Page 77 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

He circles me slowly, but I keep my chin held high and watch his every move with the knowledge that he’ll strike at any second. It doesn’t help that I’m seeing two of him, though, and his movements only seem to amplify the spinning in my head.

“Men like you are hard to come by, Dex,” Kingston acknowledges after a few tense seconds. “And I’m not sure I’ve finished having you as an ally. For that, I’ll let you keep your life, but not without taking something from you first. These hands touched something they weren’t meant to touch, so I’ve decided to give you a daily reminder about what happens when you defy my orders. If you can accept my punishment without making a single sound, I’ll let you keep your life…and my sister.”

What the hell?

“Do we have a deal?”

I nod, unable to believe he actually offered her to me.

Satisfied with my response, he questions, “Are you right-handed, Dex?”

Again, I nod before his hand squeezes my left wrist, and he orders, “Open your fist and spread your fingers.”

Doing as I’m told, I spread my fingers wide and wait for the sharp steel to do their damage.

I’m not disappointed.

The bite of the blade is excruciating as it cuts into the skin on my pinkie, right along the top of my knuckle on the far left finger of my hand. Releasing his hold on my wrist, he grabs my small finger and twists it with precision, popping the joint out of its socket until my finger hangs off the side of my hand at an awkward angle. My bruised jaw tightens, and I dig my teeth into the inside of my cheek until the explosion of blood coats my tastebuds.

Fuuuuuuuck.

I keep my mouth shut, and my swollen eyes glued to my prize, grateful Kingston had bent forward enough to give me a view of her. My Little Bird. Her dainty little hand covers her mouth as she watches her brother saw off my finger. And fuck, it hurts.

Turning pale, I can tell she’s about to puke or faint, and I open my mouth to tell Kingston to let her leave the room before remembering I can’t make a sound, or he’ll accuse me of defying orders a second time. And that will never happen again.

As if she can read my mind, Regina pulls her gaze away from the mess of my left hand. With another deep breath, she focuses on my face, and I try to smooth my features to hide the burning pain radiating from my knuckles, down to my forearm, and up into my shoulder.

Shiiiit, that hurts.

But Kingston is right. I’ll never touch his sister ever again without remembering the sacrifice I made to do it, along with the promise I made to him that I’ll never put anything above the family ever again. Except her.

Which apparently, is enough for him.

Once I’m positive I’m about to pass out from the excruciating pain, Kingston tosses the finger onto my lap.

“Remember what you saw today, gentlemen. Family first. Always. Next time someone disobeys an order, they lose their hand. Dismissed.”

The men file out without any more prodding from their leader, and I’m left with crimson blood dripping from my hand and onto the cold cement floor beneath me.

“Regina,” Kingston barks. “You can see him now.”

Seconds later, a pair of soft hands frame my face, keeping me from slipping into oblivion.

“Dex? Dex, look at me! Are you okay? I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry that—”

“Shhh…,” I whisper, taking in the remnants of yesterday’s makeup sliding down her pink cheeks. “It’s okay, Little Bird.”

Shaking her head, she argues, “It’s not okay. Do you have any idea how much it killed me to let him do that to you?” Her voice cracks. “I pushed you into sleeping with me. I pushed you into giving us a chance. This is all my fault, Dex. It’s all my fault.”

With her arms wrapped around my neck, she sobs. Hard. More than I’ve ever seen her break down, and that includes the days not so long ago when she was sure she’d be sold as a sex slave. And that’s when it hits me. She’s sobbing for me. For the pain I just experienced. Hell, the pain I’m still experiencing. She’s sobbing for us. And I know without a doubt that she probably offered to take my punishment from me if her brother would let her.

Thankfully, the bastard knew I’d kill him if he accepted.

“Little Bird,” I mutter, trying to even out my haggard breathing. “I’m okay.”

“You’re not okay—”

“I am,” I insist through gritted teeth. “But do you wanna know what would make me even more okay?”

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