" A Syndicate assassin?" Fixx repeated in obvious surprise. "Your Dad'sa super villain? Then why aren't you with the Bad Seeds?" I attempted to intr...duce myself to them during lunch today," sheadmitted. "But Stoppable interfered. Now please, let me continue." Sorry," Fixx said, collecting the weapon that the mercenary haddropped."My older brother and I were trained since childhood to follow in ourfather's footsteps," Porcelain explained, earning yet another look ofsurprise from Fixx. "For. She smiled. "Love birds," she said.I studied her giggle. There was a forced quality to it. "What about your husband?" I asked. She pointedly looked away. When her eyes returned they were darker. "What about your wife, Bruce?" "Ex-wife," I said."Ex..." she mused. "You feel married, though." And again she laughed her silver laugh. This time it was real. I joined her. "Look at us," I said. "Jetsam and flotsam."I raised my glass in a toast.Shireen was an efficient seducer. She never missed a. With your little head, down in your hand. Oh, my God, you can't believe it's happening again. Your baby's gone, andyou're all alone and it looks like the end." "And you're back out on the street. and you're tryin' to remember. Howdo you start it over? You don't know if you can. You don't care much fora stranger's touch, but you can't hold your man." "You never thought you'd be alone this far down the line. And I knowwhat's been on your mind. You're afraid it's all been wasted time." . How could he everhope to explain to anyone that he simply had no idea where any ofthose things he wrote about actually came from - sizzling new ideashad always, up until this last book, just popped into his mindwhenever he'd needed them.Lance slowly slid into the shorts. Although softer and smoother thananything he'd ever worn, they were still rather tight in the crotch.But Lance had been expecting as much. They also fit - just as he'dexpected - quite loosely about his hips with plenty of spare.