Page 409 of Lodestar

“Yeah,” Link said with a wink. “Because that was what mattered.”

I blinked a couple times, still feeling like this was an out-of-body experience or something. “I won’t leave again without clueing you in,” I assured each of them.

“You getting yourself an Old Man?” Steel asked, his voice softer than before.

“I mean, yeah.”

“So you do know you’re a Sinner,” Sin pointed out.

“Do you see me wearing a cut?”

“Like you’d wear one. You might think you’re a lone wolf, Star, but you ain’t.” Nyx grunted. “I got a woman and a kid who are more terrifying than you waiting for me. I have to get back.” His eyes narrowed. “Stay safe in New York. You hear me?”

“Yes, Dad,” I mocked because it was easier to do that than to freak out about what was happening here.

Quin was right. Thiswasa big brother showdown. Even if I wasn’t their blood, they’d still drawn me into the circle as if I were…

Link hauled me in for a hug, as did Sin, Steel, and Quin. Cruz dipped his chin at me and so did Hawk. Most of them retreated to their hogs, but a strange thought whispered into my mind.

“Hey,” I called out before any of them had the chance to kick their legs over their bikes. When they turned to me, each wearing various expressions of inquiry, I asked, “You heard anything about organ harvesting?”

Nyx’s brows lifted. “You in the market for a new heart, Lodestar?”

I flipped him the bird. “I’m being serious.”

“Figured as much,” Nyx quipped, still smirking. “And no. Never heard much about that kind of shit. Least, not around these parts.”

“You think it’s tied to the Sparrows?” Cruz demanded, his scowl dark.

I didn’t have an answer for that. I wished that I did.

“No,” I said slowly.

“Then, why ask?”

Studying Link, I sighed. “I heard a whisper. Nothing more. But I can’t let it go.”

“If you infested the Sparrows’ network, surely there’d be something on there?”

“There would,” I agreed with Sin.

“So, what’s the problem?”

“Bad feeling.”

“Want us to put some feelers out?”

Did I?

Or was it a waste of time and favors? ‘Feelers’ usually camequid pro quo.

“Star?”

With my eyes locked on Nyx, I nodded.

Though his brow furrowed, he agreed, “Consider it done.”

That was the cue for them to get on their bikes.

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