Part 5 - I hate you... but I love you (Nineteen months later)
"Okay, I'm entering the main hall... I'm turning you off now!"
"Copied!"
Jack heard Dixon's voice on the other end and quickly turned off his microphone. He looked around in the luxurious entrance room of the small hotel on one of the small Pacific Islands and finally decided to go to the reception.
"Welcome to our hotel, Mr..." The young girl at the reception smiled welcoming.
He wondered if she was already old enough to work... he estimated her age to fourteen or fifteen. What a shame, he thought, that they even introduce children to their criminal activities.
"Donelli!" he replied with an undefined accent.
"Ah, Mr. Donelli... yes, we have a suite waiting for you!"
She had a clear voice with a strong Asian accent... he couldn't distinguish whether it was Thai or Japanese. She handed a small key over to him.
"Mr Conzales is looking forward to making your acquaintance. You've been granted unlimited use of our private pool for special guests. That includes every service related to it!" She handed him a brochure, obviously the program. "If you have any more wishes, just call for the room service!"
She outlined a bow - most likely still a manner of her native country - and pointed at the stairs that led to the upper levels of the building.
Jack nodded courteously and wondered once again how that child came to work at a place like this. He went up the stairs and searched for his room, carefully scanning his surroundings.
It had been one month ago when they had received intel that dozens of members of the covenant used this hotel as their holiday retreat. The owner himself was said to be a high-ranking member of the crime organization and they had come into the possession of surveillance camera photos that clearly showed Sydney in this hotel. She had disappeared almost eighteen months ago and during all his research, this was the first clear hint they had, that proved, that Sydney was alive and that the Covenant might be behind her disappearance.
Here he was, out in the field like he had been so often during the last year. He had given his best to find Sydney, contacted all of his informants, asking them to contact their contacts and informants, to get any possible location where his daughter might be. There had been many dead-ends... and some valuable hints, but none of them had really helped.
The photos of the camera had been the first hints that really led somewhere...
Jack entered his room and closed the door behind him. The first thing he did was disarm all kind of bugs with the small cellphone Marshall had given him.
Then he started to play the role of someone who really enjoyed his vacations here. He unpacked his clothes and changed into something more comfortable. This took him about an hour time - hurry was unnecessary and would only draw unwanted attention.
He took care of the surveillance camera by causing it to record this afternoon with a small microchip he inserted and replayed it in an endless loop. He wanted the security guys to see only what he wanted them to.
After he had finished his work, he decided to go down and check out the surroundings. The first and second floor didn't seem to be extraordinary in any way, although they were unusually luxurious furnished. On the ground floor he found the huge dining room - he almost felt as if he was in the castle of some king and wondered how the owner could afford such luxury for a hotel. Of course, the price for one night was almost his whole month salary, but he doubted that hundreds of guests visited this hotel.
Every guest was checked properly - he had experienced that - and only after it had been proven that he wasn't an intelligence or police agent, he was granted entrance.
Jack thought back at the profile Kendall had written for him. Jack Donelli, private assassin, killed his own wife...
"Is this your sick kind of humor?" he had asked him with a raised eyebrow and Kendall had just laughed.
"It sounds at least convincing..."
He hadn't discussed the subject further, because it just hadn't been worth it. It was only a profile that proved that he was a criminal.
He went through a small arch into a beautiful, huge garden - actually a comparison with a park would have been more accurate. He looked around and discovered the huge swimming pool. Slowly he strolled towards it.
"You must be Mr Donelli!"
A corpulent man in a black tuxedo hurried towards him, smiling with a big cigar between his white teeth.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Mr. Conzales! Yuki notified me of you arrival. "
Jack took his hand and smiled. "Yuki?"
"My entrance maid."
"The Asian girl..." Jack said and smiled. "Pretty young, isn't she?"
The man laughed. "Yeah, her parents died when she was eight. She lived on the streets of Tokyo. I offered her a job here, she took it. Children are the best, they're naive... although she's growing old now. I was thinking about training her, but for about a year she has a protector here. She's starting to ask questions, and I'll soon have to take measures... you understand!" He sighed. "It's a pity. She's a beautiful girl, and could make a really good 'room service'..." His laughter was dirty and Jack felt the need to punch him. It took all of his control not to. "... but unfortunately her sense of moral is too strong. She still thinks, she's working for a hotel for extra-rich people who want to escape paparazzi."
Again his laughter. They had arrived the pool now and Jack looked around.
"This is our place for training... you can also just lie down and enjoy one of our drinks. Only well-chosen guest have access to this area, so you shouldn't be disturbed here. Of course, your anonymity is guaranteed! No personal information is given out to other guests... just to prevent personal revenge attacks or unwanted job offers which will darken you stay at our beautiful hotel!"
Jack hadn't even listened to the last words. His eyes were fixed on the slender silhouette of a woman who stepped now out of a door on the other side of the pool. She freed her hair from the pin she had been wearing and shook her head to loosen it a little.
Dropping her towel carelessly to a free chair, she revealed her perfectly shaped body, her skin shimmering like velvet in the sun. She headed elegantly into water and dove almost the whole length of the pool. When she surfaced, she started immediately to do the crawl.
"She's one hell of a woman, isn't she?" Conzales grinned while he puffed on his cigar. He had of course noticed what had drawn Jack's attention away from him. "I always come here at this time because I know this is when she does her daily training."
"Training?" Jack asked, not really interested. His mind had drifted away. She was here... how could that be? This was a place of the Covenant!
"Yes! She swims one hour every day, and in the evening two hours down in the ocean. She's one of my girls... one of the best assassins you've ever seen. Unfortunately she can be incredibly stubborn - especially concerning Yuki..."
Really?" Jack's face darkened. One of his girls - why did this phrase cause rage to build up within him? "She's Yuki's protector?"
"Yeah, I don't know why! She's obsessed with the little girl. At the moment she's working on convincing me to let her go. She wants the girl to attend a school... the hell knows why. If you want, I might be able to arrange something for you for tonight."
Jack looked at him, his face fully under control, only his eyes reflected a little of his anger. "Yeah, why not. That would be really nice..."
Gonzales laughed loudly. "I see, we'll be very good friends. I'll leave you alone now. Feel free to look around... if there are any problems, just contact your friend Conzales!" He hit Jack's shoulder and went away.
Jack watched him until he was gone, then he turned to the pool again. So, here she was and obviously, as he had just learned, she was one of Conzales private whores. It took all of his strength to control the fury, that made him want to pull her out of the water and take her back into US-custody. For a short moment the thought occurred to him that he was jealous, but he discarded it almost at the same second.
He was definitely not jealous, because jealousy required love, and that was one of a few feelings he did not have for Irina Derevko - he had spend the last one and a half year trying to convince himself of that.
He strolled over to a free chair and sat down on it, then he observed her doing her training and finally climbing out of the pool. She squeezed the water out of her thick hair - good, she looked gorgeous in that black swimsuit. He realized that a few other men were, like him, staring at her and for a moment he wondered how many of them had already been in her bed.
She walked slowly towards her chair and reached for her towel which she wrapped around her well trained body.
She was already used to the stares of the men and had learned to ignore them. During the first time there had been some very courageous guy - they had thought she was one of the service girls - who had tried to go for her. They had soon learned that she was not that easy to get - in fact she was not to get at all.
She took her hairpin and wanted to leave the pool area when she saw Antonio Conzales coming towards her.
"Hallo Irina!" he greeted her with his usual slimy grin. She didn't even try to pretend that she was happy to see him.
"Antonio, what do you want?"
He grinned through his cigar. "I've arranged a little date for you tonight!"
"How nice... unfortunately I have other plans!" she wanted to go away but he grabbed her wrist.
"Irina, I warn you! We've already had this conversation! I give you a place to hide here! I would be so easy to call some of my informants and you'd be dead within two hours... or captured by the CIA... or the Russian intelligence. You're a famous terrorist and almost every country would pay millions of dollars to see you dead! But I gave you a place to hide here... don't you think you should pay back my favors at least a little bit!"
"I am... I've been committing murders for you, killing people who were threatening you!" she replied dryly, her eyes sparkling with rage, but her face appearance was calm and controlled.
"Yes, you have, but every other of my men could have done that. I expect a little more gratitude!"
"With other words, you expect me to share your bed!" At his smiled she chuckled disgustingly. "I already told you, I am not your slut!"
She wanted to turn around but his grip fastened. "Irina, I want you to date this Donelli tonight. I've never heard of him before, he appeared from nowhere, and there is a possibility that he is an agent. I want you to check him out... sleep with him. Men are very talky when you sleep with them."
"I won't! Why don't you send one of your personal..." she started, but he didn't even let her finish.
"Because he asked for you!"
"Then tell him that I am not available for that kind of service!"
Antonio Conzales pierced her with his eyes. She returned his gaze, her eyes steady and without fear. That was her fault, he thought grimly. All his other girls were afraid of him, but she wasn't. At least not for herself... The thought occurred to him like a flash and he started to grin.
"I'm afraid I'll have to send Yuki then!"
"You son of a---"
"Yuki is beautiful and sweet... and I'm sure she wouldn't dare to contradict me. How old is she? Fourteen? She should be old enough... Or maybe I'll keep her for myself tonight!"
Irina grabbed his sleeves and pulled him close. "You lousy bastard, you will not touch her of I'll swear I'll cut off your arms myself!" Her voice was fully under control and for the first time he was the one who actually feared her - but of course he didn't show her that.
"It's okay, I won't harm her... but nonetheless, I expect you to visit Donelli and find out what his plans are!"
He freed himself from her and she pierced him with her eyes when he walked away. He could feel her eyes in his back and knew better than to provoke her fury. As far as he knew her, she wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he did anything to Yuki. And she was too damned good in her job to fail. He thought it better to not make her his enemy.
+~+~+~+~+~
It was already past nine when Irina knocked at the door of room 142. Although she had no intention to sleep with the man, she had changed into something more appropriate. She wore a white jeans and a nice shirt, both very tight. Actually those were some of her usual clothes, but they would do.
All she wanted was to convince the video cameras that she was doing what Conzales had requested.
She looked up to the videocamera in the corridor and faced the door when she heard it opening.
"Mr Donelli, you asked me to visit you and I just wanted..." She cut herself off and stared at the man who was standing opposite to her now, unable to decide whether she was dreaming or awake.
"Ms Derevko, it's a pleasure to see you!" Jack smiled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. He pulled her into the room and closed the door behind him.
"I... I am just here to tell you I am not going to..."
His lips silenced hers in a demanding kiss, his hands drawing her close to his body. Suddenly he interrupted the kiss, let her go and went to the mini-bar. He filled two glass with vodka and handed one of them to her.
"What are you doing here?"
She looked at him, the coldness of his voice setting her off.
"I'm hiding here..."
"Really... I see. Are you aware that this is a facility of the Covenant?"
She took one sip of the vodka and nodded. "Mmm... yes, I am."
"And I assume that you do also know that they most likely kidnapped Sydney?"
Her glass landed on the ground with a tinkling sound and she stared at him in total disbelief.
"What? When?"
"Eighteen months ago."
"Eighteen..." she sat down on his bed, her face pale. "Is she... still alive?"
"I hope so!"
Jack observed her carefully. Her shock seemed to be real, but who knew. Irina Derevko was a master in playing roles.
"She was seen here... she's on a video camera tape from six moths ago."
Irina just stared at him for a moment, the she got finally up again. "I have to go now... I'm sorry about the glass, I'll send someone to clean it up..."
She turned to the door, but before she had reached it, he had grabbed her and pulled her lips into his again. He let his glass drop to a small table and draw her slowly to the bed, never breaking the kiss. When he heard her moan softly into his mouth, he let her go. She took his hands, searching for the warmth of his lips again, but he avoided her touch.
"Oh, just one question before we get started... how much is it going to cost me?"
"What?" she asked, not even listening to what he said. Here he was, right before her. Jack Bristow... her Jack.
"Having sex with you. I want to make sure I have enough cash..." he replied coldly and she backed up abruptly.
"What?" she asked in disbelief now, her voice in a mixture of anger and hurt.
"Well, since you're obviously employed as a whore in here I assume you have your price and don't offer you services for free..."
Slowly, very slowly it dawned on her what he was thinking of her - he thought she paid her bill for staying here by working as a prostitute. Damned idiot, he hadn't learned anything.
She stood up straight to keep at least the last remains of her dignity and not show her hurt, her face was totally emotionless, her eyes locked with his.
"Yes, you're right... and when I think about it. My price is far beyond the amount you could afford!" she replied coldly and turned around to leave the room. Before she shut the door she faced him once again, shooting him her most seductive look. "Sweet dreams, Mr Donelli!"
When the door slammed, he let himself sink down to the bed. Maybe he had been a little too harsh... but she hadn't even denied being a whore. In fact she had proven his suspicions by her words.
Irina rushed along the corridor until she reached her private rooms. After she had slammed the door shut behind her, she let herself sink against the wall and sighed deeply. That damned, insufferable bastard! How could he believe that she would sell herself to other men when the only man she could think of was him? Maybe she had made some mistakes in her past - including using sex as a mean to get something - but that had been when she was younger. She had changed - well, maybe she was still a terrorist, but her priorities had changed. She would do everything to protect the two people she loved the most - Sydney and Jack...
And now she learned that Sydney had been kidnapped. Why had she went into hiding and stopped observing them? Maybe she would have been able to prevent Sydney's disappearance. After what had happened to Jack, she had though it best to leave their lives forever - to protect them. Obviously a mistake again...
What was Jack doing here now? Looking for Sydney, that was for sure, but most likely not alone. He must have a CIA team somewhere close and that would mean that she was in danger here.
She took another deep breath and grabbed for her swimsuit. She needed a little training now to free her mind and decide what to do next - whether to go away or ally herself with Jack.
+~+~+~+~+~+~+
The water was cold and helped her to throw away any unwanted thoughts. She swam a few minutes out into the ocean, then back to the beach. When she stepped out of the water and wrapped her towel around her, a figure stepped out of the dark shadow of a palm.
"I knew you would come here!"
She started and spun around. "Dammit, you scared me..."
Jack strolled towards her and she turned away from him.
"What do you want here, Jack?"
"I want some answers!" he replied, sitting down on a rock.
"What kind of answers?" she asked and knotted the towel around her waist.
"Do you have anything to do with Sydney's kidnap?"
"Jack, no!" She looked at him as if he was crazy. "Do you really think I would kidnap my own daughter? ...Of course you do!" she added after she had seen the look in his eyes. "But I'm sorry to disappoint you here. I didn't know they had kidnapped Sydney!"
"Okay, what are you doing here then... besides selling your body to those..."
"Oh, that's it! I live here and get the orders to sleep with men to steal secrets from them!" she answered sarcastically and he shot her one of his warning glances.
"What?" Her voice was cold. "That's what you want to hear... you won't believe anything else anyway, so why even bother to convince you that this is just not the case!"
"What is the case then?"
"I live her... and I do jobs for Conzales, but not the kind of jobs you think of. I get things he wants to have... and sometimes I kill someone who is a thread to him. That's it!"
"I don't believe you!"
"I didn't expect you to!" She turned around and wanted to go away, but he grabbed her wrist to hold her.
"I wasn't finished yet!"
"Well, I was!" She freed her wrist out of his grip and went to the small rock staircase that led back up to the area of the hotel. He followed her in a certain distance.
When she passed by the pool and went towards the entrance to the staff rooms, he caught up with her and held her softly, trying to prevent her from entering the house.
"Irina, have you seen Sydney here?"
"No, I haven't!" she replied, her eyes holding his steadily. "If I had I would tell you!" She sighed. "I don't know what you think of me... most likely you take me for a monster who wouldn't hesitate to kill her own daughter if given the possibility. I can't blame you for that... maybe you're right in a way. I know you loathe me, and don't trust me... I don't trust you either, but I swear to you, I would never ever hurt Sydney." Or you, she added silently but didn't tell him out loud. "I offer you my help to find her. You can take it... or reject it."
He had let her finish her little speech, his eyes observing her now carefully. "You're offering to help me find Sydney?" His tone implied that he was seriously considering her offer. "Okay!" he finally agreed. "But I have two conditions: Number One, I am the one in charge... you follow my orders. And Number Two, no hidden agendas, no betrayal... not even lies. You share all your ideas and results with me!"
She folded her arms. "Concerning Number One: go to hell! And concerning Number Two: No hidden agendas, no betrayal. But I'll see if you're worthy to be told everything! And I have one condition as well!"
"What?"
"Since we have to leave this place... I want to bring Yuki to Japan first."
"Your protege!" Jack answered dryly and Irina shrugged.
"If you want to call her that, yes. I just don't want her life ruined because of one wrong decision she made."
He heard the softness in her voice and for the first time he considered the possibility that she might indeed regret her errors of the past. The new faces he discovered on her amazed him. She was taking care of Yuki as if she was her own daughter... just like Laura had done. Laura had been warm-hearted and always worried about other people.
But this was not Laura! Laura had been an illusion... like a character in a theater was an illusion, he thought grimly. And yet, he discovered qualities in her that were really sweet.
Stop it, Bristow, he commanded himself.
"Okay, we'll take Yuki to Japan..." he nodded. "Do you have any idea where to bring her there?"
"She has a grandfather. I've searched for him and found out that he works in a Shinto temple near Yokohama. Obviously he doesn't even know that he has a granddaughter, otherwise he would have already searched for her. I've found out that he and Yuki's mother had hardly any contact. They had disputed about her marriage, and when Yuki's mother married the man she loved against the will of his father, he turned away from her. I'm convinced that he will take good care of his granddaughter."
Only now she realized that they had gotten closer to each other while talking. Their chests were almost touching, his face close to hers. She tired to back up a little to get some distance between them, but he held her firmly in place.
"Jack..." she started to protest, but he didn't even listen to her.
Their faces were just inches apart and finally his mouth found the cool skin of her neck, softly starting to caress it until her soft moan satisfied him. His hands went to her waist, pulling her close to him. She shivered against his body and closed her eyes. God, how much she had missed him, his touch, his warmth...
Her lips ran over his cheek and earlobe, softly caressing his hot skin while her hands ran though his hair, pulling him even closer. Finally their lips met in a passionate encounter that left them both breathless.
No, this didn't feel right... Irina broke the kiss and leaned her forehead against his, her hands framing his face. She bit her lip, her eyes still closed.
"I should go now!" she murmured hoarsely, still breathing heavier than normal. "I have to take care of the ship to take us away from here... and Yuki!"
"But you don't have to do that now..." he replied, outlining the shape of her waist with his fingers which caused her to tremble again. But then she freed herself from him.
"Goodnight, Jack!" She turned to leave.
"Why can't you stay for me, because of all the other men?" he asked, his voice showing more anger than he wanted to.
A knife stabbing her couldn't have outraged her more. Irina stopped abruptly, turning around slowly. It didn't take someone who knew her to see the murderous expression on her face.
Before Jack knew what was happening, Irina had pushed him into the cool water of the swimming pool.
"Are you insane?" he yelled anxiously when he surfaced and shot her one of his darkest looks.
"Am I insane?" she repeated his question. "Ask that question of yourself, Bristow! And don't you dare ever touch me again!"
With these words she turned around and left. Jack climbed out of the pool, his clothes soaked and dripping with water. He watched her entering the house in bewilderment, then anger started to build up inside him. Damned he needed her and she rejected him! Why did she prefer a man like Conzales to him?
He swore to himself, that he would kill Conzales next time he saw him.
~+~+~+~
"Do you remember the conversation we once had?" Irina pulled Yuki into her room and grabbed the girl at the shoulders. "I want you to pack your most important things... without anyone noticing!"
"What? Why?" The girl looked at her in complete confusion.
"And I also told you, that if I ordered you to pack your stuff someday, I didn't want to hear any protests or questions!"
"Yes, and I made clear that I don't take orders!" Yuki replied dryly and when Irina looked into her eyes, she sighed. Yuki was just a little too much like her.
"Just do what I told you to... I have to leave this place and without anyone protecting you, you'll be in danger here!"
"I can defend myself!"
"Yuki! I warn you..." The hint of fury in Irina's voice showed that she was about to lose control.
"I've been training very hard! They won't be able to do anything to me!" Yuki's voice was even to that of Irina and the woman grabbed the girl's shoulders.
"You can't defend yourself against a profi! They'll kill you before you even noticed..."
The next moment she found herself flying to the ground, her arm pressed painfully to her back and Yuki sitting over her.
"I'm sorry, but in the face of your situation I don't think that you're right! Unless you would not consider yourself as a profi..."
"Cheeky little brat!" Irina growled and Yuki let go of her laughing.
"You seem a little rusty!"
She avoided Irina's grip still grinning, but then stumbled and finally found herself pulled into Irina's arms.
"I just don't want you to get hurt!" The woman pressed Yuki close to her. "You don't know these men... you don't know what they are able to do, but I do! And I don't want you to become part of their world."
"I'll be okay!" Yuki hugged her. "Really! I survived living in the streets of Tokyo, I survived working here for five years... Conzales doesn't know that I know what this hotel is about. He thinks I'm just a weak, naive girl who isn't even able to defend herself."
"But Yuki, this can't be what you have planned for your life! You're smart, you're intelligent! You could achieve something in life... besides being Conzales best asset! I'm planning to take you back to Japan. You have a grandfather living there... he will take care of you! You can attend a school and change your live! No more criminal activities. You could live a normal life!"
Yuki held her eyes, then she hugged the woman. "But what about you? I can't leave you alone!"
"I can take care of myself... I have done all of my live! Although I'll miss you terribly! But you have the chance to turn away from this life in hiding and danger to get killed every second. You get a second chance! Take it!"
"Okay, I'll pack my stuff!" Yuki smiled and Irina let go of her.
"Make sure to be ready tonight. The ship will be down in the bay at eleven. Oh, and wrap your stuff in plastic. We'll have to swim a little. And now get back to work before Conzales gets suspicious!"
Yuki smiled and went to the door to leave the room. She was about to shut it, then she grinned at Irina once more.
"By the way, maybe you should do some training. Defeated by a fourteen year old girl... that's really pathetic, Irina Derevko!"
"Get your butt back to work before I decide to kick it!" Irina replied smiling and Yuki shut the door giggling.
+~+~+~+~
"What the hell..."
Jack couldn't believe his eyes when they climbed onto the huge luxury-yacht, which lying a few hundred meters away from the beach in the hidden bay.
Yuki's expression reflected his thoughts, but Irina didn't even pay attention to them. She greeted the man who was hurrying towards her now.
"It's nice to see you, Omar!"
"It's nice to see you too, Irina! When Katya told me that you were in danger, I was afraid that I was too late!"
"No, you're right on time!" she smiled. "When can we leave?"
"Immediately if you wish to!"
"Yes... I want to be as far away from this place as possible when the sun rises."
"I'll take care of it. I told my helper Jamis to prepare some food for you. You find everything you need?"
"Of course, thanks!" Irina turned around to Jack and Yuki. "Come on, follow me, I'll show you the rooms."
"Irina, where the hell did you get a ship like this? It's huge!"
"It's not mine!" she replied simply. "I kind of borrowed it!"
Jack and Yuki followed her below deck. They went down wide stairs and found themselves in a luxurious corridor that could easily compete with every luxury liner.
"Welcome to Deck B! Here are your personal rooms! Yuki, that's yours..." she opened the door to a huge room. The girl cried out in surprise and hopped onto the huge soft bed. Irina watched her, amused, and decided it best to leave her alone.
"Jack, this is yours..." She showed him his cabin that was as huge as Yuki's had been before.
"Where is your room?" he asked curiously.
"Why?" Was her cold reply . She didn't look at him but realized, that her behavior was ridiculous. "The last door to the left at the end of the corridor! I suggest we rest for one hour and meet in the living room at eleven-thirty to discuss our plan."
"Fine by me!" he replied and watched her go to her own room and enter it.
One hour later when he entered the huge living room on the first floor, she was already there, sitting on the large sofa in the corner studying some plans on the table in front of her.
Jack looked around. The room was incredibly beautiful, furnished in brown luxury wood. On two sides huge glass windows offered a panoramic view of the wide ocean.
This room offered everything one could wish for. A sofa corner with a TV, a desk, a billiard table... even a small fireplace and a piano. He didn't even want to think about the costs for such a luxury... or how she got it.
"Beautiful!" he commented when he sat down opposite to her. She ignored his comment and leaned back in the sofa.
"Is everything okay in your room?"
"Yes... more than okay!" he replied and she nodded satisfied.
"Fine, then let's not waste our time. This is a report of one of my informants about a meeting he had two days ago with a woman whom he identified as Sydney."
"What? Where?"
"Spain... we can be there in five days. We'll take Yuki to her grandfather and catch the next flight from Tokyo. But we have to be careful. Conzales will most likely look for us... not to mention your CIA team!"
"I told Dixon to cover up for me! I didn't tell him I was working with you... just that I had a lead on Sydney and followed it."
"Good, so we have three, maybe four days until the CIA will follow us."
"Have you ever thought of the possibility, that Conzales might have known something - about Sydney?"
"He didn't!" Irina replied, taking a sip out of her glass of wine. "He was a high ranking member, but just because he was an important source of money for them with his hotel. I've learned a lot about him during the last one and a half year. He doesn't even know who his bosses are! They are too careful..." She sighed. "Sometimes I doubt that anyone knows the head of the Covenant personally."
His eyes pierced hers, looking for a hint that she was lying to him, but he found none.
"What?"
"Nothing..."
They looked at each other for a long time, then finally she offered him a glass of wine. He refused.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Sure..." she replied and leaned back.
"How did you get this ship and where do you know the captain from?"
"He's the man of... a very good friend of mine." She replied evasively. "The ship belongs to her."
"Katya?" he asked and she nodded, surprised, that he had followed their conversation earlier. "Where do you know her from?"
"Why does that matter? I don't like to reveal the identities of my helpers! And neither do you..." she reminded him and got up. She stepped to the side of the room and stared out of the window into the darkness.
"We should find some kind of agreement..."
She started when she heard his voice so close behind her. Why did his closeness made her feel so nervous? Where was her good old and so long trained control?
"What do you mean?"
"Your hostility."
"My..." she gasped outraged. "I'm not the one, who started the hostility! You did. I'm only trying to find Sydney now."
She felt his hands on her arms, but evaded his touch when he tried to pull her closer.
"I think I'll get some rest now. It's been an exhausting day..." Her voice was cold, not showing any emotion and that caused anger build up inside him. What kind of game was she trying to play here?
He caught up with her before she could leave the room and held the door close with his hand.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked aggressively in a tone that promised a coming Armageddon.
"I return the question! Playing the ice-queen just doesn't fit you!"
"Getting frustrated already?" she asked angrily and pushed his hand aside to open the door. "Nice feeling, isn't it?"
It was intended to be her revenge for his insinuations. His words had hurt her and she was determined to show him that it took a little more than just money - or nice words - to get her...But she hadn't been prepared for his reaction to her provocation.
Jack grabbed her and lifted her to the billiard table, his mouth devouring hers in an impatient kiss, that was far beyond tenderness. She screamed out in protest, her sound was lost in his mouth. She started to pummel his shoulder with her fists.
"Bastard!" she hissed when he broke the kiss to fulfill his need for oxygen. "I hate you!" she managed to add before his lips met hers again, this time seductively.
He bit her lower lip softly, outlining it with his tongue until her hands stilled and she moaned against his lips. Playfully he fell back when she wanted to deepen the kiss. His hands moved up her body and found their way under her top. He pushed her softly down to the table, his mouth never stopped teasing hers. Then he slipped her top up and revealed the bare skin of her belly. When his mouth brushed over her belly button, she gasped for air.
His hands held her firmly in place, not allowing her to evade his touch. He buried his face in the soft skin of her belly, breathing in her scent and absorbing the warmth of her body. God, he needed her so badly...
His mouth melted with hers again, then moving over the sensitive skin of her neck until she was whimpering and desperately pressing him against her, urging him to touch her. He teased her earlobe - and then suddenly broke free. She shivered at the loss of his warmth and looked at him in confusion.
This had not been his plan. What had happened? When had he lost control over his actions? He didn't know, but there was one thing he knew for sure. He had to stop now, otherwise he wouldn't leave tonight, and that would give her too much power over him. He wouldn't allow her to win his heart again, because he wouldn't be able to stand the inevitable betrayal. It was easier if he stayed emotionally uninvolved.
"Goodnight, Irina!"
"What're you doing?"
"I'm going to bed... leaving you a little time to think about the meaning of frustration!"
"You son of a b*tch!"
He hurried to close the door before the billiard balls, which she threw after him furiously, could hit him.
Irina stared in disbelief at the closed door, then she let herself sink back to the table and stared at the brown ceiling. Why did she have the feeling that she had suddenly lost control over the situation? It had all gone well... until she had been foolish enough to let him seduce her. She groaned, frustrated.
She had had every intention to not respond to him, but somehow he had shattered her walls... again! And the worst was that it didn't take him more than a touch, or a kiss at the most to make her forget about everything else.
It was too dangerous for her to fall for him. It had taken her too long to get over him the last times, not to mention that he thought of her as a whore at the moment. Her chances to ever win his heart again had sunk below zero, all she could possible get was sex, but that was just not what she wanted.
'Who are you trying to fool here?', she asked herself grimly. Of course she wanted him, she needed him. Since she had seen him yesterday evening all her feelings seemed to resurface, slowly drowning her reason, a fact that really scared her. He had so much power over her - too much - enough that he could destroy her. And yet she was drawn to him like a moth to the fire.
Could it be that there was no way for her to resist him?
~+~+~+~
The sun was already rising when Jack opened the door to the living room - drawn by the loud sound of breaking glass.
He had been fast asleep when the noise had woken him up. Maybe they had an unwanted intruder onboard, although he had no idea how that could be possible.
He stared at disbelief at the scene that presented itself to him as he entered the living room now. Irina was sitting in front of the sofa, a bottle of vodka in her hand... his eyes went to the corner next to the door. At least four glasses were lying shattered on the floor - obviously broken from being thrown against the wall.
"Irina... what's going on?"
"What?" She looked at him in stunned disbelief and started to giggle. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
He went closer and sighed. "God, how much have you been drinking?"
She tried to get up, but stumbled and fell back onto the couch.
"Wow... " she murmured, closed her eyes for a short time and started to laugh again.
Jack noted the two already empty bottles of vodka on the ground and frowned his forehead. Irina took another sip of the bottle she still held in her hand.
"Did you drink them all alone?" he asked and Irina finally stood up, staggering a little. Jack wanted to offer his arms to help her, but she refused.
"I have to buy more glasses!" she murmured, staring at the pieces in the corner and wanting to take another mouthful of vodka.
"That's enough!" Jack said softly and took her bottle away. She protested and tried to get the bottle back, but grabbing for it put her off balance and she landed in his arms.
"Don't..." she warned and stood up again, pushing him away slightly. "...touch me..."
He considered it useless to start a discussion with her now. She was totally drunk... in fact he would have seriously thought about calling an ambulance, if they hadn't been on the high sees with no island within hundreds of miles. She had finished two and a half bottles of vodka all alone, it amazed him that she was still conscious, not to mention able to walk.
He followed her when she staggered to the door.
"Why are there two doors...?" she murmured and ran against the wall before he could prevent it. She started to giggle again. "I feel like Alice in Wonderland... which door shall I choose... left... or right..."
"Irina... wait!" he tried to catch her, but she avoided his touch and almost ran out the door.
She was too drunk to keep her balance when running and would have fallen down the stairs if he hadn't caught her. He threw the bottle of vodka he still held in his hand into the ocean to free both hands.
"That's enough! Come on, let me take you to bed." He said softly. He wanted to lift her up onto his arms, but she pushed him away with both her hands.
"Go to hell, Bristow! I don't need you... I'm pretty good in doing my stuff alone... I have always been..." She staggered to the rail. "I don't need anyone..."
"No, you need sleep!" he replied.
She closed her eyes and felt the wind brushing over her face. The spinning of the world in front of her eyes was almost unbearable. She turned and faced him again.
"And you know what? I am not at all frustrated, because I don't need you!"
God, suddenly it dawned on him. The reason why she had gotten drunk...
"And you know why I don't need you? Because..." She stepped back while talking and held her stomach for a moment. "Because you are a f*cking CIA agent... that's the reason! And you're my enemy, and I hate you... and you're CIA agent... oh, I mentioned that, didn't I?" she asked, shooting him a confused look.
"Irina please! Let me take you to bed!" He his initial amusement started to turn into worry.
"No... no, because I don't need anyone to tell me, what to do! Especially not you! I'm fine! I can decide myself when to go to bed! You know what I realized... we can never... ever... be happy, Bristow, because I am not Laura, I am just... I'm just Irina." For a moment the look in her eyes changed. "Do you remember when we were on that party of Arvin's? We stayed up the whole night, standing at the harbor. God, you were so sweet when you offered your coat to me... that was the most romantic night I ever had. You had the same expression on your face then... you can't even imagine, how much I..."
She held her head and tumbled a little. "Dammit I don't even like you!" she scolded herself and he couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Come on let's get you to bed..."
"Yeah, you'd like that... could you get me a drink, please? Vodka would be fine!"
He sighed and for a moment he considering just grabbing her and taking her to the next bed he could find, but she would most likely starting a loud protest and finally wake up the whole ship.
Their eyes were locked and Jack reflected over her words. Of course she was totally drunk, but somehow her words had touched him. She was right, she wasn't Laura... but the way she had said it made it seem as if she regretted not to be her - as if he regretted it. If that was what she thought of him, she was just wrong. He wasn't even interested in Laura anymore... he took a deep breath at the sudden realization. During the first time when Irina had turned herself in he had thought of her as Laura... even referred to her as Laura during a conversation with Barnett. Now he thought of her as Irina... even when he remembered the past - and their marriage.
While stepping back, Irina had come to the place of the rail where a small door was set in to allow the owner to get easily into the water, as it was usually in private yachts.
Before Jack could react she had tried to hold on to the small knob, that opened the door. Inevitably the small door opened, Irina lost her balance and fell with a surprised scream into the cold water of the ocean.
"For heaven's sake." Jack scolded in shock and jumped after her. Thank God they had decided to stop the ship, so the captain could get some rest, otherwise the situation would have been dangerous.
It took Jack a moment to locate Irina, then he pulled her back to the surface. She held on to him, her eyes meeting his in bewilderment.
"Whoops..." she murmured as she finally realized what had happened.
"Irina, you're..." he started, but she didn't let him finish.
"I know... you want to tell me that I am insane..." she murmured giggling and laid her hands to his cheeks. He couldn't help but smile at her reaction.
"No, that would be the understatement of the century!"
She buried her head on his neck. It took him some time to get her back to the yacht, obviously she had crossed the border over to exhaustion now.
When they were finally aboard the ship again, she didn't even struggle against him when he lifted her up onto his arms and carried her below deck into her room where he let her down and helped her to undress, until she wore nothing but underwear.
She fell onto the bed and didn't even realize that she was still wet from the ocean. He covered her with the sheets and started to go, but she grabbed for his hand.
"Jack! Don't leave me... I don't want to be alone again..." He saw tears in her eyes.
She seemed so vulnerable that he felt guilty, because after all, she had gotten drunk because of him... and now she asked him to stay.
He bend down and laid his mouth to hers, softly silencing her words with a tender kiss. When their lips finally broke apart, she was almost fully asleep.
"I love you..." Her voice was no more than a whisper.
He looked at her thoughtfully and stroke one wet strand of hair out of her face. When he was sure that she was sleeping soundly he got up and left the room... still confused by her last words. Had she been too drunk to realize who she was talking to, or too drunk to hide her feelings?
~+~+~+~
"Good morning..." Jack looked up when the door opened and Irina entered the small galley. She reacted with a moan and held her head. Sympathetically he took a cup from the small cupboard, filled it with coffee and handed it to her. She took it without looking at him.
A long silence passed until she finally dared to meet his eyes.
"Jack... how did I get to my bed?"
He looked up from the file he was reading. "You don't remember?"
The look in her eyes told him the answer.
"Well, I took you to bed..." he replied and took a mouthful of his coffee.
"That's all?"
"Well, aside from the fact the you shattered a few of your glasses and we had a nice bath in the ocean, yeah, that's pretty much it."
"Oh God..." she hid her face in her hands. "I can't believe I did this..."
"I can't believe you survived this!" he answered. "And I won't even talk about your astounding luck at not drowning or breaking your bones... given the fact that you consumed about two liters pure vodka, it is amazing that you were able to walk at all." His eyes sparkled amused. "But you're pretty chatty when drunk..."
Now he had her undivided attention. "What did I tell you?"
"Other question, what could you have been telling me, that you wouldn't tell me when sober?"
"Oh no, agent Bristow, I'm not going to answer that question! You're bluffing! Shame on you, trying to use my situation to your advantage!"
If I would have wanted to do so, I'd have had other possibilities, he thought, but didn't tell her.
They looked at each other for a moment. Jack tried to read something in her expression... anything that would confirm, that she had not just told him that she loved him because she was drunk. Irina in turn tried to appraise if he told the truth and she had really told him that much.
Oh God, what if I told him about my feelings, came to her mind and the thought had almost made her moan.
Suddenly the door flew open and Yuki stormed into the room.
"Jack, Jack. They are back! The dolphins are accompanying our ship again! Morning, Irina."
The woman just nodded in return, holding her head in pain. She just couldn't stand loud voices today.
Yuki left the room again and Irina sighed. Jack looked at her concerned.
"Maybe you should get to bed again and rest a little."
"I'm fine..." she answered and finished her cup of coffee before she got up. She was about to leave the room when she turned around again. "Jack... if you tell anyone about last night, no matter what I told you or not told you, I'll kill you..."
"You know me, and therefore you also know that I'm not afraid of your threats!" he replied amused and she turned around and left. He could hear her cursing him until she had disappeared in her room.
"Okay, I'm entering the main hall... I'm turning you off now!"
"Copied!"
Jack heard Dixon's voice on the other end and quickly turned off his microphone. He looked around in the luxurious entrance room of the small hotel on one of the small Pacific Islands and finally decided to go to the reception.
"Welcome to our hotel, Mr..." The young girl at the reception smiled welcoming.
He wondered if she was already old enough to work... he estimated her age to fourteen or fifteen. What a shame, he thought, that they even introduce children to their criminal activities.
"Donelli!" he replied with an undefined accent.
"Ah, Mr. Donelli... yes, we have a suite waiting for you!"
She had a clear voice with a strong Asian accent... he couldn't distinguish whether it was Thai or Japanese. She handed a small key over to him.
"Mr Conzales is looking forward to making your acquaintance. You've been granted unlimited use of our private pool for special guests. That includes every service related to it!" She handed him a brochure, obviously the program. "If you have any more wishes, just call for the room service!"
She outlined a bow - most likely still a manner of her native country - and pointed at the stairs that led to the upper levels of the building.
Jack nodded courteously and wondered once again how that child came to work at a place like this. He went up the stairs and searched for his room, carefully scanning his surroundings.
It had been one month ago when they had received intel that dozens of members of the covenant used this hotel as their holiday retreat. The owner himself was said to be a high-ranking member of the crime organization and they had come into the possession of surveillance camera photos that clearly showed Sydney in this hotel. She had disappeared almost eighteen months ago and during all his research, this was the first clear hint they had, that proved, that Sydney was alive and that the Covenant might be behind her disappearance.
Here he was, out in the field like he had been so often during the last year. He had given his best to find Sydney, contacted all of his informants, asking them to contact their contacts and informants, to get any possible location where his daughter might be. There had been many dead-ends... and some valuable hints, but none of them had really helped.
The photos of the camera had been the first hints that really led somewhere...
Jack entered his room and closed the door behind him. The first thing he did was disarm all kind of bugs with the small cellphone Marshall had given him.
Then he started to play the role of someone who really enjoyed his vacations here. He unpacked his clothes and changed into something more comfortable. This took him about an hour time - hurry was unnecessary and would only draw unwanted attention.
He took care of the surveillance camera by causing it to record this afternoon with a small microchip he inserted and replayed it in an endless loop. He wanted the security guys to see only what he wanted them to.
After he had finished his work, he decided to go down and check out the surroundings. The first and second floor didn't seem to be extraordinary in any way, although they were unusually luxurious furnished. On the ground floor he found the huge dining room - he almost felt as if he was in the castle of some king and wondered how the owner could afford such luxury for a hotel. Of course, the price for one night was almost his whole month salary, but he doubted that hundreds of guests visited this hotel.
Every guest was checked properly - he had experienced that - and only after it had been proven that he wasn't an intelligence or police agent, he was granted entrance.
Jack thought back at the profile Kendall had written for him. Jack Donelli, private assassin, killed his own wife...
"Is this your sick kind of humor?" he had asked him with a raised eyebrow and Kendall had just laughed.
"It sounds at least convincing..."
He hadn't discussed the subject further, because it just hadn't been worth it. It was only a profile that proved that he was a criminal.
He went through a small arch into a beautiful, huge garden - actually a comparison with a park would have been more accurate. He looked around and discovered the huge swimming pool. Slowly he strolled towards it.
"You must be Mr Donelli!"
A corpulent man in a black tuxedo hurried towards him, smiling with a big cigar between his white teeth.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Mr. Conzales! Yuki notified me of you arrival. "
Jack took his hand and smiled. "Yuki?"
"My entrance maid."
"The Asian girl..." Jack said and smiled. "Pretty young, isn't she?"
The man laughed. "Yeah, her parents died when she was eight. She lived on the streets of Tokyo. I offered her a job here, she took it. Children are the best, they're naive... although she's growing old now. I was thinking about training her, but for about a year she has a protector here. She's starting to ask questions, and I'll soon have to take measures... you understand!" He sighed. "It's a pity. She's a beautiful girl, and could make a really good 'room service'..." His laughter was dirty and Jack felt the need to punch him. It took all of his control not to. "... but unfortunately her sense of moral is too strong. She still thinks, she's working for a hotel for extra-rich people who want to escape paparazzi."
Again his laughter. They had arrived the pool now and Jack looked around.
"This is our place for training... you can also just lie down and enjoy one of our drinks. Only well-chosen guest have access to this area, so you shouldn't be disturbed here. Of course, your anonymity is guaranteed! No personal information is given out to other guests... just to prevent personal revenge attacks or unwanted job offers which will darken you stay at our beautiful hotel!"
Jack hadn't even listened to the last words. His eyes were fixed on the slender silhouette of a woman who stepped now out of a door on the other side of the pool. She freed her hair from the pin she had been wearing and shook her head to loosen it a little.
Dropping her towel carelessly to a free chair, she revealed her perfectly shaped body, her skin shimmering like velvet in the sun. She headed elegantly into water and dove almost the whole length of the pool. When she surfaced, she started immediately to do the crawl.
"She's one hell of a woman, isn't she?" Conzales grinned while he puffed on his cigar. He had of course noticed what had drawn Jack's attention away from him. "I always come here at this time because I know this is when she does her daily training."
"Training?" Jack asked, not really interested. His mind had drifted away. She was here... how could that be? This was a place of the Covenant!
"Yes! She swims one hour every day, and in the evening two hours down in the ocean. She's one of my girls... one of the best assassins you've ever seen. Unfortunately she can be incredibly stubborn - especially concerning Yuki..."
Really?" Jack's face darkened. One of his girls - why did this phrase cause rage to build up within him? "She's Yuki's protector?"
"Yeah, I don't know why! She's obsessed with the little girl. At the moment she's working on convincing me to let her go. She wants the girl to attend a school... the hell knows why. If you want, I might be able to arrange something for you for tonight."
Jack looked at him, his face fully under control, only his eyes reflected a little of his anger. "Yeah, why not. That would be really nice..."
Gonzales laughed loudly. "I see, we'll be very good friends. I'll leave you alone now. Feel free to look around... if there are any problems, just contact your friend Conzales!" He hit Jack's shoulder and went away.
Jack watched him until he was gone, then he turned to the pool again. So, here she was and obviously, as he had just learned, she was one of Conzales private whores. It took all of his strength to control the fury, that made him want to pull her out of the water and take her back into US-custody. For a short moment the thought occurred to him that he was jealous, but he discarded it almost at the same second.
He was definitely not jealous, because jealousy required love, and that was one of a few feelings he did not have for Irina Derevko - he had spend the last one and a half year trying to convince himself of that.
He strolled over to a free chair and sat down on it, then he observed her doing her training and finally climbing out of the pool. She squeezed the water out of her thick hair - good, she looked gorgeous in that black swimsuit. He realized that a few other men were, like him, staring at her and for a moment he wondered how many of them had already been in her bed.
She walked slowly towards her chair and reached for her towel which she wrapped around her well trained body.
She was already used to the stares of the men and had learned to ignore them. During the first time there had been some very courageous guy - they had thought she was one of the service girls - who had tried to go for her. They had soon learned that she was not that easy to get - in fact she was not to get at all.
She took her hairpin and wanted to leave the pool area when she saw Antonio Conzales coming towards her.
"Hallo Irina!" he greeted her with his usual slimy grin. She didn't even try to pretend that she was happy to see him.
"Antonio, what do you want?"
He grinned through his cigar. "I've arranged a little date for you tonight!"
"How nice... unfortunately I have other plans!" she wanted to go away but he grabbed her wrist.
"Irina, I warn you! We've already had this conversation! I give you a place to hide here! I would be so easy to call some of my informants and you'd be dead within two hours... or captured by the CIA... or the Russian intelligence. You're a famous terrorist and almost every country would pay millions of dollars to see you dead! But I gave you a place to hide here... don't you think you should pay back my favors at least a little bit!"
"I am... I've been committing murders for you, killing people who were threatening you!" she replied dryly, her eyes sparkling with rage, but her face appearance was calm and controlled.
"Yes, you have, but every other of my men could have done that. I expect a little more gratitude!"
"With other words, you expect me to share your bed!" At his smiled she chuckled disgustingly. "I already told you, I am not your slut!"
She wanted to turn around but his grip fastened. "Irina, I want you to date this Donelli tonight. I've never heard of him before, he appeared from nowhere, and there is a possibility that he is an agent. I want you to check him out... sleep with him. Men are very talky when you sleep with them."
"I won't! Why don't you send one of your personal..." she started, but he didn't even let her finish.
"Because he asked for you!"
"Then tell him that I am not available for that kind of service!"
Antonio Conzales pierced her with his eyes. She returned his gaze, her eyes steady and without fear. That was her fault, he thought grimly. All his other girls were afraid of him, but she wasn't. At least not for herself... The thought occurred to him like a flash and he started to grin.
"I'm afraid I'll have to send Yuki then!"
"You son of a---"
"Yuki is beautiful and sweet... and I'm sure she wouldn't dare to contradict me. How old is she? Fourteen? She should be old enough... Or maybe I'll keep her for myself tonight!"
Irina grabbed his sleeves and pulled him close. "You lousy bastard, you will not touch her of I'll swear I'll cut off your arms myself!" Her voice was fully under control and for the first time he was the one who actually feared her - but of course he didn't show her that.
"It's okay, I won't harm her... but nonetheless, I expect you to visit Donelli and find out what his plans are!"
He freed himself from her and she pierced him with her eyes when he walked away. He could feel her eyes in his back and knew better than to provoke her fury. As far as he knew her, she wouldn't hesitate to kill him if he did anything to Yuki. And she was too damned good in her job to fail. He thought it better to not make her his enemy.
+~+~+~+~+~
It was already past nine when Irina knocked at the door of room 142. Although she had no intention to sleep with the man, she had changed into something more appropriate. She wore a white jeans and a nice shirt, both very tight. Actually those were some of her usual clothes, but they would do.
All she wanted was to convince the video cameras that she was doing what Conzales had requested.
She looked up to the videocamera in the corridor and faced the door when she heard it opening.
"Mr Donelli, you asked me to visit you and I just wanted..." She cut herself off and stared at the man who was standing opposite to her now, unable to decide whether she was dreaming or awake.
"Ms Derevko, it's a pleasure to see you!" Jack smiled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes. He pulled her into the room and closed the door behind him.
"I... I am just here to tell you I am not going to..."
His lips silenced hers in a demanding kiss, his hands drawing her close to his body. Suddenly he interrupted the kiss, let her go and went to the mini-bar. He filled two glass with vodka and handed one of them to her.
"What are you doing here?"
She looked at him, the coldness of his voice setting her off.
"I'm hiding here..."
"Really... I see. Are you aware that this is a facility of the Covenant?"
She took one sip of the vodka and nodded. "Mmm... yes, I am."
"And I assume that you do also know that they most likely kidnapped Sydney?"
Her glass landed on the ground with a tinkling sound and she stared at him in total disbelief.
"What? When?"
"Eighteen months ago."
"Eighteen..." she sat down on his bed, her face pale. "Is she... still alive?"
"I hope so!"
Jack observed her carefully. Her shock seemed to be real, but who knew. Irina Derevko was a master in playing roles.
"She was seen here... she's on a video camera tape from six moths ago."
Irina just stared at him for a moment, the she got finally up again. "I have to go now... I'm sorry about the glass, I'll send someone to clean it up..."
She turned to the door, but before she had reached it, he had grabbed her and pulled her lips into his again. He let his glass drop to a small table and draw her slowly to the bed, never breaking the kiss. When he heard her moan softly into his mouth, he let her go. She took his hands, searching for the warmth of his lips again, but he avoided her touch.
"Oh, just one question before we get started... how much is it going to cost me?"
"What?" she asked, not even listening to what he said. Here he was, right before her. Jack Bristow... her Jack.
"Having sex with you. I want to make sure I have enough cash..." he replied coldly and she backed up abruptly.
"What?" she asked in disbelief now, her voice in a mixture of anger and hurt.
"Well, since you're obviously employed as a whore in here I assume you have your price and don't offer you services for free..."
Slowly, very slowly it dawned on her what he was thinking of her - he thought she paid her bill for staying here by working as a prostitute. Damned idiot, he hadn't learned anything.
She stood up straight to keep at least the last remains of her dignity and not show her hurt, her face was totally emotionless, her eyes locked with his.
"Yes, you're right... and when I think about it. My price is far beyond the amount you could afford!" she replied coldly and turned around to leave the room. Before she shut the door she faced him once again, shooting him her most seductive look. "Sweet dreams, Mr Donelli!"
When the door slammed, he let himself sink down to the bed. Maybe he had been a little too harsh... but she hadn't even denied being a whore. In fact she had proven his suspicions by her words.
Irina rushed along the corridor until she reached her private rooms. After she had slammed the door shut behind her, she let herself sink against the wall and sighed deeply. That damned, insufferable bastard! How could he believe that she would sell herself to other men when the only man she could think of was him? Maybe she had made some mistakes in her past - including using sex as a mean to get something - but that had been when she was younger. She had changed - well, maybe she was still a terrorist, but her priorities had changed. She would do everything to protect the two people she loved the most - Sydney and Jack...
And now she learned that Sydney had been kidnapped. Why had she went into hiding and stopped observing them? Maybe she would have been able to prevent Sydney's disappearance. After what had happened to Jack, she had though it best to leave their lives forever - to protect them. Obviously a mistake again...
What was Jack doing here now? Looking for Sydney, that was for sure, but most likely not alone. He must have a CIA team somewhere close and that would mean that she was in danger here.
She took another deep breath and grabbed for her swimsuit. She needed a little training now to free her mind and decide what to do next - whether to go away or ally herself with Jack.
+~+~+~+~+~+~+
The water was cold and helped her to throw away any unwanted thoughts. She swam a few minutes out into the ocean, then back to the beach. When she stepped out of the water and wrapped her towel around her, a figure stepped out of the dark shadow of a palm.
"I knew you would come here!"
She started and spun around. "Dammit, you scared me..."
Jack strolled towards her and she turned away from him.
"What do you want here, Jack?"
"I want some answers!" he replied, sitting down on a rock.
"What kind of answers?" she asked and knotted the towel around her waist.
"Do you have anything to do with Sydney's kidnap?"
"Jack, no!" She looked at him as if he was crazy. "Do you really think I would kidnap my own daughter? ...Of course you do!" she added after she had seen the look in his eyes. "But I'm sorry to disappoint you here. I didn't know they had kidnapped Sydney!"
"Okay, what are you doing here then... besides selling your body to those..."
"Oh, that's it! I live here and get the orders to sleep with men to steal secrets from them!" she answered sarcastically and he shot her one of his warning glances.
"What?" Her voice was cold. "That's what you want to hear... you won't believe anything else anyway, so why even bother to convince you that this is just not the case!"
"What is the case then?"
"I live her... and I do jobs for Conzales, but not the kind of jobs you think of. I get things he wants to have... and sometimes I kill someone who is a thread to him. That's it!"
"I don't believe you!"
"I didn't expect you to!" She turned around and wanted to go away, but he grabbed her wrist to hold her.
"I wasn't finished yet!"
"Well, I was!" She freed her wrist out of his grip and went to the small rock staircase that led back up to the area of the hotel. He followed her in a certain distance.
When she passed by the pool and went towards the entrance to the staff rooms, he caught up with her and held her softly, trying to prevent her from entering the house.
"Irina, have you seen Sydney here?"
"No, I haven't!" she replied, her eyes holding his steadily. "If I had I would tell you!" She sighed. "I don't know what you think of me... most likely you take me for a monster who wouldn't hesitate to kill her own daughter if given the possibility. I can't blame you for that... maybe you're right in a way. I know you loathe me, and don't trust me... I don't trust you either, but I swear to you, I would never ever hurt Sydney." Or you, she added silently but didn't tell him out loud. "I offer you my help to find her. You can take it... or reject it."
He had let her finish her little speech, his eyes observing her now carefully. "You're offering to help me find Sydney?" His tone implied that he was seriously considering her offer. "Okay!" he finally agreed. "But I have two conditions: Number One, I am the one in charge... you follow my orders. And Number Two, no hidden agendas, no betrayal... not even lies. You share all your ideas and results with me!"
She folded her arms. "Concerning Number One: go to hell! And concerning Number Two: No hidden agendas, no betrayal. But I'll see if you're worthy to be told everything! And I have one condition as well!"
"What?"
"Since we have to leave this place... I want to bring Yuki to Japan first."
"Your protege!" Jack answered dryly and Irina shrugged.
"If you want to call her that, yes. I just don't want her life ruined because of one wrong decision she made."
He heard the softness in her voice and for the first time he considered the possibility that she might indeed regret her errors of the past. The new faces he discovered on her amazed him. She was taking care of Yuki as if she was her own daughter... just like Laura had done. Laura had been warm-hearted and always worried about other people.
But this was not Laura! Laura had been an illusion... like a character in a theater was an illusion, he thought grimly. And yet, he discovered qualities in her that were really sweet.
Stop it, Bristow, he commanded himself.
"Okay, we'll take Yuki to Japan..." he nodded. "Do you have any idea where to bring her there?"
"She has a grandfather. I've searched for him and found out that he works in a Shinto temple near Yokohama. Obviously he doesn't even know that he has a granddaughter, otherwise he would have already searched for her. I've found out that he and Yuki's mother had hardly any contact. They had disputed about her marriage, and when Yuki's mother married the man she loved against the will of his father, he turned away from her. I'm convinced that he will take good care of his granddaughter."
Only now she realized that they had gotten closer to each other while talking. Their chests were almost touching, his face close to hers. She tired to back up a little to get some distance between them, but he held her firmly in place.
"Jack..." she started to protest, but he didn't even listen to her.
Their faces were just inches apart and finally his mouth found the cool skin of her neck, softly starting to caress it until her soft moan satisfied him. His hands went to her waist, pulling her close to him. She shivered against his body and closed her eyes. God, how much she had missed him, his touch, his warmth...
Her lips ran over his cheek and earlobe, softly caressing his hot skin while her hands ran though his hair, pulling him even closer. Finally their lips met in a passionate encounter that left them both breathless.
No, this didn't feel right... Irina broke the kiss and leaned her forehead against his, her hands framing his face. She bit her lip, her eyes still closed.
"I should go now!" she murmured hoarsely, still breathing heavier than normal. "I have to take care of the ship to take us away from here... and Yuki!"
"But you don't have to do that now..." he replied, outlining the shape of her waist with his fingers which caused her to tremble again. But then she freed herself from him.
"Goodnight, Jack!" She turned to leave.
"Why can't you stay for me, because of all the other men?" he asked, his voice showing more anger than he wanted to.
A knife stabbing her couldn't have outraged her more. Irina stopped abruptly, turning around slowly. It didn't take someone who knew her to see the murderous expression on her face.
Before Jack knew what was happening, Irina had pushed him into the cool water of the swimming pool.
"Are you insane?" he yelled anxiously when he surfaced and shot her one of his darkest looks.
"Am I insane?" she repeated his question. "Ask that question of yourself, Bristow! And don't you dare ever touch me again!"
With these words she turned around and left. Jack climbed out of the pool, his clothes soaked and dripping with water. He watched her entering the house in bewilderment, then anger started to build up inside him. Damned he needed her and she rejected him! Why did she prefer a man like Conzales to him?
He swore to himself, that he would kill Conzales next time he saw him.
~+~+~+~
"Do you remember the conversation we once had?" Irina pulled Yuki into her room and grabbed the girl at the shoulders. "I want you to pack your most important things... without anyone noticing!"
"What? Why?" The girl looked at her in complete confusion.
"And I also told you, that if I ordered you to pack your stuff someday, I didn't want to hear any protests or questions!"
"Yes, and I made clear that I don't take orders!" Yuki replied dryly and when Irina looked into her eyes, she sighed. Yuki was just a little too much like her.
"Just do what I told you to... I have to leave this place and without anyone protecting you, you'll be in danger here!"
"I can defend myself!"
"Yuki! I warn you..." The hint of fury in Irina's voice showed that she was about to lose control.
"I've been training very hard! They won't be able to do anything to me!" Yuki's voice was even to that of Irina and the woman grabbed the girl's shoulders.
"You can't defend yourself against a profi! They'll kill you before you even noticed..."
The next moment she found herself flying to the ground, her arm pressed painfully to her back and Yuki sitting over her.
"I'm sorry, but in the face of your situation I don't think that you're right! Unless you would not consider yourself as a profi..."
"Cheeky little brat!" Irina growled and Yuki let go of her laughing.
"You seem a little rusty!"
She avoided Irina's grip still grinning, but then stumbled and finally found herself pulled into Irina's arms.
"I just don't want you to get hurt!" The woman pressed Yuki close to her. "You don't know these men... you don't know what they are able to do, but I do! And I don't want you to become part of their world."
"I'll be okay!" Yuki hugged her. "Really! I survived living in the streets of Tokyo, I survived working here for five years... Conzales doesn't know that I know what this hotel is about. He thinks I'm just a weak, naive girl who isn't even able to defend herself."
"But Yuki, this can't be what you have planned for your life! You're smart, you're intelligent! You could achieve something in life... besides being Conzales best asset! I'm planning to take you back to Japan. You have a grandfather living there... he will take care of you! You can attend a school and change your live! No more criminal activities. You could live a normal life!"
Yuki held her eyes, then she hugged the woman. "But what about you? I can't leave you alone!"
"I can take care of myself... I have done all of my live! Although I'll miss you terribly! But you have the chance to turn away from this life in hiding and danger to get killed every second. You get a second chance! Take it!"
"Okay, I'll pack my stuff!" Yuki smiled and Irina let go of her.
"Make sure to be ready tonight. The ship will be down in the bay at eleven. Oh, and wrap your stuff in plastic. We'll have to swim a little. And now get back to work before Conzales gets suspicious!"
Yuki smiled and went to the door to leave the room. She was about to shut it, then she grinned at Irina once more.
"By the way, maybe you should do some training. Defeated by a fourteen year old girl... that's really pathetic, Irina Derevko!"
"Get your butt back to work before I decide to kick it!" Irina replied smiling and Yuki shut the door giggling.
+~+~+~+~
"What the hell..."
Jack couldn't believe his eyes when they climbed onto the huge luxury-yacht, which lying a few hundred meters away from the beach in the hidden bay.
Yuki's expression reflected his thoughts, but Irina didn't even pay attention to them. She greeted the man who was hurrying towards her now.
"It's nice to see you, Omar!"
"It's nice to see you too, Irina! When Katya told me that you were in danger, I was afraid that I was too late!"
"No, you're right on time!" she smiled. "When can we leave?"
"Immediately if you wish to!"
"Yes... I want to be as far away from this place as possible when the sun rises."
"I'll take care of it. I told my helper Jamis to prepare some food for you. You find everything you need?"
"Of course, thanks!" Irina turned around to Jack and Yuki. "Come on, follow me, I'll show you the rooms."
"Irina, where the hell did you get a ship like this? It's huge!"
"It's not mine!" she replied simply. "I kind of borrowed it!"
Jack and Yuki followed her below deck. They went down wide stairs and found themselves in a luxurious corridor that could easily compete with every luxury liner.
"Welcome to Deck B! Here are your personal rooms! Yuki, that's yours..." she opened the door to a huge room. The girl cried out in surprise and hopped onto the huge soft bed. Irina watched her, amused, and decided it best to leave her alone.
"Jack, this is yours..." She showed him his cabin that was as huge as Yuki's had been before.
"Where is your room?" he asked curiously.
"Why?" Was her cold reply . She didn't look at him but realized, that her behavior was ridiculous. "The last door to the left at the end of the corridor! I suggest we rest for one hour and meet in the living room at eleven-thirty to discuss our plan."
"Fine by me!" he replied and watched her go to her own room and enter it.
One hour later when he entered the huge living room on the first floor, she was already there, sitting on the large sofa in the corner studying some plans on the table in front of her.
Jack looked around. The room was incredibly beautiful, furnished in brown luxury wood. On two sides huge glass windows offered a panoramic view of the wide ocean.
This room offered everything one could wish for. A sofa corner with a TV, a desk, a billiard table... even a small fireplace and a piano. He didn't even want to think about the costs for such a luxury... or how she got it.
"Beautiful!" he commented when he sat down opposite to her. She ignored his comment and leaned back in the sofa.
"Is everything okay in your room?"
"Yes... more than okay!" he replied and she nodded satisfied.
"Fine, then let's not waste our time. This is a report of one of my informants about a meeting he had two days ago with a woman whom he identified as Sydney."
"What? Where?"
"Spain... we can be there in five days. We'll take Yuki to her grandfather and catch the next flight from Tokyo. But we have to be careful. Conzales will most likely look for us... not to mention your CIA team!"
"I told Dixon to cover up for me! I didn't tell him I was working with you... just that I had a lead on Sydney and followed it."
"Good, so we have three, maybe four days until the CIA will follow us."
"Have you ever thought of the possibility, that Conzales might have known something - about Sydney?"
"He didn't!" Irina replied, taking a sip out of her glass of wine. "He was a high ranking member, but just because he was an important source of money for them with his hotel. I've learned a lot about him during the last one and a half year. He doesn't even know who his bosses are! They are too careful..." She sighed. "Sometimes I doubt that anyone knows the head of the Covenant personally."
His eyes pierced hers, looking for a hint that she was lying to him, but he found none.
"What?"
"Nothing..."
They looked at each other for a long time, then finally she offered him a glass of wine. He refused.
"May I ask you a question?"
"Sure..." she replied and leaned back.
"How did you get this ship and where do you know the captain from?"
"He's the man of... a very good friend of mine." She replied evasively. "The ship belongs to her."
"Katya?" he asked and she nodded, surprised, that he had followed their conversation earlier. "Where do you know her from?"
"Why does that matter? I don't like to reveal the identities of my helpers! And neither do you..." she reminded him and got up. She stepped to the side of the room and stared out of the window into the darkness.
"We should find some kind of agreement..."
She started when she heard his voice so close behind her. Why did his closeness made her feel so nervous? Where was her good old and so long trained control?
"What do you mean?"
"Your hostility."
"My..." she gasped outraged. "I'm not the one, who started the hostility! You did. I'm only trying to find Sydney now."
She felt his hands on her arms, but evaded his touch when he tried to pull her closer.
"I think I'll get some rest now. It's been an exhausting day..." Her voice was cold, not showing any emotion and that caused anger build up inside him. What kind of game was she trying to play here?
He caught up with her before she could leave the room and held the door close with his hand.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked aggressively in a tone that promised a coming Armageddon.
"I return the question! Playing the ice-queen just doesn't fit you!"
"Getting frustrated already?" she asked angrily and pushed his hand aside to open the door. "Nice feeling, isn't it?"
It was intended to be her revenge for his insinuations. His words had hurt her and she was determined to show him that it took a little more than just money - or nice words - to get her...But she hadn't been prepared for his reaction to her provocation.
Jack grabbed her and lifted her to the billiard table, his mouth devouring hers in an impatient kiss, that was far beyond tenderness. She screamed out in protest, her sound was lost in his mouth. She started to pummel his shoulder with her fists.
"Bastard!" she hissed when he broke the kiss to fulfill his need for oxygen. "I hate you!" she managed to add before his lips met hers again, this time seductively.
He bit her lower lip softly, outlining it with his tongue until her hands stilled and she moaned against his lips. Playfully he fell back when she wanted to deepen the kiss. His hands moved up her body and found their way under her top. He pushed her softly down to the table, his mouth never stopped teasing hers. Then he slipped her top up and revealed the bare skin of her belly. When his mouth brushed over her belly button, she gasped for air.
His hands held her firmly in place, not allowing her to evade his touch. He buried his face in the soft skin of her belly, breathing in her scent and absorbing the warmth of her body. God, he needed her so badly...
His mouth melted with hers again, then moving over the sensitive skin of her neck until she was whimpering and desperately pressing him against her, urging him to touch her. He teased her earlobe - and then suddenly broke free. She shivered at the loss of his warmth and looked at him in confusion.
This had not been his plan. What had happened? When had he lost control over his actions? He didn't know, but there was one thing he knew for sure. He had to stop now, otherwise he wouldn't leave tonight, and that would give her too much power over him. He wouldn't allow her to win his heart again, because he wouldn't be able to stand the inevitable betrayal. It was easier if he stayed emotionally uninvolved.
"Goodnight, Irina!"
"What're you doing?"
"I'm going to bed... leaving you a little time to think about the meaning of frustration!"
"You son of a b*tch!"
He hurried to close the door before the billiard balls, which she threw after him furiously, could hit him.
Irina stared in disbelief at the closed door, then she let herself sink back to the table and stared at the brown ceiling. Why did she have the feeling that she had suddenly lost control over the situation? It had all gone well... until she had been foolish enough to let him seduce her. She groaned, frustrated.
She had had every intention to not respond to him, but somehow he had shattered her walls... again! And the worst was that it didn't take him more than a touch, or a kiss at the most to make her forget about everything else.
It was too dangerous for her to fall for him. It had taken her too long to get over him the last times, not to mention that he thought of her as a whore at the moment. Her chances to ever win his heart again had sunk below zero, all she could possible get was sex, but that was just not what she wanted.
'Who are you trying to fool here?', she asked herself grimly. Of course she wanted him, she needed him. Since she had seen him yesterday evening all her feelings seemed to resurface, slowly drowning her reason, a fact that really scared her. He had so much power over her - too much - enough that he could destroy her. And yet she was drawn to him like a moth to the fire.
Could it be that there was no way for her to resist him?
~+~+~+~
The sun was already rising when Jack opened the door to the living room - drawn by the loud sound of breaking glass.
He had been fast asleep when the noise had woken him up. Maybe they had an unwanted intruder onboard, although he had no idea how that could be possible.
He stared at disbelief at the scene that presented itself to him as he entered the living room now. Irina was sitting in front of the sofa, a bottle of vodka in her hand... his eyes went to the corner next to the door. At least four glasses were lying shattered on the floor - obviously broken from being thrown against the wall.
"Irina... what's going on?"
"What?" She looked at him in stunned disbelief and started to giggle. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
He went closer and sighed. "God, how much have you been drinking?"
She tried to get up, but stumbled and fell back onto the couch.
"Wow... " she murmured, closed her eyes for a short time and started to laugh again.
Jack noted the two already empty bottles of vodka on the ground and frowned his forehead. Irina took another sip of the bottle she still held in her hand.
"Did you drink them all alone?" he asked and Irina finally stood up, staggering a little. Jack wanted to offer his arms to help her, but she refused.
"I have to buy more glasses!" she murmured, staring at the pieces in the corner and wanting to take another mouthful of vodka.
"That's enough!" Jack said softly and took her bottle away. She protested and tried to get the bottle back, but grabbing for it put her off balance and she landed in his arms.
"Don't..." she warned and stood up again, pushing him away slightly. "...touch me..."
He considered it useless to start a discussion with her now. She was totally drunk... in fact he would have seriously thought about calling an ambulance, if they hadn't been on the high sees with no island within hundreds of miles. She had finished two and a half bottles of vodka all alone, it amazed him that she was still conscious, not to mention able to walk.
He followed her when she staggered to the door.
"Why are there two doors...?" she murmured and ran against the wall before he could prevent it. She started to giggle again. "I feel like Alice in Wonderland... which door shall I choose... left... or right..."
"Irina... wait!" he tried to catch her, but she avoided his touch and almost ran out the door.
She was too drunk to keep her balance when running and would have fallen down the stairs if he hadn't caught her. He threw the bottle of vodka he still held in his hand into the ocean to free both hands.
"That's enough! Come on, let me take you to bed." He said softly. He wanted to lift her up onto his arms, but she pushed him away with both her hands.
"Go to hell, Bristow! I don't need you... I'm pretty good in doing my stuff alone... I have always been..." She staggered to the rail. "I don't need anyone..."
"No, you need sleep!" he replied.
She closed her eyes and felt the wind brushing over her face. The spinning of the world in front of her eyes was almost unbearable. She turned and faced him again.
"And you know what? I am not at all frustrated, because I don't need you!"
God, suddenly it dawned on him. The reason why she had gotten drunk...
"And you know why I don't need you? Because..." She stepped back while talking and held her stomach for a moment. "Because you are a f*cking CIA agent... that's the reason! And you're my enemy, and I hate you... and you're CIA agent... oh, I mentioned that, didn't I?" she asked, shooting him a confused look.
"Irina please! Let me take you to bed!" He his initial amusement started to turn into worry.
"No... no, because I don't need anyone to tell me, what to do! Especially not you! I'm fine! I can decide myself when to go to bed! You know what I realized... we can never... ever... be happy, Bristow, because I am not Laura, I am just... I'm just Irina." For a moment the look in her eyes changed. "Do you remember when we were on that party of Arvin's? We stayed up the whole night, standing at the harbor. God, you were so sweet when you offered your coat to me... that was the most romantic night I ever had. You had the same expression on your face then... you can't even imagine, how much I..."
She held her head and tumbled a little. "Dammit I don't even like you!" she scolded herself and he couldn't help but chuckle softly.
"Come on let's get you to bed..."
"Yeah, you'd like that... could you get me a drink, please? Vodka would be fine!"
He sighed and for a moment he considering just grabbing her and taking her to the next bed he could find, but she would most likely starting a loud protest and finally wake up the whole ship.
Their eyes were locked and Jack reflected over her words. Of course she was totally drunk, but somehow her words had touched him. She was right, she wasn't Laura... but the way she had said it made it seem as if she regretted not to be her - as if he regretted it. If that was what she thought of him, she was just wrong. He wasn't even interested in Laura anymore... he took a deep breath at the sudden realization. During the first time when Irina had turned herself in he had thought of her as Laura... even referred to her as Laura during a conversation with Barnett. Now he thought of her as Irina... even when he remembered the past - and their marriage.
While stepping back, Irina had come to the place of the rail where a small door was set in to allow the owner to get easily into the water, as it was usually in private yachts.
Before Jack could react she had tried to hold on to the small knob, that opened the door. Inevitably the small door opened, Irina lost her balance and fell with a surprised scream into the cold water of the ocean.
"For heaven's sake." Jack scolded in shock and jumped after her. Thank God they had decided to stop the ship, so the captain could get some rest, otherwise the situation would have been dangerous.
It took Jack a moment to locate Irina, then he pulled her back to the surface. She held on to him, her eyes meeting his in bewilderment.
"Whoops..." she murmured as she finally realized what had happened.
"Irina, you're..." he started, but she didn't let him finish.
"I know... you want to tell me that I am insane..." she murmured giggling and laid her hands to his cheeks. He couldn't help but smile at her reaction.
"No, that would be the understatement of the century!"
She buried her head on his neck. It took him some time to get her back to the yacht, obviously she had crossed the border over to exhaustion now.
When they were finally aboard the ship again, she didn't even struggle against him when he lifted her up onto his arms and carried her below deck into her room where he let her down and helped her to undress, until she wore nothing but underwear.
She fell onto the bed and didn't even realize that she was still wet from the ocean. He covered her with the sheets and started to go, but she grabbed for his hand.
"Jack! Don't leave me... I don't want to be alone again..." He saw tears in her eyes.
She seemed so vulnerable that he felt guilty, because after all, she had gotten drunk because of him... and now she asked him to stay.
He bend down and laid his mouth to hers, softly silencing her words with a tender kiss. When their lips finally broke apart, she was almost fully asleep.
"I love you..." Her voice was no more than a whisper.
He looked at her thoughtfully and stroke one wet strand of hair out of her face. When he was sure that she was sleeping soundly he got up and left the room... still confused by her last words. Had she been too drunk to realize who she was talking to, or too drunk to hide her feelings?
~+~+~+~
"Good morning..." Jack looked up when the door opened and Irina entered the small galley. She reacted with a moan and held her head. Sympathetically he took a cup from the small cupboard, filled it with coffee and handed it to her. She took it without looking at him.
A long silence passed until she finally dared to meet his eyes.
"Jack... how did I get to my bed?"
He looked up from the file he was reading. "You don't remember?"
The look in her eyes told him the answer.
"Well, I took you to bed..." he replied and took a mouthful of his coffee.
"That's all?"
"Well, aside from the fact the you shattered a few of your glasses and we had a nice bath in the ocean, yeah, that's pretty much it."
"Oh God..." she hid her face in her hands. "I can't believe I did this..."
"I can't believe you survived this!" he answered. "And I won't even talk about your astounding luck at not drowning or breaking your bones... given the fact that you consumed about two liters pure vodka, it is amazing that you were able to walk at all." His eyes sparkled amused. "But you're pretty chatty when drunk..."
Now he had her undivided attention. "What did I tell you?"
"Other question, what could you have been telling me, that you wouldn't tell me when sober?"
"Oh no, agent Bristow, I'm not going to answer that question! You're bluffing! Shame on you, trying to use my situation to your advantage!"
If I would have wanted to do so, I'd have had other possibilities, he thought, but didn't tell her.
They looked at each other for a moment. Jack tried to read something in her expression... anything that would confirm, that she had not just told him that she loved him because she was drunk. Irina in turn tried to appraise if he told the truth and she had really told him that much.
Oh God, what if I told him about my feelings, came to her mind and the thought had almost made her moan.
Suddenly the door flew open and Yuki stormed into the room.
"Jack, Jack. They are back! The dolphins are accompanying our ship again! Morning, Irina."
The woman just nodded in return, holding her head in pain. She just couldn't stand loud voices today.
Yuki left the room again and Irina sighed. Jack looked at her concerned.
"Maybe you should get to bed again and rest a little."
"I'm fine..." she answered and finished her cup of coffee before she got up. She was about to leave the room when she turned around again. "Jack... if you tell anyone about last night, no matter what I told you or not told you, I'll kill you..."
"You know me, and therefore you also know that I'm not afraid of your threats!" he replied amused and she turned around and left. He could hear her cursing him until she had disappeared in her room.