Page 41 of Pit

Axel stands, slamming his hands on the table. “We’re trying to clean up this fucking mess,” he bellows, “so you’ll fucking work with us.” I resist the urge to roll my eyes, staring hard at the paper until my vision blurs. He lowers back into his chair. “She can help clean up. That way, she’s an accessory.”

“Not if she goes to the police and tells them everything,” I point out.

Coop nods in agreement. “He’s right. If she tells the police she was terrified, they’ll put her in witness protection.”

“She’s been fucking bullied most of her life,” says Grizz, and I stare at him. He grins. “I overheard your little heart to heart.”

Anger rushes through me and I stand, making a grab for him over the table. He leans back, narrowly escaping, and the brothers closest to me drag me back into my seat. “That’s fucking sick,” I yell, “using her vulnerability like that.”

“What choice do you have?” yells Axel. “You wanna risk it?”

I take a calming breath, and my brothers release me, all going back to their seats. “You know you’ll pay for that, right?” asks Grizz, smirking. He’s going to kick my arse properly this time, and I won’t have a choice but to take it.

“Let’s focus on the task at hand,” snaps Axel. “That fucker has contacts in Russia and Ireland.”

“We can’t trust him,” says Fletch.

“Of course, we can’t,” says Axel, “but we lost our deal and it’s taking time for them to get on board again. You know the Chinese hate being let down, and selling in London ain’t makingus enough. If we can get these contacts, we can end Alec further down the line.”

“What’s the deal?” asks Coop.

“A seventy-to-thirty split, but I’ve knocked him down to twenty percent until trust is established.”

“And the woman?” asks Coop.

“She stays for now. When the deal goes through and money is finalised, she goes back to him.”

My heart stutters, but I give an approving nod. If we do this deal, my life can go back to how it was. Just me, the road, and my dogs.

“It’s the only choice we have right now,” adds Grizz. “We have to move those guns and soon. We’ve had them sitting there for far too long.”

“If everyone is happy,” says Axel, glancing around the room, “then we can get on with our day. I’ll let you know when a deal is struck.” He bangs the gavel and everyone moves out, leaving me, Axel, and Grizz alone.

The second the door closes, Axel is out his chair. His fist connects with my chin in the exact same spot Grizz got me less than an hour ago, and I hiss as pain radiates through my skull. “You fucking disrespect me again, I’ll take your eyes out,” he yells, adding a punch to my gut. I drop from my chair to my knees, coughing, and he storms from the room.

Grizz looms over me, and I brace myself for his onslaught, but instead, he holds out his hand for me to take. I grab it warily, and he helps me to my feet, patting me on the back extra hard. “I figure you’re in enough pain,” he says, smirking. “It’s gonna get a whole lot worse once you let her go.”

I frown. “Huh?”

“Tessa,” he says. “You’ve fallen for her.”

“Bullshit,” I mutter, rubbing my jaw.

“I heard the way you were, brother. Axel sees it too. That’s why he got her back here. Leaving you two alone would be a disaster. There’s only so long you can restrain yourself, right?” He laughs. “I’m impressed you’ve gone this long.”

“Usually, I just pull the trigger,” I mutter, following him from the room. “I don’t get to know them.”

“And that’s where you went wrong,” he replies. “Just do this job tonight and then avoid her, man. She’s married, and part of the deal will be getting her back to her husband in one piece and intact.” He slaps me on the back again before heading for Axel’s office.

I go out to my bike. I need to feel the rush of speed and forget about this shit for now.

Tessa

There’s a light knock on the bedroom door before a key turns and it opens. Lexi sticks her head in, smiling, “Hi. Are you okay?”

I give a nod, and she steps inside, closing the door behind her. “Axel said I could bring you some food,” she adds, holding out a plate for me, and I take it. “I hope cheese sandwiches are okay.”

I nod, picking one up and taking a bite. “I love cheese.”

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