Stockholm Syndrome ✔

Chapter 20 - The Son of a Demon

One Year Later

Louis narrowed his eyes and tried to recognize the person who was standing in front of the front door. One benefit about living with Troy for so long was that Louis knew the people who were around Troy. He knew where the cameras were and how to get pass them.

He had been hiding near the house for hours now because he simply couldn't decide what to do. Sneak in, find Harry and sneak Harry out or just simply walk in like nothing's wrong and find Harry and lie their way out? Louis didn't know what to do.

What if he just walks in and then Troy decides that Louis needs to stay? But what if Louis sneaks in and gets caught? Sneaking around would be much harder to explain. And if he help Harry just escape, it puts Harry's family and everyone in danger. They needed to create a plan. Together.

What if, what if...

"Oh, fuck it", Louis muttered. Harry needed him. Louis had been gone long enough. He straightened himself and walked towards the front door. The person standing there stiffened immediately and glared Louis. The light coming from the house's window wasn't enough to recognize his face, and Louis knew it. He stopped in place and said, "Chill, it's me."

"Louis?" the guard said and let his hand fell off his belt and Louis just knew he had been holding a gun. "Какого черта ты здесь делаешь?"

Now Louis knew who he was talking to. "What the hell I'm doing here? What the hell are you doing here, Misha? I thought you were supposed to be in Russia."

Mihail leaned against the door and crossed his arms. "I changed places with Vitali", he said with a strong Russian accent.

"Ah." Louis walked closer and tried to look neutral, even though he was nervous as fuck. He glanced around. Usually there were at least two man guarding but Louis couldn't see anyone else except Mihail. "You're guarding all by yourself?"

"Aleksei's coming soon. What are you doing here?"

"Oh, so you're guarding with Ljosha! Must be delightful, he has a good sense of humor."

Mihail tilted his head slightly. "Louis..."

"How's Jekaterina?"

"She's fine", Mihail said and narrowed his eyes. "You're avoiding my question."

"So she's not here? Must be hard when Vitali got to go to Russia even though it's you whose wife's there. She's pregnant, is she not?"

"In seventh month", Mihail said, frustrated. "Cut the crab already, Louis. Why are you here?"

Louis squirmed uncomfortably and shrugged. "You know, missed my dad 'n all."

"Ты врешь."

Louis scoffed. "Pfft, what? Me? Lying? As if."

Mihail raised an eyebrow. "You're losing your touch, kiddo. You used to be so good at lying and reading people and hiding your thoughts."

"Oh, Misha, trust me, I still am", Louis said, smiling. "You just don't understand sarcasm."

Then the door's handle moved and Mihail stepped aside, letting the door open. Louis took a step back when a very tall, muscular man stepped outside. He closed the door, lighted a cigarette and then observed Louis and Mihail.

"Would you look at that?" he hummed, amused. "The prodigal son has returned!"

Louis smiled dryly. "Funny, Ljosha."

"Don't call me that", the man said, his accent just as strong as Mihail's. "Only friends and family are allowed to use that nickname. It's Aleksei to you."