Page 8 of Pit

“And if she does?”

“What will she tell them, that some guy with two dogs took her and held her for the night? She’s an escort. She’ll stay quiet cos the police won’t give a shit. They’ll think she pissed some customer off and she’s trying to get paid or something.”

“I ain’t risking it,” I tell them. “She dies today.”

A phone rings, and I realise it’s in my pocket. I take it out. “It’s Tessa’s,” I tell them, glancing at the screen. “It’s him,” I add, showing them Alec’s name.

Axel takes it and accepts the call, putting it on loudspeaker. “Tessa, where are you?” Alec yells, sounding panicked. “What the fuck happened? Who came to the warehouse and took my shit? Jackson is dead.”

“I think you’ll find it was my shit to begin with,” Axel says calmly.

The line falls silent for a few seconds. “Who the hell is this?”

“The person you stole from,” Axel replies.

“Impossible. Where the fuck is she? Where’s Tessa?”

“She’s safe, for now.”

“Put her on,” he demands.

“Yah know, Mr. Clay, you’ve really pissed me off,” says Axel. “So, I think you should reel in the tantrum and stop making demands.”

“You know my name,” he states. “At least offer me the same courtesy and give me yours.”

“Axel. I’m the President of The Chaos Demons.”

The line falls silent again. “So, you found me,” he says, sounding amused. “The problem is, Axel, those crates have already been sold, and if my buyer doesn’t get them, he’s going to come looking for you.”

“I don’t see why. They were never yours to sell, therefore, I’m not the one who can’t deliver.”

“You have no idea who you’re messing with.”

“I think you’re the one who’s confused,” says Axel.

“You’d better return those crates and my fucking wife,” he screams before disconnecting.

I arch a brow. “Wife?” I repeat, staring at Coop in amusement. Seems he didn’t get the entire truth after all.

I storm into the living room where Tessa is staring out the window. She turns just as I shove her against the glass. I pin her arms above her head and press my mouth to her ear. “You’re his wife,” I growl. “His fucking wife.”

“It’s not what you think,” she cries, twisting to try and get free.

“I was trying to help you,” says Coop from behind me, his voice laced with disappointment. “All you had to do was tell the truth.”

She laughs . . . actually laughs. “And then you’d have let me go, right?” She huffs in annoyance. “He’ll come for me,” she spits. “I bet he’s already on his way.”

“Tracker,” mutters Axel, “in her phone.”

“He’d have used that to find her last night,” I snap. “She’s talking shit.”

She looks me in the eye and grins. “Wanna wait around to find out?”

I reach into my boot and retrieve a small knife. “You’re right, let’s put an end to it.” I press the blade to her neck, and she freezes, her confidence from seconds ago vanishing.

“Pit,” snaps Axel, “stop.”

“Why? Let’s just end her now and concentrate on the real problem.”

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