Page 5 of Pit

“Easy for you to say,” she whisper-hisses. “She’s not eyeing you up like you’re her next meal.”

“I told you, she won’t kill unless I give the order.”

Tessa keeps her eyes trained on me as I approach the dogs and pat them. “Sit.” When Tessa doesn’t move, I look back at her. “I’m talking to you.”

She carefully edges towards the couch, keeping her eyes fixed on the dogs. Gigi relaxes, sitting back down and looking to me for instruction. “Easy,” I tell her gently, tickling her behind her ear. “Go lay by the door.” They do as I say, leaving the room.

“There’s one way out,” I tell Tessa. “Two if you count the window,” I add, pointing to the floor-to-ceiling glass, “but it’s a long way down. And if you choose the door, make no mistake, the dogs will attack.”

“Who are you?” she asks, her eyes darting around the room like she’s looking for some kind of clue. She won’t find it here. I hardly stay in this apartment. It’s a place to rest my head when I need it, but I spend most of my time on the road, doing jobs for the club. Settling in one place just isn’t for me.

“I’m the last man you’ll ever see,” I tell her. “By this time tomorrow, you’ll no longer be my problem and I’ll be back on the road.”

“What does that mean?” she asks, her brows furrowing.

“That no matter what you say, I ain’t letting you live.”

Her eyes widen. “What?”

“You’re a witness. I can’t have you opening that pretty little mouth of yours.”

“But I won’t. I told you, I’ll stay quiet.”

I give a small laugh. “Well, excuse me if I don’t believe you. Now, get some rest.”

She stares at the couch. “Why are you waiting? If you’re going to kill me, just get it over with.”

I sit on the armchair opposite her. “I have to wait for the go-ahead.”

“What if it doesn’t come?”

I shrug. “I’ll say you tried to run and the dogs got crazy. Putting you down was the kindest thing to do.”

She frowns deeper. “You’re a real piece of work,” she mutters.

I grin proudly. “I know.”

Tessa

I watch the man lean back in the chair. He’s relaxed, like all this is normal, just like the way he speaks of death.Normal. I shiver involuntarily, unable to stop my mind racing. He cannot be the last man I see. He can’t be the last man I kiss.The kiss. Fuck, I might be scared out my mind, but that kiss was good.How fucked-up is that?

He tugs his hood from his head, giving me the first good look at his face. There’s a large scar running from his temple, across his cheek, and down his neck. It’s hidden well along the line of his beard, disappearing under his neck tattoos, and I find myself wondering what kind of situation he got into that caused such a huge wound.

“People will be looking for me,” I say.

He leans his head back on the chair and closes his eyes. “I don’t care.”

“My parents know I was at the warehouse.”

“Good. They’ll think you died in a fire.”

I rub my sweaty hands over my dress, wishing I’d worn something more appropriate tonight. “They won’t, not without a body. They’re very persistent.”

He sighs heavily and lifts his head to fix me with his dark eyes. “Tessa, isn’t it?” His tone is bored. “I don’t give a crap about your sob story. I’ll dump your body on their front lawn and walk away in broad daylight.”

“Don’t you have an ounce of empathy?” I snap. “Don’t you care I have a family?”

He rolls his eyes and pulls out my mobile. He leans forward to try and get my facial profile to open it again, but I turn away. “I haven’t felt it vibrate,” he says, standing. “No one’s blowing it up asking where the hell you are.” He pushes me back against the couch and grips my chin, pointing the phone at my face until it gives him access. He takes a seat beside me, and I shift away as much as possible. “See, no missed calls.” He opens my messages, and I briefly close my eyes and curse in my head. “Well, what do we have here?” he asks, opening the top message. “Alec?”

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