DIRTY BULLETS

chapter forty

"WHAT? WHY AM I needed?" I asked, my voice coming out a lot more pathetic than I meant it and my eyes met Harry's for just a second before landing elsewhere.

He ignored me, like usual, climbing out of the car before grabbing the duffle bag from the trunk that he collected from his meeting with Richie.

Letting out a light scoff, I made no motion to get out of the vehicle and that clearly irritated him as I watched him stalk to my car door in the wing mirror before he was yanking the door open and giving me a stern look.

"Get out."

"Why am I needed, Harry?" I repeated, my voice a lot stronger now as I gave him a look back as a wordless sign that I wouldn't get out unless he gave me an answer. I at least deserved to know what I was getting dragged into.

Ha! When had that come into play over the past few weeks?

Harry narrowed his eyes at me, staying quiet as he just stared at me before his gaze dropped to the ground and he let out a mix between a huff and a sigh.

"You're just going to be asked a couple of questions." He murmured, monotonously. His eyes then met mine again. "Now get out."

That wasn't good enough.

"Why though? Why do I need to come with you? Can't you just ask me the questions and then relay the answers on to whoever wants them?"

I knew there was no way that would happen, and the way Harry scoffed as I spoke those words just confirmed it as though I was seriously delusional for suggesting such a thing. But, sheesh, I just really really didn't want to be a part of whatever 'job' this was. It wasn't going to end well.

"Get out of the damn car, Layla." Harry ordered for a third time, not even bothering to humour my suggestion as his growing anger was evident when I saw his nostrils flare.

Holding his harsh stare, I let out a defeated sigh.

I suppose either way I was going to be coming with him whether I walked myself or he dragged me there so may as well choose the easier and less aggressive option.

Climbing out of the car, I closed the door after me before looking ahead where a massive warehouse building towered in front of us. And it seemed that was where we were heading as Harry started striding in that direction, not bothering to check if I was following or not.

He knew I was.

And I made sure to keep just a couple feet behind him, not wanting to veer too far away from him in a place I didn't know.

We walked in silence as I gazed the surroundings.

Again, there was an abundance of land surrounding the warehouse, that seeming to be a common theme as these places were always located in the most secluded areas, whether it was for jobs or Harry's base. It made sense I guess, seeing as the goings-on weren't exactly something that would benefit from public bystanders.

In Harry's world, it seemed that privacy equated to illegality.

Numerous men and women were either making their way in and out of the building or else seemed to be on the job on the outskirts of the place. Some were unloading long wooden boxes from a white van probably containing all sorts of contraband by the looks of things, while others were standing around, instructing others or seeming to slowly direct their attention to Harry and I as we approached the vast building.

Harry was taking long fearless strides, stood tall and towering while one of his hands rested on top of the duffle bag that hung over his shoulder and the other swung confidently by his side. I hurried my steps a little, catching up to him almost as an unconscious feeling of safety while more and more attention was drawn to us.