Page 55 of Pit

She bites her lower lip, thinking over my words. “Let me get my phone,” she offers, heading back inside.

She returns, holding it out to us. It shows a map with Steven’s location. I smile, snapping a picture. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t help you,” she says. “He can’t know.”

I give a nod. “Same goes, you never saw us before, we were never here.” And we head out.

The apartment is in a nice area, but it’s lacking security, and as I scan the labels for the doorbell, I smile. “Alec,” I say, pressing the buzzer for his neighbour, and a man answers. “Hey, man, it’s Alec from next door. I forgot my key. Can you let me in?”

The door clicks, and I pull it open. Grizz slaps me on the back. “I forgot what a buzz it is to be out with you.”

We take the elevator, stepping out onto the landing and listening for any sign there’s someone here. After a minute, Grizz takes the lead, gently turning the handle to the door. It’s locked, like we expected, so I knock hard. “Delivery,” I call out, pressing a finger over the spy hole.

After a moment, there’s a voice on the other side of the door. “I didn’t order.”

“Erm . . . it’s for Alec,” I say, sounding confused.

“Fuck’s sake,” I hear him mutter before the lock clicks and the door is yanked open. “I said I—”

I shove the door back, taking Alec by surprise. Grizz takes hold of him, slamming him against the wall. I continue through the apartment, pushing doors open as I pass, and then I hear her. She’s crying out, like she’s in pain, and I run towards the sound, shoving open the last door and filling the doorway. There on the bed is Tessa, and between her open legs is a man. I can already see the bruises on her inner thighs and blood smeared there. A painful roar rips from me as I grab him by his neck and drag him from her. She immediately scrambles towards the head of the bed, tucking her knees to her chest.

My chest heaves with anger, my throat tightening with each breath. “Name?” I bark.

He sneers. “You’re fucking up my plans,” he says calmly.

I squeeze harder, and he winces. “Wrong answer,” I growl, pulling a blade from my jacket and holding it under his eye. “I’m guessing you’re Steven.”

“You’ve done your homework.”

I press the tip of the blade to the soft skin, nicking it and watching the blood bead to the surface. “Te, are you okay?” I call out, not taking my eyes from the monster before me. A sob escapes her, and I press the knife into the flesh under his eye. He grits his teeth, refusing to let me hear his pain as blood drips from the wound. I drag it out slowly.

“Why do you even fucking care?” he grits out, spittle flying from his mouth. “You were only holding her to get to Alec.”

Axel appears in the doorway. “Why’s he still talking?”

“You’re right,” I mutter, gripping the blade tightly and shoving it up through his jaw. I savour the feel as it slices through theskin and then through his tongue. I twist it, and he begins to choke, grabbing my wrist with both his hands. I shove the blade one last time, piercing his brain, watching as the life leaves his eyes.

He slumps, his knees giving out, and I release him so he hits the floor hard. “Piece of shit,” I mutter, spitting on him.

Axel gives a slight nod to the bed, and I spin to see Tessa with her head resting on her knees, sobbing quietly.

I wipe my hands down my jeans and move towards her. I lower onto the bed, and she jumps in fright. “It’s just me,” I reassure her. “I’m going to untie you,” I add, carefully reaching for the ropes. They’re tied tightly, and Axel sees me struggling and passes me his own knife. I cut through the binds and release her. She rubs her wrists, which look red raw, and I clench my jaw in anger.

I take off my shirt and wrap it around her shoulders. “Let’s take you home,” I tell her, sliding my arms under her legs and around her back, lifting her into my arms. I feel the way she stiffens, but she doesn’t protest, so I carry her from the room and out the apartment.

Chapter Fourteen

Tessa

I can’t shake the images of Steven Kendal from my mind. The way he sneered as he took what he wanted from me. I shudder, wrapping my arms tighter around myself.

The bedroom door opens and Lexi pops her head in, offering a small smile. It’s sad, like she knows everything, and I hate that. It makes me feel more exposed. “How are you doing?” she asks, then she winces and steps farther into the room. “Stupid question, sorry.”

I rest my chin on my raised knees. I’ve always hated uncomfortable silences, but since coming back to this clubhouse just a few hours ago, I can’t muster up the words I need, not even to settle the questions Pit kept throwing my way.

Lexi sits on the edge of the bed. “Look, I know you must be in hell right now, but Pit’s going out of his mind with worry. Do you need anything? Food? Water?” I stare at the opposite wall.How can I eat a damn thing when I feel so sick?“Okay, maybe I’ll just bring you something, a biscuit even?”And why the hell should I push myself to ease Pit’s guilt?Fuck him.

I close my eyes, relief flooding me when I feel her get up from the bed and leave the room.I picture my mum sitting on her bed, combing her curly hair. I feel my lips lifting into a smile as I recall the softness of her voice. Sometimes, I had to really listen hard to hear her because she was so softly spoken.

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