Page 54 of Pit

“Because I wouldn’t have sex with you?” I scoff. “Christ, shit happens. Move on.”

He stands. “That would be easy if I wasn’t so affected by you. I saw your little ad online,” he says, unfastening his belt, “selling yourself like a prostitute.”

I gasp. “You saw it?”

“I’m married, so I couldn’t follow through completely. That’s when my brother stepped in.” My throat tightens. “And then it all got messy. And now, Alec tells me you’re not a fucking virgin?”

“I am . . . I was. He took that away,” I cry.

Steven climbs onto the bed, fisting his erection. “I told him to have his fun. What was the point in keeping you untouched if you weren’t . . . untouched?”

“Oh my god, you’ve been behind this all along?”

“Firecracker,” he says, winking. He lines himself up at my entrance. “And now, I have my very own toy to play with whenever I feel like it.”

Pit

We file into church and take our seats. “I called our Russian dealer. He’s willing to cut the middleman out,” says Axel with a wide smile. “Apparently, he doesn’t like or trust Alec or his brother, Steven.” The name strikes something inside me.

“Steven?” I repeat.

“Yep. Apparently, they’re adopted brothers, crazy and reckless. He doesn’t want them involved at all and actually offered us more of a cut if we didn’t use them.”

“Have you got a name?” I ask, frowning. “A full one?”

Axel takes out a piece of paper and throws it on the table. “I’m running checks on them both,” he tells me as I take it and stare at the names.

Steven Kendal.

“Jesus,” I mutter, throwing it back on the table. “He bullied Tessa when she was younger.”

Axel’s frown deepens. “There could be more than one Steven Kendal.”

“But what are the chances? He was cruel to her. There’s every chance this could be a vendetta.”

“Okay, well, the second I get the addresses, we’ll head out. We’re ending Alec for pulling the shit with our guns in the first place. It makes no difference if we take out his brother too.”

Relief floods me, and I nod in agreement. Knowing I’ll have Tessa back with me brings a sense of calm.

It’s another few hours before we get an address for Steven and I’m standing outside the pristine house. “She’s not here,” I mutter.

“How do you know?” asks Grizz.

“It’s my job to know. The house is too nice. The neighbourhood is too quiet. He wouldn’t bring her here.”

“So, let’s knock and ask,” says Axel, walking up the path.

A woman answers cradling a baby. Both her eyes are bruised and she looks exhausted. She eyes us warily. “Yes?”

“We’re looking for Steven.”

“He’s out.”

“Do you know where?” asks Axel. She gives her head a shake. “Anything you can tell us would be helpful.”

“I don’t even know you,” she mutters, gently stroking her baby’s head.

“No, but looking at you, I’d say you could do with our help,” I cut in. “If we find him, it might relieve you of a troublesome life.”

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