AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I remember Rachel Laker having some meetings with Foundry.”
“The Sinners’ attorney?”
“And the Valentinis’ and countless other people’s legal representation.”
“She won’t be able to tell you anything. Attorney-client privileges.”
“I’ve heard of that before, thank you very much.” She shot me an unimpressed look. “But she could point me in the right direction.”
Without waiting for an answer from me, she snagged her cell phone off the coffee table and scrolled through her contacts.
A few moments later, the ringtone sang through the speaker, and then:
“What do you want, Lodestar?”
“Sounds like you’ve left quite the impression as usual.”
Her nose crinkled at my observation but to Laker, she mused, “You’re mad at me.”
“Now, I wonder why. You didn’t just take off and leave us wondering if you were okay or if you were even coming back—”
“I had a job to do, Rachel. If anyone should understand that, it’s you.”
Rachel huffed down the line. “I wouldn’t just leave my family in a lurch like you did.”
“I left her with people I trust. Not only goddamn that, I left her with a brother-in-fucking-arms. A man I’d go to war for and who’d go to war for me.
"I was heading into hostile territory, Rachel. What would you have preferred me to do? Bring Kat along for the ride? Fuck your judgmental ass!”
“Star,” I grumbled. “Flies and honey, not vinegar.”
“No, Conor. I’m sick of this bullshit. I left Kat with her sister. I left her with a goddamn war veteran who, even though he’s sick, is still deadlier than your average Joe. Hell, he hospitalized your ass and he’s half-crippled with his migraines.
“I didn’t leave her on the steps of a fucking orphanage. I left her with family. I made promises to her that I kept until I was physically unable to do so because I was being held against my will!
"I’m sick of the Sinners making it out that I’m a piece-of-shit mom because I—”
“I never said you were a piece-of-shit mom. I said you left your family in the lurch,” Rachel interrupted, but I didn’t think that made it any better from Star’s narrow-eyed glare. “You just dumped us, Star. All of us. Rex and I had a baby, for God’s sake. I appreciate the flowers. Not.”
Because I sensed genuine hurt behind the bitchy statement, I grabbed Star’s hand and quickly translated, “She’s saying they’re your family and you left them behind, Star.”
For a second, there was silence, then Star drawled, “If you’re saying you missed me, then there are nicer ways to do it.”
Rachel scoffed, “I never said that.”
My lips twitched.
“What did you call the baby?”
“Sommer.”
“First Wynter, now Sommer… You aiming for an Autumn and a Spring next?” Star joked.
“No. Two daughters named after seasons are plenty.”
“She okay?” was Star’s next question. This time it was uneasy.
