Page 18 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

Casually, I stand to my full height and almost tower over him, but it doesn’t stop him from trying to get up in my face. I don’t back down.

“Of course, I touched her,” I acknowledge with a grin. “You have the evidence in your hand, dumbass. But do you think I wanted to touch her, Sei? Maybe you should get your facts straight and ask Frank before you come over here and spout shit you know nothing about. I was told to touch her. I was told to spark some kind of emotion from her. So I did. Job done. Check. Just another day at the office.”

“That’s bullshit.”

“Is it? Tell me, Sei, have I ever shown interest in the girls before? Ever? What the hell makes you think I’d be interested now? You think she’s special?” Lifting my arms, I motion to the basement floor where we keep all the girls who’ve ever been taken by Sei and sold by Burlone.

“Take a look around, Sei. She’s a dime a dozen and will be moved to the next place in a week, and we’ll all move on with our lives as if she never existed. Now, back off and get out of my face before I make you.” My nostrils are flared, and my fists are tight, but I don’t move a muscle as I wait for him to decide if it’s really worth it to pick a fight with me.

In all honesty, I don’t know that I’d win if he chose to escalate this. He’s already pissed that I got the better of him the last time we were in each other’s faces, and I have no doubt he’s chomping at the bit to get his chance at revenge. Sei’s known for fighting dirty, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulled a knife on me to prove a point. But I don’t really give a shit anymore. A real fight between us is long overdue. And I’m sick of his shit.

With a misplaced smirk, an arrogant Sei steps back and raises his hands in surrender. “Now, now, no need to get so feisty, Dex. Just wanted to check, that’s all. Have a good night.”

He saunters back toward the elevator without a care in the world, while I find myself fuming at the lies I had to utter in order to get him to back off.

Chapter Thirteen

Little Bird

I’m used to girls screaming now, and I’m used to men’s laughter as they discuss their latest conquests. But the baritone shouting? That’s not normal. Curiosity piqued, I shuffle a few feet closer to the thick, locked door and try to make out the muffled voices.

My eyes fill with tears as soon as they become clear.

“You think I wanted to touch her, Sei? Maybe you should get your facts straight and ask Frank before you come over here and spout shit you know nothing about. I was told to touch her. I was told to spark some kind of emotion from her. So I did. Job done. Check. Just another day at the office.”

Scrambling back like a little sand crab, I push my back into the biting wall and tuck my knees to my chest, holding back the tears that threaten to fall. All the while, that same muffled voice burrows itself into my memory.

I cover my ears and gently rock myself back and forth, feeling more alone than I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I just want to go home. To go back to the place I hated for so long when I had no idea what real hatred was until this very moment.

I need to get out of here.

My logic battles my fraying emotions as I replay the conversation over and over again. My stomach rolls.

But what hurts the most? He doesn’t come to see me.

And I think that’s the final straw because it only proves the validity of his comment. It shreds me in two.

* * *

The next morning, I wake up with puffy, swollen eyes from crying only to see Dex hovering near the doorway with a tray of food. I must’ve been so exhausted I didn’t even hear him come in. Apparently, my self-preservation is at an all-time low.

“Morning, Little Bird,” he greets me in a gruff voice.

I don’t bother to respond.

Sensing that something is off, his brows tug in at the center, and he takes a step closer. When he finds me looking like a mess, his face turns a pale, ashy color. “What’s wrong? Did something happen? I had only left for ten minutes. Which asshole was it? What did he look like? I swear to—”

“It wasn’t anyone,” I whisper, feeling like I swallowed a glass of acid with how sore my throat is.

He kneels down beside me and cups the side of my face with his warm palm. Holding my breath, I have to fight myself from leaning into it.

“Then what’s wrong, Little Bird?”

Unable to stop myself, I whisper, “Did you mean what you said?”

“About what?” He searches my face for a hint that might tell him what I’m referring to.

Because I’m a coward, I close my eyes and murmur, “Not wanting to touch me. Being here because you’re told to be. Not giving a shit about my future or any of the other girls on this floor. All of it.”

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