Page 42 of Fire and Ice

"Viktor's planning something..." Maia thought really hard, squinting her eyes. "I don't agree with what he's planning."

"What's he planning?"

"Lee."

"The Russian's name is Lee?"

"No, Lee is the bait. Pour me some tequila."

Jack obliged. Maia tossed it back.

"I thought you were the bait?"

"Yes, me and Lee. Or is it Lee and I?"

"Lee is a Guardian?" Jack asked.

Maia giggled. "No, he is a musi...musician... lead ...rock band."

"He's in a rock band?"

Jack was confused. What does a rock band have to do with the Russians? Maybe Maia had had too much tequila. She's fully reclined on the lounge chair, her eyes closed.

"He was in love with me," she murmured, talking more to herself now.

Jack sat up and watched Maia intently. Who the fuck was this Lee guy? No, not jealous at all.

"So you know, ah ...Lee?" Jack prodded without an ounce of guilt.

"Bali, three times. Big mistake..." Maia mumbled.

Bali? Bali? As in Indonesia? Jack fumed. Three times. She went there three times with this guy?

Maia sat up and took the bottle of tequila and poured two shots.

"Babe, I think you've had enough," Jack said absently. His thoughts were still in a turmoil regarding who Lee was to her. He was also not quite sure how to process tequila confessions from Maia.

"Pfft. Ask Derek, I can handle tequila, baby," she said but instead of drinking from the shot glass she had just poured, started drinking from the bottle.

Screw his scruples, Jack thought. He was gonna find out what he could.

"So, what happened in Bali, babe?"

"Met Lee, he had the sexiest vocals," Maia whispered. "Sex on the beach." She giggled then looked at Jack who was starting to feel murderous. "It's fun, we need to try it."

Right now, Jack wanted to bash this Lee guy's face in and had the overwhelming urge to fuck Maia right where she was. But she was obviously inebriated, and he didn't want to take advantage of her.

"You went there three times?"

"Shouldn't have. Shouldn't have...a mistake."

"Why a mistake?"

"Familiarity breeds attachment ... love. That's a mistake."

"Do you love him?"

"Can't fall in love."

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