Page 445 of Lodestar

“You negotiated your family’s safety with the NSA?” Maxim questioned, sounding impressed.

“I did. The deal is no longer in place. The NSA were recently in need of my skills and at the same time, members of the CIA tried to dispose of me?—”

I glanced at his brothers and saw from their stoniness that he hadn't shared that piece of news.

Making a mental note to get Eagle Eyes to frazzle Temper Black’s ass for betraying me—but also to send her a fruit basket for saving Conor’s behind while I wasn’t around to do it—I tuned back into the conversation.

“—it was on this occasion that my software was taken. As I said, it wasn’t used for long and I have access to what they uncovered.” He reached into his pockets and pulled out microchips. That seemed to be a signal because he turned to the guards lining the walls. “I’ll hand them to one of your men.”

A guard from each faction drifted forward after receiving nods from their leaders, but before Conor could pass them out, I barely hid my gasp as I recognized one of the men.

Chadwick.

Wait, he was with the Sicilians?

I frowned at him but he cut his eyes to the right as if telling me to keep our connection quiet.

As Conor passed him the chip, I felt something being slipped into my pocket, and I didn’t react, knowing he’d have left a card for me there.

“Everything they had on us is here?” Luciu questioned once the chip was in his hand.

“Yes.” Conor hitched a shoulder. “It might be nothing; it could be everything. Regardless, this is a measure of the trust and respect we have in our Summit factions.”

Maxim studied the chip in his hand. “Why didn’t you try to use this as leverage?”

“Because the power balance in New York has just reached an equilibrium that we’re all content with, wouldn’t you agree?” Aidan queried, bringing the dialogue back to him. “We’re allies.”

“And this tightens our ties,” the Dragon Head groused, sounding more querulous than ever, but there was also something resigned about his words. As if he knew he was locked into being the second most powerful faction on the East Coast.

Aidan shot Conor a look, and Conor dipped his chin.

That was our cue to leave, I figured.

This was definitely my idea of a surprise—I had the best penguin ever.

41

TEXT CHAT

Anton:I heard you attended a Summit.

Star:How did you hear that?

Anton:Have ears in many places.

Star:You do, hmm? Should I warn Conor?

Anton:No. They’re friendly to us both.

Star:Intriguing.

Anton:Hardly.

Star:Do you want to know what was said?

Anton:No. I wanted to talk to you.

Star:About?

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