Page 62 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

Sensing my urgency, he excuses himself from Matteo and follows me as I search for some privacy.

“Come in here,” Kingston orders as we pass the door Regina and I had sex in.

My jaw tightens, but I do as I’m told, praying the scent of sex has dissipated.

Once the door is closed behind us, Kingston demands, “What is it?”

“I received an interesting proposition tonight.”

He quirks his brow. “And?”

“And I think you might be interested to know that it involved me becoming the new head of the Allegretti and the Romano families,” I quip, nearly rolling my eyes at the ridiculousness of it all.

Gaze narrowing in suspicion, he probes, “And who made this proposition?”

“Dominic Castello. Which reminds me, why the hell was Dominic Castello, or even Matteo fucking Moretti, invited tonight?”

He grins. “There’s a saying, Dex. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. We had a statement to make this evening, and I think it came across perfectly. I think the real question is, how would Dominic Castello deliver the Allegretti and the Romano families into your care? And what would he want enough to put himself at that much risk?”

“That’s the interesting part,” I divulge. “He’s working for someone but wouldn’t tell me who. Whoever it is, he wants Q.”

Kingston’s eyes open wide in surprise. “What the hell does he want with Q?”

I shrug. “No idea. Maybe someone found out that she outed herself as a Fed, and they want to deliver their own form of retribution.”

“I told the men I’d take care of it.”

“Yeah, but there wasn’t a body in the newspapers to corroborate your story.” Rubbing my face in frustration, I offer, “Maybe someone saw her alive? I don’t really know, but he’s risking a hell of a lot to get her. She’s still with Diece, right?”

With a nod, a curious Kingston inspects the situation from all sides before asking, “I think Dominic and I need to have a little chat. Is he still here?”

“I told him to wait on the balcony.”

“Why the hell would he do that?”

“Because I gave him the impression that I was interested in his proposition.”

His face looks like it’s been made from stone as he assesses me closely. “Are you?”

“Do you really even need to ask that?” I return. “I’m your man, Kingston. I’ve already proven that, haven’t I?”

His expression stays calm and indifferent, but I can see the wheels turning inside his head as he weighs my comment, searching for its validity. After a few moments, he finally throws me a bone.

“If Dominic has a connection with whoever’s been screwing with the Romanos, then yes. You’ve proven your loyalty.”

Again, I want to point out. It’s as if returning his sister and saving his ass did nothing to clear my name.

Biting my tongue, I go a different route and ask, “What do you mean?”

“Since my father died, I’ve had a suspicion that there’s a rat in the organization. We found the first one, but….”

“But something still felt off,” I finish for him. “And you were using me to flesh out any more.”

It makes sense. I’m the black sheep in the Romano family. If someone was looking for an ally to bring the Romanos down, I’d be the perfect candidate. Apparently, Kingston surmised the same thing.

He doesn’t confirm my suspicion. “Let’s hope that Dominic holds the answers.”

“If you approach Dominic, and we let him walk out of here, he’ll tip off whoever he’s working with that I can’t be trusted, and we’ll lose the only lead we have.”

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