He doesn't know by whom, where or why. He doesn't know his parents. All he wants is a quiet life and a family experience. The fates conspire against him.Mark OneMark Midway is adopted by two scientists and is reared in a genetic research laboratory. Nine men, ex-military, are on a mission to destroy the laboratory and capture Mark. They are supported by four rogue CIA agents, who have commandeered a test drone and a missile at a Marine base. The team attacks the genetics laboratory complex before dawn, during a raging blizzard. Within hours, seven of the men are dead, one is severely wounded and one barely escapes. Mark also destroyed the drone with its missile. The next morning the four rogue agents are found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning, their killer unknown.Mark flees the laboratory complex, seeking safety and somewhere he can call home. The FBI is on his case and a mysterious organization offers him its assistance. Unknown killers are chasing him and he needs to protect himself and his friends. He needs to surviveMark TwoWe continue the story commenced in Mark One, with a young genetically engineered Mark Midway, FBI Special Agent MayAnn Freewell, and the mysterious Archimedes Schmidt who reports directly to the President. Mark—whose only desire is to be normal––shoots and kills two would-be kidnappers and discovers his search for peace again will elude him. Mark needs to survive. All he wants is a normal life.Schmidt works with FBI Special Agent Freewell to investigate a secret organization—Cerberus––which is infiltrating the FBI, the US Army, and other government departments with genetically engineered humans. Schmidt attempts to take control of Cerberus and discovers his personal relationships are not as reliable as he thought.Mark TwoSchmidt works with FBI Special Agent Freewell to investigate a secret organization—Cerberus––which is infiltrating the FBI, the US Army, and other government departments with genetically engineered soldiers. As Schmidt attempts to take control of Cerberus, he discovers his personal relationships are not as reliable as he thought.Mark ThreeA young woman escapes from a luxury yacht under attack by Chinese pirates in the Mediterranean. American law enforcement agencies collude and conspire to bring about an end to Cerberus, uncaring who gets in their way. Mark Midway faces deadly assaults by unknown enemies. A military helicopter is brought down over Washington by a Russian missile and General Archimedes Schmidt is in critical condition.Mark meets his sister and travels to London to rescue three more genetically engineered children. He finds romance, but he and his companions are under attack in both the US and England. Mark knows only one response - fight back.Mark FourMark Midway returns to America to re-build his home, which was destroyed by a gang of mercenaries. Police collude to effect his kidnap on his way back to Boston. His enemies include terrorists, a rogue NSA senior officer, a retired general, and a wealthy businessman; the latter wants control of all the Cerberus and LifeLong genetic engineering intellectual property. Cerberus teams in the US and UK rally to rescue Mark, but first they need to discover his whereabouts. General Schmidt and the NSA officer are enemies.

    

    I have to know who, what, how and when. That’s the Sergeant code.I never knew the striking redhead, Chloe, from back in the day that well, but we were about to be reacquainted. Pity she was off limits.With a newly formed Albuquerque police task force tracking clubs and the Devils working to infiltrate our network we have our work cut out for us.Will good girl Chloe be able to hold her ground with Finn?Or will she get wrapped up in the mayhem of the Guardians?BOOK 2: HavocI’m the man with the iron fists on a bike, and I raise Havoc...She had that good girl image down pat, but I knew it was a lie. The Mayor’s daughter; a taste of forbidden fruit with links to dismantle or elevate our whole organization to the next level. I had problems of my own. A rival gang alliance that left me for dead on the side of the road.My fighting spirit wasn’t about to lay down without a fight. There’s always one more round.Do Havoc and the Mayor’s daughter have what it takes to finish the round?Or will outside forces break them apart for good?BOOK 3: AxleShoot first, ask questions later, that’s Axle’s motto...I’m the wild, the reckless, the untamable beast who knows my way around a car. We’re up against it with a rival gang allegiance threatening our chop shop operation and the cops are on our ass. When the Reaper’s badass daughter showed up leading the charge…Let's just say I wanted to taste and kill my prey at the same time. A sassy hellcat with a mane of ebony night and a heart as dark as mine stepped on my turf and the temptation was like bitter chocolate.Will this vixen break down all of Axle’s defenses and ruin the Guardians?Or will they find a way to break all the taboo’s to be together?BOOK 4: RushThey nicknamed me the blonde haired pretty boy of the Guardians…From the moment I saw her I wanted the long-legged dancer. Penn, with the champagne cascading locks and movie star looks. The one works the pole for her dollars.A hit on our crew, arrogant cops looking for a takedown, in-fighting, a loss of revenue and a call for me to get a little grimy.Can Rush trust the woman with the expensive taste?Or will she be the reason for the Guardian’s demise?BOOK 5: RedWhen the past catches up with you...you have to turn and face it...When the wild heart of a free-spirited gypsy casts a spell on me I can’t look away.Is Brody the calm before the storm or is she more trouble than she’s worth?Or can this perfect storm come together to be a one-two punch of passion?BOOK 6: ShadowSometimes even those in the shadows have to step into the light...When he met sweet Ava with her cute apron and pretty smile his whole life changed. She’s the only one who knows about Shadow’s secret hobbies and shares them with him.He found her knee deep in the midst of chaos in his life, she’s like an angel to him.Will the sultry Ava be able to withstand the heat that threatens to unravel a beautiful beginning for them both? BOOK 7: ShaggyDara made my world light up in the darkened chaos of the club’s woes. She had a rocky past of her own, with a known enemy on her heels.D-day for the Guardians was approaching and I had to prove myself. Will Shaggy and Dara be able to withstand the enemies from their past and present? Does Shaggy have what it takes to be part of the Guardians crew?

     This complete series box set includes The Chase, Volumes 1 through 4. The Chase, Volume 1 735 to 1. 735 = number of notches on his belt. 1 = the notch he couldn’t get. Who is he? Dean Chase. He loves the thrill. He loves the women. And above all, he loves the chase. But the one thing he doesn’t love is being tied down by a woman. To him, once the chase is over, it’s time to pull up his boxers and move on to the next target. That is until he meets Blair Parker. Blair is unlike any of the women under Dean’s belt. She’s confident, mysterious, and sassy. In Dean’s world, she’s the wicked curved ball he couldn’t figure out. She’s the first woman who always seems to be out of reach no matter how hard he chases. So when it comes to Blair, Dean couldn’t move on. Dean will need to change his ways in order to chase Blair down to make her the 736th notch on his belt. But will chasing after Blair become Dean’s undoing and end his love of the chase once and for all? The Chase, Volume 2 736 = the number of notches on my belt. 736 = the notch I can't get out of my head. 736 = the notch who leaves me wanting more than I’m prepared to give back. Who is 736? Blair Parker. She is unlike any women I have met before. She's powerful. She's feisty. She's headstrong. And above all, she’s the one I had to break my one and only rule to chase down. But there’s just one problem. She wants nothing to do with me before and after our night together. If that’s not enough, life then throws me another curve ball. I’m offered an opportunity of a lifetime. It’s an opportunity to achieve the success I’ve worked so hard for. It’s an opportunity anyone in my position would kill for. It’s an opportunity that I’d be crazy to say no to. But there is a catch. There is a price to pay. There is something I need to do in exchange for this opportunity. To be the youngest partner at the most prestigious international law firm, I need to make Blair the casualty of my success. The Chase, Volume 3 When the Blonde Bitch broke my heart ten years ago, I had vowed two things. One: I would never waste my time on loving someone again. Two: I would never have anything to do with the Blonde Bitch again. When I met my 736th notch, I broke that first vow. The minute I saw Blair, the second our eyes met, the microsecond I tasted her in my mouth, I knew that was the one vow I had to break. But the second vow, that I would keep. That vow I had control over. That vow I would take to my grave. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. Because Fate had other plans in mind. Fate was in on a cruel joke, and I was its target. The Chase, Volume 4 No one told me things would turn out this way. No one told me that to be honest with Blair, I had to break her heart.

    Arrogant Jerk,You claim I stole your parking space, but that’s because you’re a smug, full-of-yourself, patronizing bonehead.You think you’re entitled to everything you see.Newsflash: You’re not. As such, you can stop staring at my a**.Sincerely,The girl whose day you just ruined.That’s the letter I wish I slipped under that numbskull’s windshield wiper…… Until I show up for my first day at my dream job, and find out Mr. Arrogant Jerk is my new boss.Wonderful. Fantastic. Typical.The worst part?Martin Henderson, AKA Mr. Arrogant Jerk, is devastatingly handsome.Sinful. Brooding. Too attractive for his own good... or mine.One thing is certain: I’m about to be in big, arrogant-jerk-induced trouble.Book 2: Loathe at First Sight (Previously titled Corrupt)Getting fired sucks.Getting propositioned by some arrogant, self-important billionaire three seconds after getting fired?That really sucks.No, thank you.I have plans with a good friend called Chardonnay, and I expect those plans to keep me occupied all evening.One thing I don’t expect?For Liam Maguire, the billionaire, ex-olympian that I just rejected, to offer me a job.Not just any job. My dream job.The only downside is that I have to spend my days working with him.Feeling his tantalizing gaze sweep over my body.Wondering why my thighs squeeze together whenever he’s near.Fantasizing about all the things that I rejected when we first met.Well, all my fantasies are about to come true…...and that could turn my dream job into a nightmare.As it turns out, there's a lot more to Liam than meets the eye.Book 3: Despise at First Sight (Previously titled Ruined)Adrian Maguire is a scumbag. Scourge of the earth. A dirty, corrupt, unscrupulous politician.He’s the man who tried to ruin my sister’s life.Hate, hate, hate.You know what I despise more than Adrian?The fact that I have no choice but to take his case. Otherwise, I’ll lose my job.I didn’t spend years in law school to defend people like him.So, when he strolls into my office, I’m not prepared for his presence to suck the air out of my lungs.When his touch sends sparks flying across my skin, not ready for my heart to skip a beat.My traitorous body burns for him, even though my mind screams at me to stop.But I can’t.I see another side of Adrian that he’s hidden away from everyone—even himself.The more time I spend with him, the more I realise I was wrong.Wrong to judge him, wrong to hate him, wrong to push him away.But when secrets are exposed, there’s more than just my career on the line.Adrian could destroy everything...including my fragile heart.Love/Hate is a sizzling-hot enemies to lovers collection. Swoonworthy, heart-wrenching, and an absolute must-read bundle.

    1000+ pages of suspense-filled, military fiction set around a conspiracy on a hostile planet."A tour de force."--David Weber, NYT bestselling author of the Honor Harrington Series.Special Agent Jackson Fischer is a man after truth. When a military operation to extract a high-ranking ambassador from the war-torn, border-world of Stonemeyer ends in disaster, Fischer is called in to investigate.A whole platoon went in, but only three Alliance Marines returned home, the rest killed in action along with hundreds of civilians. With tensions between the Holloman Alliance and Stonemeyer rising, Fischer attempts to stitch the pieces together. One thing becomes more and more certain: The surviving Marines are lying.As the truth unfurls, Fischer begins to realize this was far more than a simple rescue mission...and that the truth might be something best left buried.Filled with action, mystery, and well-crafted characters, the Valor Series will pull you into a world of war, conspiracy, and betrayal. It's perfect for fans of David Weber’s Honorverse, or Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan with a futuristic flair.Grab the entire series in this special-edition omnibus today!Books included in the set:Book 1: Edge of ValorBook 2: Echoes of ValorBook 3: Enemy of Valor

    

    See why readers rave about the writing, the plot twists, and the characters. NELL LILLINGTON is a spoiled, headstrong 16-year-old when she finds herself pregnant after letting a flirtation with handsome Cousin Jack get out of hand. More willing to bear the consequences of an illegitimate pregnancy than marry, she refuses to name the father and agrees to give birth in a Poor Farm and give the baby up for adoption. At the Poor Farm she meets Tess O’Dugan, a woman the world calls an imbecile but who soon becomes the sister Nell never had. MARTIN RUTHERFORD, Nell’s childhood friend, only learns of baby Sarah when Nell seeks to escape from the Poor Farm—with the child. His own aversion to marriage stems from his dark, unhappy childhood, and despite his attachment to Nell he makes no objection to her plan to move to Kansas, away from prying eyes, with Tess and Sarah. Martin, now free of family ties, has his own plans—he wishes to build a grand department store in Chicago and become one of that growing city’s merchant princes. But Nell and Martin’s plans are steered off course by the secrets and lies of other people, and their paths to happiness are strewn with murder. Nell’s story will take you from the Illinois prairie, to frontier Kansas, and back to a Chicago teeming with opportunistic new Americans and ruthless hardmen.

    He'd left the boxing ring with his body intact and he was content with his new job at Elite Security. But the chiseled-to-perfection heartthrob didn't have who he wanted... Maxine "Maxi" Rizzo had always prided herself on being independent and in complete control of her life...well, at least she thought she was. The gorgeous, blue-eyed publicist clearly wasn't in control of her life when the stalking had started a few weeks ago... With her life in serious danger, Maxi would have to let someone else take care of her for once; but she never knew that he would be her safety. Can she let go and finally give in to her heart's desire? Can Billy convince her that all he wants...is her? All He Needs – Zach & Stephanie Sexy, newly single, former Marine Andrew Charles Elliot IV, aka Ace, was ready for a life with no drama and no one to answer to. After a broken engagement and twelve years in the Corps he hoped his fresh start in Harper's Crossing would be just what he needed. But after laying eyes on his new neighbor, he knew all he really needed was her... Stephanie Holland excelled at taking care of others both at work as a nurse and as an incredible big sister to her twin siblings. The gorgeous redhead had no room to think of anyone else...that is until he moved next door... After years of putting the needs of others before her own, would she be able to surrender to the idea of someone taking care of her? Would Ace be able to convince her that he wanted to be there for her--mind, body and soul? Could he make her see that she was All He Needs? All He Feels – Dax & Ginny One night sealed their fate... Virginia "Ginny" Valentine didn't think she could feel so connected to another person after one night of "just talking." The beautiful and famous country singer had everything in her life...everything but that connection. And after experiencing it for the first time, she wanted more, and she wanted it with him... Dax Archer felt it the second he laid eyes on her. From that moment, the bodyguard and former Marine knew he had to make her his in every way possible. But when she disappeared from his life after leaving only a note to say she'd never forget him, he didn't know how... With some time set aside to create new music, Ginny was also ready to create something special with the man that consumed her every waking thought. After being reunited with the woman who owned him mind, body and soul, he was ready to make her feel all that he felt and more... All He Desires – Nate & Eliza Former Army Ranger and cyber security specialist Nate Holmes was a genius in all things computers. The sexy, muscled Adonis could fix any technical problem he was faced with, but when it came to matters of the heart, there was one issue he couldn't face...how he felt about her... Eliza Young thought she'd put Harper's Crossing in her rear view, but when a job opportunity opens up, the beautiful brunette is forced to return to her hometown and the setting of her unrequited first true love... He thought he'd missed his chance, she thought she'd never had one. After ten years, fate had finally reunited Nate and Eliza, but the question remains--what do you do when you get a chance to get it right this time? Will Nate have the courage and heart to claim her and...All He Desires...

    Start your journey with this boxed set containing the first three titles in the series.Finding ForeverFord Caldwell wasn’t looking for love, just a good deal on his beef. When Kelly Peyton steps onto his ranch, she’s not what he expected. He’s a rancher, she’s a city-girl – will a kiss seal this deal?Harvesting HopeDusty Caldwell is planning on building a dude ranch, he didn’t plan on an old flame showing up to manage the project. Can they piece back what was broken long ago, or is time to finally move on?Brewing LoveDrake Caldwell has always been a ladies man. Love ‘em and leave ‘em are words he live by. When Maggie Grayson shows up on the ranch as Betty’s guest, it’s hard to move on from a night he can’t forget.Fall in love alongside the Caldwells as you learn more about this charming small town and it’s residents. In Saddleback Ridge Stetsons are a way of life and not just a fashion statement. Cowboys, romance and small-town charm guaranteed.

     Book 13 Ice Warrior: Bhric Tarakesh is drowning at the bottom of a scotch-filled barrel. One bad decision after another has led him to alcoholism, bar fights, alienation of his family, and, the cherry topper of his shit sundae, impregnating a female he abhors. As he spirals out of control, a cataclysmic event thrusts him into a human hospital and into the hands of a sexy doctor that sets his icy soul on fire, guaranteeing his world will never be the same. Book 14 Fire Warrior: Breslin Tarakesh isn’t your typical Vampire Princess. She loves designer clothes and bling, but is at home in her fighting leathers with her sais in hand. Court politics are not her thing and she eschews everything to do with the simpering suck-ups that want to use her family to gain favor. She’s meant for more than elaborate crowns and parties. She wasn’t given the power to wield fire simply to light candles. She prefers frying demons instead. As the only female Dark Warrior in the Seattle compound, she is accustomed to dealing with males and their quirks. If only centuries of living with flirtatious males prepared her for meeting her Fated Mate. She has never dreamed of being wooed with hearts and flowers, but she imagined her mate would be loyal and true. Enter her sexy fire demon and her survival hangs by a singed thread. Book 15 Ramiel: Ramiel , a newly-appointed Angel of Retribution, is out for his pound of flesh...demon flesh. When his charge Isobel is kidnapped and taken to the Underworld he is determined to get her back, no matter the cost. Even ally with a Fallen Angel, the antithesis of everything he fights for. Their mission places them in the Inner Circles of Hell and pulls Rami to the razor's edge of passion with Zakara. If the challenges of the Underworld don't destroy him, succumbing to her seductive touch could be his fatal mistake. Book 16 Rivaled Warrior: Identical twins share a special bond, and vampires Cade and Cael are no exception. The two are rarely seen apart, and their closeness is unmistakable. As Dark Warriors, their success on the battlefield is attributed to their ability to anticipate each other's moves, as well as, a telepathic connection. The duo defeats their enemies with their collaborative skill. They are invaluable to the Tehrex Realm, protecting innocent humans and supernaturals from the archdemons plaguing their world. As the demons continue to terrorize supernatural children, Cade and Cael must rely on their strong connection to remain vigilante. That is, until the sexy harpy, Brianne, swoops into their lives, threatening to shred their brotherhood, and hearts, to pieces.

    When a bizarre murder turns into a string of assassinations, he must find a killer who is protected by the highest levels of the empire. After being cast aside by the empire he faithfully served, his only allies will be a rogue simulated intelligence, an alien spy, and a fugitive engineer. In a world where advanced genetic engineering can literally rewrite humanity, they must uncover a conspiracy that could destroy the galaxy.The Memories of Earth Far Future Space Opera Boxed Set contains the entire Memories of Earth series. If you enjoy stories of fantastic alien worlds, space travel, and genetic engineering, the Memories of Earth series will be right up your alley.Stories Included:Challenge of SteelInto the VoidNight RaidersSecrets of IlythiaThe Mondrauk ComplicationThe Quantum WellThe Secari ConnectionFallen EarthEternal Enemy

    And helping her out is the mysterious Caleb Stone, a consultant that the city has sent to assist. Allie has never met anyone like Caleb before. He sets her heart beating wildly, but he doesn’t seem to want to talk about his personal life at all… Caleb recognises the beautiful blonde woman immediately. He inadvertently turned into the wolf to save her from a mugger on the street. Fighting his attraction to Allie, Caleb knows that he is flirting with danger. Because if he finds his mate, he will lose his position with the Wild Keepers. And that cannot happen. He has worked too hard to prove himself. Book Two Maya Roberts has always hated the city of Covenester. But when she is offered the position of prima ballerina with the embattled Covenester City Ballet, it seems too good to resist. But then she finds the artistic director dead in a strange room of the old theatre, and encounters something that terrifies her more than anything she could have ever imagined… Evan Watts doesn’t want to take on the case at the city ballet company. Ballet is not really his style. But the leader of his pack of wolf shapeshifters, the Wild Keepers, insists, and so Evan poses as a security guard to find out if demons are behind all that is going wrong with the company. Who killed the artistic director, and why? Book Three Shay has worked the mean streets on case after case with the Wild Keepers, the pack of wolf shapeshifters sworn to protect the city from the Vilgath, a vicious race of demons. And he’s done his job damn well. So damn well he’s now beta, the second in command. But at this time of year, it all starts to get on top of him. Memories of what happened to his best friend, Eric, on a lark that went wrong back when he was a junior at high school, start to haunt him. And with them come memories of Tess Nolan. A sixteen-year-old beauty with wild auburn hair. The one that got away, all those years ago… Book Four Zach Byrnes is surprised when Thad, the alpha leader of the Wild Keepers, wants him to take on a case as a favour for an old friend. A woman is missing, having seemingly vanished into the mean streets of Covenester which she knows so well. A working girl, apparently, who has run away from her powerful and wealthy benefactor. As far as Zach is concerned, the woman probably wants to stay missing. And who is he to force her hand? But the mysterious, vulnerable Sienna Carter is not what she seems. Nor is the life that she has been forced to live. Sienna knows that she is a freak because of what she can do. Something so powerful she is running away from the man who enslaves her because of it. A man of such overwhelming power that his influence is beyond imagining. And now that she knows his secret there is no telling what he will do… Book Five A once proud wolf pack is gone. The streets of Covenester are filled with riots and death. The people know that the wolves have abandoned them. And the man who was once their proud leader, sworn to defend the city from the demons, has fled to the mountains. To hide and lick his wounds. He is haunted by the mistakes that he has made, which have cost him everything. All he wants now is to be left alone. But Keeley Walters has other ideas. She has heard that Thad Morgan, the mysterious man who is living in the cabin by the lake, might be able to translate the book. The book that she found in her father’s bag, after he returned home a changed man. A man who rocks and says a single sentence over and over.

    __________________________________________ SHE NEEDED A VACATION, BUT SHE WON’T GET ONE. It was supposed to be a much-needed respite for Allie Krycek. She was ready and needed to heal. And that’s exactly what she did in a small nowhere town in the Pacific Northwest. That is, until certain people decided to drag her into their web of murder and lies. When an abused housewife leaves a desperate plea for help, Allie doesn’t—she can’t—turn the other cheek. It’s not in her nature to let an innocent get hurt, if she can help it. But not everything is what it seems, and soon Allie finds herself thrust into a complicated conspiracy that just keeps getting more dangerous. If Allie were any other woman, she would turn and run. But Allie Krycek isn’t any other woman. She’s going to do the right thing, even if it means taking on one of the most powerful families in the country.

    The pair takes on corrupt politicians, rogue corporations, financiers and bankers in three novels ripped from tomorrow’s headlines. Join over 100,000 readers riveted by nearly 1,000 pages of murder, betrayal, rogues, and traitors. From the origin story of THE GENEVA DECISION, the horrors of corrupt politicians in BRING IT, to the madness unveiled in ELEMENT 42, you’ll love the irresistible characters, the chilling evil masterminds, and gripping situations. As one VineVoice reviewer said, “I could not put this book down.” Jacob Stearne was a killing machine for the Army until he started listening to Mercury, winged messenger of the Roman gods. Now he works for Sabel Security. This irresistible hero is definitely lethal—but is he divinely guided, completely insane, or the next rampage killer? Ever since Pia Sabel witnessed her parents’ murders, she’s been looking for ways to eliminate the corrupt and murderous. When her adopted father hands her the keys to a security company staffed with battle-scarred veterans, she discovers her calling as a chilling avenging angel. Be sure to look for Death and Dark Money, Sabel Security #4, and Death and the Damned, Sabel Security #5 to complete your collection! Book #1 - THE GENEVA DECISION: When criminals assassinate her first customer, retired soccer star and new CEO Pia Sabel must turn around her sinking security firm and hunt down oil pirates. Chapter 5: She plunged into shocking cold water. Something tugged at her torso, pulling her down. The current of the Rhone flowed out of Lake Léman and into a narrow penstock, or inlet tube, that once fed the power plant’s turbines. She was in that current, slipping into that penstock. She had to swim out immediately or get sucked into a kilometer-long tube. Clawing at the water, she struggled upward, sinking as much as she rose. Book #2 - BRING IT: When Pia Sabel is abducted after trying to bust a ring of deviant criminals, it’s up to veteran agent Jacob Stearne to navigate the dark web of deceit and lies to save her from her torturous captors. Chapter 3: She kicked hard and fast. Her foot moved between his knees so quickly he had no time for defense. The sole of her running shoe connected with the leg of his chair. The chair skittered backward until one of the legs found a crack in the sidewalk, caught it, and flipped end over end with a series of loud clanks. In the same instant, she grabbed his tie. His butt was behind him, halfway to the now-missing chair. His backbone was forty-five degrees from standing. Book #3 - ELEMENT 42: When a drug company tests a deadly disease only their patented drug can cure, overconfident heiress Pia Sabel and unstable veteran Jacob Stearne are all that stands between right and deadly wrong. Chapter 1: The voice in my head returned when I stopped taking my meds. My caseworker said the voice was part of my condition—PTSD-induced schizophrenia—but I call him Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, and a damn good friend.