Page 63 of Hard Game

Her eyes lift to mine, and she shrugs her shoulders, giving me a small smile. “It’s in the job description, you know? Risk? It’s not your fault.”

I narrow my eyes at her and stalk toward her. “When we’re out of here, I’m going to fill you with babies and watch you mow the lawn. You’ll never work again.”

Lauren gapes at me. “You think that’s going to happen? Look around you!”

“I know it’s going to happen. You’ll be fucking happy, and you’ll be with me. Whether you like it or not.”

She rolls her eyes, but I see the light in her eyes. She’s imagining it now, the two of us rolling around in bed together, kids playing outside in the garden.

“I’m marrying you, Detective.”

“You wish.”

Then the lights go out.

33

LAUREN

Maddox has lost his fucking mind. He’s babbling about getting married and having babies, and I can’t take him seriously.

Why?

Because I can’t afford to have hope like that, getting out of here without being attacked or abused is too much to hope for, let alone both of us making it out. I stare at Maddox, my chest aching at the thought of leaving here without him. I can’t—I know I can’t because I realize with irritation that he’s become important to me. A trained killer, of all people, has stolen my heart. But what am I? Hardly the woman he’d like to take home to meet his parents, a scorned detective whose sister was trafficked and murdered, and now I’m a victim too. Except I refuse to be one. That bastard raping me didn’t take away what fuels me to get up every morning; he fed it. He fed the beast that stalks within my mind, making it stronger than ever before. He showed me what my sister went through; he made me live the ordeal exactly as she must’ve done. By countless men, countless times.

I went through it once.

So far, I think, taking in the armed men staring down at us. But then I see Maddox staring back at each and every one of them, and my heart soars before sinking back into the pit of my stomach. If anything happened to me, they’d make him watch. It would destroy him from the inside out, and I can’t let that happen. I’d rather take a bullet.

I snort something in reply to his words before the lights go out, and I gape into the darkness, my eyes desperately trying to adjust. There’s a buzzing sound, and I realize it’s the cages opening.

The men above us panic.

“What the fuck? Are the cells open?”

“The bitches will escape!”

“They won’t dare, they’ll get electrocuted!”

“The power is out, you fucking idiot!”

The women howl from the darkness, and I want to reach out and comfort every one of them. How I wish I could.

Hands grasp mine, and I’m hauled to my feet. “Don’t say a word; stay with me,” Maddox whispers, pulling me forward and out of our cage.

My feet slip in the dark, but I keep hold of Maddox, wishing I had my gun. Women run around us, and I wish I could give them guidance. But how? This is about survival, and Maddox is my best bet. I search for a door in the darkness, but Maddox drags me up the stairs, elbowing people out of the way as he goes.

Someone grabs me and shouts, “I’ve got a bitch!”

My heart leaps, and I fight back, but not before Maddox reaches around me, pulling me back. Then, he throws him over the stair rail. I hear his body hit the floor with a sickening crunch, and I hurry after him.

“Come here,” Maddox growls, pulling me to his chest and lifting me into his arms. I wrap my legs around his waist, burying my head in his neck. I inhale his reassuring scent, trying not to look around me as he sprints down the passageway. It’s so dark I can barely see, but I don’t want to. I want to leave here and return with the police force, helicopters, and guns.

Lots of fucking guns.

“Hurry,” I whisper, almost to myself, but Maddox grunts in response. It feels like forever as Maddox’s feet pound the floor, but soon enough, fresh, cold air hits my face, and I gasp at it, almost wailing in relief.

“Shit!” Maddox says, placing me on my feet and falling to the ground before him. “Lauren, it’s Elijah.”

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