Page 61 of Hard Game

I hold my ground and stare at him, wondering why he’s so calm. “They’ll lock your ass away for life,” I snarl, wanting to take his fucking eyes out with my bare hands.

Alastor laughs softly at first, but then he throws his head back, roaring like I’d amused him beyond belief. “You pathetic bitch,” he says, catching his breath and dabbing at the corners of his eyes. Such a fucking drama king. “You really don’t get it, do you?”

I stare at him, my blood pumping in my ears as Maddox steps back, pulling me with him. But there’s no way I’m going into that fucking cage, not now, not ever. They’ll have to kill me first. “Get what?” I demand, trying to keep him talking. If there's one thing I know, it’s that man like Alastor like the sound of their voices.

“Everyone is in on this.” His hands widen as he looks around us. “Do you really think an operation of this scale is led by people like me and us alone?”

I grit my teeth so hard my jaw aches and shake my head. “There will always be bent cops?—”

“And politicians, FBI agents, military personnel, the elite…” Alastor waves his hand like he could go on. “Judges, doctors, paramedics, celebrities, teachers, even priests.”

My stomach sinks. This isn’t news to me, but I hate having it confirmed. I hate the world and the evil in it. But I didn’t become a detective to bend the rules for these fuckers, and no one is inexcusable, no matter their wealth or profession.

No.

Everyone answers to the law.

“So?” I say, shrugging Maddox’s arm off me. “It doesn’t make you special. It makes you scum, just like them.”

Alastor shrugs but raises his hand sharply, and another scream pierces the air. I close my eyes, and my knees turn to jelly—another woman has just died. I don’t turn to look at her, but Maddox grabs me by the waist and yanks me back, but I won’t stop screaming at Alastor.

“There will always be good! There will always be someone wanting to put people like you where you belong. In hell!”

Maddox throws me into the cage, his eyes wild as he stares at me. I can’t believe this prick threw us into a fucking cage—so when I punch him as hard as I can in the jaw, I expect to feel a modicum of release. But the bastard merely flinches, twisting his head back to look at me.

“Detective, calm your fucking tits. Do I look like I’m out of control here?” He rasps, grabbing me and turning me to face him. “Look at me!”

I do, as the metal door to the cage clangs shut. Fear wells within me as doors above us open, and figures of armed men pour into the room. But Maddox drags my gaze back to his with two fingers, moving them between our eyes.

“Keep your fucking eyes on me, princess.”

But I can’t; the men above are filling the platform. We’re going to die. A whimper leaves my lips as Maddox sighs heavily, rising to his feet and examining the platforms with interest.

Why is he so calm? What the fuck is going on?

Cold dread washes over me. “You’re part of this,” I whisper, panic clawing at my throat as I back against the bars. “You…”

“So help me, Lauren, if you accuse me of being a trafficker again, you’ll have more to fear from me than any of these bastards. Do you fucking hear me?” Maddox says, his shoulders tense. He doesn’t even look at me.

That’s the first time he’s used my name, and if we hadn’t been in such a terrifying situation, I’d have swooned. I love his voice. But I shake my head, unable to see how this will ever work for us. “We’re in a fucking cage, and you put us here!” I hiss as Alastor grins up at the men around us.

“Welcome to the party, guys.”

32

MADDOX

Detective Diess looks at me with hatred, and I don’t blame her. But there’s no way I can tell her my plan without the vultures surrounding us hearing it. You see, I knew I’d probably need help, and I thank my lucky stars for having the foresight to make that phone call. Because somewhere above us, no doubt staring down at me from behind a mask, holding a gun and blending in perfectly with the scum, is my best friend.

Tassa.

In her heartbroken state, Tassa is probably the best yet worst person I could have right now. She’s riddled with grief, but I hope seeing the countless helpless women around us makes her see clearly.

“We’re going to fucking die here, and it’s all your fault.”

“Calm down, Detective,” I mutter, staring around us. “Breathe.”

“Breathe?” She scowls at me and waves a hand around us. “For how much longer, Maddox? Or should I call you Max?”

---