Page 26 of Pit

“Where were you hiding, under a rock?” asks Ebony.

“I worked long hours and didn’t socialise much.”

“Let me get this straight. You lived like a nun, joined a dating app, and asked for marriage in exchange for your V-card?” asks London. I nod, and she laughs, holding up her hand for us to high-five. I do, even though I feel uncomfortable. “Good for you.”

“Hold on,” says Foxy. “You said youarea virgin. Didn’t you go through with the deal?”

“Not exactly. We got married, but Alec had one last job to do before we went on our honeymoon, and then I got brought here.”

The women exchange wary looks. “You should go upstairs before he comes back,” says Foxy, and the others nod in agreement.

I stand, and London places her hand over mine. “I like you, Tessa. I hope we see you again.”

Chapter Seven

Pit

Axel bangs the gavel on the table and the brothers fall silent. “How’s things with the girl?” he asks me.

“Same,” I say with a shrug. “I’ve left her in London’s capable hands. She’s not had friends before, so I reckon she might open up to her.”

He gives a nod. “Good idea.” He slides her mobile across the desk. “No tracker. Maybe he didn’t get time to fit it.”

I take it. “He’s not been in touch?”

Axel shakes his head. “Get the girl to call him. I wanna know what he’s got to say. If he isn’t bothered about her, there’s no point in us keeping her around.”

“Pres,” snaps Coop, and Axel holds his hand up.

“I don’t wanna hear it, Coop. She’s no good to us, and what the fuck am I meant to do with her? Pit wants to get back on the road. He don’t wanna babysit.”

I nod in agreement, even though right now, I want nothing more than to babysit. Something about her makes me want to bearound her. I spent an hour this afternoon watching her fucking sleep.Sleep.I’m going soft.

“Alec knows we’ve got a shitload of stock stored at the docks. He might strike again. I’ve had to put more men on the yard cos we don’t stand a chance of moving it,” says Grizz.

“Until we speak to him and find out what he wants, or until we end him, we’ll just have to pay for the extra men,” says Axel. “But it’s coming out of everyone’s subs.” The brothers groan, and Axel slams the gavel on the table. “Get the fuck out of here.”

We wait for the room to clear as I sit back at the table with Axel and Grizz. “How long we giving this?” I ask.

“A few days?” suggests Grizz, looking to Axel for confirmation.

“Yeah, three max.” I nod stiffly and rise to my feet.

“Look, I’m with Coop on this, and I hate hurting innocent women—women full stop, to be honest—so if there’s another way to keep her quiet, just say the word,” adds Axel.

I head for the door. There is no other way. Unless we can strike a deal that satisfies Alec and the club, Tessa will die.

London chews on her lower lip, eyeing me as I pour myself a whiskey. “Did she suspect?” I ask, sitting on a rock closest to the fire.

“No. Although Ebony was a cow and almost had her running back to her room. She didn’t say much, just what you already know about the dating app. I’ll keep trying.” I nod. “In the meantime, if you need your bed kept warm . . .” She trails off, leaving the sentence open.

I run my eyes over her bronzed body and give a slight nod. “Wait in my room,” I tell her.

She stands gracefully, walking towards me and bending slow to place a lingering kiss on my lips. I close my eyes. “I can’t wait,”she whispers, walking away. I open them again to see Tessa sitting on the balcony watching us. Guilt fills me, though fuck knows why. I haven’t done anything wrong.

I knock the whiskey back and place the glass on the grass by my feet. Then I stand and head after London.

I stop outside my room with my hand on the doorknob, but before I can go inside, Tessa’s door opens. She steps out, staring at me expectantly. Her chest rises and falls fast, like her heart is racing, and then she tugs her lower lip between her teeth.

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