Irished (The Invincibles Book 7) by Heather Slade (the top 100 crime novels of all time txt) 📕

Decker motioned Rock and me to the rear of the plane. “Have a seat. After takeoff, I’ll brief you on what’s gone down.”

“Roger that,” I muttered, thankful that Rock didn’t sit right next to me. The idea that he or anyone else would be on my detail was something I’d have to get used to. When I was recovering at the King-Alexander Ranch, the elaborate security system Decker had set up served as my detail.

When I heard the chimes indicating we could get up and walk around, I followed Deck into a stateroom. Rock joined us and closed the door behind him.

“You’re probably wondering what Stella is doing on board,” Decker began.

“I wonder a lot of things.”

He smirked. “As you’re aware, Stella and Ali were writing a book about the mission you and Cope undertook and that I joined in on.”

Of course I was aware, and I was against it, not that anyone had asked me, even though it was my fucking story.

“Does the name Barb Hunter mean anything to you?” asked Decker.

“Stella’s aunt.”

“That’s right. Ten years ago, she was considered to be one of the best investigative journalists in the business.”

“Then what happened?” I asked.

“She wrote a piece accusing members of Interpol of accepting bribes in exchange for a massive cover-up of what she reported as being called Operation Argead.”

“Right. I remember now. There was something about her having an affair with Interpol’s president and writing the story after he dumped her.”

“That man was Nicholas Kerr. A bit of an enigma. Anyway, the day after Cope and Ali’s wedding, Stella paid her aunt a visit. While Barb had asked Stella to abandon the book before, this time, she took it a step further. They argued, and Barb warned Stella that if she didn’t walk away, they might both end up paying with their lives.

“Three days later, Stella paid Barb another visit and found her and her housekeeper dead. Both had been shot at point-blank range.”

“You believe Barb’s story from ten years ago relates to Fisk somehow?”

“I do, and that’s why you’re here, Irish. First, if I’m right—and I almost always am—you remain in danger. Second, if it does, it means our mission isn’t over.”

Buck joined us an hour later, and we talked about how things would proceed once we arrived at his family’s ranch. Most of it had little to do with me other than it would be the place where I’d be living for the foreseeable future.

“This is my plan,” said Decker. “I’ve got a crew headed to the ranch now. They should already be there by the time we land. I’ll get them started on setup of the new security system, and head to California to meet with Burns. Rock can take over until I return.”

Burns Butler had been Decker’s mentor when he was barely out of high school. While the man was renowned in the intelligence world as a technological genius—like Decker was—he was also considered the best in the business when it came to making everything to do with an op, or even an entire mission, disappear in a way that made it seem like it had never happened. In other words, burning it.

Decker turned to me. “Your job is to find out everything you can about Kerr and his tenure at Interpol.”

“Roger that,” I said as Deck and Buck left the stateroom.

“How’re you doin’, Irish?” asked Rock.

“You know how you feel when you’re having a nightmare and you wake up, but then you go back to sleep and the nightmare starts up again? That’s how I’m doing.”

“I hear ya. I’m sorry, Irish. We all thought it was over.”

II

19

Irish

Buck led Rock, Stella, and me into the ranch’s main house. “Hello?” he called out.

“Hey, Buck,” I heard a female’s voice answer and saw a woman walk up to hug him.

“Where is everybody?” he asked.

“Out surveying.” The woman turned and looked directly at me. “Who are you?”

“Paxon Warrick,” I said, stepping forward and extending my hand. When she took it, a feeling I couldn’t explain, other than to say I never wanted her to let go, washed over me.

“Flynn Wheaton,” she said. Her cheeks flushed, and I gripped her hand tighter.

“Great name,” I said.

“Yours too.”

When Buck tapped her on the shoulder, I dropped her hand. “Hey, sis, I’d like you to meet my friend Stella. Stella, this is Flynn.”

I watched as they shook hands; I couldn’t take my eyes off Buck’s sister. Buck’s sister. I knew from the brief that he didn’t have more than one, which meant Flynn was twenty-one years old. What I’d give to take ten years off my age and be five years older than her rather than fifteen.

“And this is Decker Ashford and Rock Johnson,” I heard Buck say.

“It’s nice to meet you both.” Flynn was polite, shaking the hands of both men while looking over her shoulder at me more than once. How did I know? Because I hadn’t taken my eyes off her.

“Stella and Irish…err…Paxon are going to be spending some time here, on the ranch.”

When Buck walked in the direction of the hallway, I wished Stella would go with him so I could talk to Flynn alone.

“We’ll go get settled,” Buck said to Stella before turning to me. “You too, Irish.”

“I should head out now too, but I’m sure I’ll see you later,” said Flynn, taking a step closer to me.

“I’d like that.” I followed her to the front door and watched her walk away.

“Ready?” I heard Buck say. When I turned around, I saw he was carrying a travel bag.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“I’ll be staying in one of the cabins.”

“Which one?”

“I’m not sure it matters, but if you’re asking if I’m staying with you, the answer is no.”

“Hey, Irish, you do know I’m writing a book about the Fisk mission,” Stella said as we walked out the front door. “I was hoping that since we’re both here for the foreseeable future, you could tell me more about it.”

“You have other sources.” I didn’t