Page 17 of Pit

“Did you meet her on your travels? Is this why you haven’t been to see me this time?”

I groan, scrubbing my hands over my face. “You and me ain’t happening again, Eb. Go find some other mug.”

She tries to make a grab for me, and I step back. “I’m sorry,” she cries. “You’re right, I shouldn’t overstep. I didn’t mean to.”

I shake my head in annoyance and go around her, heading back out to my brothers. The last thing I need is a club whorecatching feelings. I grab a can of beer and take my seat back by the fire.

Grizz sits beside me. “He’s looking for her,” he mutters, keeping his voice low to avoid any of the women overhearing. “We’re gonna try to make contact again tomorrow and ask for a meet.”

“He’s not gonna meet,” I say.

“Depends how desperate he is to get her virginity. Is she talking more?”

I shake my head. “We got the guns back, Grizz. Can’t we just put her in the ground and move on?”

He smirks. “You getting itchy feet staying around?”

“Something like that,” I mutter.

“The Pres wants to find out what we can take from this fucker in exchange.”

“We’re seriously thinking of handing her back?”

“Brother, she’s worth something to him.”

“Who the fuck even does that?” I mutter, taking another drink and allowing a quick glance up to her room. The lights are out, and I relax slightly knowing there’s no chance I’ll bump into her again, cos quite honestly, I’m not sure how much control I have since knowing her little secret.

“It’s a thing,” says Grizz, nodding. “I’ve seen women online doing it. Damn internet makes everything so fucking easy these days.”

“Why’d she marry him though?” I wonder out loud.

“Fuck knows. You’re stuck here with her, so find out.”

I shake my head. “The less we talk, the better.”

I feel him staring at me, but I keep my eyes to the fire, scared there’s something there he may recognise other than hatred. “You just keep her locked away?” he asks casually.

“Yeah, what else am I meant to do with her?”

He smirks. “I dunno. Pretty woman, single biker . . .” He laughs, and I narrow my eyes.

“Yah know, because of your love story, I’ve got fucking Ebony on my back. All the damn whores want their own happily ever after.”

He scoffs. “Anything is possible.”

“Fuck that,” I say. “I ain’t settling down, least of all with a whore.”

“I said the same thing, brother. Sometimes it just creeps up on you and you lose control. Is that why you don’t wanna talk to her?”

“No,” I snap, finishing my beer and standing. “I’m hitting the sack. Sort yourselves out.”

I toss and turn, unable to sleep because my damn head is full of her. I eventually throw the covers back in irritation and head for the bathroom just as Tessa comes out. She spins to face me with just a T-shirt on that barely covers her backside. I narrow my eyes and ask, “Is that my shirt?”

She glances down, gripping the hem and tugging it down some. “I borrowed it. I had nothing to sleep in.”

“Where did you get it?” I ask, moving closer.

She edges back warily until she hits the wall. “I . . . erm . . . I found it.”