Page 52 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

His breath fans across my face, inching closer until I’m positive he’ll put me out of my misery and release the vise he’d wrapped around my chest since the moment I stormed out of my brother’s office. Licking my lips, I raise up onto my tiptoes and—

“What the hell are you two doing?” Stefan interrupts. He keeps his voice low to prevent others from hearing, but his disapproval is apparent. As he flips the light switch on the wall, I squint and feel like I’m in the middle of being interrogated. Like I’ve been caught doing something that I’m not supposed to even when it’s the only time I actually feel like I’m doing something right with my life.

Dex, on the other hand, jumps back as if he’s been burned.

“Nothing,” he grunts before running his palm across his face. “I was just leaving.”

“And I was just getting some food, but apparently, I’m not very hungry anymore.”

Leaving Dex on his own, I step around Stefan and climb up the stairs to my room. I can’t deal with Dex if he doesn’t want to fight for me and what we could have together.

What we did have before we lost it all.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Dex

I watch Regina walk away, her long legs creating more distance between us with every step. The memory of what her silky skin felt like wrapped around my waist, combined with the knowledge that I’m unable to chase her the way I want to, pisses me off. My entire body buzzes with adrenaline, and I take a step toward her without even thinking about it when Stefan grabs my forearm.

“Don’t.”

“Fuck off,” I growl.

He doesn’t release me. “Look, man. I’m rooting for you guys, okay? Seriously, I am. But I also know that Kingston will put you in the ground if you disobey his orders, especially when I’m pretty sure it’s just a test to confirm where your loyalties lie.” His mouth forms a thin line before he continues. “Just…be patient. That’s all I’m saying.”

“Be patient for what?” I sneer. “No matter how much time or sacrifices I put in under the Romano name, I’ll never be good enough for Kingston’s baby sister.”

With a grin, he answers, “You’re right. You won’t. But Kingston is a generous bastard and might take pity on you, anyway, if you keep your head down and do what you’re told. Besides”—he loses his smile—“if you slip up, and Kingston is forced to exact retribution on your ass, who do you think it’s going to hurt most?”

The answer is simple, but I can’t voice it aloud.

After seeing me come to the conclusion that Regina would be caught in the crosshairs, he raises his chin and confirms, “Exactly. The gathering is tomorrow. Are you ready for that?”

“For what, exactly? The only parties Burlone ever held were basically orgies with a side of prostitution.”

Letting go of my arm, he explains, “Sometimes they feel more like a speed dating event than anything else. You’re going to be fresh meat down there. And so is Regina.”

“She’s really going?” He’d mentioned it before, but I hadn’t pieced together that men will swarm her the same way Stefan is positive women will swarm me.

He nods. “Yeah. Kingston is trying to patch things up with her by granting her some freedom where he actually has some control over the situation and everyone it involves. It’s his own proverbial olive branch, but I think you should be warned that things might get….” His voice trails off, and I find myself anxious to hear him finish his sentence.

“Might get…what?” I bite out.

“For lack of a better word, I’m going to go with interesting. No one has seen her since her mom died over a decade ago. I won’t be surprised if people start pulling out their phones and snapping pictures like she’s Big Foot or something. As far as I know, Kingston has backed off on the whole betrothal thing, but that doesn’t mean that every single available man in the room won’t be attempting to mark her as theirs. Do you think you can witness that without intervening?”

Though I keep my expression blank, he can still feel the heated energy rolling off me as I imagine witnessing a bunch of vultures swarm my Little Bird.

“Just…be ready,” Stefan advises. “And don’t lose your head or you might literally lose your head. Understand?”

I keep my mouth shut because I can’t guarantee shit right now.

Taking my silence as confirmation, he adds, “Good. Now, go get some sleep. We had a long day.”

* * *

I sleep like shit. My legs get tangled in the navy blue covers as I toss and turn. All the while, my mind runs on repeat, contemplating my life and how everything got so screwed up. I always assumed all my issues stemmed from working for the bad guys. My mouth quirks up in amusement.

Yeah, like the Romanos are a bunch of saints.

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