Page 410 of Lodestar

As they raced out of Verona, where Indy’s tattoo studio was based, they left a cloud of noise in their wake as they returned to Lily’s place. Only Quin stayed back, his gaze where mine was—on the dust storm that settled once they’d gone.

“You ready for your ink?” Quin prompted, his tone kind.

“Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “What the hell just happened?”

He snorted. “I told you—the big brother experience. You’re lucky that O’Donnelly is an ally. They’d probably tie him to a lamppost and let cougars bite his balls off or something if he weren't.”

“I’d kill them if they did,” I growled. “Those balls belong to me!”

“That wouldn’t deter them,” he drawled with a laugh.

“I didn’t…” I hesitated. “That was unexpected.”

“Really?”

Warily, I nodded.

“Why? The club doesn’t need blood to bond. We’re all brothers, whether or not we share parents. And guys have been patched in who haven’t been around as long as you.”

“You calling me a brother, Quin?” I asked, aware my voice was hoarse. Unaware of how badly I needed him to say yes.

He hitched a shoulder then clapped me on mine. “You shouldn’t need me to tell you that you are, Star.”

With that, he walked into the ink studio, leaving me hovering there until Conor called out:

“Indy, if you stick that in me one more time, I’ll hack into your?—”

“No hacking!” I called out, storming inside before he could finish his threat. “Definitely no hacking into the Sinners.”

They were family now, after all, and family got a free pass.

35

STAR

When Eoghan slipped offhis flat cap and tossed it on the side, Camille asked, “Inessa bought that for you, didn’t she?”

He frowned. “What?”

“The hat. Inessa.”

“Yeah?”

“Thought so.” She shot him a pleasant smile as she kissed his cheek. “You look brighter.”

He glanced at me. “I feel better.”

My brows lifted but I said nothing as he wandered out of the kitchen to find his brothers.

I was curious, mostly, as to why his glance and his words had been directed at me.

Deciding to follow him down the hall, I wasn’t altogether surprised to note that he was staring at an original Ansel Adams, waiting for me to catch up.

“I’m still assigned to MI6 but it’s better than the ticking time bomb of Jorgmundgander. Conor told me I have you to thank for that?”

I stared at the picture too. “Do you let family stay stuck in a living hell if you can think of a way to get them out of it?”

His attention turned to me. “Is that what I am to you? Family?”

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