Page 31 of Hard Game

Leave, Taron; I will him internally, hoping he does what he needs to do and fucking leave. But he’s got a death wish. One I’m willing to grant.

“One more time with you, and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know,” Taron says, and my blood turns to fire in my veins.

He’s blackmailing her.

That fucker.

“You cannot be serious. Taron, get out, or I’ll throw you out.”

Good girl. Throw him to me.

Taron wants a particularly gruesome death, though, as he says, “I have information you’re going to want to hear.”

My girl doesn’t budge, and she yanks the door open, the sight of her easing the stress in my body. She’s so fucking perfect. How dare Taron treat her this way? Who the fuck does he think he is?

“I doubt that. No case is worth that.” The detective crosses her arms and stares into the apartment. If looks could kill…he’d be dead.

“Are you sure about that? Not even your sister’s case?”

My ears prick up.

“Taron, even for you, this is low.”

Don’t do it, Little Fox. You can’t risk your career.

Taron knows about Sara Diess? How? If he does, why has he kept it a secret all this time? He must want something from her, something more than her body. My mind whirrs at an incredible speed as I inhale steadily, reminding my body we’re not fighting or flighting yet.

“I know who the informant is, and I have information on your sister. Believe me or not, I don’t care. But if you want information, pretty girl, you’ve got to earn it.”

I step forward, checking the street before I cross. It’s a nice neighborhood where people keep their lawns in check and leave their porch lights on all night. The detective lives in a block of no more than six apartments and is on the lower level. She somehow holds her composure, but I don’t miss the way her throat bobs or how she pales at his words.

“What do you want?” She asks, her voice steely.

Her resilience and strength are stunning, and I force myself to wait a beat longer. If Taron were going to force himself on her, he’d have done it already. No, he wants something. Her body is just part of his twisted games.

“You, as I said,” Taron drawls in my ear, making my eye twitch. “But I need to know about your new friend.”

I straighten up.

“Mr Moreno.”

Ha, the little bastard is on to me. Not that I give a shit, but why does he want to know about me?

Maybe I should introduce myself.

I stroll over to where the detective is, watching as she turns to me, her eyes widening. Her mouth parts, but I shake my head, holding my finger against my lips in warning. She swallows, and I see the battle in her eyes. She’s in a vulnerable position, between a rock and a very hard place, but she makes the right decision and turns back to Taron wordlessly.

“So shut the fucking door, Lauren, and get in here.” Taron growls, and I hear the lust in his voice.

I step into the apartment, pausing to inhale the detective’s scent. She’s delicious, and I need that boost. The boost of pure innocence and beauty.

“Close the door, Detective,” I say with a smile, watching as she steps in behind me and closes the door with a click. “Hello, Detective Karpe.”

Taron freezes in his seat like a deer in headlights. He moves his gaze to the detective beside me and gapes at her.

“You’re in cahoots with this guy? Let me guess, you’re fucking him like the slut that you are,” Taron snaps, and I release a sigh.

“I’ll buy you a new sofa,” I say to Detective Diess, who frowns.

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