by Kelsie Rae
Who would want to set me up? Why would someone want to set me up? Why would they want information on a random girl who doesn’t even have a missing person filled out on her behalf? The only one who even questioned how many girls were at the tournament was—
“No fucking way,” I whisper before tugging my attention back to The Dark King across from me. “No fucking way,” I repeat, covering my mouth. “I think I know who set me up.”
“Tell me.”
“Reed. My boss,” I spit. “The asshole approached me at my desk after the arrest and wanted to know where the other missing girls were. I told him I didn’t know. Then he stormed out of the office. He’s been over Burlone’s operation for as long as I have. But anytime we were getting close to bringing him in, Burlone would slip through our fingers. It was as if he knew our every move. The only reason we were able to catch him was because you approached me with your idea, and it’s not like I was stupid enough to divulge the plan to my superior.”
“Which means Burlone was out of the loop for once.”
“Yeah,” I breathe. “But…it still doesn’t make sense. I remember him drilling me time and time again about how terrible Burlone was, and that I’d lose my job if I didn’t bring him in. He was putting the whole operation on my shoulders—”
“He wanted to look invested in the case,” Kingston murmurs. “If he didn’t keep pushing you to bring Burlone in, even if he wanted the opposite, wouldn’t that raise more suspicion than him repeating the importance of Burlone’s arrest while slipping the guy information to keep him out of prison?”
“Yeah,” I admit, feeling sick to my stomach. “I guess it does. But it still doesn’t explain why he’s so interested in the missing girl.”
“Her name is Q.” The low rumble of Dex’s voice behind me causes my hackles to rise.
Glancing over my shoulder, I nod. “Q. Right.”
“We need to figure out why he wants her, and why he chose this moment to frame you,” Kingston orders.
I shrug. “I have no idea.”
“Then it looks like we have some work to do. Did you kill either of the Feds who came to arrest you?”
“What?” I practically screech in outrage. “Of course not.”
“Then how did you escape?”
“There was a…tussle?” I shrug for lack of a better word. “I knocked one out then pinned the other to the ground before cutting off his oxygen supply until he passed out too.”
“Could they possibly find any evidence at your place that connects you to the Romano family?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“Is there any chance you were followed here?”
Again, I shake my head. “No.”
Satisfied, Kingston addresses the man on his right. “Stefan.”
“Yeah, Boss?”
“Take Jack to one of the guest rooms. Get him a change of clothes. He’ll be staying with us until we can figure out what’s going on. Once you’re finished, grab Dominic from the shed and take him down to the cellars. He’ll be staying with us a bit longer too.”
Standing to his full height, Stefan tilts his head to the stairs I’d been inspecting when I first arrived. “Follow me.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Dex
“What do you think?” Kingston’s voice is sharp and to the point after Stefan and Jack disappear up the stairs.
“You tell me,” I return. “You’re the lie detector, right?”
With a smirk, he pushes himself up from the couch on the opposite side of the room and strides toward me. “I want to know your impression of him. I’m afraid my judgment might be a little clouded, given our history.”
Scratching the scruff on my jaw, I recount the previous conversation before coming to a conclusion.
“I think he’s telling the truth. He looked spooked when we opened the door, and I was checking his pulse when my hand was on his shoulder. It was steady. Elevated,” I add. “But steady.”
“Okay. I need to call D and make sure he keeps a close eye on Q. They need to be discreet, but they need to get here as soon as possible. I have a feeling too many people are looking for Q right now. If they find her, we’ll be screwed by the men I promised that I’d make her disappear from, as well as any cops who will be able to piece together she’s been missing, yet was found in the mob’s custody.”
“Do you need anything from me?”
“Not yet, but I will. Be ready.”
“I will be.”
With a slap on the back, Kingston disappears down the hall to his office. My stomach grumbles at that same instant, and I realize how damn hungry I am. Rounding the corner to the kitchen, I find Regina pacing back and forth in a pair of sleep shorts and a white tank top while wringing her hands in front of her.
“What are you doing here?” I murmur in a quiet voice before glancing over my shoulder to confirm we’re alone.
Her head snaps up as her eyes connect with mine. “I couldn’t sleep, so I came down here for a snack or something. Then there was a loud knock at the door. Then you guys came and answered it. And then I heard low voices and––”
“And you were eavesdropping,” I finish for her, trying to hide my amusement.
“I wasn’t eavesdropping!”
“You were definitely eavesdropping,” I conclude before noticing her forehead creased with worry lines. The sight causes me to sober instantly. “You okay, Little Bird?”
Shaking her head, she whispers, “Not really, no.”
“What’s wrong?” I take a step closer, unable to help myself.
“When I heard Burlone’s name….” Her voice catches in her throat before her white teeth bite into her lower lip.
“Shh….” I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my chest. “He’s gone, Little Bird. I won’t let anyone ever hurt you again. I promise.”
“I know,” she whimpers. “I know you won’t. I just…I thought this was over. I thought we’d be left alone. That we could just live our lives in peace. But since I’ve been home, all I’ve felt is…a sense of unease. Does that make sense?”
“Shh…,” I repeat, rubbing my hand up and down her back. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I don’t know if it is. I was naive to our world before I was taken. I mean, I knew my family were technically the bad guys, don’t get me wrong, but they weren’t really the bad guys to me. They were keeping me locked up in my room under the guise of protecting me, and I always thought they were full of shit. But after everything that’s happened, I feel like the blinders have been ripped away from me and that my entire world could come crashing down at any minute. What if I don’t have time to be patient? What if we keep waiting for Kingston to give his blessing so that we can live happily ever after, but that day never comes, and we’ve wasted all this time that we could be together, only for it to never happen? What if—”
My mouth slams down on hers, turning her fears into a soft whimper. Cupping each side of her face with my hands, I angle her head up a little farther, giving myself access to devour her the way I desperately need to. My tongue slides along the seam of her lips before she opens it to grant me entry. Her taste explodes along my tastebuds, dancing along them to give me the perfect combination of sweetness and sass. With a groan, I glide my hand further into her hair until my fingers tangle into her long, dark locks.
“I love you, Dex,” she murmurs against my mouth. “I love you so damn much that it hurts.”
“I love you too, Little—”
“I gave you one rule,” a dark voice rumbles from the hall. I’d recognize it anywhere.
Shiiiiit.
Dropping my hands from Regina’s face, I shove her behind me to protect her from the inevitable fallout. It’s not like I think Kingston or any of his men would hurt her, but I can’t push aside my protective instincts, either. And who knows? This might be the last moment I get to show them to her.
Kingston’s pounding footsteps cease once he’s a few feet away, but it�
��s easy to see he witnessed me touching someone he specifically told me not to touch.
“One rule, Dex. One.” He raises his pointer finger toward the ceiling while his face reddens with barely restrained rage.
Regina pleads behind me, “Kingston, please—”
“Not now, Regina,” Kingston growls. “Stefan!” he shouts at the top of his lungs.
“It was just a kiss,” my Little Bird continues, ignoring her brother’s order.
With an icy stare, he looks at the spitfire I fell in love with. “I said, not now.”
Footsteps thunder down the stairs before slapping against the hardwood floors in the hallway as Stefan races closer. When he sees Regina cowering behind me and my chest puffed up in defense, his shoulders hunch.
Fists clenched at his sides, he addresses Kingston. “Yeah, Boss?”
“Take Dex out to the shed. It seems he’s forgotten what happens when a soldier disobeys a direct order.” Then he storms out, leaving his little sister a sobbing mess in his wake.
Clinging to me, she cries, “No, Stefan. No. Don’t take him. Please, you can’t do this to him. I love him. I’m begging you. Please—”
Stefan’s face loses its color as he takes a deliberate step closer to us. Lifting my finger, I mutter, “I’ll go quietly, just…give me a second.”
The need to comfort Regina is overwhelming as I give Stefan my back and face her fully.
“Hey, Little Bird.” I brush aside some strands of her hair that are sticking to her damp cheeks, but the tears continue to stream down them. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,” she argues, shaking her head back and forth. “He’s going to kill you, Dex. I know what happens in that shed. You can’t go in there. Don’t let Stefan take you there. Please! I never should’ve kissed you. I never should’ve met you. If I hadn’t, you’d be safe. You never would’ve broken Kingston’s orders. You never would’ve—”
“Shh…,” I repeat. “It’s going to be okay. I don’t regret a single moment I’ve shared with you, Little Bird. Even if I never walk out of that shed, I will never regret what we have. But you need to let Stefan take me, okay? You need to stay strong.”
“Dex—”
“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.”
With a sigh, he sets down his pen then squeezes the back of his neck while eyeing me warily. “What is it?”
“I know he disobeyed your order—”
“Then you know he must be punished for it. I warned him, along with everyone else in this very room, about what would happen if he touched her without my consent.”
“I remember,” I whisper, approaching him slowly.
“What else does she expect me to do, Ace?” he asks, finally giving me a glimpse of his wariness. “My men need to know that there are repercussions for their actions, and they sure as hell need to know that if I give them an order, they have no choice but to follow it. Family comes first. Always.”
“I agree. There should be repercussions for his actions—”
“He disobeyed me!” His frustrations finally burst through the seams as he slams his open palm against the surface of his desk.
“He did,” I acknowledge in a soft voice while ignoring his outburst. “And you’re right. There should be repercussions for his decision. But tell me this, King.” I round the corner and sit in his lap before gently touching the side of his chiseled jaw. “If it were between the family and me, who would you choose?”
“That’s not fair,” he argues.
“It isn’t,” I tell him. “But that’s exactly what you did to him.”
“It’s different.”
“It really isn’t,” I repeat, leaning forward and pressing my mouth to his in a quick kiss. “He’s a Romano, Kingston. And I can guarantee that if it were any other order, he’d follow it to a T, but you demanded an impossible task, and you know it.”
“I have an obligation to this family—”
“And he has an o
bligation to her,” I argue. “He loves her, Kingston. He’s been loyal to this family with every other task you’ve thrown at him. I’d like to think that, if the roles were reversed, you’d do the same for me. That our love would be all-consuming and that you’d have no choice but to be there for me the same way Dex has been there for Gigi.”
“Then what would you have me do, Wild Card? If I let him off the hook, then my men will think I’m weak. They’ll think I’m picking favorites. They won’t take my orders seriously. They’ll question my judgment. And they sure as hell won’t respect me or my position as the head of this family. You know I can’t let that happen.”
The worry lines around his eyes nearly break me because I know he doesn’t show them to anyone else. Ever. But he’s showing them to me. Leaning forward, I press another kiss to his mouth, lingering a little longer this time. When I pull away, his eyes are closed, but his lips part to release a slow sigh like he can finally breathe for just a second.
Satisfied, I continue, “You’re right. You need to remind your men that there are consequences of disobeying an order. But you also need to show your sister that you love her. And you need to show your best friend’s brother a little grace when, if the roles were reversed, I’d like to think you’d make the same mistake for me.”
His gaze snaps to mine before his fingers find the back of my neck, digging into my flesh as he pulls me forward and punishes me with a forceful kiss that makes my toes curl.
“I’d kill for you, Ace. And you know I’d die for you too.”
“And so would Dex. Demand his loyalty, but understand that there’s only one person who will ever come before the Romano family. Besides, wouldn’t you want that for your sister? Someone who would kill for her but die for her too?”
His silence is answer enough, but I wait for him to come to the same conclusion that I know he will if I give him a little time.
After a few minutes, he mutters, “Take Regina to her room. And inform her that her punishment will be witnessing me administer Dex’s.”