Page 29 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

Regina

“Hey, Little Bird,” Dex greets me, sneaking in through the door.

“Hi.” I’m tense, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.

“What’s wrong?”

“Where were you?” I accuse, my panic finally taking over.

Rushing toward me, Dex opens his arms to hold me, but I shrug away from him. “Answer my question, Dex. Where the hell did you go?”

“I told you—”

“Yeah. You told me you were going to meet with my brother and that you’d be back in a few hours. That was yesterday.” I emphasize the word as my blood practically boils in my veins. “So, let me ask you again. Where the hell have you been?”

Scanning the empty room, he keeps his tone low and quiet so that I have to strain to hear him. “I met with your brother. Then Diece dropped me back off at our original meeting place. I got a call from Burlone to collect some shit with Sei since I was already out and about. By the time I finally made it back here, Diece called with an update on…”—he drops his voice even lower—“the plan for tonight, and I had to make sure everything was ready and in place. I’m sorry I couldn’t come to you sooner, okay? I figured you knew I was doing everything in my power to keep you safe—”

“And possibly getting caught for it!” I whisper-shout. “You scared me half to death! Things have been happening here….”

His face turns pale. “What kind of things?”

Shaking my head, I raise my hands and try to put him at ease. “Not those kinds of things. It’s just…I can hear the girls being escorted from their rooms. But they’re not coming back. Where are they taking them?”

The realization dawns on Dex as soon as I finish voicing my question, and he pulls me into his chest.

“Shit, Regina. I’m sorry. They’ve been transporting the girls to the tournament location one at a time in hopes of not raising any suspicion. You’re one of the last on the docket, and I told them I’d take care of you and the other passion fruit by myself. Because this isn’t exactly out of the norm, none of Burlone’s men questioned my orders and left you both alone until I got here.”

“I thought you said I wasn’t going to the tournament?” I question.

“Plans changed.”

“And what about Kingston?” My heart picks up its pace. “Is he going too?”

Giving me a single nod, Dex leans forward and brushes his lips against the shell of my ear. “Yes. But I promise that everything is going to be okay. We are all going to walk out of there. The plan is foolproof, but it won’t work unless we’re all there. We can’t raise anyone’s suspicion, understand?”

Peeking up at him, I release a shaky breath through my open mouth then give him a nod of my own, though I can’t find my voice.

“Good. We’re going to get you out of here. I promise. Are you ready for tonight?” he probes with a worried look.

With a dry laugh, I say, “Not particularly.”

It’s the moment I’ve been dreading since I woke up in Burlone’s office with a pounding headache and missing clothes. The moment my brother always warned me could possibly happen if I wasn’t careful. And instead of heeding his advice, I practically presented myself to the wolves with a little bow and a flashing neon sign that read, “Hi! I’m Regina Romano. Come and get me.”

I shake my head in an attempt to scatter my self-deprecation. It won’t do me any good, anyway.

Dex squeezes me a little tighter. “Come here, Regina.”

Burrowing into his embrace, I squeeze him just as tightly and try to hold back my tears. I’ve never been more terrified in my entire life, and I hate it.

“It’s going to be okay.” Gently, he rubs my back up and down, comforting me the best way he can.

“We really don’t know that, Dex. If what you’re saying is true, then my brother’s coming tonight in an attempt to save me, but in reality, there’s no guarantee either of us will walk out of there alive. And don’t even get me started on you and the sacrifices you’ve already made for me.” I squeeze my eyes shut as the familiar guilt swarms me from all sides. “I’m so sorry I’ve screwed up your whole world too. If anything happens to you, I’ll—” I sound more like I’m choking than talking, my voice getting caught in my throat as it closes up. I feel like I’ve swallowed a handful of cotton balls, and they’re making my mouth fumble through the words instead of speaking articulately. But the truth is, I can’t imagine a world without Dex. The possibility is paralyzing.

The deep baritone rumbles through his chest and makes me cling to him closer. “Listen to me, Regina.”

I stay silent.

“Listen, okay? I’ve already told you that your brother has a plan. Something that is fucking genius if we can pull it off, and honestly? If I didn’t think it was a good one, I wouldn’t consider sticking around to see how it would play out.” He bends forward and brushes his mouth against my forehead before whispering against my skin, “It’s going to be all right, Little Bird. I really, truly, think it will be. You just gotta be patient. And you need to trust us. It’s going to work.”

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