A/n: Thanks for your kind reviews, Maria656 and Angel452. I can't believe chapter 14 had 83 hits and only 2 reviews! Come on, guys, is a couple of minutes to write a review too much to ask?

I'm updating anyway, but I really don't feel my hard work is appreciated when you do this. Hell, two days ago there were bombs going off like 20 miles from where I live, and I still worked on this fic.

Chapter 15: Educating Jonas

Jonas was awaiting Gil's phone call in his office when a dainty hand tapped him on the shoulder. As he twisted around, his face met Max's fist coming in the other direction for the second time that day. He collapsed on his desk, out cold.

Jonas came around when Max splashed a glass of ice water on him. He sat up from the floor as she folded herself into his executive chair with catlike grace.

"Did I or did I not warn you of what would happen if you tried to screw with me?"

"Uh…" he stuttered, overwhelmed with shock, pain and fear.

"You set the stealth drone on me for trying to make you save the life of the only member of your family worth saving. There are no words that can describe how despicable you are, Jonas Cale."

"I should snap your neck right now. But I won't, because unworthy as you are you're the closest thing Logan has to family. Personally, I think you've done him more harm than good, but." She shrugged, and her voice hardened as she continued. "Besides, you have to make sure the ransom is paid. It will be paid, or I will personally make your life a living hell for a while before I kill you."

"But… how? How did you escape the drone?"

"I did what I was born to do. I kicked its shiny metal ass."

"But no human can destroy a stealth drone, it's not possible. You must be… oh my god, you're… Manticore?"

"How the hell do you know about Manticore?"

"The company supplies some of their equipment. You're an escapee?"

"What kind of equipment?"

"Tracking devices, surveillance, that kind of thing."

"You help the secret government agency I've been on the run from for the last ten years look for my family? Screw it, I'm going to kill you now."

"No! You said… for Logan's sake… please don't… I'll do anything… Let me live, please, I promise I won't tell him what you are…"

Max snorted derisively. "Geez, you really are dumb, aren't you? Logan knows exactly what I am."

"He knows? He knows you were made in a test tube and he still wants to help you?" Jonas looked as though the proverbial lightbulb had come on in his brain. "So that's why you're protecting him! You think unless I pay up he'll tell Lydecker where to look for you to try and save his own life."

Max's eyes widened, and then narrowed as she examined him critically. "You know, for you, that's not a bad deduction. Shame it's totally wrong, on three counts.

One, unlike you, Logan's smart enough to figure out that even if he ratted me out Lydecker would still kill him because he knows too much. Two, under no circumstances, torture, threat of death, anything, would Logan ever so much as contemplate telling Lydecker how to find me. If I thought he would I'd be halfway to Mexico by now. And three, even if I couldn't get you to pay the ransom I'd give myself up before I'd let anything happen to Logan. I am not going to let him get hurt again, not if I can help it."

Looking up into Max's determined dark eyes, Jonas had no doubt she meant every word. He gulped.

Please, please, please just press the magic button. You know you want to.