Page 57 of Pit

I’m already shaking my head. “I don’t want him to. I was better off when it was just me,” I tell her. “I thought I needed a man for stability, but it turns out I don’t.”

She pulls her legs under her, getting comfortable. “What did you do before all this happened?”

“I had a cute little one-bed flat,” I say, smiling at the memory. “I worked a nine-to-five job.”

“Were you happy?”

I wasn’t, not at all. The routine I’d found myself stuck in was becoming tedious and boring. It’s why I stepped out of my comfort zone—I wanted to get a life. Turns out a life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. “Yes,” I lie.

“So, have you still got your flat?”

I shake my head. “I was renting and the lease was up. The owners were selling it.”

“What about money?”

I shake my head again. “I didn’t have a lot of that either. The flat cost a lot to rent.”

“But you married, right?” I nod. “So, whatever he had will be yours?”

Hope swells in my chest. “Maybe.”

“Well, of course, it will be. I’ll speak to Grizz and get him to talk to Axel.”

Pit

I pace, inhaling a lungful of air to try to calm my racing thoughts. The second Tessa confirmed what I already knew, I saw nothing but darkness. I guess a part of me was hoping I’d walked in at exactly the right time, saving her from their disgusting hands. I was naïve to even hope they hadn’t spent the last twenty-four hours hurting her in ways I don’t want to imagine.

Fletch steps out holding a bottle of Jack, which I take from him, downing a few mouthfuls. “Luna’s got this weird idea that Tessa might gain something from all this.” I pause my pacing to stare at him. “If Alec has assets, they’ll transfer over to his wife, right?” I narrow my eyes. He’s got a point. “Anyway, Axel’s called church.” And he heads inside.

I follow a few seconds later, taking my chair while still clutching the bottle of whiskey. Axel takes it from me, passing it to Grizz, who dumps it on the table behind him. “It’s not gonna help,” he adds with a shrug.

“Is Luna right?” I ask. “Will Tessa get everything?”

Axel gives a stiff shake of the head, and my heart sinks a little. “He’s about to be dropped into the Thames with a weight tied to his neck. That fucker won’t surface for years, and until then, he’s not classed as dead. Even if she reported him missing, she’d have to answer a shitload of questions. According to Gemma, it’s not worth risking.”

“Besides,” Coop adds, sliding a file towards me, “I did some digging, and he doesn’t have much.”

I open it and stare at the negative figure on the bank statement. “It was never a real deal,” I mutter, slamming it closed. “He was just getting her for his stepbrother.”

“Fucking sick bastards,” says Coop.

“How is she doing?” Axel asks.

“Like shit. She won’t talk. The doc’s given her the morning after pill,” I say bitterly, “and he took swabs and bloods to check for fucking HIV and shit.”

“Luna thinks you should take her back to the farmhouse,” says Grizz. “She’s not ready to be surrounded by a bunch of men she doesn’t trust.”

“He’s got a point,” agrees Axel.

“She wants to leave,” I mutter, scrubbing my hands over my tired face. “I convinced her to stay tonight, but she’s set on leaving tomorrow.”

“She’s not ready,” says Coop.

“Tell me about it,” I mutter. “Can I go?” I ask, and Axel gives a nod. I push to my feet. “Thanks for helping tonight,” I add. “I know everything you’ve done is for me.”

I get to the bedroom and pause outside. The unfamiliar feeling of nerves flutters in my stomach, and I inwardly groan. I push the door open and inhale sharply at the sight of Tessa curled up asleep with King stretched out beside her and Gigi on the floor at the foot of the bed.

I shrug out of my kutte and place it on the hook on the back of the door, then I slip off my boots and take a seat in the reclining chair. King lifts his head, assessing me, and for a second, I think he’s going to growl, but he settles again. I scoff, but deep down, I’m pleased he’s guarding her. He senses she needs it.

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