𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐄𝐃 // 𝐇.𝐒.

54.

Chapter 54

This might be the worst idea I've ever had.

Taking another night to think it all through, I thought I'd wake up wanting to take the first flight to Paris with Harry. I thought sense would knock right into me, but it never did.

It's five in the morning, it's pouring rain, and I've never felt so cold in the passenger's seat.

I look to my left the moment Harry gets into the car with me. Starting the engine, he then looks at me. "Listen, I may not agree with you at this very moment, Jo... but I trust you enough to follow you anywhere."

My eyes drift out to the window as a million drops fall above it. "I know I'm being insane right now."

"Very fucking much."

Looking at him again, I feel my lip begin to quiver. "I just can't explain the urge I have to go back. I-I feel angry about what they did to me, Harry. I have never felt so fucking terrified and sick to my stomach until we were crossing that border together."

He reaches for my hand, taking my palm into his. "Imagine the kind of resentment I have over the shit he's made me do."

I lift his hand just to kiss his knuckles.

After a quiet moment, he asks me, "Do you have a plan? When you arrive in LA, what is it that you want to do?"

With a soft sigh, I shrug. "I don't know yet."

"I just want you to think every little thing out, Jo, before we even get there. We left for a reason so nobody can know we're back. Not Zayn, not Sutton."

I nod, looking into the gleam in his eyes.

"Here's the plan we're sticking to. When we get to LA, you'll be Aubrey and I'll be Alex. The moment we get there, we're burning this car and we'll find a place to crash. Then I can help you learn everything there is you want to learn about the Angelos and who's running it, but I might need to call Finn again."

"Finny?"

"He said he has friends who helped track me down. I'm sure he can give you names and maybe even faces if that's what you search for."

"I know this is crazy," I say again.

Snickering in agreement beside me, I turn my body towards him. I let go of his hand to touch his hair. Turning to me as well, he looks at my lips when he says, "I trust you, but if things get too dangerous then it's your turn to trust me."

Playing with the curls behind his head, I rest my head and nod again. "Don't laugh, but... sometimes I think my grandpa is looking out for me. I don't want to say he put you on my path, because it's cheesy—"

"Not cheesy," he mumbles. "If that's the way you think, you shouldn't be embarrassed over it."

I smile, letting my eyes fall onto his lips. Pretty fucking lips.

"S'like I'm not embarrassed to say I'd do absolutely anything for you. I mean, I'd fucking die for you."

As if I'd been punched in the gut by his words, I shake my head quickly. "Don't go there," I say. "Don't go there, please. No one is dying, Harry. If you think Dante is going to find us or get near you, it's not happening. Remember, as far as they know we're in New York."

"We're in New York," he repeats to confirm it in his mind, and then he leans in to kiss my lips.

I kiss him back, holding onto him as he and optimism are the only things fueling my bravery. "I-" He heaves the softest sigh near my lips. "Let's go if we want to make it there before midnight."