Malin looked at Merrigan, who nodded.
“Appreciate this, Doc,” said Dutch.
“What is the ranch?” Malin asked.
“Butler Ranch. It’s my family’s place outside of Paso Robles. There are few locations on the Central Coast of California, outside of Vandenberg Air Force Base, as secure as my father keeps that place.”
“Doc’s father is Burns Butler. Have you heard of him?” Merrigan asked her.
“Of course,” she answered. Everyone in their line of work knew of Laird “Burns” Butler. He was a legend in the intelligence world, just like his son was.
“Transport?” Dutch asked.
“I’d prefer air,” Doc said, looking at Onyx.
“Roger that,” he answered, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “’Copter?”
Doc nodded, taking a fussy Laird out of the high chair. “Nap time, big boy,” he said, carrying him out of the room.
“Come with me,” Merrigan said to Malin. “You too,” she added, looking at Sofia before she led them out on the patio.
“The ranch is beautiful and secure, as Kade said. Laird and Sorcha live there full-time along with Naughton and his wife, Bradley. There’s a cottage no one lives in presently and an apartment above the winery.”
“Winery?”
Merrigan nodded. “It’s a working vineyard and winery along with a working ranch. You’ll be safe there, and also as Kade said, it isn’t that far from here, and there’s a helipad.”
Malin raised an eyebrow.
“Two of my brothers-in-law, including the one who still lives on the ranch, are helicopter pilots.”
“Wow,” she murmured in response. “Doc’s family is…”
“Bigger than life?” Merrigan smiled. “You don’t know the half of it.” She studied Malin for a minute. “You and Sorcha, Kade’s mum, will get on quite well,” she added. “She’ll adore you. You, too, Sofia.”
—:—
“Ready?” Dutch asked Malin and Sofia when he found them still out on the patio.
Malin nodded but held back a moment after Sofia thanked Merrigan and went back into the house.
He watched as Merrigan took both of Malin’s hands in hers. “I’ll make sure that everything we know, you do too. I won’t let my husband or anyone else on the K19 team hold anything back from you.”
“I appreciate it, the mission…”
“It’s more than the mission. It’s your life.”
Merrigan’s eyes met his, and Dutch nodded.
While he wanted to protect Malin, he agreed with Merrigan’s assessment of the situation. This wasn’t just Malin’s op. Like the woman had said, it was her life. If he were in her shoes, he’d destroy anyone who kept a single detail from him.
“Reports are that Striker is out of surgery. He’s stable.”
“And Ranger?” asked Malin.
“He’s stable too, but otherwise, I don’t know anything about his condition. As information comes in to us, we’ll make sure you’re briefed.”
“Who’s that?” asked Dutch, looking out at the driveway when Doc opened the front door.