Hostage

31. "The Calm Before the Storm"

  "Pancakes please" I asked quietly. Harry, who sat across from me, quirked an eyebrow up at Zayn. Zayn huffed, locking his jaw as he grabbed the plate of pancakes and set them next to me.

I mumbled a quiet 'thank you', biting back my smile while Harry blatantly bared his teeth at Zayn. Apparently me punching Zayn in the throat had somehow earned his respect from me.

Fuck, if I'd known that I would've kicked his ass a lot earlier then that.

"The calm before the storm" Niall grinned, shoveling a forkful of eggs in his mouth. He was referring to the nice breakfast we were currently having. Harry had suggested it, claiming that as soon as we left here this afternoon it would be back to business so they could plan the attack on my father's ex-gang.

It was nice to be able to just relax after all that's happened.

"So as soon as were finished here we need to pack our bags and head out. The earlier we get home the earlier we can start to plan, and it will give us a good advantage" Harry spoke in his -what I like to call- leader voice. He only used it when addressing serious matters with the boys.

"The rest of the higher ranks in the gang will meet up with us at our house. There, we'll discuss some things, go over strategies, and then we'll spread the word and pursue" He nodded, glancing at me briefly.

I was thinking the same thing he was.

What the hell are they gonna do with me?

"I think we can pull this off" Niall spoke happily. "Our numbers are up by two hundred. Everyone's been training and we're looking good"

****************************

"Bye Lexi" Harry smiled, pulling her into a sideways hug. He glanced behind her shoulder where Gemma stood in the doorway. "Please just take care of her" He whispered, still staring longingly at his sister.

"She'll be safe with me Harry, I promise"

Harry's eyes were still locked on Gem's with concern. He was reluctant to leave her here. Scared that if he left her she'd get taken from him again. And even though she hadn't spoken a word to anybody but Lexi since she'd been back, Harry desperately wanted to care for her. Keep her under his watchful eye.

But he realized that she was more in danger with him then without him.

"Thanks again" I said quietly to Lexi, pulling her into a small hug but keeping my hand in Harry's.

"No problem. And hey" She gripped my shoulders, losing all playfulness. "If you're even in trouble or you need help just stop by okay? My door's always open"

"Thank you" I smiled, pulling away from her and following Harry down the steps. Our hands were locked tightly as we walked to Zayn's Range Rover. Zayn was in the driver's seat, Niall in the passenger, leaving the back for Harry and I to ourselves.

Harry opened the door for me, and I gave one last wave to Lexi before hoping in, sitting directly behind Zayn. Liam and Louis were riding in Harry's car with Spencer. And yes, he was still all taped up.

Harry followed right after me, choosing to sit in the middle instead of the far left. "We're all ready then?" Niall asked.

"Yeah let's go"

**************************

Harry smiled up at me lazily, blinking his eyes softly as he stared up at me. "You're pretty" He said huskily, quiet enough for only my ears.

I smiled in return, brushing his hair off his face gently. His hair felt like silk between my fingers, and I couldn't stop myself from just constantly petting him or running my fingers through the long strands.

He was laying in my lap, his long legs splayed out to my right, bent at the knee to accommodate the space we had. He smiled gently back at me, tugging one of my hands from his hair and twisting it so he could kiss each one of my knuckles.

My face heated as he kept eye contact with me, popping one of my fingers in his mouth and gently sucking on it, his eyes gleaming in delight at my shortage of breath. He pulled it from his mouth, chuckling softly at my reaction before placing my hand back in his hair.

"Everything's gonna be okay, right?" I asked uneasily, staring down at the green-eyed boy below me. Harry blew out a big breath, shifting uncomfortably in my lap.

"Just -just promise me everything's gonna be okay" I begged desperately.

"I can't lie to you, Rae. I can't say it's all gonna be okay because I honestly don't know. But I promise you....whatever happens to us...whatever happens to me -just know that I l-"

"We're here love birds" Zayn interrupted the words I'd been mentally begging Harry to say for the past couple weeks. Harry shut his mouth, swallowing thickly as the weight of the words he was about to say hit him.

He abruptly pushed himself from my lap, stalking out of the car and slamming the door harshly behind him.

I sighed and leaned back in the seat, covering my eyes with my hands. Why the fuck did Zayn have to interrupt him? Why couldn't Harry just say it anyways? Why did he get so upset and storm out of the car?

The more I sat there the more I grew frustrated about the whole situation. So I decided not to think about it, instead opting to just go inside and lay in the backyard or something.

I slammed the door closed behind me, trailing after Zayn as the eight of us made our way up the driveway.

I was just about to ask Harry why there was a car across the street, but I didn't really get the chance to before a gun went out and the sound of a bullet slicing through skin sounded right behind me.

I screamed on instinct, and just as I went to see who got shot I was thrown to the ground, the heavy weight of Zayn's body landing on top of mine, shielding me from the danger.

"Don't move Raleigh" He spoke in my ear, keeping his weight on me as he pulled out his gun and aimed it directly behind us, firing a couple times.

Shouts and screams. Bullets and guns, Car alarms. There were loud sounds everywhere, echoing all around me as I tried to process what was happening.

"Harry" I tried to speak. "Where's Harry?" I asked louder. I tried to sit up, squirming around under Zayn in an attempt to see the only person I cared about.

"Stay the fuck down Raleigh. Harry's fine. He's right behind the car"

Even though Zayn had answered my question, I wasn't really listening. I stopped moving completely, staring straight ahead at the two lifeless eyes who stared back at me. Laying to my left was the person who the bullet hit first.

Familiar brown eyes stared lifelessly at me, similar to how my father looked just a few days ago.

"Spencer"