Free Remember Me (Men of Honor Series Book 1) by Lara Van Hulzen

turned her head. Mike’s face filled her vision. He squatted beside her, gently wiping her hair from her face.
    “Mike,” she moaned. Every muscle in her body ached. No more talking. Talking hurt too much.
    “Shhh. Just stay still. They’re going to put you on a gurney and get you out of here, okay?”
    A searing pain shot through her head as she nodded. Like floating in a dream, her body was lifted and then strapped down with care. The blue uniformed men she saw before lifted the plank she was on without effort and carried her up the hillside back toward the trail. Firemen, not policemen. She must have looked like a baby doll in a carrier next to the huge men. The one above her head said, “Just relax, ma’am. We’ll get you up safely.” He had dark, wavy hair just like Ben’s.
    “Ben.” The name slipped from her lips.
    The fireman looked at Mike, who walked beside them. She could see his bright shorts out of the corner of her eye. “Who’s Ben?” he asked.
    “It’s a long story,” Mike answered, watching his step and staying as close to her as he could.
    She smiled and then promptly fell asleep.
     
    ***
     
    Ben opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. The bed beneath him felt soft, but not familiar in any way. Not the way his own bed should feel.
    When he’d reached the address from his ID the night before, he hadn’t thought about not having a way to get inside. Just as he’d contemplated breaking a window, something told him to check the doorframe above the back door. Sure enough, he’d found a key and let himself in.
    Cautiously, he’d made his way through the house. He hated the uneasy feeling he had about the whole situation. He thought he should feel good about finding out his identity, but something was off.
    The house was not welcoming in any way. Small, with only two bedrooms and one bath, it was in a bad part of town. A sofa with no legs and a small television were all that sat in the living room, and a card table and two folding chairs posed as a makeshift kitchen table set. One bedroom was empty and another held only a double bed and a small nightstand, a lamp with no lampshade sitting on top. The closet held a few shirts, shorts, and jeans, with a stack of boxers and some socks on the floor. An empty black duffel bag sat lifeless on the top shelf.
    He’d showered and crawled right into bed, physically exhausted, but mentally wide-awake. When his right hand had reached under the pillow and grabbed hold of a gun, his mind spun out of control.
    He fingered the gun now as he lay on his back, trying to wrap his head around all that had happened. Nothing in this house sparked any memory for him. It only seemed to confuse him more.
    The place was hollow and lonely, just like he was. His entire being ached for Tess. Her bright smile and calming presence seemed worlds away.
    The cell phone he’d bought at the train station rang, snapping him from his thoughts. He snatched it from the nightstand and answered.
    “Ben, it’s Mike.”
    He sat up in bed. Something was wrong.
    “What is it?”
    “It’s Tess. She’s in the hospital. She’s hurt pretty bad.”
    “I’m on my way.” He snapped the phone shut, dressed, and threw all the clothes from the closet into the duffel bag. Pausing for a moment, he looked at the pillow on the bed. Grabbing the gun from underneath, he shoved it into the bottom of the bag and left.

 
     
     
Chapter 8
     
     
    Every mile stretched for hours as Ben drove the rental car along the freeway. He’d called Mike back when he got on the road and found out more about Tess’s accident. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel. Anger pulsed through him at the thought of anyone laying a hand on her. Mike said she wasn’t awake yet, so they didn’t know the details of how she’d fallen down the hill, but the police on the scene suspected foul play. He thought of the gun in his bag. He would protect Tess. Always.
    Something connected them. He