Page 43 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

With her lips sucked into her mouth, she eyes me warily.

“Tell me, Ace.”

“After the tournament. The first one,” Ace clarifies. Her shoulders hunch forward as she practically curls into a ball beside me like a scared little hedgehog.

“What happened?”

She clears her throat. “Burlone uh…he sent Dex to teach me a lesson.”

Covering my mouth, the air gets caught in my lungs.

How did I not know about this?

“What kind of lesson, Ace?”

“I’m not saying it’s his fault. I know he was only following orders and that Kingston has chosen to trust him. I’m just saying that I know what it’s like to be on the other end of his knuckles, and it doesn’t feel so great. I don’t blame Kingston for being a little hesitant to leave you with him without finding out if he’s completely trustworthy first. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Dex would never hit me,” I argue. “Trust me. I’ve seen what goes on under Burlone’s supervision. Dex protected me. Over and over again, he protected me,” I reiterate. “Hasn’t he already proven he can be trusted?”

“Kingston thinks he can be trusted to be a Romano. The verdict is still up in the air as to whether or not he can be trusted with the Romano princess.”

“You say that like Kingston hasn’t already laid down the law.”

“Rules can change, Gigi. That’s all I’m saying.” She grimaces before muttering under her breath, “And I probably shouldn’t even say that much.” Looking at me, she raises her voice a little louder. “You just need to be patient and cut your brother a little slack. Do you think you can do that?”

Chewing on my lower lip, I weigh my options. “Do I have a choice?”

“Not really,” she teases dryly. “But if you really want Dex, then I suggest you try. For now, keep your distance from him. If Kingston thinks that Dex’s loyalty isn’t concrete, he won’t make it out of here alive. Understand?”

I gulp. “Yeah. I understand.”

Chapter Thirty

Dex

A guy named Leo led me to a room in the back of the Romano estate after he found me wandering outside Kingston’s office. It took me a second to recognize him, but I finally realized he’s the same guy who watched me in the hallway the first day I met Kingston. However, he doesn’t mention our initial introduction, and neither do I.

Located in the basement, with generic navy blue sheets and dark wood floors, I assume the room is standard living for lowly soldiers like myself. Regardless, once he points me to the private bathroom, I almost groan at the prospect of a shower.

Reading my mind, Leo orders, “Take a shower, and get some rest. We have a lot to discuss, but you need a clear head if we’re going to put out all the fires that accompany a massive FBI raid followed by Burlone’s disappearance. Stay here. Someone will come get you in a few hours.”

Then he’s gone.

And I’m left with a few hours to rethink my life and my past mistakes that led me to a life without Regina by my side. But who am I kidding? A guy like me could never deserve a princess like her.

It’s fucking torture.

* * *

Leo doesn’t bother to knock.

Twisting the handle, he opens the door and sees me lounging on my bed with my forearm lying across my forehead as I try to catch a few minutes of shut-eye.

“Kingston wants to see you in his office.”

I’m on my feet before he finishes his order. “Lead the way.”

The walk is silent as we make our way up the stairs. The only sound that’s heard is the occasional scuff of our shoes against the wood or a quiet creak in the floorboards as they take our weight.

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