Chapter Two

Pit

I use tape to secure the woman's hands behind her back, then I crouch before her to do the same to her ankles. That's when I notice there are no shoes on her feet. I glance up in confusion, right as she kicks me in the balls. I groan, dropping to my knees, and she shoves me hard so I fall back. She's out the van and running before I can even call to Shadow, who's still loading crates in the back.

"Fuck," I mutter, jumping to my feet and running after her.

She's short, like five-foot-three at most, and her hands are taped behind her back, so it's seconds before I'm right behind her. She stumbles, falling to the ground and rolling a few times before coming to an abrupt stop. I grab a handful of her hair and pull her to her feet. She cries out, and I sense her frustration as I wrap my free hand around her neck. She gasps, and I press my forehead to hers. "You're more trouble than you're worth," I growl, squeezing harder.

Her eyes meet mine, the blue shining under the moonlight, and then she relaxes. It's an odd reaction to the pressure I'm placing on her throat while still holding her hair in my fist. Usually, they kick and flail about, but this bitch . . . she's looking me dead in the eye, as if daring me to end her life. Her small hand takes my wrist gently and then she closes her eyes.

"What the fuck?" I snap, shoving her back, and she stumbles, almost landing on her backside. She's freaking me out. "Don't run again or I'm gonna slit your throat, are we clear?" Without another word, she heads back to the van and slides into the backseat. I stare after her in confusion before catching Shadow's eye.

"You okay, brother?"

"The bitch just kicked me in the balls," I say, as if that explains it all, and then I head after her.

She's staring straight ahead. This time, when I slide my hand down her bare leg, she allows me to wrap the tape around her ankles. "Where are your shoes?" I ask.

"Fuck you."

I snigger. That's more like it. "Fine, stay barefoot." I slam the van door and lean against it, taking out a cigarette and lighting it while ignoring the throbbing ache in my balls.

Once the van is loaded, I head back inside and empty the contents of a petrol can around the body. I light it and leave, not bothering to look back. The fucker should never have crossed The Chaos Demons.

Back at the clubhouse, Axel holds his head in his hands. "We need to find out who this Alec fucker is. And that bitch needs hiding until I decide what to do with her."

"She's given us nothing," says Grizz.

"She's a witness," states Axel. "We can't leave her to talk."

"But she's also a woman, someone's daughter," Coop points out.

"Don't give me that shit, Coop," snaps Axel. "What are we meant to do?"

"She's probably scared out of her wits, Pres," he argues. "She'll talk. Give her a chance to process."

"And then what?" I snap. "She processes, and we let her go off into the sunset?"

"Maybe," he says, shrugging.

"Bullshit," I snap. "She saw me kill a man. I ain't risking her getting out of here and talking."

"Then you should've checked the coast was clear," says Coop. "At least let me talk to her."

"And let her see another brother?" asks Axel. "No way."

"All I'm saying is, she might be innocent in all this. She's young. We might be able to scare her into keeping her mouth shut."

"No," snaps Axel. "She dies," he adds, making the final decision.

"Pres," Coop mutters, sighing, "we gotta vote on that shit."

"Not when it's for the good of the club. I can't put that decision on you guys," he says. "It's on my head."

"I think Coop's right," adds Fletch. "We should at least find out her story. Coop is good at talking to women. Let him try."

Axel groans. "Fine, but she can't stay here. If Lexi or any of the women see her, they'll do that chick shit they do, and before we know it, she'll be part of the club." A few of the men snigger. "Pit, you got a place she can stay?"

"Are you serious?" I snap. "She witnessed me kill, and now, I've got to put her up like I'm an Airbnb?" It raises a few more sniggers.

"Well, Coop is right. You didn't check the warehouse, so this is partly your fault."

I roll my eyes and push to stand. "Great. And how long am I keeping her around?"

"I'll send Coop over tomorrow to chat with her. Keep her alive until then," Axel orders.

I pull the door open. "I ain't making no promises."

I go into Axel's office, where the girl is still sitting after I dumped her on the couch. Her eyes widen when I force her to stand. I had taped her mouth, even though she made no attempts to talk. I throw her back over my shoulder and head for the exit. As we pass a prospect, I nod for him to follow me out.

Dumping her back on her feet by my bike, I pull out a flick knife. She flinches, and I smirk before cutting away the tape from her ankles. "I'm gonna sit you on my bike," I tell her, tipping her chin back so we're making eye contact. "Then my prospect here is gonna tape your hands around me. You cause me any problems, I'll end you right here." She gives a nod.

I throw my leg over the bike then lift her and place her on the front, facing me. I position her legs over my thighs, pulling her close enough that no one can see her underwear. I cut her hands free and force them around my waist, pressing her face to my chest, then Smoke proceeds to tape her hands behind me. With my kutte in place, no one can see that she's bound. The prospect hands me my spare helmet, and I push it on her head and slide the visor down. "I hope you like dogs," I mutter, starting the engine before pushing my own helmet on.

The ride to my place is less than ten minutes. I drive down into the basement parking and go to my allocated space. I remove my helmet, followed by hers, then lift her and stand, keeping her legs around me as I get off the bike. Lowering her feet to the floor, I shift her so she's tucked in my side. Now, it just looks like she's my loving woman, clinging to me. I throw my arm around her, and we head for the elevator.

"Keep your head down," I order as we step inside. There are cameras in here, and although I can wipe them once I get to my apartment and get the software up on my laptop, I don't want security seeing us and coming up to question me.

Before the doors slide open, I pull the tape from her mouth. She hisses. "You make a sound and it'll be your last."

The elevator stops at the floor before mine, and I growl in frustration. I move Tessa to the corner, and as two men step in, I tilt her head back so she's staring into my eyes. I brush my thumb over her cheek, and she inhales sharply as her pupils dilate and her tongue darts out to wet her lower lip. I smile, running my hand down her cheek and resting it against her throat. I gently press my lips to hers, and she opens wider, allowing me to sweep my tongue into her mouth. A small whimper escapes her, and I press harder against her throat, a silent warning not to speak up even though her whimper doesn't sound like she hates the kiss.

The door opens to my floor and I break the kiss, then I stride from the elevator with her pressed to my side.

Gigi and King sense my arrival and begin to bark from behind the apartment door. I feel her pull back slightly, and I glance down at her wide, frightened eyes. "Don't worry, they only kill on command," I say dryly, pushing my key into the lock and opening the door.

My two pit bulls rush out, wagging excitedly while circling us. "Enough," I say firmly, and they still. "Inside." They head in with us following.

"I don't like dogs," she whispers.

"I don't like lying bitches, so we have things in common."

I shrug from my kutte and place it on the hook. I pull out the pocketknife and feel to my side, slicing the tape from her wrists. She immediately steps back, putting space between us. "Through there," I order, giving her a small shove towards the living room. Gigi and King are sitting waiting in the middle of the room. Tessa stops in her tracks, and Gigi immediately stands with her ears pointed forward and her tail still. "She thinks you're going to attack," I tell Tessa casually. "Relax."

"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?"

"That's private," I snap, trying to grab the phone from him. It's a stupid move because, with little effort, he takes my throat and pins me back again while he continues to read out the messages.

"Alec, where the fuck are you? There's someone in the warehouse. Please come and get me." He turns his glare to me. "You better get talking, bitch."

I groan. "It's not what you think."

He throws my phone on the table and turns himself so he's facing me, still keeping me pinned back. "What I think is that you and this fucker are a thing."

"We're not."

"So, why are you asking him for help?"

"Because . . . because he left me there."

"Why?"

"He said it would be simple. Stay there until the delivery was done. Call him and he'd come and get me."

"Why would he leave you to oversee a million-pound deal?"

"I don't know."

"Oh, darling, if you knew how pissed I'm getting, you'd be singing like a fucking canary right now." He releases me and stands, getting his own mobile phone out. "Gigi," he calls, and the faithful mutt rushes in. "Watch," he tells her, pointing to me. She sits facing me, and I pull my legs up, tucking them under me and away from her sharp teeth. "You move and she'll rip your limbs off." And then he disappears into another room.

I stare at the dog, and she stares at me. I offer a weak smile, and she lifts her lip in a snarl. "You really love him," I mutter, and she snarls louder. "Go," I whisper, wondering if she listens to anyone else, but she remains seated. "Leave. Door. Go. Fuck ." Her brown eyes don't leave me. "Jesus, this is like some film. A nightmare I can't wake from."

It's minutes before he returns, but it feels like hours with the dog staring at me with such hatred. "Relax," he tells her, and she trots off. Relax. Why Didn't I think of that? "Get some rest."

"You think I can rest after all this?" I spit angrily. "I just want to go home."

"My President wants to speak with you tomorrow."

"Why?"

"Cos he wants to know who the fuck is taking us on, and you have the answer to that."

I shake my head. "I don't. I absolutely do not know anything."

"Sleep, Tessa. Save your lies for tomorrow."

I don't sleep. It's impossible with him sitting opposite me. He rests his eyes occasionally but spends most of the night watching me. And so, I toss and turn until the sun lights up the room.

The man stands and stretches before disappearing again. This time, when he returns, he's eating cereal from a bowl. My stomach growls in hunger, and he sniggers, heading towards the large window and staring out.

There's a knock at the door, and the dogs bark until the man orders them to shut up. He goes to answer the door, returning with two more well-built men, all wearing the same jackets. The second man sits down opposite me and smiles. He's older with kinder eyes, and he nods to the other two so they leave the room. "I'm Coop," he tells me.

"Tessa," I almost whisper.

"You had a drink and some food, Tessa?" he asks.

I shake my head, and he curses under his breath. "Hey, Pit," he calls, and my kidnapper returns. "Feed the girl," he snaps, "and get her a drink."

"It's not a hotel," he replies.

"Would it kill yah to at least get some water?"

My kidnapper rolls his eyes and disappears, returning in seconds with a bottle of water and a banana. I take it eagerly. I haven't eaten since yesterday morning. Coop waits while I eat and then he unscrews the cap on the water, handing it to me. "Small sips," he says, "or you'll throw it back up." I follow his instruction. "What were you doing at that warehouse last night?"

I take a breath, knowing my next words could either land me in deeper or set me free. I go with the truth. "Alec asked me to wait there while the deal went down."

"What deal?"

"For the crates. He went off to meet the guy and was bringing him back to the warehouse. He was only supposed to be half an hour, but I was waiting at least an hour."

"Did he say who he was meeting?" I shake my head. "Darlin', it'd be real helpful if you told me everything cos, otherwise, I don't get a choice in what happens next."

"Your man is going to kill me anyway. He said so."

"It's not up to him," he reassures me. "How do you know Alec?" I bite on my lower lip. "I need it all," he pushes.

"It was supposed to be a few days' work," I mutter. "I needed the cash."

"What do you do?"

"Escort," I admit, lowering my eyes to the ground.

"Don't be ashamed," he tells me gently. "You're just trying to survive out there like the rest of us."

"He said it would be for three days and he'd pay me after."

"First rule of business, darlin', always get payment up front. You been doing it for long?" he asks, and I shake my head. "Yeah, I can tell," he adds with a smirk. "So, where's this guy live?"

"I don't know."

"Come on," he says with a groan.

"I don't, honestly. We stayed in a hotel the first night, and that day, he was doing business dealings. We got to the warehouse, he got a call to meet someone, and the rest I told you."

"So, you've never met him before a few days ago?" I shake my head. "And he doesn't know anything about you?" I shake my head again. "Okay, let me see what I can do." He stands and goes to find the others.