be useful to have the questions coming from corp security.”
    Adam nodded slowly. “Louise isn’t her real name. I’m sure of it.”
    The chief narrowed his eyes on him. “Is she your wife, Adam?”
    He got what the man was asking him, and there could only be one answer. “Absolutely.”
    “Well, all right then. Let’s get to work.”
     
    Something hit Louise’s face. Hard. It smacked into her cheekbone, sending pain streaking through her. Next there was yelling. They’d found her.
    She scrambled off the side of the bed in a panic. The sensors tracked her movement and lit the room with a warm glow. Her pulse beat like a bass drum in her head, her heart hammering as she tried to breathe. She’d been fast asleep, what with it being almost midnight, but not now.
    Damn. The side of her face throbbed hotly.
    She spun around and searched the space with manic eyes. Nothing. The domicile appeared empty of anyone but her and Adam. What the hell?
    He lay in the middle of the bed, his body coated in sweat, head thrashing from side to side on the pillow. The sheets had long since been kicked off.
    A nightmare. He was having a nightmare. His arm lay across her half of the bed.
    “No!” he suddenly bellowed.
    “Adam.” She crawled back onto the bed, wary of his waving hands. “Adam, wake up.”
    With eyes shut, he shuddered, mouth gaping, gasping in air as if he were choking. As if all the oxygen had been sucked from the room.
    “Adam. Baby, wake up. Look at me.” Louise straddled his chest, pinning down his thick shoulders with her hands. Muscles flexed and strained beneath her—he could easily hurt her again without knowing. His big hands gripped her shoulders painfully and his blue eyes stared at her without comprehension.
    “Hey. It’s all right. You’re safe,” she crooned, ignoring the pinch of his