42

STAR

Me: Got eyes on Katina?

Maverick: She’s watching Naruto.

Me: I fucking hate that fox.

Me: And Alessa? Is she nearby?

Maverick: She’s in West Orange.

Me: You need to bring her home. Lock her down.

Maverick: You’re not talking bondage, are you?

Me: Wish I were.

Maverick: What’s going on?

Me: Bad feeling.

Maverick: Bull. What. Is. Going. On?

Me: It sounds insane.

Maverick: Already think you are. Still trust you. Talk to me.

Me: I just found out that Katina was steered in my direction.

Maverick: Huh? By a social worker or something? You fostered her, no?

Me: I did. It’s a long story but to cut it short, if you remember, her mom was a Sparrow bride?

Maverick: That’s what we’re calling them now?

Me: Yeah. I found her details in this manifesto and when I looked into her, I found Kat.

Maverick: As easy as pie, huh?

Me: Nah. Took some wrangling. But the manifesto that I came across, I thought was just by chance. It wasn’t.

Me: You need to lock them both down. Just to be on the safe side.

Maverick: You fostered her years ago.

Me: I know. But I’m rattling cages. Who knows what locks will fall open?

Maverick: True. I’ll bring them in. Alessa’s a homebody anyway and Kati’s calmed down now that she’s heard from you. I’ll go to her gymnastics practice myself. Will bring Link with me for extra security.

Me: Perfect. Thanks, Mav.

Me: You heard of Operation: Jorgmundgander?

Maverick: Sounds like a video game.

Me: Wish it were.

Maverick: What is it?

Me: They take skilled prisoners and let them work off their sentences by doing jobs for whichever government needs them.

Maverick: Sounds like The Suicide Squad.

Me: The basic premise is the same. Without superheroes. Or Harley Quinn.

Maverick: Course. We got our own Harley Quinn here in West Orange.

Me: How is Giulia?

Maverick: You’d think having a kid, Nyx’s kid at that, would calm her down, but nope.

Me: Typical.

Maverick: Never heard of that group before. They’re bad news?

Me: They’re not good.

Me: Mav, I might be her cousin.

Maverick: What?!

Maverick: How the hell are you related?

Me: Remember that I told you my grandfather was the head of the United Brotherhood?

Maverick: Not something I’m likely to forget.

Me: True. When he offered to help me with the Sparrows, he wanted me to find his granddaughter who’d been missing since her father’s death. When I looked into it, I think Kat could be the missing granddaughter.

Maverick: No such thing as a coincidence.

Me: My problem exactly.

Me: I’ll let you know when I find out if she is or not.

Maverick: Thanks, Star.

Me: For?

Maverick: Not keeping us in the dark.

Me: You guys have been fighting to take down the Sparrows since you found out about them. I can promise you, Mav, that we’re getting there.

Maverick: Good. Alessa deserves some peace.

Maverick: Stay safe.

Me: Keep your eyes open.

Maverick: O.O

Blowing out a breath, I stared at my reflection in the vanity.

Now that was done, and once I thought Maverick would have had enough time to speak with her, I tried Alessa’s cell.

“Star? I was hoping to hear from you.”

I grimaced. “Should have called sooner but it’s been crazy here.”

“I’ll bet. I’m so glad you’re safe. We were worried about you.”

“I’m sorry I freaked you out,” I said with a sigh. “I just…”

“I’m Kati’s sister, and on her behalf, I’m pissed,” Alessa declared, the sound of her Baltic roots filtering through the words. “But as someone who was a sex slave for the Sparrows, I can only hope that you’re close to annihilating them.”

“I am,” I rasped.

“That’s phenomenal news!”

“Yeah, I guess it is,” I said with a soft laugh before I rubbed my temple where an ache was brewing. “Alessa, I’m the reason Maverick wants to bring you home.”

“He just called?—”

“Don’t argue with him. Go home and lay low until I tell you otherwise.”

“For how long? What’s this about, Star?”

“I wish I could give you answers but I have none yet. What I do know is that Katina might be related to me.”

“What?” she squawked.

Once I explained the convoluted situation to her, I requested, “Can you get some hair off her brush? I’ll overnight some of mine to you so we can compare for familial markers?”

“Of course. Whatever you need.”

“Mostly I just need you to both stay safe until I know which way is up. Can you do that for me, Alessa?”

“I can. Anything to keep Kati safe.”

“Thanks, Alessa. Next time I call, I hope I have more answers.”

“Me too, Star. Please take care of yourself. Not just for Kati, but for all of us.”

There was that ache again.

It was different than the heartburn Conor gave me, but it was no less strong.

There was no time to wonder whether I was suffering from cardiac issues—Conor and I had to make our way to London, and we had to pick up a certain assassin before we headed out.