Bucked (The Invincibles 6)

“French police buried the case.”

“And the CIA fucking let them,” spat Cope.

“Martin’s wife and son were also killed in the attack. His two daughters, then aged eight and six, survived with minor injuries.”

“They’d be eighteen and sixteen now,” said Stella.

Cope nodded in agreement with what she’d left unsaid. There was a chance one or both of them remembered something. Asking, though, would very likely put their lives in jeopardy.

When dinner time rolled around, Rock and Ink took mess duty and prepared a meal that would send a vegetarian running for the hills. We had an abundance of protein by way of steaks, chops, and chicken but not much else to go with it. Fortunately, my sister showed up with salad, bread, and potatoes before everything else was finished cooking on the grill.

When her eyes met Irish’s and they both smiled, it told me exactly how Flynn had known what we needed and when.

Stella had mentioned Flynn and Irish’s flirtation to me, but I’d brushed it off. Now it appeared they were communicating, probably by text since I didn’t see him leave the room once.

I kept my eye on Stella throughout dinner. As usual, she didn’t eat much. She seemed focused, like she always was whenever I’d seen her in work mode.

Ali would take more breaks, crack jokes every so often, before she re-addressed. Stella’s concentration was razor-sharp.

“You getting anywhere?” I asked, nudging her with my shoulder.

“Not really. You?”

I shook my head. “I’ve got a call into Hammer with a couple of questions about what I’m looking for with the will, but he was in court all day. He said he’d get back with me tomorrow.”

“What are you looking for?”

“The right document ID.”

Stella set down her fork. “Seriously?” she whispered. “Oh my God. Then, I wouldn’t have to go to New York at all. Unless that’s where the safe-deposit box is located.”

“That’s the plan, darlin’.” I leaned forward and nuzzled her ear. “You done?” I asked, looking at her still-half-full plate.

“I wasn’t that hungry.”

“How unlike you,” I teased, going in for a kiss. I picked up her plate and mine and took them to the kitchen. “You cooked, I’ll clean up,” I told Ink.

“I got it. This is the most exciting thing I’ve done all day, boss. Watching cows stand in a meadow for ten hours isn’t exactly taxing my brain.”

“We’ll try to switch things up tomorrow,” I told him, patting him on the back as I walked away.

“If there’s nothing else we need to cover tonight, I’ll head out,” said Decker.

“How’d you beat us here, anyway?” Cope asked.

“Same way I’m getting home.”

Cope laughed. “You had to get your own plane, didn’t you?”

Decker raised his middle finger.

“You do know the K19 fleet has grown to three or four aircraft, right?”

“Knock it off, or you can walk to DC to meet with Money.”

Cope shook his head and laughed.

When Stella pushed her chair back and stood, I walked over and stood beside her then leaned in. “Let’s get everyone out of here so we can be alone,” I whispered.