Page 6 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

“It means that in most cases, if we thought someone was going to miss you, then we would’ve left you alone. In this business, it’s best not to draw attention to ourselves.”

“What do you mean, in most cases?” I press, practically begging for answers.

His lips are pulled into a thin line, and his gaze narrows as he almost stops himself from giving me an answer.

“Please,” I beg. “I’m going crazy in here. I need the truth.”

I watch as he releases a slow breath then looks at me. “In some cases, you––or someone you know––pissed off the wrong guy, and you’re taken as leverage, or sometimes to teach them a lesson with no intention of ever being returned.”

Which is exactly what I’m afraid of. But if they don’t know the truth, then I might actually have a chance of getting out of here.

Steeling my shoulders, I push, “So what am I?” I need to know who I’m dealing with. What I’m dealing with.

He drags his fingers through his short, dark hair before gritting his teeth and telling me, “You’re a little bird who’s desperate to be set free from her cage.”

Standing from the edge of the bed, he takes a step toward the door when I stop him. “And what are the chances of that happening, Dex?”

He shakes his head but doesn’t turn around. The muscles in his back are tense as he utters, “Don’t count on it, Little Bird. Not everyone is meant to fly.”

And with that, the door slams behind him, and I scream in desperation.

Chapter Six

Dex

“Boss wants to see you,” Sei says with his shoulder pressed against the wall.

“Boss is out,” I reply. “He’s at a dinner. Dante’s driving.”

Sei’s face remains blank, but he doesn’t bother to cover up his bullshit lie. “You look tired,” he notes, trying a different tactic. “When was the last time you slept?”

“Do you need something, Sei?” I ask in an attempt to get to the point. I’m not in the mood for his bullshit, especially after my conversation with Little Bird. Something sparked inside of me, and I need to bury it.

Shrugging, he pushes himself off the wall and swaggers toward me before pulling out a cigarette.

“Just figured I’d check on the fruit. That’s all.”

“They’re fine,” I grit out.

“But are you fine? Like I said, you look tired. I’m only looking out for you.”

Snorting, I quip, “I’m sure you are. Get out of here, Sei. You’re not needed down here.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” Towering over me from my seated position in a metal folding chair, he puffs out some putrid smoke. “You see, some of the men have been complaining that you’ve misunderstood Burlone’s orders.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah. They say you’ve kind of taken the fun out of fruit picking.”

“Oh, really?” My mouth quirks up on the side. “That’s a shame.”

“It is. You see, you’ve always been a lone wolf. I get that, Dex. Hell, I appreciate it. But now you’re pissing off my pack.”

“I was given orders—”

“I know your orders,” he bites out, pissing me off. “And I also know that you weren’t asked to protect all of them, so stop trying to play the hero, or I’ll have no choice but to—”

“To what?” Standing to my full height, I puff out my chest and tilt my head a few inches closer to get up in his face and to showcase my point. Sei might be big and bad to everyone else, but he’s not Burlone’s muscle. He isn’t feared like I am. He’s Burlone’s little weasel. Without the gun on Sei’s hip and his perverted ideology that coincides with the Allegretti family, Sei would be useless.

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