Keep Driving [h.s]

twenty-six

Harry

"Get it through you thick fucking skull, Styles." Johnny grits through his teeth with flared nostrils. I should have known he would have this reaction.

I came to him in hopes that he had any information on the snakes. I've never struggled this much with my job and I've been doing it for a decade now. I feel like it's so obvious who they are and yet I still can't point it out. They had Emilia involved, meaning they could have tricked any of my men into joining them just to fuck with me.

I should have thought about coming to Johnny sooner. It should have been my first initial idea but it wasn't. My head is just too much of a mess to think clearly and Johnny's right about that. Just a second ago he told me that I need to get my shit together and have my third eye open — whatever the fuck that means.

"Can you help me? I know you said you'd be done with all of this but I need to solve this." There's a reason Johnny was Nick's right hand. When Nick died, Johnny said he wouldn't want to be in that position again, meaning he wasn't going to help me rule over the kingdom Nick left behind. However, he never said he wouldn't help me in general. Hence why he's the one who hooks me up with cars that could be restored and sold to the rich. These cars — especially restored — are fuckin' expensive and not many can afford them. I still manage to get a good amount of customers and sell enough cars to keep up the business without having to use my own money.

"I don't know what to tell you. You have everything in front of you, you just have to piece the things together." He says, reaching for his glass of scotch and picking it up from the table. He swirls it around once before tossing the strong liquor back like a shot. Man has always loved whiskey. That was one thing he and Nick bonded over.

"All I know is that they are a gang, their signature colour and tattoo and that they have a shit ton of people involved. I'm starting to go fucking crazy, thinking everyone around me is working for them." It's true. Ever since I found out about Emilia I've been sleeping with one eye open just to be cautious. I added extra security around the house and even told Ella to go out less until I'm absolutely certain things are sorted out.

"That Charles guy. You said you stole his chick?" He slumps back against his chair, looking at me through his glasses. His long brunette hair is parted in the middle and frames his face on either side. His black nail polish is chipped on some fingers while on some it's already come off. He looks very intimidating and scary to people who don't know him.

"I already talked to him about that, it's cool." I'd like to think it's cool. I know he has every right to go against me but I helped him so much and he's a good guy. He doesn't play dirty.

Maybe I'm just painting a picture here.

"Can never be sure." His thick British accent is prominent in the way he says that. Funny thing is, he's not British. He's American, he's just always used an accent to create false imagery in people's heads. It's one of his tricks.

"He's a good guy," I repeat out loud what I already thought in my head. I refuse to believe Charles would go against me.

"And the two you caught?" He asks, mentioning the two guys who I found when they were tying up a drugged-up Ella. They were doing a shitty job, not checking her phone or hurrying which makes me assume they are beginners. Or just dumb.

"Dead. Couldn't take the torture I guess." I've had fun making them suffer for what they did. They kept their mouth shut throughout it all though, gotta give them that.

"Idiot," he mutters, reaching for the whiskey bottle to fill up his glass. He doesn't agree with my way of handling things sometimes but he doesn't go out of his way to help me change them so we're stuck with this.