Page 24 of Hard Game

I squirm uncomfortably beneath his gaze and scoff. “I don’t think so, Romeo. Now, unless you have any information for me about the criminals of Lockwood, I suggest you leave before I throw you out.”

His eyes light up. “Really? You’d throw me out?”

“Why is that so hard to believe? Yes, I’ll throw you out.”

“Part of me wants you to,” he admits, stepping closer. “But the other part of me is winning.”

I swallow and allow myself to entertain the thought of what the other part of him wants. I know from the way he’s licking his bottom lip while gazing at me that it’s filthy, and I wish I could let him do what he wants. What would that be? Would he throw me over the sofa and fuck me? Would he bury his head between my legs until I begged for him to stop?

“You want to know.” He grins and moves his mouth close to my ear, his scent enveloping me again. “Don’t you?”

“About criminals, yes,” I manage to say, my voice hoarse with longing. How long has it been since I’ve been fucked? Is that what this is? I pleasure myself as and when required; why is this strange man having such an effect on me?

He moves back and tilts his head. “Do you think I know things like that? About criminals?”

I nod my head. “Yes, one hundred percent.”

“Why? Do I look like a criminal?” He sounds offended, but I don’t care.

“You do. You just give off this vibe.” I shrug.

“Vibe?” Maddox echoes, his eyes dancing with mirth. “Do tell me more.”

“Maddox,” I say, making the mistake of putting my hand on his chest and looking up at him. It’s a stupid move, one I know I’ll live to regret. “Seriously. I’m not going to be your fuck buddy or anything else. Now, as I said, unless you’ve got?—”

“Information on criminals?” He offers, rolling his head and exposing his tattooed throat.

Focus, Diess! I frown and continue. “Then I suggest you leave.”

“Okay.” But he doesn’t move.

“Okay, what?” My bath is probably cold now. He’s wasting my time.

“I’m not a trafficker,” he says bluntly, like it’s a completely normal thing to say.

“I didn’t say anything about trafficking,” I say quietly, studying him with renewed interest.“So why did you?”

Maddox smiles faintly, but his eyes fill with fury.

I suck in a breath but try not to let it become obvious that he has my full interest right now. My body hums with excitement, and I almost beg him for information. Why is he angry? Why mention trafficking? Oh God, please don’t keep me in suspense, Maddox.

“Because we’re on the same side, Detective.”

It’s like he’s slammed his mouth onto mine and inhaled all of my oxygen, leaving me dizzy and weak. Information like this doesn’t present itself very often. But he could be bluffing…“Prove it,” I demand, my eyes searching his. “Prove that we’re on the same side.”

He looks at me like he’s weighing something up, and my heart fills with hope for a second. Could he know something that could help me out? His nostrils flare as he shakes his head and addresses me. “I could, but where’s the fun in that?” He steps closer and traces the outline of my lips with his thumb.

How fucking dare he?

“Fun?” I spit out, shoving him away from me. “Do you think that’s what the girl who ended up in the park with the tongue cut out had, Maddox? Fun?”

He stares at me with a hardened expression and grits his teeth. “No, I don’t. But let me tell you something, Detective. You’re better off sticking to old ladies having their purses stolen than getting involved in this shit. Take my word on that—you’ll never solve these crimes.”

I step closer for the first time and glare at him. “Watch me.”

He nods and steps back, twisting to face the door before stopping. His shoulders slump, and for a second, I want to ask him to tell me why he’s so sure I’ll fail, but I don’t.

Too many assume I’ll fail, and I won’t let that dictate my next move. People are dying. Innocent women are dying.

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