Redemption

Chapter 33: Honesty

Liam and Sofia came home a few days after January 1st. Liam was as happy as could be until he found out that Louis had moved out.

"What do you mean "he left"?" Liam asked angrily.

"He knocked up his girlfriend. They bought this little house in the suburbs. It's swanky." Niall explained.

Liam rubbed his forehead in frustration. "I can't believe he got Danielle pregnant."

All of our eyes widened. "Who?" I blurted.

"Danielle, Louis' girlfriend." Liam said.

"No, no, no. Briana is Louis' girlfriend. She's pregnant. She came over before Christmas." Niall said with confusion. "Who's Danielle?"

"Louis told me he was dating a girl named Danielle. She's an actress from America. They met at a Los Angeles club a few months ago..."

We all wore blank expressions. We didn't know what to say. What made it even more awkward was when Louis walked in the house.

"Liam! You're back!"

Liam crossed his arms. "Who the hell is Briana and when were you going to tell me you moved out?"

Louis laughed nervously. "Hey, man. I can explain..."

Liam gestured toward the couch. We watched him sit down and we all gathered around.

It turns out, Louis had been seeing both women at the same time. He actually met Danielle at a club and he met Briana at a party after he returned to Britain. He and Danielle went on organized dates and spent a lot of time together in America. She video calls him every night. Briana was drunk and Louis was high the night they met. They ended up going all the way that night and that's how she got pregnant. He thought it was the right thing to do by taking ownership for his son.

"I feel like such a dick. I haven't told Danielle about the baby...I hope she won't leave me."

I blinked a couple of times. "Louis, what are you gonna do? This isn't okay."

He huffed. "I'm not gonna marry either one of them. I'll take care of the kid. I'm just gonna see what happens as time goes on."

A few of us shook our heads. We couldn't help him anymore than he could help himself. Harry stood up and pulled up his jeans.

"Uh, can I talk to the lads...alone?" he asked as he looked at me.

"Oh, sure. I think I'm going to take a shower." I stood and walked toward the staircase. "Louis, I hope it all works out."

I headed upstairs and took the most relaxing shower I had taken in a long time. When I got dressed, I headed back downstairs. Louis had left and Niall was watching some television in the living room. Liam was upstairs unpacking and Harry was no where to be found.

"Niall," I began, "where's Harry?"

He perked up. "He's somewhere...did you check his office?"

I furrowed my eyebrows. I had never been in his office. "No."

"Check there." Niall said as he returned his attention to the TV.

I walked upstairs and headed down mine and Harry's wing. I remembered the Black Room and what happened after I went inside. I shuddered. Harry's bedroom was at the end of the hall. The door was closed, but the room next to it was open. I noticed the light illuminating onto the floorboard and headed toward it. I knocked on the open door.

"Harry?" I asked sheepishly. He looked up from his oak desk and smiled.

"Come in, love." he said as he gestured toward a chair. I sat down.

"What kind of work do you do in here?" I asked.

He chuckled. "I do a lot of things...stuff you probably wouldn't like, let alone be interested in."

I crossed my arms. "Tell me about it."

"Well, a lot of the work I do in here is illegal, but you know that. My filing cabinets have profiles in them. So, in my ring, we organize a lot of crime. My job is to assign new recruits to alumni. Based off of their background checks and noted skills, I divide them into different areas of work. The major areas are theft auto, drug transportation, weaponry, and gangs."

The idea of young men being sent to commit crime all over the world was repulsive to me. "You're right. I don't like this." I openly admitted.

Harry sighed. "I would stop, but I'm kind of in charge."

"What do the other boys do?"

"Liam makes drugs." I gasped. "Niall works on cars and Louis leads a gang downtown. Before Zayn died, he was in charge of everything. He left it to me since I have experience in all of the areas."

I hate to be honest, but the passion Harry displays in this subject matter was really hot.

"I was thinking..." Harry started, "since you're kinda my girl, maybe you'd want to learn how to defend yourself...just in case anything happens."

My eyes widened. "What would happen?"

"Well, anyone could break in. You could be in danger anywhere I take you. There's a target on my back...from my enemies and from the feds." Harry stood and walked to a closet. He separated his clothes down the middle and pushed the wall. I walked over to him. The wall opened to reveal a glass cabinet.

"What in the..."

Harry laughed. "This is where I keep my defense." He took out a gun of some sort. He cocked it and pointed it at the wall. "This is how you hold a gun. We can go outside and fire, if you'd like."

I didn't know what to say. Harry carefully replaced the gun. "How about a knife? We can start small." He handed me a little razor. He placed his hands on my hips. "Relax." he whispered. "You hold the knife down, not up. If you hold it up, someone could grab your wrist and disarm you. Keep it low."

I held the razor down beside my thigh.

"Now, when you want to make a quick getaway, you thrust upward." Harry grabbed my wrist and showed me the movement. "If there's no where to run, you can adjust the knife to where you hold it horizontally." He readjusted the knife in my hand. "Then, you slash the throat."

I moved away from Harry. "I don't like this."

"Babe, I'm just trying to protect you."

I sat the knife on the desk. "I don't like violence and I don't agree with murder."

"What if it's self-defense?" Harry asked.

"I'll run." Harry made an intimidating facial.

"Oh, really?" he said. Before I could answer, he grabbed me by the waist and held me. My arms were stuck in his embrace. I couldn't free myself from his grip. "What are you gonna do to get away from me?" he said snarkily.

"This." I said as I stamped my foot on his as hard as I could. He loosened his grip enough for me to elbow his pelvis area. Harry grunted and I wiggled out of his arms. "And now I run." I smirked.

Harry rubbed his area. "I underestimated you. However, I would feel better if you at least knew how to operate a gun and you carried a knife on you."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Harry, how long am I going to stay here?"

He looked at me and a sadness came over him. I almost wish I had never asked him.