Page 9 of Hard Game

“No.”

We sit in silence until Elijah frowns.

“Who’s the informant?”

“I don’t know. Carmen won’t tell us.”

Elijah grins. “But Taron might.”

I scoff. “Taron doesn’t know about shit like that. He comes in, shows his face, and goes home to his perfect wife.”

Elijah cocks a brow at me. “Sounding bitter there, Diess.”

I flip him my middle finger, and he chuckles.

“Seriously though, how do we find out?” Elijah gazes at me. “You really think Taron doesn’t know? He’s worked closely with her during these past few years.”

It’s an option, but I can’t give Taron credit for anything based on his shit behavior.

“Ask him.”

I roll my eyes. “If this is the best we’ve got, we’re screwed.”

“If we find the informant, we find who’s tracking the ring. If we find who’s tracking the ring…”

“Then we find out who they are.”

“Yes.”

“Fucking Taron. Can’t you ask him?” I give him a pleading look, and he laughs.

“I don’t have tits and an ass, sweetheart.”

I scowl at him, and he continues, winding me up further.

“Plus, I haven’t fucked him.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“Just play to your strengths, Diess, and flirt with him to get information.”

“I’d rather swallow razor blades,” I say, tossing the pencil onto the table.

“You might have to,” Elijah says glumly.

I’m afraid of that.

5

MADDOX

Tassa looks well. Her hair is thicker and longer, and when she smiles, her teeth are clean and bright. She must’ve had treatment recently, but I’m not saying anything. She’s super conscious of her appearance after what she’s been through, and I don’t want to mention anything that could trigger her.

She claps her hands at the sight of the mini cake and the two numbers wedged into the icing, declaring her age to all and sundry. “Aww, this is so cute.”

I grin at her and sip my coffee. “You okay?” I ask her directly, not bothering to fluff it up.

Immediately, her eyes change; shadows of fear and hate now replace the fun and playful glint. “As in…” Tassa twists her hands in her lap, and I hate myself for bringing her back to the darkness.

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