In Shadow - Ch 10 - Research Trip

"Are you going to have that background research on Axis completed before the election, Ms. Elderberry?" her editor asked in his usual caustic tone.

After a sleepless night following Uncle Max's visit, Uncle Max's threats, Genie had tried to get into work early. She'd hoped to do some research of her own, into him and his ties to the Alto family, before anyone got in. Of course, she hadn't actually managed to get in as early as she'd wanted to, and getting in before anyone else seemed impossible anyway. She was starting to think her editor slept in his office.

"Sorry, Mr. White," Genie said. "I'm a little distracted. Family stuff."

She knew that, if she'd been almost anyone else on staff, Mr. White's response would have peeled paint and blistered flesh. Instead, his sharp newsman's eye gleamed. She was pretty sure her family connections were a big part of why he'd hired her. 

"Well, about 60% family stuff," Genie went on, "and about 40% a possible story."

It was, Genie admitted to herself, a manipulative situation all around. 

"Alright," Mr. White huffed with barely concealed curiosity. "Pass what you've got on Axis over to Jimmy. He'll finish it up. Take the afternoon and deal with your family stuff... but I want that story proposal on my desk first thing Monday morning." 

"Yes sir," Genie smiled. She was going to owe Jimmy big time, but he was a good guy. 

------------

Windenburg. If San My was The City, then Windenburg was the Old City. Nestled at the base of the Granite Mountains, it was a place of cobblestone streets and medieval wood frame buildings, but also a place of modern commerce and the driving beat of hard rock music. 

For Genie Elderberry, who'd grown up here, it was cold and grey, old and crumbling. Still, in some corner of her heart, it was home.

On the train up from San My, watching the countryside speed by, she thought about how she was going to do this. She still wasn't sure. 

She was frankly dreading her first stop - Gesellschafter Square and the Von Windenburg Bank. Nowhere was the mix of old elegance and modern commerce better displayed, than the offices of this financial institution that had served the noble families and captains of industry since the Middle Ages.

It wasn't the sort of place where the average person kept his savings, or even passed through the centuries-old doors, but no one stopped Genie even as she headed up the stairs to the executive offices. They knew her here.

After all, she was Luna Elderberry's daughter.

"Genevieve, come in," Luna said, not looking up from her tablet. Her mother still insisted on using her full given name, no matter how many times Genie corrected her.

"It's Genie, mom." It was a reflex at this point. 

"Sit down. I just need to finish up one thing," Luna continued as if she hadn't spoken.

"Mom, I need to talk to you," Genie started, taking a seat in one of the luxurious comfortable office chairs.

"Of course, dear," Luna said, still working on her tablet. "I just need to..."

"It's about Uncle Max, mom," Genie pressed.

A cold look flickered across her mother's face as her hand paused over the tablet. Luna's entire body seemed frozen for a moment, before her calm, confident mask dropped back into place. 

"I believe Max is traveling abroad, dear," Luna said. "You don't need to worry about him."

"He visited me last night," Genie said.

The cold stillness settled over Luna again.

"He wanted me to tell him where Miranda and Mariah are," Genie continued quickly.

"Did you tell him?" Luna asked, her voice controlled.

"No," Genie said hotly. "And I wouldn't have, even if I knew! Mom, he threatened me. He threatened my sisters. He knows I'm the one who gave Mariah access to grand-père's files..."

"Don't be ridiculous," Luna interrupted. "What would Mariah want with your grand-père's personal papers? I always thought that girl was trouble... just a delinquent."

"Mom, I need you to tell me about Uncle Max," Genie said over her. "I need to know about his connections to the Alto family, the people he works with... anything you can tell me."

"Really, Genevieve, I am hardly acquainted with my brother's criminal associates," Luna sniffed.

"Mom, you launder money for the Altos," Genie scoffed.

"That is an absurd thing to say," Luna bristled. "Not to mention slanderous. I have no knowledge of, or association with, Nick Alto's criminal enterprises. I did work on some accounts for legitimate business interests, but everything was entirely legal. I hardly knew the man, personally."

"You slept with him, mom," Genie said flatly.

"I am appalled that you would believe such low gossip," Luna gasped. 

"I don't care that you slept with him," Genie snapped. "Hell, I banged him, in the library, at the Yule party, two years ago!"

"Genevieve!"

"It doesn't matter," Genie continued passionately. "It doesn't matter that you sleep with other guys, or that dad bangs interns who are younger than me. I don't care! Uncle Max is threatening me, my sisters, my friends, and I need to know more about him, and who he's working with, so I can protect the people I do care about!" 

"There is nothing I can tell you," Luna said, the confident mask dropping into place again. "Really dear, I don't know where you get these..."

"Fine!" Genie interrupted as she leapt to her feet. "If you won't help your own daughters, I'll find out another way."

In Shadow - Ch 9 - Family Ties

Genie loved the City.

She loved the lights, the cracked streetlights, the towers like rigid Yule trees, the distant flashes of a police car. She loved the sounds of it, of a stereo being played too loud, of some couple's argument, heard through a window left open on a hot summer night. She even kind of loved the smell of it, that weird mix of hot asphalt, spicy food and over-ripe trash. 

The whole bright, crazy, dirty mess of it was so different from the antique streets of Windenburg where she's grown up. The Spice District was about as far from the stuffy elegance of her childhood as you could get. Sure, it wasn't the nicest neighborhood, but it wasn't that bad. 

It wasn't like criminals were just randomly breaking into apartments, no matter what Representative Friend said on the news. 

It was actually a shock to open her apartment door and find a man sitting on the couch, eating a sandwich. That, a moment later, she recognized him did nothing to reduce the shock.

"Uncle Max?" Genie gasped.

"Hey, Genie-bean," Uncle Max said cheerfully. "I let myself in. You know, your locks are shit. Hope you don't mind, I made myself a snack while I waited."

"What... where's Gabbie?" Genie stammered. 

"Cute girl, short hair, glasses? She went out with some guy," Uncle Max replied. "I waited until she was gone. Wanted to talk to you in private."

Slowly, Genie made her way across the living room and gingerly took a seat on the couch next to him.

She hadn't seen Uncle Max in years. Her mother had made it clear that her younger brother wasn't welcome around the family. Even back then, Genie had heard the rumors... Max Villareal was a gangster. A dangerous man who had done horrible things. When she'd been younger, there had been a kind of dark appeal to it and to him. 

Now, sitting in her apartment, the apartment he had just admitted to breaking into, he didn't seem appealing. He seemed frightening. 

"What do you want?" Genie said, finding her voice and trying to put into it a confidence she didn't feel.

"I can't just check in with my favorite niece?" Max said smoothly. "Hey, how are the twins? They're in college now, right? And little Kassidy... not so little anymore. I bet she's driving Luna and Rohan crazy with her whole teen bohemian artist thing?"

He knew exactly what her younger sisters were doing, Genie realized. His warm smile never touched his cold, flat eyes. 

"They're fine," Genie said softly.

"What about your little friends, Miranda Goth and Mariah... what name is she using now? Basso? Huntley? How are they?" Uncle Max asked coolly.

"I don't know," Genie said. "I haven't heard from them since the wedding. I just know what I saw in the news."

"Genie-bean, it's not nice to lie to family," Max said.

"Where are they?" he added firmly.

"I don't know," Genie insisted softly.

"Would you tell me, if you did?" Max asked with a slight smile.

"No," Genie replied, and the defiance of that one little word made her feel stronger.

"Good girl," Max chuckled, "but you want to reconsider that."

"No, I don't," Genie said. "I think you should leave."

"I'll leave when I'm done," Max said confidently. "You need to understand something, Genie..."

"I understand you're a gangster," Genie snapped.

"That's right," Max answered. "So, if you're smart, you'll shut up and listen... and you're a smart girl, Genie-bean."

"A smart girl like you knows that her whole family is bent," Max continued harshly. "My dear old père, your grand-père Jacques, he was as crooked as they come... and as connected as one man could be. He did deals with all the Families, with aristos and politicians, with captains of industry and finance. Anybody who is anybody did deals with the Old Man... and he kept files on every one of them. Even now that he's dead and buried, Villareal Files are a threat hanging over some really important heads. A threat your dear mère has used well... to advance herself and that limp-dick of a husband of hers."

"I'm not part of any of that," Genie insisted.

"You're a Villareal," Max snapped. "Even if your mom took that pussy Rohan's name, you're a Villareal in your blood. Remember it... because other people do. Important people."

"The thing is Genie, your little friend gave the Crown Prosecutors evidence against Nick Alto," Max continued, all cool menace again. "Evidence about things she couldn't have known about by herself.  Your little friend gave up the Old Man's files on Nick Alto. 

"Now some people... important people... dangerous people... wonder where she got those files," Max said softly. "Your mom managed to convince them it wasn't from her. After all, she had to do some fancy footwork to not get pinched with old Nick. So, who else could have given Mariah those files?"

"I don't know," Genie lied.

She remembered that terrifying night. Leading Mariah and Aadi... cheerful 'Double-O Aadi' in their fancy tux like it was all a game... into the mansion, looking for grand-père's secret office. 

"No?" Max smiled like a shark. "See, there's a very dangerous man, his name is Grey... and if he thought that maybe Kassidy or the twins knew anything about it..."

"You leave them out of this!" Genie shouted, horrified. "You know they had nothing to do with it!"

"Do I?" Max snarled. "Let me tell you what I know, Genie. I know that Grey would do very bad things to whoever he believes is responsible for turning on the Altos. Now that can be Mariah B... or it can be someone else. 

"Now, something else I know, Genie - family is important," Max added. "Like my fat brother Hugo, with his fat wife and fat kid... and my dear sister, Luna with your limp-dicked father... and my sweet nieces. Especially you, Genie-bean... you know you're my favorite niece. So, as long as my family acts like family... helping each other out, supporting each other... well, then I will make sure that nothing bad happens to any of you.

"So, if you hear anything from your little friends Miranda and Mariah, you'll tell me," Max said, standing and walking confidently to the door. "Won't you Genie-bean?"

"You're a monster," Genie whispered.

"Genie-bean," Max smirked, "if you think I'm a monster, you really have no idea what you're dealing with."

"No, I don't," Genie breathed as the door closed behind him. "But I'm a reporter and I'm damn well going to find out... because I'm going to help my friends!"

In Shadow - Ch 8 - Old Salt House

"So, were you able to help her?" Jenny asked.

She'd been happy when Orange had called her and asked to meet her for a drink at the Old Salt House, a popular club on the edge of the City's somewhat shady Spice District. Of course, the evening wasn't exactly starting out the way she'd expected.

"I honestly don't know," Orange sighed. "I mean, it's obvious she's in a bad... probably abusive... relationship. I gave her the number for a women's shelter I help out at, and the name of the counselor there. I hope she calls them..."

"... but you can't make someone get help," Jenny said, understanding. "At least you tried."

"Yeah, I guess," Orange sighed again. "Anyway, I'm sorry. I asked you to meet me and I've done nothing but talk about another woman."

"It's fine," Jenny said, honestly surprised that it actually was fine. "Usually sharing bad days is more a fourth date thing, for me... but I don't mind. Say, you said this Corrie wanted to be an actress..."

"Yeah, she kept saying how this guy she was with promised to make her a star," Orange scoffed.

"Well, if you run into her again, go ahead and give her my number," Jenny said. "I can introduce her to some people who won't take advantage of her."

"You'd do that?" Orange asked, obviously pleased and surprised.

"Absolutely," Jenny smiled. "When I was starting out, Cassie Goth did the same thing for me. Got me out of a bad situation. Maybe I can do it for this Corrie."

"Wow. Alright. Thanks," Orange smiled. 

To her shock, Jenny felt something flutter inside her heart. She liked his smile, she realized.

"So, is this a thing with you?" Jenny asked.

"What do mean?" Orange said, puzzled.

"This whole White Knight riding to the rescue thing," Jenny said. "I'm going to have to contend with a lot of damsels-in-distress, if we start dating?"

"Well, I mean... wait, did you say dating?" Orange blinked, then smiled again. 

Damn, she really liked his smile.

"Oh, you caught that," Jenny smiled back.

--------

Well, this is a surprise, Genie thought.

Jenny had called her that afternoon and asked her to come by the Old Salt that evening. She knew Jenny had a maybe-date with a new guy and was looking for support and a possible graceful way out. Jenny hadn't mentioned her maybe-date was with Orange Bailey-Moon. 

"Hey Jenny," Genie called over the club's music. "Hi, Orange."

"Genie!" Orange smiled, leaping up to greet her. "I heard you were in the City. How are you?"

"I'm good," Genie said, accepting the big guy's friendly hug. "It's good to see you."

"So, I guess you guys know each other," Jenny said. 

"Yeah," Orange laughed. "It's a small world."

"Well, join us," Jenny said, giving Genie a quick look that said she wasn't looking for a rescue, but still wanted the support.

"So, how did you guys meet?" Jenny asked, clearly curious.

"College," Genie replied, taking the seat Orange offered her. "We were dorm mates, and I was friends with Miranda..."

"Who I knew through the whole 'kids of famous parents' thing," Orange said, claiming a spot on the nearby couch. "And my mom and dad knew Miranda's mom, Cassie..."

"... and my mom and dad knew both of Miranda's moms from back when they were all in college," Genie said. "God, it really is a small world."

"I guess the real question is why didn't you two meet sooner?" Genie laughed.

"I don't know," Orange mused, "but I'm glad we did now."

"Yeah," Jenny said with a little smile. 

Genie could practically see the actress's heart flutter at Orange's smile. Oh boy, Genie chuckled to herself, she's hooked.

"Hey, why don't I grab us some drinks?" Orange said, standing. "What can I get you ladies?"

Genie had the distinct sense that he knew they wanted to talk without him and was gracefully giving them the chance to. She was impressed by how much he'd matured since they first met in college.

"Cherry cola, please," Jenny said.

"Pint of the House Stout, if you're offering," Genie added. "Thanks, O."

"No problem, cherry cola and a House Stout, coming up" Orange said. 

"OK, tell me everything you know about him," Jenny said as soon as he was out of earshot.

"Oh boy," Genie sighed.

"Wait, did you two...?" Jenny smiled. 

"We hooked up once, first year," Genie admitted. "It was... well... it really didn't go well."

"Oh," Jenny looked disappointed.

"But that was before the whole 'yes means yes' thing," Genie said quickly. "Kinda right before..."

"Wait a minute," Jenny said, eyes wide. "Are you... Her? You are! The one where he thought everything was going well, but you didn't..."

"Yes. OK," Genie groaned. "Our one and only hook-up went so badly he literally wrote a best-selling book about how to not have dates go that badly."

"Wow," Jenny breathed. "I don't know if I'm impressed or what..." 

"We had a bad hook-up. I freaked out. Mariah threatened to kick his ass and Miranda talked me through things," Genie explained. "We confronted Orange, and he was horrified when he found out how I felt. He's really a good guy, Jenny. We're good, Orange and me. We reconnected in our third year and we're friends now. He's sincerely a good guy."

"Wow, OK... thanks," Jenny sighed. "I'm glad because... I really like him."

"I can tell," Genie said.

"So... what's he like, you know..." Jenny said.

"Jenny, he wrote a best seller about how bad our hook-up went," Genie said. "I'm not in a good place to judge."

"Oh right," Jenny said.

In Shadow - Ch 7 - Life in the Fast Lane

"Good evening, folks, and welcome back to Life in the Fast Lane," the host, Nadine Lane, announced. "Our next guest is no stranger to the Fast Lane. He's been a child celebrity, an all-star college athlete, an influencer and now author of the bestselling book Yes Means Yes, a Dude's Guide to Consent. Welcome back to the show, Orange Bailey-Moon!"

"Thanks, Nadine," Orange said in his deep, melodic voice. "It's great to be back."

"Have you met Jenny Poole before?" Nadine asked, nodding at her other guest.

"No," Orange admitted turning to smile at the actress. "Somehow, we haven't crossed paths before. I loved you in Curse of the Pirate Queen."

"Why, thank you, Orange," Jenny said with a sultry look. "I loved watching you on the soccer pitch... in those very tight pants."

"Uh... thanks," Orange chuckled.

"So, Orange, I know you've been out talking about your new book... and didn't come to me first, you naughty boy," Nadine teased.

"Well, you were all booked up," Orange smiled. "But yeah, I've been out doing a lot of promoting. I feel very strongly about the subject of consent, and I want to get message out."

"So, let's talk about that message," Nadine said. "Why 'Yes means Yes'?"

"It's about looking for active consent," Orange said. "We all know 'No means No.' When I was a young man, my dad took me aside and really taught me that. We all know that Thorne, you know my dad, has a bit of a reputation... but he was really clear to me that when a woman says no, that means no. Not maybe, not convince me. Just plain no.

"I thought that was it, and by understanding that I could be a good guy, respectful of women," Orange went on. "Then, in college, some great ladies taught me a really important thing... that sometimes a woman just doesn't feel that she can say no, even when she wants to."

"It's true," Jenny nodded.

"So, as I guy, I could think that everything was going great, that we're both having a good time... because she isn't saying no," Orange said seriously. "When in reality, she isn't OK with things but doesn't feel comfortable saying so. I'm thinking everything is fine, but it's really very much not. No means No just isn't enough, guys. You gotta get to Yes."

"Now, some people would say that can ruin the moment," Nadine suggested. "Can I kiss you? Can I put my hand there? Can I touch you here now? Doesn't that take the passion out things."

"Maybe, but if it does, don't do it that way," Orange chuckled. "The key to consent is good communication. Try talking about things ahead of time. What are you like? What do you really enjoy? What would you be OK with, even if it's not something you're usually into or maybe haven't tried? What are your... some people call them Hard Limits. Something you absolutely are not into. Have that conversation with your partner, with your date, with a casual hook-up. Then you can get to Yes."

"That could be a little awkward, couldn't it," Nadine said. "I don't know that I'd be that comfortable talking about what I like in bed with a date."

"Which is fine if you don't want to go to bed with them... or do other things that should require consent," Orange said cheerfully. "And that's also a conversation you should have... what are the limits of this date, of this encounter. But if you are thinking of taking things to that next level, I think you absolutely should talk about these things. If you're not comfortable talking about it with someone, it seems to me you're not comfortable enough to be doing it.

"Not only is all this a key to consent, it also makes things better... more fun, if you know what your partner enjoys," Orange added.

"Well, I think that sounds like a great idea," Jenny Poole said. "It certainly would have helped rescue some rotten dates I've been on."

"Exactly," Orange smiled.

"You know Orange, maybe you and I should talk more after this," Jenny added, with a flirty look. 

"Well, I think we'll let those two talk," Nadine chuckled. "The Orange's new book, Yes Means Yes, a Dude's Guide to Consent is available at Fields and Gentry's website and their brick-and-mortars everywhere."

----------------------

"Caught you on Fast Lane last night," Anthony called as Orange came into the living room.

The two guys, former college dorm mates, had made the easy transition to roommates in the City after graduation. Orange didn't really need someone helping with rent. Between his dad, the famous singer Thorne Bailey, and his mom, an equally famous songwriter Octavia Moon, Orange had a pretty substantial trust fund to support himself. Really, he just liked the company.

"What did you think?" he asked.

"If I'm being honest dude, you got kinda preachy," Anthony said as Orange sat down next to him.

"Says the politician," Orange grinned. "But yeah, I hear you. I guess I am preaching... trying to get a message out, get people to think about relationships in a different way."

"You're a rare man, Juice," Anthony grinned, using Orange's old soccer team nickname. "Hey, I gotta ask... Jenny Poole. Did you guys really talk after?"

"Yeah, we did," Orange said. "We might grab drinks sometime. She's nice."

"Nice? Nice?!" Anthony said, staggered. "Dude, she is Jenny freakin' Poole. She is hot. Like girls-gone-wild, burning down the house, brutally hot. You know she's on my Freebie Five, right?"

"What?" Orange chuckled. 

"The five celebrities I could hook-up with, guilt free," Anthony said. "Dude, you have got to get a girlfriend. Gabbie and I totally have our Freebie Fives."

"Really. Who's on hers?" Orange asked. "Maybe I could introduce her to some of them." 

"Dude! Not cool!" Anthony said coldly.

----------------------

Jogging always helped Orange think. The simple physical activity of it cleared the cobwebs from his head and focused him. 

Anthony had, accidentally, kind of hit a nerve. He didn't need a girlfriend... not need... but Orange did think he would like one. Here he was, after all, the media-appointed champion of consent culture and positive relationships and he wasn't actually in a relationship. Yeah, he dated, but nothing really long term. It wasn't something that could be forced, he decided. When it was right, it would be right. 

Jenny was nice, he thought. Anthony was right, she was hot, had a reputation for being wild, and she'd been really flirty last night after the show. Still, Orange had the feeling there was a lot more to her than just the hot actress with a spicy rep and some naked pictures of her on the internet. (He didn't hold that against her. There were at least a couple pictures of his naked butt online somewhere, after all.) He should definitely call her, see about getting that drink and maybe... 

... wait. What's going on here?

"Miss, are you OK," Orange asked the young woman. "Do you need help?"

Tears slid down Corrie's face, streaking her makeup, as she looked a little fearfully at him.

In Shadow - Ch 6 - Very Bad Men

 Content Warning: Domestic Abuse, Misogyny, Drug References, Adult Content, Pervasive Language

--------------------

"Corrie, get the fucking door," George T barked from the sumptuous couch.

"OK, George," she answered sweetly.

Hastening across the luxurious apartment, she silently kicked herself for not moving fast enough. Though, the doorbell had only just rung, and the couch was closer than the kitchen where she'd been unloading the dishwasher. Of course, George and Damian were watching their show, so they couldn't be expected to answer the door. 

Really, Corrie thought, she was happy to do whatever George needed. After all, he was going to help her become a real actress (not like... before). George was an important man, with all kinds of connections. He even knew Cassie Goth. He'd gone to school with her.

"Hello. Can I help you?" Corrie asked, opening the door.

"Damn girl, I bet you could," the bald man said, look her over. Raising his voice, he added, "Right now, though, you can tell that lowlife street pusher, George T, that he's got company."

"'Lowlife street pusher?' There's only one man left who's stupid enough to call me that in my own home," George called.

Leaping up, George crossed the room to grasp the bald man's hand. 

Behind him, Damian stood and exchanged menacing looks with the big, blonde man who followed the bald man inside.

"Max fucking V," George said to the bald man. "How the fuck did you get into the country?" 

"I can smuggle enough coke to keep you in business," Max V replied. "It ain't too hard to get a couple of people in."

"What's with the new muscle?" George asked, nodding at the blonde man. "Where's Wolfgang?"

"He's working," Max V said simply. "This is Crowe."

"Come on in," George said. "Sit. Corrie, move your dumb ass and get us some beers."

"Sure thing, George," Corrie said quickly, rushing to the fridge.

"I'm good, thanks," Max replied.

"I don't drink... beer," Crowe said with a small grin.

"Every damn time," Max traded a grin with his muscle. Corrie spotted the private joke between the two men, even if she didn't understand it.

"Well, I want a fucking beer," George said, taking a seat at the table.

"So, Wolfgang's 'working' and you're at my door," George said once he had his beer. "I think can safely fucking say you're not here because you got sick of tequila and señoritas. So, to what to I owe the fucking pleasure?"

Quietly, Corrie settled herself on one of the kitchen stools. Better to stay close, she thought, in case George needed anything else.

"Marco called me," Max replied. "He wants me to do some rat catching." 

"No shit, the Mariah B thing?" George chuckled. "Yeah... not only did Carla G fuck that up, she fucked up so bad it hit the news. What do I always tell you, Damian? Never send a whore to do a man's job."

"Carla was careless," Max said levelly. "She underestimated what she was up against."

"What? 'Riah B's just another one of Marco's dumb whores," George scoffed. "The man ought do a better job of keeping his bitches under control."

"I'll tell him you said that," Max grinned coldly.

"Tell him," George snarled. "The fuck I care. He's only boss of the Family because the cold bastard, Grey, made it happen. We'll see how long he holds onto it when word gets out that one of his bitches sent ol'Nick away."

"And if Marco falls, you'll be there to take his place, won't you?" Max said softly.

"You said it, not me," George smiled back at him.

"Won't that be an interesting day," Max replied. 

"Until then, I've got a job to do," Max continued. "'Riah B... and her girl, Miranda Goth."

"Miranda Goth?" Corrie said excitedly. "Cassie's daughter? I heard that her father was a... well, that he worked for the Landgraabs... but that Miranda, and Cassie and Gwen, Miranda's other mom, all secretly work for the Agency... like her grandma, Bela... and that they all took down the Landgraabs together and..."

"Corrie!" George barked. "Shut the fuck up!" 

"So, Cassie's brat," George growled, turning back to Max. "Figure's she'd turn out to be a dyke like her mom pretends to be. You got a history there. You grabbed the brat once... and lost her."

"I trusted the wrong person with a job," Max said. "I don't plan to make that mistake again... or to underestimate Miranda."

"What can that little dyke do?" George sneered.

"You know better," Max said significantly, his eyes dropping to the burn scars peeking out from George's shirt sleeve. 

Corrie knew those scars covered his arm, and much of his body. She'd asked George once how he'd gotten them. He'd gotten really angry and hit her some. She'd never asked again.

"What do you need?" George asked after a long silence.

"Eyes," Max said simply. "I know the two of them slipped out of Tartosa. My gut says they came back into the country. I've got a few places to look, but they're going to hide deep. You've got people. You owe me a favor or two from back in the day... and you've got your own history with the Goth family." His eyes settled on the scars again. "Have your people keep their eyes open. Let me know if they see anything useful."

"And then?" George asked.

"Well, like I said, that will be an interesting day," Max said with his cold smile.

"Alright Max," George said, rising. "I'll put the word out."

"Thought you'd see it my way," Max replied, taking his hand.

"Damian will show you out," George said. "I'll be in touch."

----------------

"I don't trust him," Crowe rumbled once they reached the street.

"That's 'cause you're not an idiot." Max smiled. "Old Georgie's a lying treacherous son of bitch... but then, he is a criminal."

"There used to be a code," Crowe said sternly. "It set the Families apart from common ruffians."

"Anyone ever tell you you're old fashioned?" Max grinned. "George has the connections we need... and he's invested. He's got a grudge against the Goth ladies. It'll motivate him. Besides, if anything goes wrong, he can take the fall... and I won't feel the least little bit bad about it, code or no code."

----------------

"Who the fuck told you to talk!" George shouted.

"I'm sorry, babe," Corrie said. "I... I got excited. You know I'm a big Cassie fan."

"Fucking bitch," George snarled. "I don't want to hear it!"

"I'm sorry," Corrie whimpered.

"You don't repeat a word of what you just heard," George snapped.

"No George, of course not," Corrie said desperately. "I won't say anything."

"You're damn right you won't say anything," George said. "And you won't say a damn thing when I have a meeting. Never again. Your whore mouth is only good for one thing. Remember that!" 

"Yes, George," Corrie said shakily. "Yes, I know that."

It's my fault, Corrie thought. I shouldn't have said anything. I should have kept my mouth shut. I should have known better.

He's going to make me a real actress, she reminded herself. I'm going to be a real actress. 

I won't have to do this forever.