Page 26 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

The call goes dead, leaving me on my own while I fight every instinct inside of me that’s telling me to run before a bullet meets my skull.

But I don’t.

Chapter Eighteen

Diece

The likelihood of me walking into a trap is far from slim, but it doesn’t stop me from putting the car in park and turning off the ignition. Tugging the sleeves of my suit down an inch, I walk toward the dumpster where I last saw Eddie. Only this time, a bear of a man is standing next to it. His hands are raised in the air in an attempt to put me at ease as he watches me approach.

It doesn’t work.

“I’m still here,” he calls out to me when I’m twenty yards away.

“I can see that. I think the real question is, why?”

Not moving an inch, he says, “Any chance you’d be willing to go somewhere private? Where we can talk? I’m getting itchy out in the open.”

His comment isn’t what I expected, and neither is the way his gaze shifts left and right while scanning the parking lot. Either he’s scared out of his mind, or he’s waiting for someone to jump out of the bushes and put a gun to my head. I can’t decide which.

“And where would you like to go?” I ask cautiously.

“I dunno. Ace’s apartment? A diner somewhere?”

My suspicion spikes. “No offense, but I think it’s best if we stay here until you can convince me to trust you.” Even though I’m as itchy as you are to get out of this situation.

With a nod, Burlone’s right-hand man slowly starts lowering his arms back down to his sides. “I’m reaching for the letter. Don’t shoot me before I have a chance to prove that I’m on your side, okay?”

My jaw is like chiseled granite as I thumb the Glock in my jacket and watch his every move, prepping for any possible outcome. Although it’d be really nice if I didn’t have to shoot my own brother today.

Just sayin’.

Seconds later, Dex pulls a folded piece of paper from his pocket just like he voiced and offers it to me.

“Here.”

Releasing a breath I didn’t know I was holding, I take it and slowly unfold the creased letter.

Hey, King,

It’s me. First—I’m so sorry I snuck out. I screwed up, and that’s on me. But I want you to know I’m okay. Please don’t shoot Dex! He’s been watching over me. He’s been taking care of me. He’s been really good to me, King. He’s not like the other men. I know you’d kill me if I were in front of you right now, but I really care about him, and I’m begging you to give him a chance. He wants to get BOTH of us out of this situation and has information from Burlone that the tournament is a trap. I’m sure you’ve already been able to guess that would be the case, but Dex can confirm it. You can’t go. I don’t care if I’m sold or…whatever the plans are for me. Burlone is going to kill you if you show up, and I can’t let that happen. Especially because if I had listened to you, I wouldn’t be in this position in the first place. Just be careful, okay? And listen to Dex. He’s the only shot we have.

Love you,

Regina

When I’m finished reading the message for a third time, I look at my brother and tilt my head toward my car. “Get in.”

He listens, keeping his hands out of his pockets and within clear view of my suspicious gaze as if he knows I’m still a little trigger happy. Both car doors slam shut with a thud before I turn on the sleek, black sedan and start driving toward King’s estate. The awkward silence is deafening, but I don’t know what to say. There’s more than one elephant in the car with us. Where the hell do I even start?

My fingers tighten around the steering wheel as I ask, “So, is this true? You’ve been watching over Regina?”

“Yeah,” he responds in a gruff voice.

“Why help us? Why tell King he’s stepping into a trap when you know Burlone will gut you in the ugliest way possible if he finds out that you’re a rat. Why do any of this?”

Dex keeps his attention out the side window, watching the green trees blur across the landscape as we get closer to our destination. “I think we both know I’ve never really fit in with the Allegrettis.”

My head snaps to him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

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