Deceit [h.s]

Twenty-six

Elizabeth:

"Harry fucking Styles." Benjamin announced, looking around the room and seeming proud of his accomplishment. "You have absolutely no idea how long I've waited for this." His demeanour never faltered, eyes glued to Harry and hands as steady as ever, holding a gun without a single care in the world. I knew what I had signed up for once he had been promoted. I knew Benjamin was trained to take lives if necessary, but I never thought he would be aiming at me or someone I loved. Ben had an excellent aim. If he pulled the trigger, Harry would be dead, and just the thought of his lifeless body laying on his own blood made me nauseous.

"If I must say, you hardly resemble your sister." Harry's tone was not what I would've expected, not from someone in vulnerable conditions. He was bragging, acting nonchalant and ridiculously full of himself. For the first time I wondered how Harry acted around other people before I met him.

"You shut your fucking mouth. Maybe you do have a death wish after all." Benjamin was obviously in charge, but I watched as Liam's angry demeanour grew each passing second. It was like the more he watched Harry, the more he reminded himself why he was standing in that room with us. His betrayal stung deeply, but my brain barely acknowledged the new feeling, too overwhelmed with the whole situation. I was on the verge of a mental breakdown, but I promised myself I would save Harry first, before allowing my mind to feel anything other than fear.

"What is your point with this, Benjamin? Put a bullet through my skull? Because if that's all you seek, go ahead, I won't be able to fight back. Just do it soon, because I'm pretty sure Elizabeth's bum is sore after being on this floor for so long and, as a gentleman, I want her out of her misery." I looked at Harry in disbelief, crushing his pinkie finger out of rage. If I was not infatuated with that insane man, I would've poked him with my knife until I made a small hole, forcing him to focus on the pain rather than his nonsense.

My father seemed concerned as well, but his focus remained mostly on my face, and I realised I should pay attention to him. He would mutter the safe words as soon as necessary and I couldn't be focusing on anything else, although it was hard, considering Harry's apparent death wish.

"I want you to admit what you did to Alexa. I want the whole story and you better tell me the truth. I will make you suffer and then I will make Elizabeth pull the trigger. It's going to be quite the spectacle." My face paled considerably, and this time Harry was the one squeezing my fingers, although he was not angry, he was trying to be discreetly reassuring. I'd shoot myself before having to harm Harry.

"That's it?" Harry asked, scoffing and shaking his head in disbelief. "I must admit you're dramatic but your ideas are lacking creativity. Oh well, not everyone has a Harry Styles' thinking process." He shrugged, appearing to be completely calm and collected on the exterior. I wanted to scream, hit his chest in anger and perhaps find some duct tape to place across his mouth. If his strategy involved pissing off Benjamin until he fired a gun, it was working remarkably well.

For the first time Liam demonstrated some sort of feeling, smiling down at Harry in a patronising manner. It was one of those "I know something you don't" looks. It bothered me immensely. If Benjamin had any hidden tricks we would be even more fucked. My father shared a meaningful look with me, and I realised he probably knew what Ben had planned as well. My heart hammered inside my chest in the most unpleasant way, especially when I thought about the gun pointed towards Harry's skull.

"I also have a surprise, but we shouldn't spoil it, should we?" The sickening tone of his voice, completely void of any emotion besides rage, it worried me. I was not ready to push him, because if Ben went too far, there was no coming back, not on this one.

"Elizabeth, why so quiet, baby?" His tone sickened me, and I looked up for the first time. Icy blue against melting hazel. I tried to recall those days when I thought he was endearing and loveable, but it was hard, considering what he had done and how much time passed since the first time we laid eyes on each other.