Verbatim [h.s]

Thirty-Five

Harry's POV

I hold Zuri in my arms, holding on for dear life. My heart is pounding so fast but I try to hide it with small kisses to her temple. That phone call with Max has my blood boiling, I knew he wasn't lying which makes me even more concerned. I remember his words,

"What the fuck do you want Harry?" His voice booms through the receiver and my body instantly tense, it's taking everything in me to not turn around and punch a wall or one of the boys. Just anything. I need to hit something. I clench my hand into a fist and mix between that and pulling at my roots.

"I told you to stay the fuck away from her." I spit at him.

"I don't know what you're on about." He sings on the other side, way too happy for my liking.

"The fucking frame and card, I know it was you, and all the other weird shit. Cut it out. You're fucking scaring her and I'm two seconds away from hunting you down and putting a bullet in your head." I try to keep my voice down but it's almost impossible.

We bicker back and forth until I come to the realisation that it mustn't be him. that just makes me even more frustrated.

"Sounds like there is someone else who's out there trying to get their hands on my little sister. She clearly isn't safe in your hands anymore, maybe it's time I step in?" He basically laughs down the phone. I clench the phone so tight in my hands I risk breaking it but I don't care. I would rather die than see her with Max. working with Max. I know he is her brother, but I don't think he truly has any paternal bones in his body to have an ounce of care for her. I know he wants her for one thing and one thing only.

And he won't have her.

"Them nor you will have her ever, Zuri is mine." If I had claws id bare them, if I had sharp teeth I'd growl and threaten them like the beast I am. But instead, I grunt out the best I can, making sure he knows there isn't any movement on it.

"We will see about that." And the line goes dead.

The motherfucker.

Max is going to play his cards soon, I can feel it and I need to be prepared. No matter what I need Zuri safe. I'm glad we're going to Amsterdam over Christmas, giving us time out in the country where the threat is and enjoy ourselves. We can deal with the mess when we get back. I just need a chance to be with Zuri, together, before the war begins.

Because without a doubt it will, and I will do anything to keep Zuri alive.

I'm also super glad Zuri told her mum about putting men outside her house, I had thought about it for a while but didn't think it was my place to ask. Only took one phone call to send 4 of my men that way, I will put more there when we're away. She seemed to be understanding but I don't even want to think about what she must think of me now. Causing all this trouble and trauma for her daughter. Bringing her into danger.

Especially after Zuri's accident, getting shot must've really fucked her mum up. God, if I had a child and they got shot I'd never let them out the house. Never mind get in a relationship with someone in a gang. I know she doesn't know that but if she did I know she'd tell Zuri to stay away. And I think Zuri knows that too, that's why she won't tell her the truth.

I pulled back to look down into those chocolate eyes, they're red and swollen from all her crying. I wince at the images replaying in my head of her breaking down. I don't ever want to see or experience that again. I would do anything to take away all that pain.

"Come on baby, let's go home." I tucked her under my arm and led her out of the office, only when we made it back into the club did all the boys look to us. With one swift nod, they knew not to question any further, I'd inform them later of our game plan. But for now, I needed to be here for Zuri.