"Yeah," Aidan rumbled, "you did good, Savannah."
My throat tightened at that, flooding with emotions I really didn't want to be feeling right now.
His praise sank into me though, like water into parched skin. Public reaction to what I’d done had been polarizing; that he supported me meant more than he could know.
"I’ve met Poliski, the network controller, and his cronies," Declan said, breaking into my thoughts. "That 'Help The Elders' gala last year in Tribeca? He was such an asshole.
"There was an auction, and they had women walking through the groups of tables holding the lots. If he could have super glued them to his side, he would have. Even so, his hands rarely left those poor women’s asses." His mouth tugged up in a snarl. "Kneed him in the nuts when I caught him trying to force himself on one of them in a restroom."
My brows rose.
Were the O’Donnelly brothers feminists?
I was pretty sure I’d not just fallen into a safe haven, but into a parallel universe.
I stared at them, feeling a little like the proverbial deer in headlights.
What was happening here?
"Oh, yeah? What were you doing in a quiet restroom, huh?" Finn jibed.
Declan smirked. "My waitress wanted to be with me."
"Remind me to tell Aela that when you don't listen to me," Conor chimed in, uncaring that his brother practically seared him in two with a stare worthy of a death ray.
"Carry on, Savannah," Aidan advised gruffly when I just carried on gaping at them. Both touched and amused by their rapport. "This is a tough crowd to keep focused."
His brothers grunted and huffed, but only one of them, Brennan—rumor had it that fine piece of man meat was off the shelf—snarked, "Like your focus ain’t shot, Aidan."
The others snickered, at what I had no idea, but Aidan's mouth just tightened a little more, before he gestured at me with his hand, indicating I should continue.
Shame.
These guys should consider starting their own reality TV show.
Manhattanite Mobsters... I knew I'd tune in.
"Ever since I got fired," I stated, before my brain could veer even further off course. "I’ve been trying to find ways to make a difference. I know it sounds hokey but it's true.
"They took my social media profiles away from me, but they were tied to the show anyway, and I already had my personal ones, so I’ve been using them as a platform. Trying to trigger change."
Sure, I sounded like every other Manhattan socialite at that moment, but when the chips were down, you had a choice to stand up and be counted or to lie down and die.
Which, surprise surprise, wasn't something I was ready to do just yet.
"Star, I mean you called her Lodestar, and I grew up together on the road..."
"What do you mean? Grew up together?" Aidan queried, frowning at me. He cast a glance at Conor. "Star is related to somebody fromnoxxious?"
I snorted. "Her dad was Gerard Sullivan. As much as I love my dad, everybody knows Gerry wasnoxxious. That’s why they changed their name after he died. Dad says the world is a shittier place for having lost him, so the group has to be as well."
"Why didn’t they just split up then?" Brennan asked, his brows high.
"They love the road too much. Love the life." I shrugged. "It’s not for everybody, but it’s all they know. All they’ve really done their whole lives. Anyway, the fans still want them. Dad played to a packed out crowd in the Hard Rock Stadium last Wednesday. Ninety thousand fans were there." I shrugged again. "They're still big."
Conor whistled under his breath. "Shit, I wish I’d been able to get tickets."
"I think if you help me, Dad will set up in that corner over there and play you any song you want if you ask him to."