Reckless {HS}

twenty-six

Harry's Pov

The car hummed steadily through the night, the rhythmic sound of the tires on the asphalt almost hypnotic. As we drove further from the chaos of the gallery, I could feel the tension in the car slowly dissipating. Delilah, who had been a whirlwind of panic only moments ago, had finally calmed down. I could see her eyes fluttering closed, her head gradually leaning against my shoulder.

My heart raced at the unexpected closeness. I wasn't sure what to do in this situation. I was scared to move, terrified that the slightest shift would wake her from her peaceful slumber. Instead, I sat frozen, acutely aware of her warm weight against me, the way her breath fluttered softly against my arm.

"You okay?" Niall whispered from beside me, breaking the heavy silence. His eyes flicked between me and Delilah, clearly trying to gauge the situation.

"Yeah," I replied quietly, my voice barely above a murmur. "Just... trying to figure this out." I didn't want to voice the turmoil swirling in my mind, the conflicting emotions battling for dominance. The protective instinct surged within me, mixing with the anxiety of having her so close when I knew how dangerous our lives were.

"She's going to be a liability, Harry," Niall warned, his tone serious. "We can't keep dragging her into this. She's not one of us."

"I know," I said, glancing down at Delilah, her face serene in sleep, completely unaware of the dangers surrounding her. "But what was I supposed to do? Leave her there?"

Louis chimed in from the front seat, his voice low but insistent. "We could have made her forget about everything. This just complicates things."

I felt a surge of frustration. "You don't understand. She's not just some pawn. She's..." I hesitated, the words hanging in the air between us. "I can't just abandon her."

The car grew silent, and I could feel the weight of their gazes on me. I was treading dangerous waters, and I knew it. I didn't want to admit it, but the truth was, I was scared. Scared for her safety, scared for mine, and scared of what this all meant.

"Look, let's just get to the safe house first," I said, trying to regain control of the conversation. "We'll figure it out from there."

As the miles slipped away, Delilah remained asleep against me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm wash over me, even amidst the chaos of our lives. I glanced at her face, the way her lashes brushed against her cheeks and the soft, peaceful expression she wore. In this moment, she looked so innocent, so far removed from the world of heists and danger that surrounded us.

It took a few hours, but eventually, the landscape changed. The city lights faded into a dark horizon, and the car rolled up to a modest house tucked away from prying eyes. A safe house. I parked the car and turned back to the boys, who were whispering among themselves, still unsure of how to handle the situation.

"Alright, this is it," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Let's just get her inside."

Carefully, I shifted Delilah's weight, gently moving her off my shoulder. She stirred slightly but didn't wake. With a mix of determination and nerves, I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her from the seat. She felt surprisingly light against me, her body curling against mine instinctively.

"Harry, are you sure about this?" Niall asked, concern etched across his face. "What if she wakes up and freaks out again?"

"I'll handle it," I replied, my voice steady. I hoped I sounded more assured than I felt.

With a few careful steps, I navigated the darkened path to the house, the boys falling in step behind me. The door creaked as I pushed it open, and I stepped inside, the cool air wrapping around us. I moved quietly through the living room, glancing around the dimly lit space. It was simple but cozy, a far cry from the chaotic world we'd just come from.

I found a spare bedroom and gently laid Delilah down on the bed, careful not to jostle her too much. As I pulled the covers over her, I couldn't help but take a moment to appreciate her peaceful expression. For a brief instant, the weight of our lives felt lighter, and I allowed myself to hope that she'd be safe here.

"Harry," Louis said quietly from the doorway, breaking my moment of reverie. "What's the plan?"

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the pressure of the situation settle back onto my shoulders. "We lay low for now. Keep her out of sight until we can figure out what to do next."

Niall pressed, "What if she decides to talk?"

I shot him a glare, the protective instinct surging again. "She won't. She's not like that. She trusts me."

Louis raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear in his gaze. "That's a risk we can't afford to take, mate."

I sighed, frustration bubbling up again. "I know. Just... give her a chance. She's not a threat. Not to us."

The boys exchanged glances, and I could feel the unspoken tension hanging in the air. I didn't have all the answers, but one thing was clear—Delilah was now part of our world, whether she liked it or not.

As I stood there, watching her sleep, I realized I'd do whatever it took to keep her safe, even if it meant confronting the very dangers that had brought us together. But for now, all I could do was hope that when she woke, she would still look at me with trust in her eyes.

I stepped out of the room, closing the door softly behind me, determined to face whatever came next.