Page 35 of Hard Game

“Was my…was my sister one of those girls?” Her voice is shredded in agony, and my fingers itch to caress hers, to console her in some way. But I can’t be that man, not with my history.

“Not in my time,” I tell her honestly. I know because I saw every fucking face after I discovered what was happening. They made me look every girl in the eye. “I’d remember.”

She looks relieved but turns away, scrubbing her face with her sleeve. “Someone took her.”

“Yeah, they did,” I agree. “I’ll help you find out who?—”

But she rises to her feet, throwing a handful of change on the table between us. I stare at her as she drags her phone out, tapping on the screen with a steely look in her eyes.

“No, Maddox, you won’t. I don’t ever want to see you again, and if I do, you’ll be in handcuffs. Do you understand me?”

Her words are like knives to my stomach, but I have no option but to agree. She’s angry, and she sees me as no better than a trafficker. It hurts, but it’s what I deserve. “Detective?—”

She holds a hand up and glances at the door, her lower lip trembling. She’s trying so fucking hard to hold it together. My heart aches at how much she’s hurting, and I stand, holding my hands in the air in submission.

“I left when I could,” I say, feeling like a fucking moron. “I couldn’t save them all, but Tassa—” Shit, That wasn’t my secret to share. “I will make them pay.”

“You’ll keep away from me and any crime scene in the future. Any evidence or information that you have, you can forward to me at the station, but I want it in writing and posted directly to me. I don’t ever want to see you again. You’re just as bad as them.”

She gives me one last look before backing away like she doesn’t trust me to lunge for her and keep her captive. She looks at me like I’m a predator, and it’s breaking my heart. Then she leaves, heading to the Uber that’s waiting for her.

18

LAUREN

“Pick up your goddamn phone,” I mutter into my phone as the Uber speeds through the city streets. My head is pounding, and I need some sleep, but with tonight’s revelations, there’s no way.

My sister was murdered. Snatched off the streets and fucking used like a toy for men with depravities I’d never understand. And what did the law do about it? My badge burns in my pocket, and I fight the urge to throw it from the car. I don’t feel proud to wear a Lockwood Badge right now, and I probably never have.

I feel like such a fool. All this time, my instincts were right, and good instincts make good cops.

Are there any good cops left?

Did the ones who investigated my sister’s disappearance know what happened to her? Did they sit and drink our fucking tea and lie to our gullible fucking faces while she was used and abused? Nausea rolls in my stomach, but there’s nothing left to bring up. The remnants of the Thai noodles Taron brought are on the dirt road near the diner I left Maddox at.

Fuck, Taron.

“Fucking hell, do you ever sleep?” Elijah mumbles into the phone as my heart soars with relief. Elijah, my rock in this crazy fucking storm, yawns loudly in my ear.

“Alastor. That’s the name.”

“Of what, the informant?” Elijah sounds like he’s nodding off, and I curse my annoyance.

“No, the name of the leader of the trafficking ring,” I say, excitement pooling in my belly. “Alastor.”

Elijah sounds sharper when he barks, “Alastor, what?”

“I don’t know his surname, but it’s not that popular a name, right?”

“No, I guess not. Shit, Taron knew this? That little bastard was holding out on us! Tell me you didn’t have to fuck him for this information, Shorty.”

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to get rid of the image of Taron on my sofa, his head blown apart. “No, I didn’t fuck him.”

“Hey, you okay? You sound like shit.” Elijah’s voice softens, and when the Uber comes to a halt, I glance up at the city apartment block before me. It has seventeen floors and is sleek and modern in comparison to mine.

“Can you buzz me in?” I whisper, my stomach churning as I thank the driver and climb out.

“Yeah, sure, shit, one minute.” Elijah moves around and then hangs up, leaving me staring up at the building.

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