Page 57 of Fire and Ice

"I just talked to Callahan, he said most of Vergara's operations have been shut down," Jack informed them. "He thinks in the next week you should get the all clear."

Maia wanted to interject, she really did. She had not talked to Viktor since Jack's parents and Brett had arrived but as far as she knew, Reznikov was moving in on Vergara's territory. If there were any deals struck regarding a renewed hit on Brett, that was unknown. Viktor was trying to find out if anyone had been sent to find out what had happened to Benny and his thugs. So far, according to Rick, no one had been asking questions at the local police department.

But Maia's gut was telling her something else. Something big was about to happen. She looked up to see Jack's quizzical look on her. She shrugged and dug into her plate but her insides were torn between her duty to AGS and her need to protect the people around her.

***

Jack watched Maia take a call on her cell phone. She went out to the balcony for more privacy. She had not been using the control room because Jack did not want Kane Taylor and his men to know about it. She appeared to be in deep conversation with someone; his one guess—Viktor.

Something was troubling her. She had been subdued and introspective at dinner soaking in the conversation around her but not commenting. Jack deliberately told Brett that the all-clear was coming even though Maia had warned him that the Russian appeared to be making a move on Vergara's drugs by sending his men into smaller towns to hide the goods. He wanted to induce a reaction. She reacted, but it was subtle. But now on the balcony she was definitely agitated, something that didn't happen often.

He had informed Kane Taylor and the others to be hyper-vigilant but was also thinking of an excuse to move his parents and Brett out of there without making his mom nervous. Damn Brett for putting him in this position, he should have just stayed put where he left him.

Jack stepped outside to join Maia when she ended the call. She whirled around to face him, indecision etched into face.

"What's going on, babe?"

"I have this feeling that something is about to happen," Maia said. "I tried to get more information from Viktor but he couldn't say for sure if the Russian was on the move. As far as it appears, he's laying low. But what Benny said about the Russian being impatient tells me he is covering his tracks very well, totally off the grid." She sighed. "My hunch: Brett is still a target. The Russian seems to have control of Vergara's drugs—the ones that have not been accounted for. Vergara is not giving that up for free. He would probably want payback for whoever put him in jail and that person is Brett. "

"Fuck," Jack whispered.

"We hope to draw him out in Baltimore next weekend. I know you've heard part of our plans. It's okay. Viktor has no problem with you knowing as long as you stay out of it."

Jack didn't say anything.

"But Brett showing up here presents a dilemma. We are not ready to confront Reznikov," Maia cursed as she caught her slip. Up to this point she had never mentioned the Russian's name. Jack smiled grimly.

"You need to send them away, Jack."

"I'm working on that."

"I wish I could get to Reznikov sooner," Maia said fiercely. "This ends in Baltimore. That sonofabitch has ruined enough lives."

"It sounds personal."

"It always is with the mob."

"How did you get on his hit list?" Jack asked casually.

"A misplaced sense of empathy. Let's just say I got caught on surveillance cameras because I didn't follow the playbook."

"Seems to be a habit of yours lately."

Maia grimaced at his words and started rubbing her forehead with her fingers.

"I've become careless. Viktor said it, Derek said it. I don't know what's wrong with me."

Jack gently cupped Maia's face with his hand.

"You're human, Maia. You're not a robot. You make mistakes."

"The strange thing is, I don't regret what I did. If I were to have a do-over, I would do the exact damn thing."

"One thing I know is not to underestimate you. I'm sure the Russian knows this of you by now. I hope you'll be more careful."

Maia gave a faint smile.

"I'm serious, babe. You kick-ass and all but you are not invincible."

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