Page 67 of Pit

He smirks. “Is that what this is about? Are you some new boyfriend who’s jealous of her exes?”

“It would be simple for you if that was my reason,” I tell him, unfolding my arms. I spin the screwdriver between my fingers, circling him. He tracks me with his eyes until I move behind him, then I lean over his shoulder and slam the pointy end into his thigh. He cries out immediately, and I shove a cloth in his mouth to muffle his screams. “When I heard you were in Ireland, I thought it was fate,” I whisper, smiling. “Now, think carefully, Lee. What happened to Tessa back in school?” I pull the cloth from his mouth.

“Jesus,” he cries, “ow the fuck can I remember almost twenty years ago?”

I pull out Steven’s mobile phone and open the messages between them. “Music room?” I ask.

He sags, the fight leaving him. “I was a stupid teenager.”

“Very stupid,” I agree. “And I did some digging into your life, Lee. The things I saw were not good.”

“Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m the reason you’ll never bully anyone ever again,” I confirm, driving the screwdriver into his opposite leg. He cries out again, but this time, I punch him hard in the face, busting his nose and knocking out a tooth. “You’ve had several complaints at work, all women saying a similar thing—you make inappropriate comments, give unwanted attention, touching at every opportunity.”

“They were ganging up on me,” he yells, spitting blood onto the floor.

“All of them?” I ask, laughing coldly. “I couldn’t work out how you always seem to get away with it, and then I realised you went to school with your boss.”

“Look, I’m sorry I made Tessa upset, okay,” he shouts. “But she was a whining little bitch, thinking she was better than everyone else. We all knew her dad was a drunk who beat her mum.”

I punch him in the face again, and he curses, shaking his head. “So, you knew she was already having a shit time and you bullied her anyway? Scum.”

“She was scum,” he spits. “Even her dad hated her.”

“What are you talking about?”

“He paid Steven to date her. He wanted her out the house as much as possible cos she reminded him of his wife.”

I allow his words to sink in. “Is he still alive?”

“Her dad?” He nods. “Yeah, he’s alive.”

“Where?”

He scoffs. “Let me go and I’ll tell you.”

I hit him a third time, following it quickly with a punch to his stomach. He leans forward, coughing violently. “I’m in charge. I want the address, and then I’ll consider letting you leave.”

He gives a stiff nod, and I grab a piece of paper and a pen. “Shoot,” I say, and he reels off a street name.

“It’s in Cardiff. He drinks with my uncle. I don’t know the house number, but someone round there will know him.”

I stand, shaking out my shoulders. “No one will miss you, Lee,” I say with a shrug, “and that’s so sad.” Before he can say anything else, I push the screwdriver into his neck. His eyes widen in surprise, and he begins to cough, spilling blood down his chin. I withdraw it, wiping the end on his jeans before heading out. Iclose the office door and rush down the metal steps, heading out the factory and into the dark night.

I check my mobile and see another text.

Tessa: Still can’t sleep in the bed. Luckily the couch is comfy. Goodnight, Pit. Miss you x

I smile.I miss you too, Te.

Chapter Eighteen

Tessa

“It’s Friday, and it’s tradition,” Anita says.

I smile as she rests her hands on my desk and stares down at me with hopeful eyes. “I’m just not really a drinker,” I tell her with a shrug.

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