Cleo

Harry

The following two days were quiet. Only the boys, Jasmine, my two girls and I knew of the plans. I had set the boxes of wine up to be sent to Gio the day after we were all gone. A sort of parting gift for a friend I'd made.

My hope was that when I left, Manny would leave as well. Leaving the two little guys alone. But deep down, I knew the town would fall almost instantly. Blood would cover it and all my hard work would have gone down the drain. With any luck, Corrine and April wouldn't be followed and they could make it out of this town alive, start new lives and become something better than a sleazebags plaything.

I sent the two girls first. April looked as much like Jasmine as I had hoped. With any luck, they would believe it was her and if they really wanted, they would take her first.

A few hours later, I sent Louis and Jasmine off. He came back slightly upset, but ready for the next line of business. He questioned where Edgar was, I told him the truth and he was very understanding about my choice to keep it secret.

I had called a meeting with the boys, taking them down to the panic room. "We need to be prepared, just in case we are attacked before our flight. Niall received a call, giving us less than a week. We have killed three of those days already, leaving a possible three. But we can't know for sure."

The boys took in everything. Liam spoke up first; it was the first time since the wine room that I had even looked at him. "What's the plan?" He asked, avoiding eye contact.

"Niall and I will man this room. The rest of you will be out there fighting. If things start going bad, or we need to regroup and plan a way out, Niall will send out a text to each of you. Come back as soon as you can, but if you don't return after an hour...we will leave without you."

We sat there for a while planning. The idea was, the moment there was an open spot, we'd take off, get to the airport and try to get out of town alive. Everyone left to set up their guns and ready themselves for a possible fight.

Niall returned to the panic room almost immediately to keep his eye on the cameras. He and I were the ones who were ready. His phone was always nearby, ready and waiting for the warning call. But even if it didn't come, if by chance, his contacts would cross him and there was a surprise attack, he'd be ready.

The bags we had packed were all in the panic room with him. I had placed my half empty bottle of Monfortino in Louis' bag. I had parted with most of the others, but the Monfortino had a special place in my heart.

I had taken over for Niall when he grew tired. He curled up on one of the bunk beds and fallen asleep. Harry had joined me, sitting there quietly watching me as I watched the camera. "Liam told you how it happened, didn't he?" I ignored him, not wanting to think about it anymore. "Louis said—"

"Shut up, Styles." I snapped.

He laughed, "No, sorry. Louis said you thanked him. Cleo, you need to understand, it was my idea. Do you believe in 'love at first sight'?" I shook my head. "I do. I saw you walking to the diner one day, something in me clicked and I was instantly in love. I had to have you and the boys were quick to agree. They wanted someone pretty to look at. Liam and Louis were the conscience, though."

"I know the story."

"No." Harry spoke again. "You know what Liam said. I was the one who made us go to the diner every day. I pushed this. I couldn't control myself."

I looked at him and sighed, "You can stop. Just stop. I don't love you. Not like that. I used you to try to make me happy. As someone to just...fuck. You need to understand, Harry, I will never want a life with you, not like that." And it was all true. I didn't want to share my life with Harry. I enjoyed his company some nights, but I never wanted to give him my heart.

There were times I shared a bed with Niall, but he knew as well as I, that we were never meant for more, that we would never be more. "He was always your favorite." Harry sighed. I didn't say anything to him. "I tried to prevent that from happening, tried to make you love me back. Guess it backfired." He gave a small forced laugh and left the panic room.

I sat there alone for about an hour. I didn't want to think much, especially not about what Harry was going on about. I was upset with them all, everyone but Louis. He was the only one who tried to give me a chance and I was more than grateful for that.

Harry was right though, Liam was my favorite. I found myself around him most, thinking about him a lot and through the years, he was the only one I enjoyed training with. He taught me everything I knew. He was my favorite and there was no looking that over.

Things could have gone differently though. I could have easily favored one of the others if they had just taken the time to be kind to me. Liam wasn't as harsh as the others. He had a gentler approach.

Niall had woken after his short nap to me dozing off in the chair. He lifted me carefully and placed me on the bed he had moved from. Soft lips met my forehead as I rolled over to look at him. "Go to sleep, we have a big day ahead of us." And we did.

None of us saw it coming really.