Page 27 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

“I think you know what it means,” he mumbles under his breath.

“Spell it out for me, then.”

“My father was a Romano. I guess it’s in my blood, just like it’s in yours.” Turning in his seat and looking straight at me, he waits for my reaction.

Shit.

I first suspected he was my brother when his mom drove up and begged for money. A few years later, I confirmed my suspicion when a picture of him standing next to Burlone was found on my dad’s desk. And now, as he sits next to me, I know the truth without a doubt.

“How long have you known?” I mutter, my hands still clenched around the wheel.

“A while. You?”

“A while,” I repeat with an amused smile. “Why haven’t you reached out?”

He laughs. “Because I was already turned away once, Diece. Burlone took me in.”

I scoff before he has a chance to finish, and he rolls his eyes at my immature response before clarifying, “Okay, he took my mom up on her offer to trade me for a kilo of cocaine and her debt wiped free. Regardless, he put a roof over my head and raised me. Even if it was a pretty shitty upbringing, at least he did that much. My own dad? He couldn’t stand the sight of me.”

I squeeze the steering wheel and grit my teeth. He only knows half the story.

Taking a deep breath, I try to explain the other side. “That’s not entirely true. He had his own set of issues, okay? But don’t let that affect your future. Burlone’s a filthy asshole who deserves to have his dick cut off. Or are you too blinded by your history to see that?”

Shaking his head, a low burn emanates from his eyes. “You’re right. Burlone needs to be put down, and I’m here to help you do it.”

As I watch him from the corner of my eye, I try to figure out if he’s telling the truth or not. The only problem is that I’m not a freaking lie detector like Kingston is. I guess only time will tell, and we’ll find out soon enough.

Turning into the long driveway that leads to Kingston’s house, I let the silence encompass us then shove my car in park once we’ve reached our destination. Turning off the ignition, I ask, “So, tell me, Dex…if I put my neck out for you, will I regret it?”

Without hesitation, he looks me straight in the eye. “Not a chance in hell.”

“Good because I think we’re about to find out.”

I lift my chin toward the front of Kingston’s estate and open the car door before heading inside. Dex follows behind.

Chapter Nineteen

Dex

I feel itchy. It’s the only way to describe it. As if a thousand deadly spiders are crawling along my skin, but I’ve been told that if I brush them away, their tiny fangs will sink into my flesh and fill me with a debilitating poison.

“Wait here,” Diece orders when we reach the foyer.

I lift my chin in acknowledgment. “Sure I won’t get shot if anyone finds me here without a guide?”

“If we wanted you dead, you wouldn’t have stepped a single foot onto our Italian marble tiles,” he quips. “I’ll be back in a few.”

Then he’s gone. Rocking back on my heels, I look around the expansive entryway as I realize that this is Little Bird’s home. This is what she was taken from. This is where she was raised. I take in the dark banister leading to the second floor where I assume the bedrooms are. Perusing the walls, I search for a family photograph, but they’re bare. Not a single slice of evidence can be seen from where I’m standing that Regina Romano ever existed in the first place. I assume it was in an effort to protect her identity from Romano’s enemies, but still. Maybe Regina and I aren’t that different after all. One thing is for certain. When I imagine a life without her, it nearly cripples me.

The itchy feeling intensifies, pulling me from my reverie. Glancing over my shoulder, I find a guy in a suit studying me from down the hall. He doesn’t bother to retreat when I catch him staring. He simply folds his arms and rests his shoulder against the doorframe.

Self-preservation takes over, and I do a quick scan to see a handgun strapped to his chest that peeks out from beneath his suit jacket. I came unarmed to meet Diece because I didn’t want him to feel threatened. But right now? I feel naked without my Glock, and I’m afraid the stranger watching me can feel it too.

“Come on in,” Diece calls, making me jump while simultaneously ending the little staring contest I’d been having with the guy down the hall.

Pulling my attention back to my brother, I follow him inside what I assume is Kingston Romano’s office. It’s cleaner than Burlone’s. More polished, maybe. The stench of cigar smoke isn’t present, though, and the musk that accompanies Burlone wherever he goes is missing from Kingston’s office too.

“Take a seat,” Kingston offers coolly before dropping his gaze to the chair adjacent to his desk.

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