Evidence of Us.

9

"I'm not gonna tell you shit." Harry spat, defiance burning in his gaze as he locked eyes with Louis.

For a moment, something flickered in Louis's eyes, but it was gone almost instantly, replaced by a look of cold amusement. His lips curved into a small, mocking smile as he took a step back, crossing his arms, as if Harry's resistance was little more than an inconvenience.

"Really?" Louis drawled, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're going to play tough now, Harry?" He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head slowly. "You think that after everything, I won't do what's necessary to get what I want?"

Harry felt a surge of adrenaline pulse through him. He refused to look away, refused to let Louis see even a hint of fear. "You can try." he said, his voice hard, unyielding. "But I'm not giving you anything. Not now. Not ever."

Louis's smirk faded slightly, his jaw tightening as he studied Harry, clearly not expecting this level of defiance. He took a slow, deliberate step forward until he was once again inches away, leaning down until their faces were level. "You know," he whispered, his voice dangerously low, "I have ways of making people talk. I always get what I want in the end."

"Maybe you do," Harry shot back, his tone seething with anger. "But this time? You're not winning. Not with me."

Louis's eyes narrowed, a flash of something—anger, frustration, maybe even a glimmer of regret—appearing for the briefest moment. He didn't move, didn't speak, his face so close to Harry's that they could feel each other's breaths. But Harry didn't care. He wasn't going to let Louis break him. Not now, not after everything.

"Do what you have to," Harry said, his voice steady, unwavering. "But I'm not telling you anything." Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud bang, and Liam strode in, his expression twisted in annoyance. "Boss, I can't stand that Niall kid," he grumbled, his gaze flicking between Louis and Harry. "He's so annoying, kept talking about his rights and how we're making a big mistake." he added, rolling his eyes.

Louis's icy composure slipped for a moment as he glanced over at Liam, clearly irritated by the interruption. He turned back to Harry, his face unreadable, but the tension in his jaw was unmistakable. "I don't remember asking for an update, Liam." he said coolly, his tone laced with warning. Harry's gaze shifted between them, his mind racing. Liam's presence was unexpected, but it was a reminder that he wasn't dealing with just Louis; there were others, and each one was a potential threat.

Louis let out a slow breath, a smirk returning to his face as he looked back at Harry. "I guess I'll let you think about your options for a moment." he said, nodding to Liam to leave the room. "Maybe some alone time will help you reconsider your answer." With that, Louis turned on his heel, leaving Harry alone.

"So, what are we going to do with those cops?" Micah asked casually, leaning back against the counter as Louis walked into the dimly lit kitchen. Zayn and Julia were already there, sipping coffee, their expressions tense but unreadable.

Louis barely hesitated, shrugging as he poured himself a cup. "Probably kill them." he said, his voice as indifferent as if he were discussing the weather. His eyes flicked up to meet theirs, challenging anyone to object. "They've already seen too much, and I'm not in the mood for loose ends."

Julia glanced at Zayn, her jaw tightening, but she stayed silent, her fingers drumming lightly on the table. Zayn, though, didn't look away. He kept his gaze locked on Louis, a hint of doubt flashing in his usually stoic eyes.

"You're sure about this, Lou?" Zayn asked carefully, voice low. "It's a risk... killing cops. It'll put a target on all of us."

Louis set his coffee down with a clink, his expression hardening. "They already put a target on us by interfering." His tone left no room for debate. "If we let them walk, we're as good as finished. I won't risk everything we've built because they got too curious."