Shanley wasn''t fazed by Lue''s cold shoulder. He simply smiled. “We''re friends now," he said smoothly. "If you ever need my help with anything in the future, Mr. Langley, don''t hesitate to ask."


    “Really?" Lue''s eyes lit up. “In that case, could you kill someone for us?"


    The richest man in Borealia had to have resources and powerparable to that bastard who ran Sigma Network. If Shanley could take him out, it would save Juniper and the Australis base a world of trouble.


    Jimmie shot a sharp,plicated look in Lue''s direction. The ''boy'' looked so clean-cut, yet he talked so casually about murder. He hoped he wasn''t a bad influence on his sister.


    Shanley had just been making a polite offer. He never expected Lue to actually take him up on it. “Oh?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Tell me, who did you have in mind?"


    "Well, there''s—" Lue began, but stopped short when she met Juniper''s dark, warning gaze. The words "that bastard who runs Sigma Network" died in her throat. Was Juniper worried he couldn''t handle the old man from Sigma Network? Tsk. They weren''t even married yet, and she was already taking his side sopletely. What would happen in the future?


    "Never mind,” Lue said, stuffing her hands back in her pockets and lifting her chin defiantly. "There are too many people on the list. I''ll send you the details when I''vepiled it."


    Juniper and Shanley exchanged a look. "Alright, I''m off,” Lue said. She stepped forward and patted Juniper''s cheek. “I have to head back to Australis for a bit, so I won''t be able to see you as often. Call me if you miss me."


    "You talk too much," Juniper grumbled, but she listened to every word.


    Shanley stood by silently, his expression darkening as he watched them. "Don''t get angry,” he told himself. “Do not get angry.”


    "See ya," Lue said with a wave. As she passed Jimmie, she shot him a wicked grin. "You know, Juniper is a world-famous race car driver. Her skills behind the wheel are second to none. You should ask her for some lessons sometime, Mr. Tate."


    "Instead of worrying about my driving, you should worry about yourself," Jimmie retorted, his eyes burning with anger as he stared at the kid''s smug face. "It''s a miracle you''ve managed to live this long with a mouth like that, Mr. Langley."


    Lue''s smile froze. She flipped him the middle finger before grabbing her helmet


    and stalking off. Any longer in his presence, and she might actually punch him.


    "When did those two get on each other''s bad side?" Melvin asked, sensing the tension.


    "Who knows, Juniper said with a


    helpless shrug. She yawned.


    "Jimmie, if you see Lue in the future, just walk the other way. And whatever you do, don''t get on Lue''s bad side of else


    She


    trailed off, but her serious_


    expression made the consequences


    clear.


    "He holds a grudge, does he?" Jimmie thought, his lips pressed into a thin line. He was beginning to see that.


    ...


    In the car, Shanley took Juniper''s


    hand and began gently wiping her palm with a wet wipe, over and over, as if trying to scrub something. away Juniper watched him,pletely baffled Einally, after going through a dozen wipes, Shanley stopped, a satisfied smile on his face.


    "You know,” Juniper said, guessing the reason for his strange behavior. She blinked earnestly. “Lue and I are just friends. You really don''t need to worry."


    "I know," Shanley nodded, his gaze soft and adoring as he looked at her. “You might see Lue as a friend, but that doesn''t mean he feels the same way."