Page 47 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

“You’re right,” he admits. “No one ever will be, but I’m going to do my best to make them rise to the challenge before I ever give you away, do you understand me?”

“I hear you loud and clear,” I seethe.

“Good. I should probably give you a head’s up. The gathering is for Dex. He’ll be the star of the show. Do you think you can handle that?”

Tears pool in my eyes, and one slips out, sliding down my cheek. My voice breaks as I ask, “And will all the desperate sluts be attending, as well?” It’s common knowledge that these kinds of parties attract all the women who have yet to be married off. They swarm like hungry wolves, circling any new soldier like a piece of meat that needs to be tied down. My insecurities rear their ugly heads, quietly whispering that I’ll never be enough to hold Dex’s attention when we’re already on shaky ground, and I cause so much more trouble than I’m worth.

The sound of Kingston’s phone buzzing with a call prevents him from divulging which desperate women will be in attendance to distract the love of my life from remembering what we share together. Or shared. I’m not sure where he stands anymore. Not after he accepted Kingston’s orders to leave me alone so easily. Does he even want me anymore?

With a finger raised at me, Kingston slides his thumb across the phone’s screen and answers, “Why are you calling me, Jack?”

Silence.

“Our business is finished—”

A muffled voice on the other end cuts him off. His expression remains indifferent, but I can see a slight tick in his jaw that tells me he’s close to snapping.

“Thank you for the update. I’ll get back to you.”

Ending the call, he turns back to me. “If you don’t think you can handle the crowds, then don’t come, but consider this your official invitation. I have to get going. Get some food and take a shower.”

He storms out of the room seconds later, and I raise my arm, then take a whiff of my armpit. Yup. I totally need a shower. And I also need to figure out if I’m strong enough to see Dex swarmed by sluts from all sides.

Nope. Definitely not strong enough for that.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Dex

Stefan hits the lock button on his fob as we pull up to our current destination.

“Why are we here?” I ask as I take in the massive mansion with a wrap-around porch and a welcome mat by the front door.

“Lou traced an email that went to this IP address. It was in regards to Q’s future…employer.” His nose wrinkles in disgust while I read between the lines. Interesting. Sei had said that Burlone would let him keep Q for his own sick activities. Apparently, he’d been lying and had already set up a buyer. I’m not surprised that Burlone was going to fail in holding up his end of the bargain with Sei. I am surprised that he’d sell her to this man, though.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” I prod.

Stefan nods. “Yeah.”

“Johnson has a kid. Do you know if he’s home?”

Shaking his head, Stefan pulls out his phone and mutters, “Let me make sure. One sec.”

I blow out a deep breath and wait for Stefan to do a bit of research when my phone rings. After I pull it out, I answer, “Yeah?”

“How’s it going?” Kingston asks.

“Fine,” I grit out.

“Good. I just got a call from an…acquaintance. Apparently, the Feds are searching for Burlone’s body.”

“And what does that have to do with me?”

“It’s in the back of your car.” Tossing a glance over my shoulder, my eyes zero in on the trunk. “Well, that’s…inconvenient.”

“Or convenient, since I’d put it on Stefan’s to-do list to dispose of it. Tell Stefan it needs to be more public than we’d initially anticipated. I’ll also be sending you a number. I want you to give that number the location of his body so that we can be done with this. If the acquaintance has any more questions, he’s going to contact you from now on. Understood?”

Piecing together the information Kingston just gifted me with, I realize that this acquaintance is likely the Fed who gave him the forged documentation that incriminated Burlone to be working with the enemy. I can also assume that by Kingston passing the buck to me, he’s washing his hands and his connection, leaving me in the crosshairs in case anyone ever figures out our association with the FBI. Again.

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