Page 52 of Fire and Ice

Jack's eyes followed the couple for a beat before turning back to Maia, frowning at the card she was fingering in her hand.

"What's that?" Jack asked even as he knew.

"Harold's business card. He's one smooth operator," she replied in amusement.

"That sonofabitch," Jack muttered as he made a move to stand up.

"Jack," Maia said as she reached out to rest a hand on his arm. "He's not worth it. Would you ruin our first date?"

"You get propositioned all the time, don't you?" he realized wryly.

"Well, didn't you?" Maia replied. "I seem to recall I was bleeding from my leg and had just taken two bullets through a vest when you lewdly suggested our present arrangement."

"Touché," he grinned. Yes, he was such a hypocrite.

Their food arrived. They enjoyed their dinner with no further interruptions. Jack watched Maia gush over the buttery sole meuniere. It was so erotic to watch her moan with pleasure over her food. He could see why she ignited the way she did during sex: she was sensual by nature and embraced her carnal desires with gusto.

After finishing off dessert which was an indulgent affair of chocolate, they lingered over coffee.

"So what made you quit the Navy SEALs?" Maia asked.

It was Claire, he wanted a civilian life with her. Oddly, Jack didn't feel the familiar twinge of pain in his chest whenever he remembered his dead fiancée.

"I wanted a civilian life with Claire," Jack said and saw Maia's face wince.

"Don't," Jack said as he reached for her hand. "It's okay. I can talk about it. It was not an accident, it was the Colombian drug cartel. That's how I met Derek. A buddy of his was also a victim, and Derek was able to request use of resources from AGS to help us isolate the two drug lords involved. We took them down."

"I'm sorry, Jack," Maia whispered.

Jack nodded and then taking both of her hands, said, "I really want to help you with the Russian, babe. I'm not a district attorney or a singer in a rock band. I'm an ex-Navy SEAL. I can hack it. If the AGS can ask Derek for help, they can also ask me."

Maia looked at their clasped hands and then back at him. "I appreciate the offer, I really do. But one thing we sacrifice to be a Guardian is our relationships. Viktor has no family, I have no one except for my foster parents. Derek has none either—haven't you wondered why he is still single? In some way we are our own family."

"I know what's at stake, I've experienced it first hand," Jack informed her through clenched teeth.

"There are worse things than suffering a direct loss of a loved one," she said sadly.

"What do you mean?"

"Having someone you love tortured right in front of you, to coerce you to make a choice you don't want," Maia whispered, her eyes losing focus

"Maia?" Jack froze as he watched her descend into her own private hell. Was that what had happened to her parents?

"They cut us up, my mother and I," she continued as he gripped her hands convulsively when he realized what she was telling him. His sudden movement snapped her out of her reverie. Realizing what she had just said, Maia tried to collect herself.

"They're ruthless, Jack, these people that are after me. Your parents are well-known public figures, they're easy targets."

Jack barely heard what she was saying, he was still absorbing what he had just learned. Jesus Christ! Maia was tortured when she was twelve? He was trying hard to control the rage rising within him. An overwhelming urge to protect her consumed him.

"Jack?"

"Maia, do you want to go for a drive?" he asked trying to appear calm. God knows he was reeling and needed some fresh air.

"I would love that."

"I should've stolen the keys to this instead," Maia declared as they cruised along highway 12 in Jack's Mercedes SLS. "Can I drive?"

"Not a chance," Jack retorted, grinning.

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