The river sparkled under the light of the full moon. A hand dipped into the cold water, struggling against the deep cuts imbedded in it to scoop up a handful of water. The owner of the hand cursed quietly, before leaning forward slightly to sip the water out of his hand. The sound of an oncoming car made the thirsty man look up from the river, revealing his cut and bruised face. Moving quickly despite his injuries, Donald Lydecker disappeared back into the woods.
The car pulled to a stop and for a moment, it appeared as if the driver had stopped just to check his map. The front driver and passenger doors opened and the occupants stepped out. The headlights of the car kept their identities hidden. Smaller lights indicated that they were searching for something with torches. The torch lights flickered back and forth. Murmured voices shattered the deafening quiet.
Lydecker watched with great curiosity. Although the investigating intruders were being quiet thorough, their footsteps could not be heard. They, whomever they were, were looking for him, Lydecker could feel it. He made no movement incase he gave away his position. Who would still be looking for him?
"Found something." Krit mumbled into the coms he was wearing. "There's a fresh footprint in the riverbed. Can't be more than ten minutes old." The torches were only a precaution incase another car past by. It would look suspious if they were found searching in the dark without any lighting assistance. "It's got to be Lydecker."
Syl looked around her. "He has to be hiding in the woods. I seriously doubt he'll be able to last much longer out here. Considering the condition you said his SUV was in, he's got to have extensive injuries." Syl also spoke quietly into her set of coms.
"If he's seen the car, he probably thinks White's sent a search team out looking for him." Logan suggested from his apartment. "You guys have pretty much confirmed what Zane suspected. Better head back in. Max said she'd meet up with you at Crash."
"Got it." Krit glanced around him one more time before heading back to the car. "Tell me again why we're looking for that rat, cause I'm pretty sure it's not out of the goodness of our hearts."
Syl giggled. "Another Manticore mistake, leaving us with beating, feeling hearts. You'd think they would have learned from their mistakes. When you play cat and mouse, the cat always wins." She climbed into the car beside her brother.
"Lydecker has got knowledge of information that White wants him killed for." Logan shrugged his shoulders. "I just figure we could use that information to help people instead of to destroy them. Your sister thinks I'm trying to save the world again." He smiled at the thought of Max lecturing him about never having any fun.
Krit grinned at Syl as he started the car. "Whatever. Just make sure you buy us a beer each when we get to Crash and we'll call it even."
Lydecker breathed a sigh of relief when the car pulled away and headed back the way it had come. He knew they'd be back, but for the moment he was safe. If anyone found him, it would be his kids. The X5's would instinctively know he was alive. If there was no body, the target was still alive. It was one of the lessons he had taught them. Never leave anything to chance. He wondered if Logan had found a cure for the virus Manticore had given Max. He smiled to himself. He had never known anyone but himself to show such grim determination where the X5's were concerned. Of course they wanted different purposes for the X5's, but the determination was the same. Unfortunately, it was unlikely that any of the X5's knew that he was missing and looking back he hadn't really given them any reason to want to come looking for him, even if they did know.
In the back room of Crash, Max sat facing the door. He's not going to show, she thought bitterly to herself. He's probably stuck in front of that damn computer again. She was just about to give up on Logan showing, when he strolled through the door.
Syl nudged her sister. "You can stop sulking and staring at the door now." She hadn't had to guess hard to know why Max was in such a sullen mood. "Can we have fun now."
Max let her sister tease. It was great to have Krit and Syl in Seattle for the week, even if she did have to work most of it. "You're late." She couldn't resist scolding Logan as he bent down to kiss her.
Logan rolled his eyes. "Hello to you too." He settled into the chair beside Max. "Phone wouldn't stop ringing and as much as I would have liked to leave the machine to pick all the calls up, I don't think my Grandmother would have been amused. She hates talking to machines." He kissed Max quickly before she could tell him off again.
"Your Grandmother is still alive?" Max pictured a frail old lady and could sort of understand her impatience with an answering machine. "How old is she?" She was suddenly interested as to why Logan's Grandmother would be calling him.
"Ninety five. She called to tell me that the family are throwing her a birthday party tomorrow night." Logan chuckled as he remembered his Grandmother complaining about his family invading her home. "She wants me there for support. She said the others make her feel old."
Max smiled at Logan's obvious enthusiasm in his Grandmother's antics. "She sounds pretty cool. I take it, she managed to hang onto her assets when Cale Enterprises went under."
Logan nodded.. "She invested in different companies. She never like the way Uncle Jonas did business, so she refused to have anything to do with the company. It's going to be another one of those formal things. Want to go?" He had mentioned Max to his Grandmother and she was eager to meet the young woman that Logan talked about so much.
Max shrugged. "I don't know if I have anything to wear. I can't exactly wear the same dress I wore to your cousin's wedding. The last thing you need from your family is them whispering behind your back, that your date only owns one dress."
Logan knew Max was right about his family, but he remembered how fantastic she looked in that dress. "They'd just be jealous cause you make them look like the plain shallow people they are. It doesn't matter what you wear, just come with me."
Max considered what she had in her closet. With Original Cindy and Syl's help, there could be one or two outfits they could tweak to look formal and expensive. "Alright. Your Grand mother sounds fun."
Krit sat down beside his sister. "Feeling like a spot of nature exploring tomorrow. Syl and I were at this pretty little spot just outside of Amelin." He joked with his sister.
Syl sat the other side of her brother. "Maybe we'll see the almost extinct species of rat scurrying around in the woods. You know the one. The Lydecker rat."
Max shrugged her shoulders. "Sure, why not. I've got the day free, but I've got to be back in time for a ninety something birthday party." She giggled at the surprised looks on her sibling's faces. "You'd be surprised what I get invited to these days."
By the time Max and Logan got back to his apartment, Max was beginning to get nervous about meeting Logan's Grandmother. They seemed to be close. "You know, I'll probably still be searching the woods for Lydecker until really late tomorrow. But say hello to your Grandmother for me." Max headed towards the bedroom.
Logan took a deep breath. "You have nothing to be nervous about. My Grandmother will love you. With Krit and Syl's help you should be finished in plenty of time." He put his arms around her waist. "Are you alright? It's not like you to get nervous about meeting my family. Is it because this time it's a family member that I actually like?"
Max tilted her head up defiantly. "Maybe. Maybe I just don't have anything to wear. You know, I might like to spend some quality time with my brother and sister that doesn't involve anything to do with Manticore." When she looked into Logan's eyes, she could see that he wasn't buying her carefully thought out protest. He knew her too well. "Fine. I'll be back in time to dazzle your Grandmother."
Logan kissed her neck. "Thank you. It's not going to matter what you wear, my Grandmother just wants to meet you. She's never based an opinion on clothing before and I seriously doubt she's going to start now." He continued into his bedroom. "I think I'll turn in for the night. I have a feeling you and your family will want to make an early start. I'm guessing Krit and Syl are staying with Original Cindy."
"Yeah." Max followed him, an amused look on her face. "So that's it? You win tonight's debate and now you're going to sleep?" Logan had been incredibly patient with her since she had been attacked. Even though she had stayed over on numerous occasions, he had never pushed her.
Logan sat down on his bed and pulled his shoes and socks off. "Well, unlike you, I actually need some sleep." He was seriously considering a cold shower as well. "I could probably manage a game of chess if you like."
Max shook her head and crawled across the bed towards a surprised Logan. "I had another game in mind." She tossed her boots and socks on the floor. "It'll save you having another cold shower." She teased as she pulled his shirt over his head.
"Are you sure?" Logan struggled against a natural instinct. "It's alright if you're not ready."
Max yanked her own shirt off. "Positive."
Krit and Syl let themselves into Logan's apartment the next morning, fully expecting to find Logan and Max up and in the kitchen eating breakfast. They looked at each other, wondering for a moment if White had got hold of them. Thinking it would probably be a good idea to check the apartment to be sure, they started with the kitchen and the bathroom. Syl placed her hand on top of Logan's computer, obviously he hadn't even switched it on that morning as it felt cold.
Krit listened at the bathroom door for a moment, smiling he knocked on it. "Rise and shine you two. We want breakfast before we go looking for our Manticore Jedi Master."
Syl giggled as she headed back into the kitchen with Krit following her. "From what Jondy told us over the phone, the last place I would have expected those two to be, is asleep in the same bed."
Krit switched the coffee machine on. "They weren't asleep." He chuckled. "I guess Max got over another fear that attack left her with." You couldn't keep Max down and out for long. A lot of things had changed since the eleven of them had escaped from Manticore, but she hadn't. He wondered how the others were doing.
Syl could read her brother like a book. "I think about the others all the time as well. I know Zack kept their positions to himself to keep them safe, but in doing that he made it impossible for them to reach us if they need help."
"Zack knew what he was doing." Krit snapped, then gave his sister an apologetic look. "First we lost Brin to Manticore, then they took away Zack's memory of us, so we lost him too. If what Zane says about White's obsession with Jondy is right, we risk loosing Jondy every time she sets foot in Seattle. I guess I'm a little on edge."
"I know." Syl squeezed her brother's hand. "We'll all hook up. It's just a matter of time. We're like homing devices to each other. Think of Jondy as our little red homing beacon." She teased.
"Morning." Max strolled into the kitchen and poured coffee for the four of them while Logan started breakfast. "Where do we start looking for Lydecker?"
"We found a print by the river." Krit sipped his coffee. "Figured if it's Lydecker, he's hiding in the woods. If he saw us snooping last night, he might be on the move."
Logan dished food onto four plates and placed a plate in front of each of the X5's. "That shouldn't be a problem for you three. Even if he is moving, you guys move faster than he can. There's a possibility he's badly injured as well, which would slow him down even more."
Syl shrugged. "I can probably track him. What if he's injured beyond our medical expertise? I'm guessing booking him into a hospital would attract the same sort of attention that one of us would."
"We'll take a cell phone with us." Max finished her breakfast. "If Lydecker is critical then we can patch through to Jondy and get her to talk us through the medical procedure."
Krit stood and pulled his jacket on. "Better get kitted up and get going." He smirked at his sister. "What time do we have to get Maxie back to meet the Royal Family?" He chuckled when Max hit him around the back of the head.
Logan stifled a smile. "Dinner is at eight. My Grandmother will understand if we're late." He followed them to the door. "Keep in touch over the coms and be careful."
Max stopped at the door. "We won't be late, I may be late. If I'm not back in time, go without me and I'll meet you there." She caught the suspious look on his face. "I promise, I'll be there." She stood on tiptoes to give him a quick kiss goodbye before following the other two out the door.
Just outside of Amelin the three X5's hid the van they had borrowed and moved through the woods. It didn't take Syl long to pick up a set of tracks, but for all they knew, they could be tracking a complete stranger. Syl stopped them when she found scraps of material every few meters. "This has got to be Lydecker. He's leading us into a trap."
"What do you mean?" Krit frowned. "If he were running, he could easily have torn his clothes on the branches." It wasn't as if they had another set of tracks to follow.
Max could see her sister's point though. "It's too easy. Lydecker would cover his tracks if he didn't want to be found. Since he doesn't know who's looking for him, then the only reason he'd want to be found is if he were setting a trap."
Krit understood. "So we tread carefully and keep an eye out for anything stranger than the usual weird stuff that we usually stumble across." He led the way cautiously.
Max and Syl exchanged an amused look. In the absence of Zack, Krit had assumed the responsibility of Leader. Syl reached out to stop Krit. With their feline eyesight it was simple to pick out movement without any trouble. She didn't want whomever was trying to watch them to know they had been sighted.
"Krit. The ground. Somebody's been messing with the twigs and leaves. It's too neat and positioned." Syl reached out and broke a leafy branch off a nearby tree and brushed it across the ground in front of them.
They all jumped back when a rope, which looked as though it was made from a torn shirt sprang up into the air. Activated by the moving rope, a nearby bush flew towards them. Thinking quickly, they all threw themselves to the ground.
"You know." Krit was practically growling. "This is really starting to influence my decision about finding that rat. How about we head back?" He dragged his shirt sleeve across his face to remove the dirt and leaves.
Max pulled a twig out of her hair. "We've come this far, might as well finish what we started. Besides, Lydecker owes us and I intend to collect. He's got information and let's face it, when stuck with a choice of White or Lydecker, I say better the devil you know."
Syl stood and shook the dust out of her long blond hair. "Well, we got dirty. I'd like to think there's a point to it." She dusted herself off. "Let's go. The tracks head North."
Max saw movement in the woods ahead. "There he goes. Either that or there's a really big bird out here with us."
Krit signaled for them to split up. They knew they could move faster than the person they were tracking, but rushing at him head on, left them open to another trap. By splitting up, they were each others back up. They also had the added advantage of being able to move without being heard, while they could hear every movement their prey was making.
Lydecker couldn't get a good view of who was following him. Could be X7's, could even be White's people. The only thing he was sure of, was they were fast and there was more than one. He was pretty sure it was the same people who had been there the night before. They obviously knew something about him as they hadn't fallen for the trap he had set.
Hope made him wonder if his kids had come looking for him. Due to his present situation it seemed more likely that White had sent his people out to make sure the thorn in his side had been permanently removed. He stopped running when he saw who was standing in front of him.
Max stood arms crossed across her chest looking highly unamused by the chase. "Can we hurry this along? I have a dinner date. Actually it's a Grandmother's birthday party so time may be of the utmost importants."
"Max?" Lydecker couldn't believe she had actually come looking for him. Turning to his left he found Syl watching him, her blue eyes staring with a steel cold gaze. "Syl?" He could sense another presence, a skill he had acquired over the years. Glancing over his shoulder he saw the third X5. "Krit? I should have realized it was you kids."
Krit looked disgusted at the man before him. "It's not just us. I spotted some troops, I think they're Manticore, about a mile back."
Max plugged in her set of coms. "Hey Logan. We've found Lydecker but we have some gate crashers. Is there any sort of alarm of something you can activate seeing as we don't have Jondy here to be distracting."
Logan was relieved just to hear Max's voice. "Give me a minute. I'll see what I can find. Can you all get up out of sight while I look."
Syl took hold of Lydecker one side, while Max took the other side. Syl counted down silently before they leapt into the trees. "This is closer than I ever wanted to be to you, Lydecker."
Krit leapt up into another tree. He watched quietly as the troops passed beneath them. Occasionally he glanced over at his sisters to make sure they were safe. He had to agree with Syl, this was closer than any of them wanted to be to Lydecker.
"The tracks stop, Sir." The soldier spoke into a walkie talkie. "They seem to disappear into thin air." An answer started to come back across the walkie talkie but was drowned out by some sort of interference. "Could you repeat that Sir? There seems to be some interference in the area." The crackling continued across the radio.
Max smiled at her sister and mouthed Logan's name. Motioning to Krit, Max moved through the tree tops assisting Syl with Lydecker. The breeze rustling the leaves kept their movements covered. It was hard going as Lydecker's wounds on his hands and arms made it difficult for him to grip hold of the branches or an outstretched hand.
"Captain Thomas. Shall we stay put or move back to base?" Private Merchants couldn't see the point of waiting around on the off chance Colonel Lydecker dropped into their laps.
"We will await further orders Private." Captain Thomas attempted to clear the reception on his walkie talkie. "Sir? We are still having trouble receiving your orders. Please repeat."
"I said, they are in the trees, you idiot." White's voice bellowed across the walkie talkie. "They don't just disappear. The X5's have found him and taken him up into the trees."
Captain Thomas looked up into the trees, but couldn't see anything. The branches and leaves were too dense. "Fire into the trees."
Covered by the sound of gunfire, Max, Syl, Krit and Lydecker swung down from the trees and ran back to where the van was hidden. Krit pulled the branches away from the driver's side and climbed in, starting the engine. "Let's get out of here before they realize they're shooting at thin air and squirrels in the wrong trees."
Max and Syl shoved Lydecker into the back of the van. "We're in." Max banged on the side of the van. "Get us out of here."
Back in the woods Captain Thomas gave the order to stop the gunfire. He could hear the sound of tyres screeching in the distance. "Damn it. They're getting away. Don't just stand there. Go after them."
By the time they got back to their vehicles, the X5's and Lydecker were long gone. Captain Thomas cursed under his breath. White was not going to like this. If there was one thing Thomas had learnt about White, it was that he took bad news out on the messenger.
In the back of the van Max looked at Lydecker's hands. "Logan. Can you patch me through to Jondy? These cuts look pretty bad."
"No problem. Is everyone else alright?" Logan quickly punched Jondy's number and prepared to make the connection.
"Yeah. We're all fine." Max listened for her sister's voice. "Hey Jondy. I'm looking at some deep cuts on Lydecker's hands." She waited for Syl to clean the wounds. "No, it doesn't look as though any tendants have been injured." She listened to her sister's instructions and then glanced over at Lydecker. "Can you wiggle your fingers?"
Lydecker moved his fingers but it was difficult and painful. "Yeah, but it stings like hell."
Max repeated his comments back to Jondy over the coms. "Ok, got it. I'll call you later." She reached for the bandages in the first aid box. "Jondy says we have to keep the wounds moist. It will limit the scaring and give you more movement in your hands." She checked her watch. "Damn, we're running late. Logan, I'll meet you at your Grandmother's. Krit, can you drop me off?"
Krit chuckled. "Aren't you supposed to be wearing a fancy dress, not arm fatigues." He could picture his sister storming into an upper crust party looking as though she had been dragged through a hedge backwards.
Logan pulled his tuxedo jacket on and rolled his eyes when he heard Krit's comment over the coms. "Don't worry about the dress. We'll sort it out when you get there. Better drop Lydecker off at the safe house."
"Don't worry, we'll get Cinderella to the ball." Syl finished bandaging one of Lydecker's hands, while Max did the other.
Max glared at her sister. "Very funny. Don't expect this van to turn into a pumpkin at midnight." She caught Lydecker's disapproving look. "Don't look at me like that. I'm not one of your little toy soldiers any more. I'm just a regular girl going to have dinner with a snobby family."
"You'll always be different." Lydecker pointed out. "You will always feel as if you don't fit in, because you don't. That won't change no matter how much you want it to."
Syl shot Lydecker a filthy look. "How about we just push him out the van and leave him for White's people to pick up? It's not as though we need him."
Krit pulled into the drive of the safe house. "Sounds good to me. There's always somebody else we can get the answers we want from."
Lydecker was worried for a moment that they were serious. White would kill him on sight, he had made that clear when he had, had Lydecker run off the road.
Max gave Lydecker a shove. "Get out. We're at the safe house." She unlocked the door to the house and switched the light on. "Don't break anything and don't phone anyone. We found out your home phone's being tapped, so no checking messages."
Lydecker nodded that he understood. "I have nobody to phone anyway. Did you get a cure for that virus?" There was something different about Max. She seemed happy when she thought he wasn't looking. It wasn't something he had ever seen with any of his kids before.
"Yeah." Max checked the house quickly. "Jondy came to the rescue just like she always does." She flicked the television on for him before walking out of the house closing the door behind her.
Lydecker looked around him before settling down in an armchair in front of the television. "This is cozy." It had been a while since he had sat in a comfortable chair. Hell, it had been a while since he had slept in a bed. Might as well make the most of it while he could. He had underestimated his kids before and they had escaped. He needed their help to stay alive, if he was going to get it then he would have to tread lightly.
Krit pulled up in front of a huge mansion. "Wow. I forgot they made places like this. You'd better hurry up and get inside Maxie. Prince Charming awaits." He couldn't resist teasing her.
Max sat in the open doorway of the van chewing on her lower lip. "Logan never told me that his Grandmother was this loaded. I can't go in dressed like this."
Sly lent forward and rested her chin on her sister's shoulder. "Sure you can. Go and live the dream, little sister. No one deserves it more than you." She nudged her sister out the door.
"Excuse me, Miss." A butler appeared from out of nowhere. "Would you be Max?" He smiled kindly. Young Mr Cale had described the young lady before him to a Tee.
"Yes." Max looked over her shoulder at her brother and sister who were watching from the van with great interest. She turned back to the butler. "I know I'm not dressed appropriately, but Logan said to turn up anyway."
The butler merely smiled. "Mrs Cale mentioned that there were a few dresses upstairs that may fit you and you are most welcome to use the adjoining bathroom if you wish to change." He gestured towards the mansion. "This way Miss. Will your brother and sister be joining us?" He inquired pleasantly.
"No thanks." Krit and Syl spoke in unison. This was Max's night and they had no wish to intrude. "See ya tomorrow." They waved goodbye to Max and drove away.
Left with no other choice Max followed the butler into the mansion. As they started up the enormous staircase, a familiar little voice called out. "Max. You came." A blond little girl ran up to her. "Uncle Logan said you would."
"Hey Brittany." Max crouched down in front of the pretty six year old. "I didn't know that you'd be here. I guess that means I have someone else to talk to." She kissed the little girl's forehead. "I'll be right back, I've just got to go and get cleaned up. Can you go and let Uncle Logan know I'm here."
"Ok." Brittany ran back the way she had come yelling. "Uncle Logan! Max is here!" Her running footsteps echoed with her voice in the foyer.
Max looked up at the butler who was trying not to laugh. "And here was I thinking I wouldn't know anyone." She giggled and followed the butler up the rest of the stairs.
He showed her into a room which was about the size of her whole apartment. Laying on the King-size bed were three of the most beautiful gowns that Max had ever seen. "The on suite is over there Miss. Mrs Cale says there's no hurry." He walked over to the door. "Miss Brittany likes the dress in the middle." He added as he closed the door.
Max showered quickly and dried her hair. She picked up the gown that Brittany liked and put it on. Cautiously she walked down the staircase towards the sound of voices. As she rounded the corner, she saw a woman sitting in a wheelchair watching the people in the living room.
Max stood beside the woman for a moment. Brittany was commanding Logan's complete attention. "God, I wish I could have been like her at that age."
The woman looked up at her and smiled. "Logan and Brittany. The only two real people in that room. The rest of them are so false. The only reason they are here is to ensure their place in my will. I just hope Brittany remains unspoilt." She held out her hand. "I'm Emily Cale, Logan's Grandmother. You must be Max, Logan's girlfriend."
Max shook Emily's hand. She had never been referred to as Logan's girlfriend before. It felt great. Emily Cale wasn't nothing like Max had expected. She didn't look anywhere close to ninety five years old and apart from the wheelchair, there was nothing frail about her. Even her handshake was firm. She had the same sparkling blue eyes that Logan had. "It's nice to meet you. Logan's been singing your praises. Thank you for the loan of the dress. It's beautiful."
Emily looked at the young woman before her. "It looks lovely on you. Why don't we go in and you can dazzle my Grandson."
Max followed Emily into the living room. Immediately the whole family flocked around her vying for attention except for Logan and Brittany. Brittany raced over to Max for a hug. Logan walked over to join them.
Logan couldn't take his eyes off of Max. "You look stunning." He whispered as he kissed her, causing Brittany to giggle. "Hey, I can kiss my girlfriend if I want to." Logan tweaked Brittany's nose.
"You look pretty Max." Brittany clamped her little arms around her neck. "Can you finish the story?" She referred to 'The Little Mermaid' story that Max had started to read her about nine months ago.
Max smiled at the little girl in her arms. "I don't know if your Great Grandmother has that book. I'll see if I can remember the rest of it after dinner."
Having satisfied Brittany with a possible maybe answer, Max carried the little girl to the dinner table. Logan managed to rescue his Grandmother from the crowd of relatives that were sucking up.
After dinner, Max kept her promise and finished telling Brittany the story of the little mermaid. The little girl fell asleep on her lap. "Maybe I should try another story next time." She joked with Logan as they walked to the door. She had enjoyed herself tonight. Emily Cale was a wonderful woman who did not suffer fools easily.
"Max. You forgot your clothes dear." Emily held out a bag with the clothes that Max had arrived in. They had been washed and dried. "Peter cleaned them while we were at dinner."
"Peter's the butler." Logan hastily explained. "Thanks for dinner, Gran. I'll call you later in the week." He bent down and kissed his Grandmother's cheek. "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you both for the lovely gift." Emily beamed at the couple. "Come back and visit, both of you. It was a pleasure to finally meet the woman that makes Logan so happy."
Max was sure that she saw Logan blush. "It was great meeting you too. I'll return the dress in the morning. It was very kind of you to loan it to me."
"You keep it Dear." Emily smiled knowingly at Logan. "I'm sure Logan's mother would have wanted you to have it." She waved good bye to the couple as Peter saw them to Logan's car.
Later that night at Logan's apartment, Max caught him up on the days activities. Logan told Max about how everyone was practically tripping over themselves trying to get his Grandmother's attention. He had finally sneaked his Grandmother away for a game of pool, until Brittany had found them. He had given his Grandmother a broach and signed the card from both of Max and himself.
The music from the stereo played a ballad and Logan pulled Max into his arms and began to dance. This was the perfect end to a perfect evening.
"Do you think you can trust Lydecker, now that you've found him?" Logan murmured into her hair.
"No more than we ever trusted him. He's got a lot more to loose now though." Max had thought about it on the way to Emily Cale's mansion. "When Manticore wanted him dead, he had a pretty good chance of talking his way out of it. With White wanting him dead, he's gonna have to keep his head down or get it shot off."
"I guess he's still the lesser of two evils." Logan didn't even register that the music had stopped. He kept dancing, not wishing to let go of Max.
"I guess." Max frowned up at Logan. "The music has stopped." She giggled at the look of surprise on Logan's face. "You're still dancing even without the music."
Logan stopped dancing. "I didn't want to let go of the gorgeous woman I am dancing with." He loved the way her face lit up when he gave her a complement. He couldn't stop himself from erasing the brief distance between them and passionately kissing the woman he loved. All thoughts of Lydecker and White were pushed into the background for one night.
THE END
