Page 71 of Pit

“No,” I say firmly. “She can’t ever know about the job or the loose ends. I don’t want her pretty little head filled with shit I’ve done. She just needs to move on and meet a nice guy,” I say.

They exchange a doubtful look. “But when she meets someone, you’re gonna turn up and pull her out of there?” asks Grizz, and I realise Atlas has told them about last night.

“He wasn’t right for her,” I snap.

Axel grins. “You’ll feel like that about them all, brother, trust me.”

I push to my feet. “I need to go check out her dad’s place. Can I take Atlas with me?”

Axel nods. “Sure. He needs to clear his head with all this shit around Anita.”

I head upstairs and push Atlas’s door open. He sits up, his eyes shooting open, relaxing when he sees it’s me. “Fuck, brother, I thought it was another police raid.”

Anita stirs beside him, stretching out and opening one eye. “You joining us, Pit?” she asks with a smirk, and Atlas shakes his head in annoyance, muttering under his breath.

“Get up,” I tell him. “We’re riding out in ten.”

“To?”

“Cardiff.”

“Any particular reason?” he asks, throwing his legs over the side of the bed and tugging his jeans on.

“Unfinished business.”

“For Tessa?” he asks, arching a brow.

Anita sits up. “Is she okay? She was pretty wasted last night.”

“No thanks to you,” I say dryly.

“You asked me to look after her, and she needed to loosen up a bit.”

I narrow my eyes. “She’s fine the way she is,” I snap.

Anita smiles. “I know that, but she craves to live the sort of life that she sees every other woman her age living. Drinks with the girls, dinner dates, and movie nights with a lover.”

“What lover?” I spit, clenching my fists into tight balls.

“She’s not going to be single forever, Pit. The girl wants company.”

“Did she say that?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then don’t be encouraging it,” I warn. “I asked you to employ her, not get her laid.”

“She’s got needs . . .” Anita begins, but Atlas cuts her off with a warning glare, sensing I’m ready to explode, and she presses her lips together in a fine line.

“And if she asks, I wasn’t there last night. As far as she’s concerned, I’m still across the water.”

“She must have seen you,” she says.

“Like you pointed out, she was wasted and immediately fell asleep. Another reason you shouldn’t get her into that state, anyone could’ve taken her and she wouldn’t have had a fucking clue.”

“Jesus, Pit, claim her already,” she mutters, flopping back and pulling the sheets over herself.

Chapter Nineteen

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