Page 224 of Lodestar

“No. That bitch is eating slugs now,” I retorted, referring to our dearly departed First Lady. “That was worth it. Traitorouscunt. She hurt Conor’s family, Cin. Shit like that people have to pay for.”

“Wait, that’s why you wanted her…gone?”

“There were a lot of reasons, but she was integral to your sister-in-law losing her mother, wasn’t she?”

“Yeah.”

“Did she deserve to, you know, be alive?”

He frowned. “And with Da, that was because…”

“He was a shit dad,” I said flatly. To Cin, I grumbled, “He said that art was making his son gay.”

Cin’s brows lifted. “Are you bi, Conor? I’d be interested in watching?—”

“Cin!”

“What? Sex is art, Star. I’ve told you this a million times. You know I like watching?—”

“Are we having this conversation on my brother’s front stoop?” Conor sighed.

“It isn’t art. It’s a private moment?—”

“We’re losing focus,” Conor argued. “Back to my da.”

Cin eyed him. “Hissex life? He was hot.”

“No.”

“No!”

“Jesus, you need to get laid, D,” I groused.

Her lips formed a moue. “You know, you might be right. I wonder if those pilots would be down for a threesome?”

“Your da used you, Conor,” I interrupted her before she could start deep diving into the orgies she’d enjoyed in the past. “I told you that already.”

“You did and I told you?—”

Ignoring him, I queried, “Cin, do you remember that story about the Aryans?”

“The urban legend where they were suspended over a car crusher, got turned into human Spam, and now they haunt the breaker’s yard?”

“Yeah. That one. Conor’s Da was behind that. And get this, he had one of his sons push the button.”

She pulled a face. “Dude sounds crazy. Hot, but crazy. Just how I like them. Not dad-material, though. Even I know you don’t expose children to torture.”

Conor rubbed his eyes. “Hewascrazy.”

“So, why do you want Star to be sorry about wiping him off the face of the earth?”

“He was my da.”

Cin looked unconvinced—we were totally on the same page.

Sharing a glance, I shrugged. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“That has to count for something, Conor,” Cin peppered. “Unless is this the Catholic in you? Do you want her to confess? Because if you do, I mean, you should be prepared for the fact she’ll be in there for weeks. The list of sins…whoo-ee.No one’s got time to listen to that. We’re on a tight schedule here because I’m doing this pro bono and I’m missing out on millions?—”

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