Verbatim [h.s]

Twenty-Seven *

Harry's POV

I fell asleep for a few hours during the day on Sunday but I was soon startled awake when my phone rang. And yes, I mean startled. I had immediately grabbed my gun on my bedside table and pointed it at the door. At no one. But I managed to stop my racing heart and reach for my mobile which had Zuri's number flashing up on the screen.

"Hey, baby." I spoke groggily as I rubbed my eyes.

"Hey, you been asleep?"

"Yeah, had a busy morning." A yawn followed the statement.

"Oh okay." She seems to pause for a second. "I just wanted to check-in." My heart constricts at this and all the words she had written in that letter poured into my brain. It took every ounce of my being to not just blurt out, I love you.

The truth is, I don't want to say it. I don't want to admit to anyone that I do because it will cement everything I have done and am still doing into the ground. And it will hurt even more. she might not even love me back, and with my track record, I am terrified to know the answer to that. So, I kept quiet.

We ended our phone call with some small talk and a see you later. Although I wasn't sure if I would be seeing her later. I wasn't going to pull a stunt like a few weeks ago when I banished myself from seeing her. We saw how that worked out. I just need some time to think about what I'm going to do. Just a few days. I need to protect her and I know I can do that better by being by her side. But with Max out there, I know he can get his talons in her eventually.

And I won't let that happen.

So I need more men on guard of her 24/7. Thankfully, she had already asked me to get people to watch her flat and guard the door so it gave me more reason to add more men. And if Max or any of his little followers make one move on her or Audrey I am moving them both out of there before either of them know what is happening.

My peace and quiet didn't last long after that conversation when Niall rang me, he said Tim had been spotted and was instructed to meet us at the warehouse. I knew what was about to happen. Tim had caused enough problems for me and my gang, and now I know that he is our snitch. Our rat. It's time he finally got what was coming for him.

For the 666.

For Audrey.

This is how I found myself waltzing into the warehouse above verbatim and heading towards the back room. Where it had previously housed a hundred people from the meeting, it now sat one lonely chair in the middle. No one had arrived just yet so it gave me time to prepare. I hadn't tortured anyone since the last, I hadn't actually killed anyone since then. Which is a long time for me. My mind has otherwise been occupied.

With Zuri.

And once again, I cannot think about or bring her into this part of my world. She is a flower full of life, blooming all year round. I am death and destruction, darkness only the worst of people befriend. And yet she saw some sort of light in me to give me even an ounce of her love and here we are.

So I banish all thought of Zuri and begin messing around with the various equipment on the table on one of the cocaine tables.

A gun would be quick and probably painless. Unless I shoot him places that won't kill him, then it would be slow and painful. But I want a more hands-on job.

Pliers would allow me to pull out teeth and his nails, now that would cause a lot of pain but maybe enough to make his body grow numb and I want him to feel everything.

I need something quick for slow, painful but not too much he passes out. Tim deserves the worst punishment possible.

Turning to my left, I see an old rag and I immediately think of one of the worst punishments, that will allow so much panic and fear to rush through his body. And so see Tim shitting himself is exactly what I need before he meets his end. I head into one of the backrooms to grab an old rusty bucket and fill it with cold water. I do this two more time, with two more buckets then carry all three back into the room.