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CONOR

When we made it 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?”

“Watch the tone, DeLaurentiis,” I warned, causing him to arch a brow at me.

“You found what you were looking for, then?”

“Not like you don’t know that already,” Star argued. “I met Aurora at the Summit.” She dipped her chin at DeLaurentiis’s bride. “I’m sure she kept you in the loop.”

“She did. I made the choice not to reach out.”

Star narrowed her eyes. “Figured that for myself. What have you done with Crayon?”

“The man who murdered my grandfather? With your help?”

“Yeah. He’s a friend.”

“Typical,” DeLaurentiis scoffed. “He’s a friend but you only just remembered him?—”

“DeLaurentiis,” I snapped. “I understand that you’re angry with her, and I know better than anyone what she’s capable of, but watch your fucking tone.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t appreciate it if I talked down to Ms. Valentini.”

DeLaurentiis merely glowered at me then, to Star, drawled, “Crayon is working with the Camorra now.”

“He’s alive and well?”

“He’s earning himself quite a salary,” Valentini mused, placing a hand on DeLaurentiis’s forearm and gently squeezing.

Star frowned. “You’re paying him?”

“He’s very skilled at what he does.”

“You must have coerced him into?—”

“That’s between Crayon and the Camorra, Star. It has nothing to do with you,” DeLaurentiis retorted.

She released a breath. “He was doing you a favor.”

“I know. I don’t have to like it, though, do I?”

“No use blaming Star when it was your grandfather’s plan,” I argued, squeezing her shoulder and encouraging her to back into me for support.

DeLaurentiis eyed her up and down. “I heard what happened to Ovianar.”

Shit.

Star immediately tensed.

“It’s dangerous being your friend,” Valentini concurred.

From the outside looking in, Star appeared as staunch as ever, but I felt her sag, ever so faintly, into me.

“Isn’t it dangerous being friends with any of us?” I countered, annoyed at their dismissal of her. “And there’s no denying the lengths she’ll go to for those she considers her people.”

“It was Alberto’s plan,” Star whispered. “I just helped coordinate.”

“He should have asked me ,” DeLaurentiis snarled, looming over her, his usually affable features puckering with rage.

And hurt.

As well as grief.

I understood. How couldn’t I? But nothing was simple with Star.

Nothing.

“He couldn’t ask you. Couldn’t involve you. Why would he when I was there? You’d never have been able to do what had to be done, Hunter.”

“You don’t know what I’m capable of,” he argued.

“You’re not capable of arranging your grandfather’s murder,” she snapped, bristling. “And that’s not a fucking insult. That’s a compliment. I wish I didn’t have it in me to…” She sighed. Broke off. “Hunter, without you, I wouldn’t be here today. I wouldn’t almost be at the end of the road with the Sparrows. Thank you for that.

“I understand if you can’t stand to be around me, and I understand if you can never forgive me, but know I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me in the past and I hope, one day, you can find it in you to know that when or if you’re backed into a corner, I’ll be there, trying to figure a way to get you out.”

With that, she grabbed my arm again and pushed us toward the box Declan owned.

When we made it in there, hidden behind the curtains, she turned into me and buried her face in my chest.

Her shoulders didn’t shake, and I didn’t feel tears through my shirt, but her arms enveloped me in a crushing hug that I returned.

I knew it wouldn’t always be easy being Star’s soft place to land, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t worthwhile.

I had one of the most well-connected, deadliest women in the world in my arms, calling me her fiancé, sharing a home with me, allowing me to raise her child with her…

If anyone was lucky, it was me.