Chapter 7

Ryan and Mike were hard at work looking for Max, and had been for countless hours. Mike was on their umpteenth coffee run, the only thing keeping the two men going. It eased their irritability from sleep deprivation.

Finally Mike walked in with coffees for now, and extras for later.

"Good thinking." Ryan mumbled as he grabbed his black coffee and took a deep drink, the hot liquid rushing down his throat with recognizance, invading the soft tissues with caffeinated licks, soothing every inch of Ryan. Giving him the second wind he was desperately looking for.

"Find anything?" Mike asked.

"I've only found more possible locations. I found some links to some unowned property and Lily Grey, which only expands the possibilities." Ryan said as his head fell into his hands, exhausted with his work, that only resulted in more work. Max was becoming a memory moving further and further away.

Would they ever save the brunette?

"I'll call Mendez, she can get local police stations preparing for a possible entry." Mike said and left Ryan back to silence.

In the desperate moments of silence, Ryan's phone buzzed. Ryan didn't even acknowledge the buzz, he was not in the mood for distractions. But he stole a glance. It was a video from a blocked number.

Immediately Ryan became terrified.

"Mike!" Ryan screamed as he opened the text.

Mike came running in. His face was hopeful, and Ryan realized he must have lead the young agent to believe his scream meant that Ryan had made a break through. However, as Mike saw Ryan's face, his hope slowly crumbled. Reality set in, and he found himself at Ryan's side; eagerly awaiting the contents of the mysterious video. This could be one of two things.

Lily could have finished the job.

Or they were about to be reassured of Max's life.

Mike hung on to the last of his hope with a slipping grip.

Max had to be alive.

If she wasn't...God. Mike wasn't even sure how he would begin to move on. Same with Ryan. The two men had fallen for the raven haired brunette. They loved her, cared for her. And Lily was counting on that. Counting on the fact that these two men had enough emotion and feelings for the young brunette...she could break them. A weakness, Max was a weakness neither man had planned on being used as a weapon against themselves at the hands of Lily Grey.

Honestly it was an ugly name anyway.

Stupid bitch.

Mike shrugged away his thoughts as the video came to life.

"Max." Ryan mumbled.

The video played through. Every last wretched moment. Mike couldn't help but stare at Max's exposed torso and chest. It was torture in itself. Such a cruel and evil thing to do. Mike spun around and slammed the wall behind him as the video faded to black, leaving the men wondering if that would be the last time they saw Max.

Their Max.

"Im gonna find that bitch, and when I do...I'll kill her." Mike said through building tears.

"Mike. Stop. This is what she wants, we can't give it to her. I don't care what you do, but you can't think of that as Max. Just another girl we have to save from a killer."

"Do you even hear yourself? A killer? And she's NOT just another girl." Mike retorted.

"You think I don't know that? You're not the only one with feelings around here!" Ryan shouted back.

"Yeah, but I'd like to trade those in right about now." Mike said quietly as he fell exhausted into the closet chair.

"Why don't you go take a small nap, I can wake you up if I find anything." Ryan said, slightly breathless.

Mike was about to resist, but pure exhaustion won over. He couldn't be of any help to Max if he was sleep deprived and not thinking straight. A small nap was really in Max's best interest.

Mike had convinced himself and slowly stood up with a small nod.

"I'll let you know if I find anything." Ryan promised again.

For at least another hour, Mike was passed out on Ryan's couch. Even a small dribble of drool leaked from the mans coffee abused mouth. Ryan had found himself on a lead. There was a chance that Ryan had just found another one of Lily's properties. If it was really her property, then the chances that Mad were there sky rocketed. They had checked all her other properties and were now going through possible locations that Lily had a connection to, even if it was tiny. But now, now Ryan might have caught a break of the century.

Several minutes longer, hot on the Lily Grey trail, Ryan had finally found what he was looking for. In records, in words, it was one of Lily's hidden properties.

"Yes." Ryan mumbled, slowly rising from his seat at the computer. "Yes." Ryan said again louder as he ran from his room to wake up Mike.

"Mike, Mike. Get up." Ryan said with evident urgency. He shook his partner until finally he deliriously awoke from his deep, and very needed, sleep.

"What?" Mike replied sitting up, trying to wipe the tired from his bloodshot eyes.

"I've got it, I think I've got it." Ryan said, he left Mikes side and grabbed both their jackets along with his keys. Mike didn't need any other explanation, he jumped from his spot on the couch and quickly threw his jeans back on.

"Lets go." Ryan said with the door wide open.

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