Page 39 of Hard Game

A giggle leaves my lips as I wipe away the tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. He loves me like a sister? My skin warms as he pulls me in close, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“But I’ll sleep on the floor if you want.”

I close my eyes and allow him to comfort me, if only for tonight. But he’s not sleeping on the floor; he’s going home. I need to face my demons.

“Go home, Eli,” I say softly, looking up at him. “Thank you for not calling the cops.”

He laughs and releases me before puffing out his chest and saying, “We are the cops, kid.”

I watch him leave and lock up after him, hating the silence surrounding me. Even though my apartment looks normal, I can still hear the pop of the silencer and the blood splattering against the wall. Maddox checked Taron’s pulse before driving me away.

Is he a bad guy? Why would he kill Taron?

I should ask him.

But I’ve made my mind up about Maddox Moreno, and I’m not changing it now. He’s no good, no matter how much he excites me. Physical attraction means nothing to me. Not a damn thing.

20

MADDOX

Ilike Elijah. He gets it more than my feisty little detective does. She thinks she can cut me out of her life just like that, telling me to keep away from her and thinking I’ll listen.

No. That’s not me.

She’s alone in her apartment right now, but not for long. I slip the key into the lock, knowing she’ll wake instantly. I have to be quick, and I’m not wrong.

“Freeze! Police!” Detective Diess roars from the bedroom doorway, her hair cascading around her shoulders like a bridal veil. She’s wearing a skimpy tank top and no bra, and my dick stiffens instantly. She holds the gun before her, aiming directly at my chest.

I raise my hands and step forward, not caring that she’s pointing a gun at me. “Detective.”

She trembles at my voice and her grip relaxing on the weapon ever so slightly. “Get the fuck out of my apartment, you bastard,” she hisses, stepping closer.

I move forward until her gun presses against my chest and grin. “No.”

“I will shoot you,” she threatens, her pupils dilating, reacting to the adrenaline in her body. She’s either scared…which isn’t like her, or she’s excited.

I go with the latter and exhale heavily, my hand coming up to stroke her cheek. She flinches and jabs the gun into my chest with gusto, baring her teeth. I know she hates me for making her question her morality, but I don’t care. She needs to know what she’s dealing with.

“So shoot me,” I whisper, tilting her chin so her puffy lips are within reach. I’ve wanted to kiss her since I first laid eyes on her, but I won’t do it now. Not while she’s angry. “Go on, Detective. You’ll kill me instantly, and you know it.”

Her eyes narrow. “I can shoot to injure, dickhead.”

“I’ve no doubt,” I say, licking my lips.

Her eyelashes bat slowly before I continue.

“But you have the gun jabbed to my chest, Little Fox. As I said, instant death.”

She grits her teeth and leans in, her breath stealing mine as she says, “I fucking hate you.”

I chuckle and tap the gun between us. “So do it.”

She’s breathing heavily, and I see the battle within her eyes, the emerald flashing as she considers her options. “Leave,” she growls, trying to push me with the gun, but I don’t move.

“No. If you want me to leave, you’ll have to kill me.”

She yanks the gun back and pulls the trigger, shooting me in the leg.

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