Page 55 of Hard Game

666.

Fuckers.

“About fucking time,” one of the dickhead’s mutters, approaching the trunk of the SUV, “Come on, Lip.”

Lip?

I store his name away for future reference and watch as he opens the trunk. The one named Lip makes his way to stand beside him, a leer twisting on his lips as he stares down at whatever is there. The driver’s door opens, and a heavyset man, clearly the muscle in this machine, steps out, followed by a passenger on the opposite side. The driver has a bloody nose, and he scowls at the others who stare at him.

“Was she a fighter, Bernie?” This comes from the one called Lip, and he laughs as Bernie glares at him.

“She was, yeah. I’d watch yourself, Lip. She could have you.” Bernie sneers and reaches into the trunk, pulling a woman into his arms.

My heart sinks when I see she’s naked and tied up, a hood over her face. I try to see if she’s breathing, but Bernie’s bulk shields her from my sight.

Another victim. Another girl.

“Boss will be pleased we got this one.”

“Yeah, she’s a looker too.”

“Hopefully, we all get a go first, huh?”

“I’m going first,” Bernie growls. “Fucking bitch broke my nose.”

So she must be alive if they’re talking about raping her. The sick bastards. I wish I could tune them out, but I need this to add fuel to my anger. I watch as they take the woman inside, Lip kicking the door shut behind them.

She broke their nose. Good for her.

I’m about to bring their world down around them, so I hope she’s conscious for that. I rise to my feet and push the metal forward, making my way through the fence. I check the SUV first, wondering if I can find anything in there I could use, especially a gun, because I’d love to kill these fuckers with their own weapons. A smile graces my lips but freezes when I see a bundle of dark clothing in the backseat, and something glints in the moonlight that I’m now grateful for.

It’s a badge.

My heart leaps into my throat as my head whips up to the building, my mouth drying.

It’s a police badge. But not just any.

It’s a detective’s badge.

29

LAUREN

Ice-cold water drenches my face, and I gasp for breath, choking as the water goes up my nose and mouth.

“Wake up, bitch.” A voice rasps, and seconds later, a hand squeezes my chin. “Hello, pretty.”

The man staring down at me has eyes the color of obsidian, and they roam up and down me before he grins, revealing perfectly straight teeth. He’s wearing what must’ve once been a white vest, but it’s covered in murky browns and pinks, and as he leans down to me, I smell peppermint and cologne. I try to back away from him, but my hands are—fuck—zip tied together.

My head throbs, and my memory hits me like a brick—someone kidnapped me! Adrenaline takes over, and I try to throw myself off the bed, but it’s pointless; my ankles are tied separately to the bed rail.

Oh my God, I’m on a bed, and I’m naked.

The man leans closer, and his hot, wet tongue drags over my skin as someone behind him laughs cruelly. “Damn, she tastes good.”

I rip my face from his hand and twist it away, not wanting him anywhere near me.

“Hey, you don’t want me to touch your face, that’s fine. You’ve got other things I’m more interested in anyway,” he says, and there’s more chuckling.

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