Page 78 of Little Bird (Advantage Play 3)

She nods.

“If we could take these cuffs off so that we could get the hell out of here.”

With the most pathetic smile I’ve ever seen, she leans forward and places the softest kiss I’ve ever felt against my lips. Pulling away, Regina searches the room before finding who she’s looking for.

“Stefan. Do you have the key?”

“Yeah.” Jangling follows his quiet response as he strides closer and unlocks my cuffs. “Sorry I hit you,” he apologizes.

“Don’t be.” I give him a pathetic smile. “I deserved it.”

“You look like shit.”

My laughter turns into a groan when a cut on my lower lip splits open. With a grimace, I mutter, “I feel like shit, so that’s not exactly surprising. Am I free to go?”

“Yeah. Might wanna put some pressure on your hand, though. You’re bleeding everywhere.”

My head drops down to inspect the damage. Sure enough, blood flows onto the concrete in a steady stream of droplets.

Rushing toward the cabinet, Regina searches for a few seconds before returning with a small black dish towel. Carefully, she presses it against my wound while my face scrunches up from the pressure.

“Sorry!” she apologizes. “You okay?”

“Fuuu––Fine. I’m fine. Let’s get out of here.”

I toss my good arm around Regina’s neck before she grabs my bad hand and cradles it against her chest, making sure to keep a good amount of pressure with the washcloth to stop the bleeding.

“I think you’re going to need stitches or something,” she tells me, her face scrunching in pity.

With a dark laugh, I reply, “I think you’re right. Do you guys have a doc on speed dial or anything?”

“Yeah. If it were a little more…superficial”—she grimaces at the word—“I’d offer to do it for you, but I don’t want to screw it up and cause any more damage.”

“You a nurse, baby?” I tease.

A light blush turns her cheeks pink as her gaze drops to the ground. “I’ve helped out a time or two,” she defends herself.

“Does your help come with a”—I breathe deep in an attempt to stave off the pain—“a sexy nurse outfit too?”

With a giant grin stretching across her face, she opens her mouth to say some smartass remark before it disappears altogether as the sound of a deep voice cuts her off.

“Dex,” Kingston addresses me.

Turning around, I reply, “Yeah?”

“Don’t screw up again. Understand?”

“I won’t.”

“Good.”

He steps around me to make his escape when I call out, “Hey, King?”

“Yeah?” he answers, turning around grudgingly.

“She mine?”

His gaze shifts to his sister clinging to my side before he gives me a solemn nod. “Yeah, Dex. She’s yours, but I suggest you don’t screw that up, either.”