Free False Finder by Mia Hoddell

choice.
    “Tell me—what—you—know.” He spoke slowly, his jaw clenched as he tried to reign in his anger. Raising his fist, he went to slam it down on the desk to get her attention but at the last second she looked up with a smirk.
    “You’ll find out soon enough,” Cora threatened, twirling the pen around her fingers once more.
    Rogan had had enough of her threats. He had restrained his innate tendency to deal with problematic people with violence because she was special. She had a gift that he needed and was the only one of her kind—at least the only one he knew about. It was only for that reason he tolerated her behaviour. Anyone else would have been disposed of and Cora loved exploiting her advantage.
    She loved to taunt him, taking him right to his limit of anger before backing off. Normally she was good at reading when to stop. However, this time she had gone too far and Rogan had made sure she had no other options available to her.
    Suddenly the irritation he was feeling towards her flashed to anger. Reaching over he snatched the pen from her fingers, putting an end to her art instantly and threw it across the room. It hit the wall with a crack, before bouncing and rolling back towards the desk. Leaning forward, both arms propping his strong body up on the desk, Rogan glared at her.
    “I tried to be cordial. I agreed to your insane demands but this ends here and now. You will sign this contract stating you are employed by me or things are going to get very bad for you, very quickly.”
    Cora matched his stance, pulling herself up and meeting his gaze with unwavering eyes.
    “Get this into your head now as I’m not going to say it again. I am not, nor will I ever let you own me. I will never sign that piece of paper.” Cora kept her voice level, matching his tone with equal determination. She didn’t have a plan for how to get out but she knew she would never sign his contract.
    “Is that so? I beg to differ.”
    A flash of uncertainty flickered before Cora’s eyes as he spoke, not sure where he was going with his comment. It didn’t fail to escape Rogan’s notice and on the inside he was smiling with joy at his forward thinking.
    “You can’t force me to sign it!”
    “Am I that crass? I won’t have to force you.”
    Picking up a remote from the top of the desk, he pointed it at a painting that was hung on the wall to the right of Cora. It moved to reveal a flat screen TV and with the click of another button it flickered into life.
    As the image became clearer on the screen, Cora gasped in shock. Her hand moved to cover her mouth in disbelief and her head was shaking, not wanting to believe the truth that was before her eyes.
    “Still don’t want to reconsider my offer?” Rogan asked triumphantly, knowing he had won.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    When his men had brought the girl back, Rogan had started to doubt his plan. Cora had already sold one friend out in return for her freedom, so what was going to stop her from doing it again? She had also known Nick a lot longer than this other girl. Nick had been like a brother to her and still she signed that piece of paper without a moment’s hesitation the second time he had found her. Rogan remembered it as if it had happened weeks, rather than years ago.
     
    * * *
     
    “Do you really think I need more money, Cora? Come on, you’ll have to do better than that. I own this city. You aren’t able to buy your freedom from me,” Rogan said as he circled the chair Cora was on like he was tying her up with invisible rope and reining in her options.
    Cora sat there in a frustrated rage, never taking her eyes off him until he moved behind her.
    “Just use a bloody lie detector like any fascist would. You don’t need me!” she shouted, making a move to stand up but a strong, restraining hand pushed her back onto the hard wooden chair. She could feel the power in his grip and rather than start a fight she couldn’t win, Cora