Page 73 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

“I know, baby. I know. I knew what would happen if I disobeyed him, but I don’t regret it, and I never will. I need you to promise me that you’ll never regret us, either. Do you think you can do that for me, Little Bird? Do you think you can stand strong? That you can face the consequences of our love with a brave face? For me?”

Her lower lip quivers as she shakes her head back and forth.

Lifting her chin with the pad of my finger, I make her look me in the eyes. Damn, she’s beautiful. Even when her face is puffy and swollen from crying, she’s still the prettiest little bird I’ve ever laid eyes on. “Be strong, baby. And don’t be mad at your brother. He cares about you. He cares about you so damn much that he’s willing to rip your heart out to protect you from a guy who doesn’t deserve you but stole your heart anyway.”

“Dex—”

“Shh….” Carefully, I lean closer and place a close-mouthed kiss onto her trembling lips. “I love you, Little Bird. Be strong. I can handle the consequences of my actions, but I can’t handle watching you break. Do you hear me?”

A few more tears rush down her cheeks, dripping off her chin freely as she squeezes her eyes shut.

“Dex…,” Stefan murmurs. I can feel his anxiety for giving us this moment, but I don’t really give a shit.

“I know,” I return before dropping another kiss to Regina’s forehead. “I love you, Little Bird. Don’t let these repercussions clip your wings, okay? You were made to fly.”

Then I drop my arms and walk out the back door toward the shed with my head held high while the girl of my dreams drops to her knees behind me, sobbing for the love we had that’s as tragic as Romeo and Juliet’s.

Chapter Forty-Four

Ace

I roll onto my side to find Kingston’s side of the bed dreadfully empty. With a sigh, I check the time and see it’s almost five in the morning, which means he still hasn’t slept yet. I went to bed alone after the gathering was officially over, and the guests had cleared out. To say the evening was an interesting experience would be a gross understatement.

Dex had stolen Kingston as I was grabbing another glass of wine, and I haven’t seen him since. Squinting at the crack beneath the closed bedroom door, I notice the hallway light is still on. My curiosity finally gets the best of me, and I pad out of our master suite to drag my dark king back to bed.

The sound of quiet sobbing pricks my ears as I reach the bottom of the stairs. My brows furrow in confusion when I realize it’s coming from the kitchen. And I’d bet all my money that I know who it belongs to. Digging my teeth into my lower lip, I peek around the corner. With her knees pulled into her chest, a heart-breaking image of Regina greets me.

I knew it.

Cautiously, I approach with my hand outstretched in hopes of not startling her.

“Gigi?” My voice is quiet but sounds louder than a siren in the otherwise silent room.

She doesn’t answer me.

“G? You okay? What’s wrong?”

My best friend peeks up at me with red-rimmed eyes. And I know something is seriously not okay.

“What’s wrong, G?” I press. “Tell me.”

“He knows,” she whispers. “He knows that Dex didn’t follow orders. He took him to the shed, Ace. He took him to the shed. Nothing good happens in the shed. H-he—” She hiccups. “He’s going to kill him, Ace. I just know it. And it’s all my fault!” Her head falls back into her hands as her back shakes with more sorrow until my heart breaks with it.

“Where’s Kingston?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” she cries.

“Stay here, okay? I’ll be right back.”

Then I’m racing toward his office, praying I’m not too late.

Grasping the handle, I twist it then push open the door without knocking. Kingston’s face is calm and indifferent as he glances up at me, but I know him well enough to see how distraught he is.

“We need to talk,” I start.

“I don’t really have time right now, Wild Card.”

“Then make time.”

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