Page 136 of Fire and Ice

"I think I'm a bit past the bloom for the perverts you do business with," Maia retorted.

Without warning, Gavlik grabbed her throat painfully. "I do not want to mark your lovely body, but I have little patience for your backtalk. Ilara will come in and get you ready."

"Get me ready for what?"

"A little incentive I'm sending Viktor Baran."

The situation room at the AGS headquarters was filled with analysts and Guardians.

When Jack showed up for the meeting, Viktor pulled him into his office.

"Look, McCord, I'm not surprised that you wanted to take Lockwood's place. I'm used to working with Derek and we're familiar with each other's play. I trust that your years as a SEAL will come in handy, but I will not let you play heroics and get any of my men killed."

"I know what's at stake here," Jack replied curtly.

"Just as long as we're on the same page. We both want to get her back. I know you two were having problems, but I expected that. The question is, is your shit sorted out?"

"It is, Viktor. I'm 100% committed to her," Jack said. "But know this: after we get her back, I'm going to persuade her to leave this life. It'll be easier for her if I were to make the decisions on her safety next time. The further away she is from your influence, the better. But whatever she decides, I'm with her. Got it?"

Viktor smiled wolfishly and said, "Fair enough, McCord."

Viktor was standing at the head of the table with an image of a three-level building on a widescreen monitor behind him.

"Mikhail Gavlik's compound is in the city of Orenburg Oblast, which is on the Ural River, 918 miles from Moscow. The plan is to take a Gulfstream 550 to Germany and from Germany to Kurumoch Airport in Samara, Russia. From there we're using three modified Black Hawks to fly into the Volynsky stronghold to pick up their commandos. There we refuel and fly into Orenburg. The Russians agreed to turn a blind eye to our incursion. But the less time we spend in their airspace, the better."

"How do we know for sure our people are there?" a Guardian spoke up.

"Thanks to McCord Defense Industries here," Viktor pointed to Jack. "We were able to inject our people with tracking serums. They function like a biological beacon that binds to the person's blood stream. It is untraceable by any device right now except the proprietary one made by MDI. We have assets on the ground right now with the tracking device and they confirm that all four of our people are in that compound."

"Viktor," a voice came over intercom. "I have a live feed from Mikhail Gavlik. He wants a meeting with you."

Chatter exploded in the room. Jack felt himself tensing up as he anticipated catching a glimpse of the man who had taken Maia.

"Quiet!" Viktor ordered, and told everyone, except one analyst and another Guardian, to leave the room.

"I'm staying," Jack said stonily.

"Fine," Viktor barked. "But you keep your mouth shut and let me do the talking."

Jack nodded as Viktor gave the go ahead.

Mikhail Gavlik appeared on the widescreen.

"Viktor Baran," Gavlik purred. "I believe I have a couple of your people."

"I want proof of life," Viktor said steadily.

"You are in no position to make demands," Gavlik snapped. "You're as arrogant as that redhead."

Jack's mouth tightened. Damn Maia, probably mouthing off again.

"What do you want?"

"I want you to get me the formula for the Rave-IX from the DEA."

"And you'll let my people go?"

"I'll let three of them go. I'm keeping the redhead."

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