25. That's Where You'll Find Me
Alec fumbled with the cell lock, momentarily losing focus. He wiped his eye. He had a deep cut in his hair line, and blood was dripping into his eyebrow.
"Quit screwing around," Max said fretfully. Her legs had collapsed, and she was again sitting in the dirt.
"Hold your water," Alec muttered. The utility knife wasn't cutting it as a lock pick. He finally had to snip his garrote, and use two lengths of wire. "That knife has a design flaw," he complained. "I'm writing to the manufacturer."
The basement door slammed open, and in rushed one of the Familiars. His face was blackened, and he was bleeding from the nose and ears.
"Oh, hi," said Alec.
"Jesus!" said Logan. Earlier, Alec had passed him the rifle. He jammed the butt of the weapon to his shoulder, but it all happened too quickly, and the cell bars were in the way.
Alec twisted, and suddenly the Familiar had a deep, bloody gash on his cheek. Alec had a knife in either hand, and Logan had no idea where he'd gotten them. The Familiar kicked Alec in the stomach, and he flew across the room. He bounced on his ass like a skipping stone. Alec rolled over his shoulder and came to his knees, flipping the knives. He made a sharp motion. One knife whistled by the Familiar's head, slicing off a chunk of his ear before imbedding in the wall. There was a moment of quiet, then they all realized the other knife was buried up to the hilt in the meat of the Familiar's throat. He stumbled back, eyes popping, making a gruesome wheezing sound. Then he took a step forward, clawing at his neck. He swayed slightly. Finally, he fell with a resounding thud.
"I thought he was going to stand there all day," said Alec.
Logan, looking from Alec's manic grin to the dead body, felt his gorge rise.
"Quit screwing around," Max repeated, unruffled.
Alec supported Max with one arm, and shouldered the door with the other. She had handed the Ruger off to Logan, irritating him a bit, because he'd brought it especially for her. "We've got to make tracks, Maxie," he said. "I don't know who else is around, and I was a little noisy coming in."
Logan followed them, shaking. He seemed to have PTSD.
Max gasped.
"Are you okay?" asked Alec.
"I hurt," she said simply, as they stumbled down the hall. She coiled a hand in his hair so she could bring her lips close to his ear. "Alec," she said softly. "Whatever happens, Logan's life means more to me than my own. Promise me you'll take care of him."
"Sure, Max," he said. The soft the brush of her lips had been almost a kiss.
She said, "I think I'm gonna be ladylike now."
"That's okay," said Alec, with a grin. She fainted and he knelt slightly, catching her over his shoulder.
Logan seemed to snap awake. "Is she all right?" he asked.
"Just tuckered out," said Alec. "She's delicate."
Alec had done quite a bit of damage, Logan was pleased to see, and they didn't meet any more resistance on the way out. Alec dithered for a moment, about going back to finish White, but Logan convinced him a speedy retreat was in order. "All right," said Alec. "She needs a medic. I can take her on the bike."
Logan was doubtful. He didn't want to lose sight of her just yet. "It's the fastest way," said Alec. "I can have her home in a jiff."
"No way," said Logan.
"Do you want to be the one to tell her we left her bike behind?" asked Alec.
"Put her in my car," Logan insisted.
"Look," said Alec reasonably, "one of us has to take the bike, right? And you don't have the fine motor control."
"Uh-huh," said Logan.
"One of us has to take Max, and you can't help her if she needs something, check?" Alec looked at Logan expectantly.
"What?" said Logan. He was distracted by the sight of Max's heart-shaped ass, high up in the air, nestled between Alec's ear and shoulder.
"I was making a list," said Alec, completely exasperated. He wiped blood off the tip of his nose, his other hand gripping Max's thighs. "Now you say 'check.'"
"Check," said Logan irritably. "Alec, can't you hold her properly? That must be uncomfortable for her."
"She'll live," said Alec indifferently. "I need a free hand. What if I have to draw down on somebody?"
"For Christ's sake," snapped Logan. "I have a gun, too." He waved the Ruger in Alec's face. "Hold her with two arms!"
"Ah-ha," said Alec. "That's exactly the point I was trying to make. I have to be the one to hold her. You can't touch her." He shut up abruptly, thinking he was talking too fast. He reached up and grabbed Max by the seat of her pants, making Logan wince. He pulled her down so that now he was holding her with one arm under her knees, and the other wrapped around her shoulders. He pressed her face to his chest.
"Fine," said Logan miserably. "But Alec, her life means more to me than anything. Get her back safely. Please."
Alec rolled his eyes. "Whatever," he said. He straddled the bike, propping Max in front of him, which only worked because she was so small. She lolled back against him, but with his reflexes, he didn't anticipate a problem. He looked over at Logan. The fact that Logan would be a pretty easy kill drifted through his mind. Just take out one of the servo motors on his exoskeleton, and he'd be dead in the water. He was mindful of Max's plea. "Watch your six, Logan," he admonished gruffly, thereby discharging his duty.
"Huh?" said Logan. He watched them speed away, with growing unease. Sure, Alec seemed okay now, but he didn't like leaving Max in his care. He didn't like it one bit.
To be continued. . .