Page 102 of Property of Player

Then the tape is pulled from my mouth, and the one in front of me pulls his ski mask off.

I recognize Player immediately.

He doesn’t care that I’ve seen him, and I can’t help thinking it’s because I won’t live to tell anyone about this.

“Player, please. What are you doing? Why are you doing this?”

The crack across my face is blinding with pain.

“Shut up, bitch. Do you think I’m a fucking fool? Do you think I don’t know what the fuck you are? You’ve been working with the Sinners. I know all about it. I know you were the one who lured Taylor out and gave her to them.”

“I didn’t want to. They threatened my sister and her family. I was just trying to save them.”

“Lies. All of it.” He spits at my feet.

I’m a survivor. My instincts have gotten me this far, and I lean on them now. “I have information. I’ll give it to you. All I want is to leave town. You’ll never see me again. I swear it to you.”

“What information?”

“About the Sinners. About what they’ve done and what they want.”

“We already know,” another one says. “Prez’s land.”

“They killed a man. The realtor. Duck told me all about it.”

Player straightens, his body tightening. “You’d say anything to save your own skin right now. Why would I believe a word out of your mouth?”

“It’s true. I wouldn’t lie to you, honey. I love you.”

“Why?” one of the other men asks, stepping closer. “Why would they kill the realtor?”

“Because he wasn’t getting anywhere getting that land for them. They thought he was jerking them around, so they killed him.”

“Shut the fuck up, you lying bitch. You’ve been out for yourself the entire time. You’re the one who set my mother and wife up to die, you fucking cunt.”

Another man puts a hand on Player’s chest, holding him back. “Let her talk.”

“I can give you information. I can work for you guys. I can get inside the Sinners’ clubhouse. Get you anything you want.”

“Or you can double-cross us. Why the fuck would we ever trust you?”

“I’ve got nothing to lose. I hate them. It’s your club I want to be around, not theirs. They’re monsters. Every one of them. Please. Let me help the Kings. I’ll show you how loyal I can be. I’ll do whatever you say. I swear.”

The other man grabs Player’s hoodie and drags him back, whispering in his ear.

My life hangs in the balance, and I can’t stand this. I tug on my bindings. Being tied up is unbearable.

Player flings the man’s hand off and stalks outside, but before the door slams closed behind him, I see him dig his phone out of his hip pocket.

He’s calling someone.

Probably his father.

Gage will have the final say.

I wish he liked me better, but Gage has never been a fan of mine.

It’s a few tense minutes before Player returns. When he does, he crosses to me, squats, and looks into my tear-filled eyes.