Page 71 of Silver Fire

“Making sure I make enough bacon for you, sweetheart,” Derek drawled.

“Aw, isn’t he sweet,” Beth mocked, turning back to Sophie. “Aren’t you hiring more security?”

“Justin and his goons are probably out of the country by now,” Sophie said airily, knowing to keep her mouth shut in front of her friend.

His condo intercom buzzed. Frowning, he pressed the call button and said, “Yeah.”

“We’re coming up.” It was Jack.

Derek shook his head. Crazy morning just got crazier. He ground more coffee beans.

Minutes later, a key was heard at the door. Jack walked through along with Maia, who was carrying a big brown paper bag.

“Glad I got enough beignets!” Maia chirped as she spied Beth.

Jack made himself quickly at home by taking out two coffee mugs to pour out the rest of the coffee from the flask.

“Beignets, hmm,” Beth drooled as she peered into the brown bag. “Classy chick. I haven’t had this since New Orleans.” Taking a quick bite of the pillowy pastry, the reporter looked like she was about to have an orgasm. “This thing is the shit,” she exclaimed. “Where do you get these?”

“Corner shop from our building is a Creole restaurant. I talked them into making beignets on Sunday mornings,” Maia said.

“You’re kick-ass and resourceful. If you weren’t married already, I’d ask you to move in with me,” Beth said and laughed when Jack shot her a look. “Sorry McCord, huge crush on your wife.”

“You and everyone else,” Jack muttered.

“Are you feeling OK after yesterday?” Sophie asked Maia. The redhead still had a huge bandage on the side of her forehead.

“Yeah, went to the hospital Saturday afternoon, had an MRI and full body scan. Perfect health.”

“I was trying to convince Derek to go to the hospital, but he was being bull-headed.” Sophie shot him a dirty look.

“I’m fine, Angel, all your favorite parts are in working order,” Derek responded roguishly.

Jack heaved himself up on the countertop, Maia moved between his legs, leaning into him.

“I can’t believe none of us ‘made’ Justin,” Maia muttered, sipping on her coffee. “Damned embarrassing. I can blame three martinis, but you Derek, what’s your excuse? You even had a conversation with the man.”

“Two sentences hardly make a conversation,” Derek fired back.

“Derek was thinking with his dick,” Jack murmured and chuckled as his wife smacked his thigh.

“True,” Beth agreed. “Maybe you’re not the best person to keep Sophie safe, Derek.”

Derek scowled at Beth. “I’ll pretend you didn’t say that, Beth, because I’m not letting Sophie out of my damned sight.” He looked at Sophie. “I’m taking you to work, picking you up. You sleep in my bed. End of.”

“I’m seeing a strange re-enactment of us, Jack,” Maia murmured to her husband.

“Talking about re-enactment,” Derek said reflectively. “Do you remember a Marissa Cole, Maia? She was the spook at AGS this morning.”

Maia’s clear blue eyes got big like saucers. “Damn straight I remember, she broke Viktor’s heart.”

“Viktor has a heart?” Jack, Derek and Beth said in unison. Everyone broke out in laughter except Maia, who patiently waited for everyone to stop laughing.

“All right, may be nothing that dramatic. Shit, actually it was,” Maia countered. “That was over eight years ago. Marissa had just started in the clandestine program of the CIA, she and Viktor had a job together. I’ve never seen Viktor so…different. He laughed more and was almost always in a good mood until that time I guess when they broke up. Heard him almost yelling into the phone.”

“Viktor was yelling?” Derek never heard Viktor yell. He was always cold and in control, except those times he was yelling at Maia.

“Well, he frequently yells at me,” Maia said.

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