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grimaced with each slap, he endured the torture, peeling off each note as they came, giving it a cursory glance. Max truly adored Abby’s sense of humor and looked forward to seeing her every day. He often felt she was the daughter he wished he could have had.
    â€œAbby...” He tried to interrupt her rant. “... Abby...” The double doors to his office opened before they could break stride and Abby continued her dissertation and sticky-note dispensation, unaffected.
    â€œ... then your video conference in an hour with London and I am fully aware you are leaving for L.A. tomorrow for an undetermined amount of time.” She ended her rant with the knowledge of events that had only minutes ago been decided.
    â€œOh?” He stopped and stared down at her with raised brow.
    â€œI know. Frankie notified me immediately so that I could assist with logistics and supplies. “Her sweet smile was forced this time and he knew it. She hated it when he was gone.
    â€œIt shouldn’t take long. “He offered the small consolation. “I will conference with you every morning, I promise.”
    â€œOh I know. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She turned her cheek to him and he smiled softly as he bent down to give her another kiss. “If you were the all supreme genius Dom that I know you to be, you would take me with you.”
    â€œAbby, how could I feel comfortable, ever, leaving all this without you here to oversee things?”
    â€œThat’s a load of crap, with all due respect, my Dom. You know perfectly well that I can do what I do here while doing what I need to do for you, with you.” The batting of eyelashes was added to the sweet smile for dramatic effect.
    Niko plopped down into one of the overstuffed sofas and grunted. “What are we? Chopped liver? Last time I checked the four of us were the Aegis Council, no?”
    Abby walked over and patted Niko softly on the shoulder. “Of course you are, Niko, of course you are.” She spoke in a deliberately soothing, tone as one would to a small child.
    Finn plopped down next to Niko and slung an arm around his comrade’s shoulder. “Bro, you and I both know damn well that half the time we can’t find our own asses without calling Abby for directions.”
    Niko smiled wide and looked up at Abby, echoing her words to Max only moments ago, imitating her voice uncannily. “Oh I know. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
    Laughter erupted around the room and Max shook his head and grinned as he moved around to his desk, slapping the pile of sticky-note down on his blotter. “Abby, my sweet, would you please get Frank? I need both of you to come take a seat with us. We have business to discuss. Also, have Drew hold everything but the London call, have him buzz when that comes in.”
    â€œYou betchya my Domaliscious.” She twirled around and skipped out the door as only Abby could.
    â€œDomaliscious?” Max looked at his lieutenants. “I know I should be offended by these pet names...”
    â€œIts Abby, she can tell us to go screw ourselves and we think its cute.” Niko smirked. “And I say that from personal experience.”
    Yuri snickered and nodded in agreement. “She is a treasure. I would rather lose my foot than her.”
    â€œWhich brings me to an issue we are going to have to face, gentlemen.” Max took his seat in the large glossy black leather chair that sat behind his enormous ebony wood desk. “If my suspicions about the West Coast are confirmed, the time may have come to erect a formal operations base out there.” He could see the disgruntled looks pass between the men and was not surprised in the least. The process of establishing a formal base out west meant massive logistics and massive manpower. “This isn’t a new issue.” He continued.