Page 548 of Lodestar

“You should have been open with me from the start,” I retorted grumpily.

But she shook her head. “I’m paranoid, Conor. In fact, I make someone with paranoia look trusting. That’s why I didn’t tell you.” She worked her jaw. “There comes a point where you start thinking the shadows aren’t just a trick of the light, they’re where the monsters hide in plain sight.”

Softly, I reasoned, “That makes sense.”

“I hide it from Kat because I don’t want to terrify her, but it’s different with you.” Her expression was beseeching. “You might think I’m crazy. Legitimately crazy.” Her hand grabbed mine, fingers clutching at me with a desperation that made me hurt for her. “I can keep a lid on it for the most part, but this… I thought I could. But I can’t. And you deserve better than some rabid fuckwit who spends her days covered in aluminum foil so the listening station on the moon can’t overhear us talking.”

“We’re a team, Star,” I informed her. “That means if you start using aluminum as a fashion accessory…”

She swallowed.

“…then I start wearing it too.”

Her eyes closed on a silent sob of relief.

I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her trembling mouth. “We’re back at the beginning, aren’t we?”

She slipped her arms around my waist. “But we’re worse off.”

“At least we’re together,” I rasped. “And that’s how this has to go, Star. Together, you hear me?”

She nodded against my belly. “Together.”

Blindly, I stared ahead at my center of operations where I protected my brothers from jail sentences and where I keptAcuig Corp. one step ahead of the SEC and ensured the Five Points ruled the roost that was NYC.

This office was where I played with electricity and where I’d monitored, hacked, and surveilled more people than the Feds likely had since their inception.

This was my base.

Star had made it my home.

I cupped the back of her head and, with a tenderness only she brought out in me, stroked her nape. “Anton has to trust us.”

“Agreed. He can’t suspect that we think he’s scum.”

Such a way with words…

“He’s still coming for the first gala, isn’t he?” I asked.

“Supposed to arrive in the city this Friday.”

“Do you have any idea where Reinier’s secret estate is? Other than what Camden had to say about a party house next door to the Daniels’ place?”

“No.”

“Keep searching.” I sucked in a breath as the realization struck… “If you need to put pressure on that bank president, do it.”

“Even though…”

“Even though his daughter was a victim and didn’t deserve to be blackmailed?” I blew out the breath I’d just sucked in. “This is bigger than one person, Star. I get that. Explore every possible avenue first, but that’s endgame material. Understood?”

“Understood.” She rocked her head back. “I wish things could be simpler.”

“My life has never been simple, Star,” I told her, trailing my fingertip along the curve of her cheekbone. “But until you came along, I wasn’t happy. I’d rather be in this with you than living a simpler life without you.”

She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. “Maybe you’re the crazy one.”

“I think aluminum foil suits me rather well,” I concurred, which earned me a small smile.

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