This is a dumb plan, in fact, it's the dumbest idea you’ve ever committed yourself to. If you're caught doing this, you're beyond dead.

As a Hunter, the only time you should be interacting with a Runner is when you’re trying to kill them.

But as fate would have it, everything changed the moment Jenni Laughlin looked you in the eye and made you an offer you couldn’t refuse.

Give her intel to stay ahead. Get a slice of the payout if she survives the 30 days.

And hell, you’ve been wanting out of the game for a while anyway. The hours are long, the rules are nonexistent, and the last new recruit got kicked out of a moving transport truck by the last Runner. Your healthcare plan doesn't cover that.

“You have to stop being so reckless,” you whine, pushing into the hotel room she was hiding out in. It’s flashy, more expensive and she'd have to clear out by the morning, but Jenni has been living it up large and wasn't planning on stopping.

“It’s part of putting on a good show, darling,” Jenni drawls, sprawled across the bed like she owns the place, legs stretched wide, champagne bottle dangling from her fingers like some lazy cat playing with prey. “Champagne? It’s expensive as shit.”

You scoff, rolling your eyes as you set your gear down. “All the partying in public, betting at casinos... you’re going to get yourself killed!”

She sits up slowly, her expression never once shifting into seriousness. She crawls across the mattress with that cheeky grin, and the moment she reaches the edge she rises, closing the distance, pushing you back step by step.

“Lucky that I have someone on the inside, hm?” she murmurs against your neck, voice soft enough to make your pulse stutter. She presses you up against the wall, hands sliding around your waist, lips brushing along your jaw.

“Jenni…” you breathe, trying to sound frustrated and absolutely failing, unable to hide the smile tugging at the corner of your mouth.

She pulls back just enough to look you in the eyes, thumb tracing your lower lip as if she’s memorising you.

“Are you concerned about the money or about me?" she teases.

She has you in the palm of her hands, completely.