Page 565 of Lodestar

Christ, understatement.

My grandfather had been pivotal in arming the fucking Taliban against the Americans.

If he was capable of that, whatwasn’the capable of?

Conor slipped behind me and settled a hand on the small of my back. “We weren’t to know. He gave us everything we asked for, so why wouldn’t we trust him?”

“Because we’re not total noobs on the job?” D grouched, shooting a disgruntled look at me. “At least we know who’s on our side and who isn’t.”

“Small consolation,” I ground out, as pissed as she was.

I’d shit the bed. Big time. Fuck, there was no bigger fail than this.

“I think I’m missing a piece of the puzzle here,” Eagle Eyes mumbled, gaze darting between the three of us.

“It doesn’t matter. I appreciate the intel and I appreciate you getting Black here to me now.

“Final payment will clear within forty-eight hours.”

He nodded. “Appreciate that.”

“Congrats on the sprog, Eagle Eyes,” D chirped.

He glowered at me but I just shrugged. “You asked me not to tell your mother-in-law. Not Dead To Me.”

“I figured that was obvious,” he groused before he booted the limp form on the ground.

Temper didn’t even groan when she rolled down the slight incline toward the idle helicopter.

“She’s unconscious?”

“Yup. Drugged. Should be waking up in two or so hours. Do I wanna know what she’s done, Star?”

“Betrayed me. Too many times to be forgiven,” I said flatly.

Betrayed our country.

Betrayed our people.

Betrayed everything we fought for.

God damn her zealous ass.

D cursed under her breath. “I’m ashamed to call her fucking family.”

Seeming to sense that was all the info he’d gain, he shrugged. “Godspeed the lot of you.” With a salute, he backed off then started sprinting toward the street.

As he left, Conor approached Temperance and hauled her deadweight onto his shoulder.

The sleek move had D whistling under her breath. “Didn’t know he had it in him.”

Her mood shifted more than the weather in Vermont. Mine wasn’t so swift. I didn’t even have it in me to joke that I was a lucky lady. All I could think about was Anton. What he’d done. His sins.

Fuck, his crimes against humanity.

She clapped me on the back, jerking me from my thoughts. “You got a plan?”

“When don’t I?”

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