Page 485 of Lodestar

She swallowed. “Thank you for listening.”

So long as she was the one doing the talking, I’d always listen. But only time would prove that to someone who’d gone through what she had, and in my mind, we had forever.

Somehow, not even that felt long enough.

50

CONOR

When we madeit to the opera house, my brows arched in surprise and I tipped my chin toward the steps that would lead us to the balconies.

“What is it?” she asked, peering around.

“Hunter DeLaurentiis is over there. Did you know he’d be attending tonight?”

She scoffed. “No. But I appreciate how highly you rate my ability to machinate.”

“Is that a word?”

“It is in my dictionary.”

My lips twitched. “The last time I saw him was at Saverina’s christening. He wasn’t pleased with you.”

“Understatement. Another friendship burned,” she mumbled with a sigh, shooting a wistful glance his way.

“You can make it up to him,” I said as I guided her toward the same staircase where DeLaurentiis was leading his wife.

“I don’t have enough time in my day for all the atoning I’ve got to do.” Her expression turned sour. “I don’t know how your da got anything done when he had to repent for so much.”

I chuckled. “Da’s idea of repenting came with a price tag.”

“I don’t suppose you’re open to that too?”

“Nope,” I said cheerfully. “You have to mean it.”

She grumbled, “Typical.” Her gaze darted over to DeLaurentiis. “Never told you how he saved my ass in Lebanon, did I?”

“No.”

I let my hand settle on the exposed ball of her shoulder. She looked divine in a very un-Star-like frothy confection with several bouncy skirts that danced around her calves and a sweetheart neckline that cupped tits I’d already savored once tonight.

The dress might not have been something I figured she’d wear, but the boots—Doc Martens—definitely were.

I wouldn’t have been surprised if she had a gun or a knife strapped somewhere I hadn’t felt up yet.

Though the notion intrigued me, I dipped my head to better hear her when she said, “Managed to break out of the compound where I was being held. He was hiking in the area. Fed me, treated my wounds, and got beaten for his pains by the guards who were hunting me down.”

“Go and talk to him.”

“And say what? Sorry I conspired with your grandfather to get his ass killed?” Her brow furrowed. “Speaking of… Crayon.”

“Crayon?”

For whatever reason, where she’d hesitated before, that stirred her into action. She grabbed a firm hold of my hand and dragged me toward DeLaurentiis.

Before I knew what the hell was happening, she had a hold on DeLaurentiis’s arm, forcibly turned him around, and demanded, “What have you done with Crayon?”

DeLaurentiis, surprised at first, glowered down at Star the moment he realized who was doing the tugging. “What do you want?”

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