Read Online Fire and Ice (Guardians) by Victoria Paige - Free Book Online Page A

how Jack met Derek Lockwood who had just been recruited into the AGS. Using AGS surveillance and databases, they were able to narrow down the possible perpetrators to two of the drug lords and took them out in a mission that was off-the-grid.
    There were no further incidents against the ex-SEALS.
    Afterwards, Jack drove himself relentlessly into the growth of his company. Drawing from his experience in Special Ops, he was able to develop state-of-the art small arms weapons and devices and in just a few years had become a top weapons contractor for the DoD. With terrorism and individualized hostile sectors becoming the new face of the enemy, the old way of fighting with warships and tanks had become obsolete. Urban warfare requiring lighter weapons and technology that aided precision-strike missions led by smaller teams became the way of the future.
    For two years after Claire's death, Jack did not date. He eventually resorted to one-night stands to slake his physical needs. When one of those encounters resulted in a three-month affair, Jack decided that he preferred monogamous arrangements over going to bed with a total stranger. Though his relationships were short and he did not love his girlfriends, he did care for them. He was quite fond of Isabella. It was disappointing that she turned absolutely psycho in the last month of their relationship. She started complaining about his work, wanted to go on a two-week European vacation and then finally demanded that he marry her. It was as if she had become a different woman.
    And now there was Maia. He had never felt physical desire so consuming and he had never pursued any woman the way he did her. He kidnapped her, for Christ's sakes! Images of her writhing underneath him, moaning his name while he moved inside her, kept flashing through his mind. All. Fucking. Day. It was driving him crazy. He needed to have her soon. But he wanted more than a quick fuck. He wanted more from her but he did not know what and that unsettled him. Jack shook his head. No. This thing with Maia was going to be quick and simple. He'd fuck her a couple of times and be over her.

     
    ***
    Deep in the underbelly of the stonehouse, Maia was in videoconference again with Viktor. She couldn't be happier with the setup here, a view of the North Carolina coast topside and a high tech facility below. It was almost midnight when Viktor texted her to set up an urgent meeting.
    "Our data centers picked up data searches on your name originating from your location. The Westcove Police Department in fact," Viktor informed her.
    "Shit. Tanner," Maia muttered.
    "You neglected to tell me that you've run into a detective," her mentor said softly. The comment carried a touch of censure.
    "It didn't occur to me."
    "Maia, you've become increasingly careless."
    "Oh, shut it Viktor. You're beginning to sound like Derek."
    "I think McCord is becoming a distraction."
    "He is not even here. I'm just finding out that a small town isn't a good place to hide out. Everyone knows everyone. A newcomer is big news and attracts too much attention."
    "I think your problem is getting on the radar with the local police the first day you got there."
    "I had no control of that." Maia told him what happened at the beach and at the tavern. Viktor started laughing instead of getting mad at her exposure, much to Maia's annoyance.
    "You're too pretty for your own good. I can't imagine you acting all damsel-in-distress, either. I can't really blame you for standing out, you'd do that anywhere which is why you're our top agent for seducing dictators."
    "Gee, thanks, I think," Maia grumbled. "I'm pretty good with guns and knives too, you know."
    "Yes, you are," Viktor said with some pride.
    "Oh, another thing has been bugging me," Maia said. She told Viktor about the incident with Kyle and his mom. She always had great intuition and her gut told her not to ignore this.
    "I think there's more to those three guys terrorizing Westcove. They've been