Smoked (The Invincibles 5)

“I’ll get it,” said Hughes.

“What are you doing here?” I asked Casper when she raced inside and then abruptly stopped.

“I heard you almost died yesterday,” she said, glaring at Siren.

“That still doesn’t explain why you’re here,” said Siren, sending the nasty look back to her.

“Decker asked me to come. He’s on his way too.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” I heard Siren mumble. “It’s a feckin’ second-degree burn.” She threw up her hands and went up the staircase.

“Excuse me,” I said, following her. “What’s going on?” I asked when I found her sitting on the edge of a bed with her back to the door.

“Nothing.”

I went and sat beside her. “People don’t generally rush out of a room over nothing.”

“It’s my house. I’ll do what I want.”

“Siren, look at me.”

She shook her head.

“Please.”

“They think I can’t take care of you.”

“I’m sure that isn’t the case.”

“Your precious Invincibles arrive within forty-eight hours and…”

“And what?”

“Nothing.” She tried to stand, but I wouldn’t let her.

“And what?” I repeated.

“Just go ahead and leave.”

“Huh?”

“She’s here to take you back to the States, so just leave. You’ll be better off there anyway.”

“Casper’s on assignment in France. The same mission I was on. That’s the only reason she’s here.”

“The two of you are working together?”

I shook my head. “Same op, but not together.”

She slowly turned her head and studied me with one eyebrow raised.

“There’s no reason for you to be jealous of Casper.”

“You feckin’ eejit.”

When she stood, I snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her onto my lap. “I’ll ask her to leave.”

“Just go with her.”