Bucked (The Invincibles 6)

I’d only gleaned bits and pieces from his earlier conversations with Decker about him not being able to leave his family’s ranch. There was obviously a lot more to it, and I intended to find out exactly what it entailed.

When the two men stood, I went into the bedroom. For a second, I thought about getting dressed but changed my mind, remembering how Buck had reacted to seeing me in his t-shirt.

I heard the front door open and his footfalls in the hallway. I grabbed my laptop and met him halfway. Without saying a word, he took the computer out of my hands and set it on the dining table. He walked back over to me, wrapped his arm around my waist, and pulled me into him.

“I’m pretty sure this is where we were when my brother interrupted us.”

“I think you’re right.”

“If I recall correctly, I asked a question you didn’t answer.”

“Maybe. I don’t remember.”

“I’ll ask it again. What do you have on under my shirt, Stella?” He slowly slid his hand from my waist and was moving it to the hem of his shirt when we heard a knock at the door.

Buck looked up at the ceiling. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

If we were in the bedroom, I would’ve told him to ignore it, but from where we stood, we could see Irish and he could see us.

“I have a feeling he’s here to talk to you, and as much as I wish you could stay dressed just the way you are, the idea of him—”

I reached up and touched Buck’s lips with mine. “Answer the door. I’ll be right back.”

“Where did Stella go?” I heard Irish ask.

“To get dressed, asshole.”

“What the hell?”

“You could see us. It didn’t occur to you to take a hike and come back later?”

“Sorry to interrupt your little interlude, but while you’re playing kissy-face with the reporter, there are agents out there in the world getting killed.”

“Irish,” I said, coming out of the bedroom. The only thing I put on were a pair of leggings, and the minute the man was gone, they’d be coming off. “Was there something you wanted to talk to me about?”

“I was able to obtain travel records for Kerr.”

“And?”

“He flew from England to New York City two days before your aunt’s death. According to the manifest, he was on the plane. Once Decker is at King-Alexander, he’ll be able to delve into facial recognition in order to determine Kerr’s whereabouts.”

“Two questions.”

“Go ahead.”

“Can you please remind me what King-Alexander is again?”

“A large ranch in Texas that has been Decker’s home since he was a teenager. It’s owned by Z Alexander and his two adult children. Actually, I misspoke. Since Decker and Mila are married, they reside on her ranch, which is adjacent to King-Alexander. That reminds me, Decker heard back from Z about Kerr. He said there was nothing remarkable about him retiring from full-time duty with MI5 and becoming a consultant. It happens all the time.”

I was pretty sure those were the most words Irish had ever said to me in one breath.

“What was your other question?”

“Any idea of Hennessey’s whereabouts?”

“She’s believed to still be in London. Again, once Decker is available, he’ll track her.”

“Was there anything else?”