Page 452 of Lodestar

“Creed liked her.”

“They weren’t dating,” I pointed out, unsurprised that I took his rook when he wasn’t focusing on the game.

And it wasn’t a lie.

Fucking while in the sandbox did not a relationship make.

“Bro code.”

I sniffed. “That’s dumb. He shouldn’t stop you from dating her. You heard from him?”

“He’s overseas.”

“You kept in touch with him but not us?”

“It’s different between us.”

“Why?”

“Just is.”

I huffed out a sigh. “If she kicks your ass, I’m going to watch.”

“And enjoy?”

“You bet.”

He arched a brow at me. “You gonna tell me what happened to you in this ‘trafficker’s nest?’”

“If you want to know.”

“Of course I do.”

So, I blew out a breath and shared the sorry state of my past with him.

The passage of time hadn’t changed our bond.

But I’d still sic Cin on him.

FOUR POLITICIANS ARRESTED IN THE NETHERLANDS—SUSPECTED TIES TO ‘SPARROWS’

Dutch National Police,under the guidance of Interpol’s Special Trafficking Unit, arrest four politicians in the ongoing investigation into the ‘Sparrows’ organization, citing ‘corruption’ and ‘fraud.’

43

TEXT CHAT

Cin:Well?! How did it go?

Star:It went okay. He was living on the streets for a while, Cin.

Cin:Jesus H. Christ! What the fuck did he do that for?

Star:Said he went off his meds.

Cin:So he went and lived on the streets? I have a goddamn apartment in the city. He could have lived there.

Star:You know how men are.

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