Page 23 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

Maddie drove back agonisingly slowly. She’d decided to really taunt them this time, especially as they weren’t even hiding the fact that they were tailing her now.

She sat behind every lorry, every caravan, every slow moving vehicle and she knew without looking that it was driving them crazy.

She got back to her apartment, parked her car and sat there behind the wheel, feeling the tension back in her. Not because she worried, not because she thought anything would happen but because something in her just felt like being back there meant she was right back in the thick of it again.

Maybe that was why she’d gone to Winchester. Maybe that was why she’d thrown out her clothes too, to try and clear the space. To try and take back some semblance of control because at the core of all of it she felt like she didn’t have that, no matter what games she played, no matter what points she scored, it felt like someone unknown was there, pulling all the strings into an unfathomable pattern.

And it also felt like Cole Fucking Black was there, somewhere, lurking, hiding in the shadows waiting for her to fuck up at any moment and if anything that thought pissed her off more.

She got out and someone grabbed her and she reacted instantly but they were strong, really strong. He flipped her around, slamming her across the bonnet of the landy face first.

She groaned.

“Stop fighting.” He said, his face right up against hers and she froze. She knew that voice.

“Get your hands off me.” She snarled and he laughed.

“Don’t worry Cooper, I’m not gonna hurt you, at least not if you play ball.”

“Why the fuck would I do that?” She said and he slammed her head down onto the metal bonnet.

“Because I said so. I’m sick of your games, sick of your shit.” He replied.

“Like I give a shit what you’re sick of.” She said.

He turned her around then, his face right up against hers and she glared back at him.

“What do you want?” She asked and he smirked.

“I want answers.” He said.

“I gave you answers.” She snapped.

“You gave us bullshit. And then today you led us on a merry dance, for what? What was the reason?”

“Awww that’s cute, you think today was about you do you?” She taunted him.

He grabbed her throat then and she smirked. “I’m not afraid of you Cole.”

“Answer my fucking questions.” He said.

“I already did. It’s not my fault you’re either to stupid or to stubborn to believe me.” She half shouted back at him.

He frowned looking her up and down like he almost believed her but not quite.

“Why did you toss your clothes?” He asked

“Why do you think? Your agents put their filthy hands all over them.” She said back.

He laughed. “That bothered you did it? That we rifled through your things, through your knicker drawer.”

“Fuck off.” She snapped.

“Don’t worry Cooper, no one did anything with them. I’m sure they all had a good sniff though.” He said smirking and she went to knee him in the groin then but he pushed his own leg hard against her. “Don’t fucking try it.” He warned.

“What you going to do? Tie me up, throw me in the back of one of your vans again? Go on then.” She snapped feeling suddenly braver though she didn’t know why.

He grabbed her face, forcing her head back against the car.

“Tell me why you went into that warehouse. The real reason.” He said.

“I already told you.”

He stared at her then, his hand tight against her skin, holding her so she couldn’t move and he ran his thumb over her bottom lip. She frowned, confused by the gesture and confused by what the hell was suddenly going on.

It felt like everything changed. That the air was different. He just stared at her and she narrowed her eyes.

“Are you done?” She snapped and he let her go before stepping back.

“Next time you pull a stunt like today I’ll beat your arse.” He said and she scoffed as he walked away from her.

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