Page 560 of Lodestar

At first,when Star called, I thought she was hyperventilating.

I could only hear the sounds of heavy breathing in my ear.

Then, I managed to make out, “Need. Helicopter.”

My brows lifted. “Star, I need you to calm down. Do you hear me?”

“Running,” she gasped.

“Where to?” I muttered. “Did I hear you right? You need a helicopter?”

“Land it in the yard of the Sinners’ clubhouse. We need to get to DC and then to the Catskills.”

Though I was confused as fuck, I picked up another cell and made the call for a pilot. Once that was arranged, I told her, “He’s collecting me, then you. You’ll fly us to DC for obvious reasons. He should be here in thirty minutes.”

Abruptly, the sounds of thudding came to a halt. “Then I can stop running,” she groaned.

“Why were you running in the first place?” I sat up straighter in my desk chair. “Is someone chasing you?”

“No one would be dumb enough for that. Plus, I wouldn’t run. I’d just kick their asses then and there,” she grumbled, herbreathing slowly becoming more regulated. “I had to leave my SUV at the bottom of the MC’s road.”

“Why?”

“It was blocked by a truck.”

“Prime came calling, huh?”

She snorted. “I don’t think the club was repeating their dog food subscription. Although, with how many animals they have around, who the fuck knows?” A massive sigh sounded in my ear then, more to herself than to me, she rasped, “No need to freak out now that we’re dealing with this.”

I heard the sound of stomping. “What’s going on?”

“Heading back up the road to the compound so I can hitch a ride with your helicopter.”

“Our helicopter,” I corrected as I started to gather a few pieces of kit together.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting some of my shit in order?—”

“Go into our bedroom. Check the cabinet in the walk-in closet, the one that’s nearest the window.”

“Why?”

“Because there’s a go bag in there. One for each of us. They’re black duffle bags.”

“A ‘go bag?’” I questioned blankly. “What the hell’s that?”

“The clue’s in the title, Conor. Jesus H. Christ. It’s what we need for a mission.”

My mouth rounded. “How long?—”

“When did I make them up? The day I moved in.”

This woman.

Shaking my head, I muttered, “You going to tell me what’s got you riled up? Or why we need a go bag today? Are Rachel and you arguing again?”

“Of course, but this isn’t related to that. Someone came to her door during the meeting—Bear’s ex.”

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