-1"The return of Kal?"
He straightened his shirt as he came down the stairs. He looked up to see Lana standing at the stove cooking. She wore only his flannel shirt and it made his blood boil. She was dead sexy standing in the kitchen with her long, sculptured legs bared.
"Good morning," He said with a smile as he admired her.
She turned and smiled, "Morning yourself handsome."
He continued into the kitchen and joined her side. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.
"Breakfast smells good. Wish I had time to eat it," He said.
"What do you mean?" She asked turning in his arms.
"Max just called. Lois, Oliver and himself are at the mansion. I'm going to go talk to Lionel," He said.
"No. It's too dangerous to deal with a Luthor. Just stay away from him," She said.
"I can't escape him. I'm in business with the devil," He said.
Her hand moved from his shoulder and down his arm.
"It scares me. Every time you've dealt with a Luthor, you've barely come back alive," She said.
"I know. You have every right to be scared. But once Lionel is out of everyone's lives we can live in peace. Have a family like we talked about. I want to raise our children in a Luthor free zone and to do that I have to go deal with him," He said.
"I know and I want that so bad. Doesn't mean I have to like it," She said.
"I know, love," He said kissing her forehead, "I promise to be home by dinner."
"You better be or I'll never forgive you," She said.
Luthorcorp, the tallest building in Metropolis, overlooked the Daily Planet and everyone else. It's purpose was to strike fear into the people and make them feel small. When Clark walked in , he was anything but small. He was the man, and he was on a mission.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Kent," The secretary greeted him.
"Is Lionel in?" He asked.
"Yes sir, would you like me to buzz him?" She asked.
"No. I'll surprise him. Also, no visitors," He said.
She nodded and he headed into the elevator. He waited patiently until he reached the top floor where Lionel's office was. The doors opened and he walked out and down the hallway. He didn't bother knocking, instead he barged in. Lionel turned in his chair and looked up at Clark.
"Call me when you're done," Lionel said before hanging up. "Clark, I thought you'd still be on your honeymoon."
"I was until I received an interesting phone call. Someone took a hit out on Oliver, Lois, and Max. You know, the people who gave me back my life by actually helping me. Well, except Oliver. Only Oliver was working for you. Why?" He demanded closing the doors behind him and stepping up to Lionel's desk.
"I don't know what you're talking about, son," Lionel said.
He walked around the desk and looked down at Lionel.
"Don't give me that crap. Oliver was working under your order. The plan was to get me to approve of a merger before I could remember anything. What's so important about this deal, that I couldn't have my memories?" He asked.
"This merger is important for Luthorcorp and Queen Industries. By combining we'll own the world. You see, Luthorcorp owns have the worlds income, Queen owns the other half. Combine the two and you have global domination," Lionel spilled.
It almost seemed too easy. Lionel wasn't one to reveal his plans until after they were complete. Or maybe it was. "You did take out the hit."
"The merger won't be stopped," Lionel said.
"Oliver was willing to sign. I'm not," He said.
Lionel smiled and leaned back in his chair.
"So why does Oliver have a hit on him? Did he suddenly realize you were using him and he refused to give you his company? I bet that's what it was. So what about me? I won't sign," Clark said.
"That'll be taken care. Once you're out of the way, the only signature needed will be mine," Lionel said.
"There's one problem, I'm still breathing," He said.
"While you're in this office," Lionel threatened.
That was it. Clark snapped. He grabbed Lionel by his expensive jacket and lifted him from his chair. He slammed Lionel into the glass wall behind his desk.
"Listen, just because you have money and power doesn't mean you can play god. I just got my life back. My wife and I are happy, finally. No thanks to you and your son." He slammed Lionel into the glass again and it cracked. "You're going to back off. No more hits. No more attempts to dominate the world. It's over. And if you don't stop, I'll kill you myself."
He slammed Lionel again and the glass window shattered. The only thing keeping Lionel from falling to his death was the grip Clark had on his jacket.
"Clark, please. You're not a murder," Lionel said.
"Really? Cause I'm a Luthor and they all seem to be cold hearted killers," He said.
He jerked and Lionel flinched, thinking he was going to fall.
"I'll make you deal," Lionel said.
"The only deal I'm going to make is the one where you retire. Don't go through with your plans and you can live. When I leave here, my friends better still be alive and stay alive. You've barked up the wrong tree and I'm done dealing with a Luthor," He said.
He jerked again and Lionel winced again.
"Done. I'll call off the assassin and drop the merger," Lionel promised.
He pulled him back in from the broken window and tossed Lionel down onto the floor. Lionel stayed down as Clark brushed off his hands.
"It seems Kal has returned," Lionel said from his spot on the floor.
"So he has," Clark said before kneeling to Lionel's level, "Don't piss him off."
He stood and turned towards the door. He turned to see Lionel stand up.
"If anything happens to the people I care about, you'll be hearing from me. I'll show no mercy," said Clark before pulling the doors closed leaving Lionel alone.
He pulled up into his drive way and noticed that Lana's jeep wasn't there. He pulled out his cell phone but she hadn't called. So instead he called her. He was a bit worried considering he'd just threatened Lionel, he was worried.
"Hello," Lana answered. Her voice sounded stressed.
"Lana, is everything okay?" He asked.
"Clark, everything's fine." She answered.
"Where are you?" He asked.
"At the Talon with everyone. They'd like to see you," She said.
"Sure. I'm on my way," He said.
"Okay. See you soon," She said.
He smiled and started his truck back up. Within a few minutes he reached the Talon. He parked behind the coffee shop and turned off his truck. As he was walking in the back door he heard a gunshot. He doubled over but he was okay.
A scream came from inside and he burst through the back door. He looked around and took notice of the panic going on. Oliver stood between the outside wall and Lois. Lana and Chloe huddled off to the side where Pete had pushed them.
On the ground, in a pool of his own blood, laid Max. Clark rushed forward and fell to his knees beside his best friend. A bullet hole rested in Max's abdomen, blood pooled out and surrounded his body.
"Max," He said.
His friends name caught in his throat. He'd seen Max hurt before but he'd never seen him dying.
"Someone call 911!"He yelled.
Max reached up and grabbed Clark's shirt. He applied pressure to the wound.
"Don't worry Max. Everything will be okay. I promise," He said.
Max smiled and then spit up blood. He looked down and saw Max's hands drop from its grip on his shirt. Sirens roared in the distance and he prayed it wasn't too late. Lionel's going to pay. As he held Max, he swore Lionel was going to pay.