Your reviews have been great!!!! I love and appreciate each one, please keep it up!!!

We are finally getting back to the plot here. I hope not to get too sidetracked in the future. I realize that smut seems to sell. Note to self, write more Mick/Beth scenes, get more reviews. But I want to finish this story in a timely fashion so I can move on to another that I am working with greenleaf9 on!!!!!!!!

Enjoy!!!!!!

The Evening After

"Calm down Adriana. What happened?" Mick asked over the phone.

"The coordinator… the guards… they've taken over." Adriana huffed as she fled down the staircase.

"Taken over? What do you mean?"

"They elbowed me out of the loop. They have control. I got out as fast as I could; I didn't want to leave Josef's girls in there, but I can't help them if I am stuck with them." Adriana had reached the lobby and walked out of the stair well. All of a sudden there was a crash and people started screaming. Dust hung in the air and she squinted to see the front desk.

"Wait a second Mick… something has happened. It looks like… it looks like the elevator crashed."

Silence greeted her from the other end of the phone. "Mick? You still there?"

"I'll be there in 15 minutes. Don't leave, don't go to your car, stay in a crowded area and just wait for me." Mick hung-up.

Beth awoke to the sound of Mick's voice. "Beth… Beth, you need to wake up." Beth opened her eyes. Mick was standing next to the bed, fully dressed. What a dream. She thought, Wish it was… wait… where are my clothes? Where am I? Oh my God… it wasn't a dream

Beth bolted upright. Her head spun and she had to catch herself from falling back into the pillows.

"Whoa," Mick helped catch her and laid her back into the bed. "No strenuous activity."

"Is that what you kids are calling it these days?" Josef popped his head into the room.

"Josef!" Beth pulled the sheet up, to cover herself from his view.

"What's the matter dear? Are you surprised that I know? It's not like you two were trying that hard to hide it from me, but really, in our house? How could you?" Josef said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Josef noticed Mick's worried look and asked, "What? It's just a joke. I am glad that you finally got over your monster complex… or did she seduce you? Way to go Blondie." Josef gave Beth a thumbs-up. She blushed, but looked very pleased with herself.

"Josef," Josef turned toward Mick as he said his name, "It's Adriana."

Josef's faced dropped all playfulness. His heart skipped a beat, he couldn't breath.

Mick continued, "She just called. There is some trouble at the club. I am going to pick her up. I need you to stay here with Beth. I think to agency might try to get to her here."

"Me?" Beth asked.

"No, Adriana." Mick pulled on his coat and was heading out of the room, "Beth," He turned around and looked at her. "Take it easy, and remember, I love you."

Beth smiled and Mick smiled in return. Then he left the room. Josef was still rooted to spot he had been. He snapped out of it. "Wait," Josef chased Mick into the hallway, "Why do you think they will attach her?"

"They already tried. The elevator crashed shortly after she left the club." Josef's eyes widened. Mick continued, "I told her to stay put, until I got there. Her car might have been tampered with."

"You think these guys did their homework?" Josef asked.

"Yeah."

"Then take one of my cars. Who knows what they did to yours. You went to the agency headquarters yesterday, chances are they're after you too." Josef said leading Mick to the garage.

"My car's been here all day. I would know if someone messed with it."

"Yeah, right." Josef laughed. "You didn't even notice when Beth took a shower in the same room as you."

Mick froze. So, it hadn't been a dream. Mick would have to contemplate that information later. Now he had bigger worries to deal with. He addressed Josef, "The guards saw you and Adriana in the club together and now your freshies are there, so your cars could be compromised too."

"Yes, but I have higher security on my garage then on my house. None of the freshies have the code and I have driven the red Ferrari this afternoon, so it is safe."

"It could have been tampered with since you got back." Mick said.

"Not likely. We all would have heard the alarms, and no, the code can't be broken by a hacker. Not with 20 years, and a super computer. What do you think I hired Ryder for?"

Mick knew he was right. Josef was the king of paranoia. He took the keys and thanked Josef for his help. Josef smiled and said, "Bring her back Mick, please."

Mick knew then. Josef had fallen for her. In years to come he would retell this story many time, but this would always be the moment he knew that his friend was in love with Adriana, even if Josef hadn't said it out loud, even if he never said it out loud, Mick knew.