Page 60 of Hard Game

I refuse to take my eyes away from him, my gun aimed at the middle of his forehead. “I can take him out right now, Maddox,” I mutter, but Maddox reaches out, his hand resting on the barrel of my gun, pressing it down.

“Drop it, Detective,” he says in a pained voice.

“Do as he says, Detective,” the bastard before me sings.

“Alastor.”

I whip my head to Maddox when he speaks, his voice so low I have to check it came from him.

This is Alastor.

My hatred bubbles beneath my skin like a rash, burning my flesh and making me want to tear it off. This bastard leads this disgusting charade, and I want his head on a stick.

“Yes?” Alastor cocks his head but raises his hand at the same time, giving a signal to someone unseen.

The woman behind us screams, and I turn to see her shaking uncontrollably, her eyes rolling in her head, her mouth now open as white froth spills from it, her hands clawing at the collar around her throat.

She’s being electrocuted.

“My God,” I whisper as tears sting my eyes. I rush forward to help her, but Maddox stops me, a firm hand around my stomach as he holds me tight, not moving his eyes from Alastor. “Maddox, let me go!”

“Detective, she’s dead,” Alastor says with delight, clapping his hands. “I told you. You’re surrounded.”

I fall to my knees, sobbing as the woman slumps to the ground, her leg jerking involuntarily before she becomes still forever. Foam oozes from her bruised lips, her eyes glassy. I know enough to know that her death would’ve been relatively quick but probably not painless. Depending on the voltage in the collar on her neck, her heart probably gave up.

“See, that was painless. Well, not entirely painless, but you get the point,” Alastor chirps like we’re discussing the fucking weather. “I don’t know what you know about electric shocks, Detective, but I can assure you it’s not the best way to die. Involuntary muscle spasms, burns, and, of course, death itself.”

I move my gaze to the women in the other two cells, the fear in their eyes burning into my retina. I’m going to kill this bastard.

“If you shoot me, Detective, well… Maddox, enlighten your girlfriend, would you?” Alastor sounds bored now.

“He’ll kill them all,” Maddox says quietly.

I stare around me at every woman I can see. All of them wear a fucking collar. All of them.

“Then I’ll take him hostage,” I spit. “We have to do something, Maddox.”

“Drop your weapons. Kick them over.” Alastor commands, and I scoff.

But Maddox drops his gun to the ground, kicking it over.

“Your backpack, too,” Alastor says, and I turn to see him grinning. “Then step into that cage like a good boy.”

My eyes dart from Alastor to Maddox, and I scramble to my feet, shoving Maddox.

“What the fuck are you doing?! You’re going to get us killed!” I hiss, wanting to punch him in the face. I grip my gun, pointing it at Alastor. “I’m not giving you my gun, you fucking prick. The police know where you are, and they’re on their way, so your time is up.”

Alastor tilts his head like he’s admiring a puppy, clucking his tongue. “You’re sweet. I like my women sweet, so you can go in the cage, too. Your gun, Detective.”

“No,” I say, gritting my teeth.

He goes to raise his hand when Maddox snatches the gun from my hand and throws it at Alastor's feet, his eyes burning into mine.

“Do as I fucking say, Detective, or we’ll die here,” Maddox hisses, spit flying from his mouth.

I gape at him, unable to believe we are now without weapons. Is Maddox entirely mad? Has he lost his fucking mind?

“Oh, the police have arrived,” Alastor says, waving us towards the dead woman’s cage.

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