Chapter 10

Max disentangled herself from Alec and reached up to turn on the light.

"Sketchy?" she asked the lump on the floor that had caused her and Alec to trip as they came in the door.

"Uhnnnnn." The stoner groaned without even lifting his head.

"Friend of yours?" Alec asked as he rolled to his side in an attempt to alleviate some of the pain caused by the bullet still lodged in his ass.

"Yeah. He's not all that great at holding his liquor, or making a first impression." Max gave a look of distaste as she tugged on Sketchy's shirt looking for signs of vomit. "But he's good people." Max hefted Sketchy off the floor and helped him over to the armchair by the window. She opened it allowing some cool air to blow in on his face, hoping to keep him from puking.

She turned back toward Alec who was trying to get up off of the floor without bending his right leg at all. Smiling, she reached down and offered him a helping hand. He looked up at her and accepted the hand with a twinkle in his eye. Dropping all his weight as she began to pull, Max overestimated the pull required and yanked him up so hard that he toppled back over and landed on top of her.

Flat on her back, pinned underneath his weight, Max looked down at him. His face had landed between her breasts. He made no move to get up.

Recovering her senses, Max pushed him. "Get the hell off of me!"

"I'm trying." Came his muffled reply.

At that exact moment, the bathroom door opened in a cloud of steam and Original Cindy and a petite blond came out wrapped in matching towels.

"Max! Where've you been? I been pagin' yo ass all night!" Cindy smiled as Max worked her way out from underneath Alec.

"You know how it is. The new boss is a slavedriver." She gestured to Alec as she spoke.

Cindy looked Alec up and down unabashedly and gave him an approving smile. "Damn girl, what kind of work you doin'?"

Alec held out a hand and introduced himself. "Alec McDowell. A pleasure." He said as he looked her up and down. His gaze took in every droplet of steam clinging to her coffee colored skin. He was interrupted by OC herself smacking him upside his head.

"Sorry, pretty boy, Original Cindy don't play for that team."

"Sounds like a challenge." He winked at her as he rubbed his head where she's slapped him.

"Many men have tried, and all have failed. I like 'em soft and curvy, not big and hard." She winked back at him.

"That's me—Big and Hard." He said as he stretched, showcasing the sleek lines of his muscles under his shirt.

"Oh would you two get a room already." Max spoke up from behind them.

Cindy turned around and as if just remembering she was there, Cindy introduced Amber, her new girlfriend and then filled Max in on how Sketchy had come to be passed out on the floor of their apartment. Not that it was anything new. Sketchy frequently spent the night at the girls' apartment after a night of too much partying, just not in the doorway. Usually he made it to the couch before he passed out.

Max was laughing at the story until Alec cleared his throat and looked at his watch bringing Max back to reality. "Um, Cin, can we talk privately for a sec."

"Sure boo." She turned to Amber, "Baby doll, why don't you go and get comfortable in my room. I'll be in in a minute." She patted the blond on the bottom as she planted a kiss on Cindy's cheek and she headed off to the bedroom.

"I need a favor." Max said.

"I knew that was coming. What's up, boo?"

"I kinda need you to patch Alec up while I go pick up a friend from the airport."

Cindy looked over at Alec again. "Boy looks fine to me." She lowered her voice, "Damn fine." Alec smiled. He loved transgenic hearing. "What kind of 'patching up' does he need?"

"He has a tiny little bullet that needs dug out." Max said innocently.

Cindy looked at Alec warily. "And just where is this tiny bullet?"

"Low on his back?" Max said uncertainly.

"How low?" Cindy asked starting to get a feeling for what Max was asking.

"Pretty low."

Cindy walked over, grabbed Alec by the arms and turned him around. She looked down as saw his blood-soaked jeans. "Mami, that's not his back that's his ass! And ain't no way Original Cindy is going there."

"Please! I really have to go right now!"

Cindy rolled her eyes and looked up at Alec "And just how the hell did you get shot in the ass anyway?" before he could answer she turned on Max. "And what the hell are you doing looking for trouble anyway. I thought the whole point of getting a quiet office job was to stay outta trouble!"

Max looked down and mumbled something Cindy couldn't make out.

"What was that?" Cindy asked.

"Turns out my new boss is an X-series too." Max said louder. "And more of a trouble magnet than Krit."

Cindy's mouth dropped. "Nobody can get into more trouble than Krit. That boy had so many people after him, I thought he was going to have to get a sex change to ever get any peace."

"I know. I thought he was the master. Then," she gestured to her wounded companion, "Enter Alec."

Cindy sighed.

Max smiled. She knew Cindy would come through. "The first-aid kit is in the bathroom. And we're out of anesthetic, so your revenge can be watching him squirm under the knife." Max smiled evilly.

"You better not enjoy this!" Original Cindy gave Alec an evil look before heading off to the bathroom to get the kit. "You're lucky I like Max so much." She called over her shoulder. "Original Cindy is not down with lookin' at a man's naked ass…" Her mumbled words trailed off as she disappeared into the bathroom.

Alec masked his smirk and looked at Max. "No anesthetic? Come on, Maxie, you gotta give me something."

"There's vodka in the freezer." She shrugged and picked up the keys to her Ninja.

"How much?"

"Half a bottle."

"What the hell is only half a bottle gonna do for me?" Alec whined.

"Sorry, pal. Shoulda kept your ass out of that bullet's way." She smiled. "Now how am I supposed to recognize this Axel guy?"

"He looks like an X-5." Alec said simply.

"Could you be a little more specific?" She asked as she rubbed her temples. Why did he have to be so difficult all the time?

"Blonde hair, green eyes, good-looking, soldier's posture, cat-like grace, tan, smart-assed look on his face… Trust me, you won't have to find him, he'll find you."

"What do you mean 'he'll find me'? He's expecting you to pick him up."

Alec smirked. "Trust me."

Max gave him her 'I'm not in the mood for your bullshit' look.

Alec shrugged. "That's how we're in this mess in the first place. Remember? Axel has a thing for beautiful women. Can't help himself. He'll be hitting on you within two minutes of getting off the plane."

"Ooooh. Lucky me. What is it with X-5 males? Did they put extra testosterone in your cocktails?"

"No, just extra sex appeal."

"Cocky Asshole." She muttered as she punched him on the shoulder and walked out.

"And you love every minute of it." He said confidently.

Without looking back, she gave him the finger over her shoulder as the door closed behind her.

Axel was beat. He had been looking over his shoulder for two days. And unlike Biggs, Axel required a decent nights sleep every night. He had tried to sleep during the flight, but there was a little kid kicking his chair for the entire five hours. Axel had turned around to tell her to stop, but when he looked into her little blue eyes, he couldn't bring himself to do it. She was too pretty, too innocent, too little, to have any sort of disappointment in her life. Even something as small as being refused an opportunity to kick his chair for five hours.

That had always been Axel's problem. He looked at women and all he wanted to do was make them happy. Old, young, short, tall…he didn't care. If he could make a woman smile, he was happy. Unfortunately, he loved all women. Even when he was head-over-heels for one, he still couldn't help looking around at the others…

He passed a bar on the way from the gate and into the main terminal. He slowed down at the temptation of a quick drink to fortify himself for whatever penance Alec had planned for him, but he picked up his pace realizing that showing up drunk would only piss Alec off more.

Max parked her bike in the parking garage and headed into the main terminal of the airport. She had no idea how she was going to find this Axel character. Based on Alec's stupid description, she should probably be expecting an obnoxious, lame-assed pick-up artist who was used to women melting at his smile. So she should probably be on the lookout for the cheesiest looking guy in the place.

Axel was standing at baggage claim. He hadn't actually checked any bags, but he didn't want to draw any attention to himself, so he followed the rest of the passengers. He could blend well. Of course, so could Alec. So it would be interesting to see who would find the other first.

He saw a little old lady struggling with a large flowered bag and he reached over and pulled it from the luggage carousel for her.

"Oh! Thank you, sweetie! I just had my hip replaced last year and…"

Axel tuned her out as she droned on and on with her thanks. He didn't mind helping, but he didn't mean for it to encourage ol' grannie to fawn all over him. As he pretended to pay attention to the dissertation of her various ailments he scanned the crowd. His gaze fell upon a beautiful Brunette standing a few feet away.

She was gorgeous! Big beautiful eyes, a lush pouty mouth, a pair of nice plumphe shook himself out of his mental checklist. He didn't have time for this. The girl looked at him and then at the old lady and then back at him. He smiled at her. She half-heartedly returned the smile before going back to scanning the crowd. She's probably here to pick up her boyfriend! Axel chastised himself for getting distracted. Alec was going to be here any minute and if he caught him talking to some pretty girl, he'd really kill him!

To distract himself, he offered to help the old lady out to the curb with her luggage. She was planning to take a cab and it was only a few feet out of his way.

He not only helped her outside, he helped her into a cab. He waved as she drove away. He turned to head back inside only to see the brunette girl also outside still scanning the crowd.

Max swept the crowd outside the Arrivals coming up with nothing. She checked her watch. This Axel character must be unreliable as well as stupid...She couldn't shake the thought. How dumb can a guy be, and an X5 at that, to think he could get away with screwing the President's daughter? And pinning it on Alec? Well, that she found funny. That it led to him almost being killed was a pill, but hey, the life of a transgenic is never simple. And what fun would that be anyway.

She noticed the good looking guy from the baggage claim standing near the curb. His grandmother looked so pleased with him, and his genuine smile sent a pang of sadness through her. Max wished she had a family like that. People to look after and share with, love and care for.

Shaking herself, she continued to check out the faces of the people swarming around her. And out of the corner of her eye she saw the man smile at her.

He tried to resist, he really did, but she was just too pretty.

"Hi." He said simply.

She looked at him in surprise. "Hi." She said back and went back to looking around.

"Looking for someone?" He asked.

"No, I'm exercising." She replied sarcastically.

He laughed. "Right. Stupid question. Sorry, I've had a long day."

"Sounds rough." She said brusquely and walked away.

He hurried after her. "Wait! I could help you look." He offered.

She sighed. Another idiot who can't take a hint. "Thanks, but I don't need help. Nice to meet you though." She headed off again.

He was not deterred. "Aww, come on. Look, I'm new in town and my ride isn't here yet. Just let me keep you company for a few minutes."

"Whatever." She said not slowing her pace.

He kept up with her easily. "So, picking up your boyfriend?"

"No."

"Mother?"

"No."

"Sister?"

"No."

"Brother?"

She turned to face him. "Jesus! If you must know, I'm looking for my friend's" she paused and tried find the right word. "—brother."

"Oh. So what's he look like?" Axel asked.

"Um. I don't really know." she did a double take at a guy that could be an X, but his eyes were brown. Alec had said green.

"That's helpful. How are you supposed to find him?"

"Good question." She said as she strained her neck and continued to mentally catalogue every person in the crowd who could possibly be a X-series.

"What's his name?"

"Uh, I'm not sure." Max said truthfully. She assumed he would be traveling under an alias considering that he was supposed to be laying low.

"Wow. You're really organized." He commented.

She looked at him, about to bitch at him for how little help it was to criticize her when he didn't even know her, when she caught his smirk. She smiled.

He saw her smiling at him and mentally patted himself on the back. It only took five minutes to melt this ice queen. Damn I'm good. "Since you can't tell me his name, can you tell me yours?"

Max struggled not to roll her eyes at that lame-assed comment. She moved closer and leaned in towards him. Her voice low, she said, "I'm Max."

He inhaled and caught the distinct essence of strawberries and honey. He answered her back in a voice several octaves lower than he intended. "Alec. Alec McDowell."

Before Axel knew what was happening, he was spun around, his legs were swept out from under him, and he was flat on his stomach with his arms behind his back and her knee dangerously close to his balls as she straddled his left leg.

"Don't you mean Axel Douglas?" she said through clenched teeth.

"Oh shit! Look, I didn't mean to. I mean, I couldn't help myself. You know how pretty she is. I wasn't thinking. How was I supposed to know she was engaged to the senator? It's nothing I need to be killed over. I swear, if you just talk to my brother, he'll handle everything. Apologies will be made, money can be exchanged…" Axel was rambling. He knew it. But however this girl was holding him, he couldn't break away from it. He needed more time. "You don't want to do this. A pretty girl like you. You don't want to kill me. So how about you just let me go and I'll disappear and we can pretend this never happened?" Where the hell is Alec?

"Sorry, pretty boy. No can do. My boss asked me to deliver you to him, and what the boss wants, he gets." Max smiled. "He was right. He said you'd find me." She leaned down closer to his ear. He could feel her breath on his face. "Now, I've got two men with guns trained on you as we speak. So don't try anything. And they're transgenics, too, so don't think you can outrun them or anything." She was really enjoying herself. It was fun playing a player.

"Yes ma'am." He said.

"Now get up and come along easily." She said as she stood up and released him.

He got up and adjusted his shirt. He looked her up and down in disbelief as he picked up his small carry-on bag. "After you." He said with mock-chivalry.

"Thanks." She said walking toward the parking garage. He followed along silently.

"Dead man walking", he mumbled to himself.

Max stifled her smile as she offered a silent prayer thanking whoever gave her the enhanced hearing that allowed her to hear that last comment.

TBC

Chapter 11