Page 70 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

His jaw stays clenched shut before Kingston brings up a different, and much more tender subject. “Why are you in my house right now, Jack? And I suggest you choose your next words very carefully.”

A large hand falls onto my shoulder, pinning me in place, though it’s not like I have anywhere else to go. If I did, I wouldn’t be here. It seems the Romano family is my only hope.

With a deep breath, I dive right in. “I was at my apartment a few hours ago when a couple of buddies knocked on my door with an arrest warrant. I guess they figured I’d go quietly and didn’t think to bring backup.”

Kingston’s face remains indifferent. “And?”

“And apparently, they found evidence that I was working with Burlone before he died.” I laugh dryly at the memory of them pointing their guns in my face when I opened the door to let them inside my apartment. “I asked them what kind of evidence they could possibly have since, ya know, I’m the one who got my hands dirty with you guys in order to catch the bastard. The only thing they were willing to tell me was about the cell phone in my desk that was linked to multiple men in the mob and an email from Burlone saying it was good doing business with me.”

The room is quiet. Not a single person moves a muscle as they digest my current predicament before Kingston asks, “Were you doing business with Burlone?”

I shake my head as my blood boils. “Are you serious right now? I would never get into bed with Burlone. He was the lowest scum on this Earth.”

“And the other made men you were supposedly in contact with?”

“I’m not a dirty cop,” I spit, my frustration finally taking over.

“You made a deal with me, remember?”

“So, because I accepted your deal to take down four pieces of shit in return for a little piece of paper and the biggest shit being wiped from this Earth, you think I’m a dirty cop?”

“You tell me.”

I grit my teeth. “I’m here because I’m being framed. I’m here because I have nowhere else to go. And I’m here because you owe me.”

Laughing, Kingston refutes, “We had a deal. And that deal is over. I owe you nothing.”

“Kingston—”

He raises his hand, and my mouth snaps shut.

“But,” he adds, “I might be willing to make another deal if you can prove to me that you aren’t the rat who sent Dominic Castello to approach Dex with the opportunity to screw over the Romano family in return for learning the location of one of the girls that went missing the night of the tournament.”

“Wait, what?” My mind scrambles to piece together the information he just launched at me like a damn missile.

I don’t miss the way his eyes are zeroed in on my face, taking note of every muscle twitch and every damn wrinkle. I must’ve passed some unknown test because he continues, “I think you heard me just fine, but because I’m feeling generous, I’ll give you a more thorough explanation. Earlier this evening, Dominic Castello approached Dex. He was in contact with someone through a burner phone that happened to have sent a text within a quarter-mile of The District. I assume that it happens to be the phone they found in your desk. Whether it was planted there or not remains to be seen. What I want to know is, why would someone in your office want information on a random girl off the street?”

“I-I don’t know.” My eyes go hazy as I stare at a random sconce on the wall and attempt to sort through all the information that’s just been handed to me. Patiently, Kingston and his men wait for me in silence to do exactly that.

Who would want to set me up? Why would someone want to set me up? Why would they want information on a random girl who doesn’t even have a missing person filled out on her behalf? The only one who even questioned how many girls were at the tournament was—

“No fucking way,” I whisper before tugging my attention back to The Dark King across from me. “No fucking way,” I repeat, covering my mouth. “I think I know who set me up.”

“Tell me.”

“Reed. My boss,” I spit. “The asshole approached me at my desk after the arrest and wanted to know where the other missing girls were. I told him I didn’t know. Then he stormed out of the office. He’s been over Burlone’s operation for as long as I have. But anytime we were getting close to bringing him in, Burlone would slip through our fingers. It was as if he knew our every move. The only reason we were able to catch him was because you approached me with your idea, and it’s not like I was stupid enough to divulge the plan to my superior.”

“Which means Burlone was out of the loop for once.”

“Yeah,” I breathe. “But…it still doesn’t make sense. I remember him drilling me time and time again about how terrible Burlone was, and that I’d lose my job if I didn’t bring him in. He was putting the whole operation on my shoulders—”

“He wanted to look invested in the case,” Kingston murmurs. “If he didn’t keep pushing you to bring Burlone in, even if he wanted the opposite, wouldn’t that raise more suspicion than him repeating the importance of Burlone’s arrest while slipping the guy information to keep him out of prison?”

“Yeah,” I admit, feeling sick to my stomach. “I guess it does. But it still doesn’t explain why he’s so interested in the missing girl.”

“Her name is Q.” The low rumble of Dex’s voice behind me causes my hackles to rise.

Glancing over my shoulder, I nod. “Q. Right.”

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