Page 57 of Hard Game

But I’m none of these things.

I straighten up, holding my hand out to Maddox, who watches me, his jaw clenched. He’s struggling with this, and considering he killed a man who called me a slut, I know now is not the time for him to lose his shit.

“Give me a gun, and let’s save those women,” I say with a growl, flexing my fingers in his direction.

Maddox reaches into his backpack and hands me a smaller gun than the one he’s holding, but I don’t care.

I check the magazine before sliding it back in; now I know it’s fully loaded. Not that I doubted Maddox, but I had to be sure.

Maddox puts his hand on my shoulder tentatively and stares at me, his eyes swirling with concern and sadness. “Are you going to be alright?”

I flatten my lips and nod. Yes.

“Liar,” Maddox whispers, his eyes falling to the body beside me. “Take his cock as a souvenir of beating the bastard.”

An unexpected laugh escapes my lips as I shake my head, recoiling at the thought. “No. I’m okay; he paid for what he did to me with his life. Thank you.”

Maddox gazes at me before reaching to cup my cheek in his hand. I sink into his touch, not knowing how or why I felt better around him. I thought I’d hate men after what that sick fuck just did, but not Maddox.

Maddox makes me feel safe.

“He’ll die a thousand times for touching you.”

I pause and inhale ragged breaths, shaking my head. I lift my gun to check the safety is off, then nod. “We need to go, Maddox.”

“If you’re sure you’re okay? I can get you outside?—”

I shake my head. “No!”

His eyes widen, but he holds his hands up, stepping back. “Did you call it in, like I asked?” Maddox watches me as I frown, my mind muddled.

“I think so? I called Carmen just before…” My words trail off, and an icy sensation trickles down my spine. “Just before I was taken.”

Maddox waits for me to continue.

“Uh, she said she knew about you…” I wince my apology at him. “Trying to be a hero.”

Maddox's mouth twitches. “You said that?”

I shrug. “Yeah? Well, you were a hero.”

Maddox rolls his eyes and stares around us. “So Carmen knew I’d be here tonight? How?”

I get a whiff of peppermint, and my stomach churns. I can’t think right now.“Maddox, can we get the fuck out of here, please?”

He doesn’t hesitate. Instead, he heads out the door, checking the passageway before beckoning me. “If Carmen knows, everyone should be here very soon, right?” Maddox whispers as we walk down the passageway, our backs to the wall.

I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t white walls, spotlights, or wooden floors. This place looked more like a hotel than a seedy motel, which didn’t make sense.

Maddox stills abruptly and holds a finger to his lips as boots squeaking on the wood floor come from ahead of us, assumedly from around the corner.

I raise my weapon, checking the safety is off for what must be the third time, and brace myself.

Someone is coming around the corner.

30

MADDOX

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