Cleo

Louis

There were quick knocks on my bedroom door about an hour later. The bed was just too comfortable and welcoming, I didn’t want to leave. But it didn’t stop Louis as he walked into the room. “Who the hell is the bitch in my room?”

I was lying on my bed, hands over my eyes and under my blankets. “Jasmine. She’s your new roomy. You said you wanted in on the action.”

In seconds, he was standing over me, ripping my hands from my face. I sat up as quickly and went to slap him. He caught my hand, “I’m not a fucking babysitter.”

“Neither am I.” I spat back. He glared at me, “Just get out. Send Harry in.”

Louis rolled his eyes, threw my hand and walked away, slamming the door. I flipped my TV on and watched another new segment on my dead girls. For a while, I sat there wondering why we were the target. It seemed obvious that they knew who we were. I didn’t understand why they found us a bigger threat than the Mar Rojo’s. Honestly, those guys, if any, would scare me in this town.

They had more man power than me. Their gang ranged anywhere from twenty-five hundred to three thousand members. It was hard to get anywhere with them, really. And their numbers were increasing, they’d take on as many as two hundred new members a year, through careful selection.

The Pellino’s, being only a starter gang, had about a thousand members. Most being family and close friends. They didn’t take members easily, if calling Mar Rojo’s selective, The Pellino’s were worse than little kids. They didn’t take on many new members at all. In the last six months they acquired five new members and lost three.

Here were two groups of people, adding up to around four thousand people and this gang, three times the size, is going after myself and my boys. Six people against twelve thousand. What was stopping them from piling up in my driveway and bombing the place? Why were they killing my girls?

Liam was right though, I was being stupid, sending the three out to kill as a warning. How scared did I think they were going to be? Now I was sitting on my ass with one of their girls, doing nothing but waiting. He was right, I was asking for trouble.

Harry walked in the room without knocking and crawled in beside me, pulling me against him. “You called?”

“How many did you kill today?” I asked, pressing my lips to his neck.

He sighed and hummed lightly. “Alone, I killed two. Liam killed five and Niall watched.” I laughed and shook my head, “Yeah, he’s not much of a killer. But he is good with information. Plus, he can handle a gun well, if he ever carried one.”

Resting my head on his chest, I closed my eyes. “He is very resourceful. I think we’ll keep him.”

“Yeah, but only if he’s house broken.” Harry let out a deep laugh, I felt the vibration in his chest.

“You’re hardly house broken, Styles.” I ran my fingers over the exposed tattoos on his wrist.

Though I couldn’t see it, I could tell Harry was watching me. He was very observant. He didn’t jump down my throat or hover over me like Liam or Niall. He didn’t keep distance like Zayn and he never argued with me like Louis. He always trusted me, and that’s what I liked about him. But I knew, other than an occasional fuck buddy and good friend, he wasn’t anything else to me. I loved and trusted him, but I didn’t want more with him.

“Keep your hands off of Jas.” Harry moved slightly uncomfortable. “I know everything. You were giving her the look.”

“The look?” I sat up and mimicked him. Squinting my eyes slightly and pursing my lips just enough to call it a purse. “I just can’t have any fun with you, can I?”

That won a meaningful laugh from me, “We have enough fun, Har.” I crawled out of the bed and sighed. “Okay, I need to talk to Jesus and Giovanni. Prepare them for what’s about to come. Maybe get some guys out here, just in case. We’ve been targets from the start.”

“We can handle it.” I put my hand up, Harry bit his lip and nodded, “Okay, I’ll get Niall to make a few calls.” He kissed me quickly and twisted a strand of hair that had fallen from my bun. “Maybe I can help you relax later, sound good?”

Shaking my head I pressed a few fingers to my glabella. “Not today. Too much going on in my head.” I gave him a half hearted smile and walked him out.

We found ourselves in the living room with everyone else, minus Jasmine, who was probably freaking out because of Louis. He wasn’t good at keeping his opinions to himself.

Niall had left to get in contact with Jesus and Giovanni for me, the rest of us sat around and talked quietly. Most of them questioned my choice to keep Jasmine in the house. Liam kept to himself, knowing already. The fact that he didn’t tell everyone else surprised me. It was obvious he was still upset with me. I didn’t blame him. What I said was completely uncalled for. He wasn’t heartless, not with the way he treated me.

He cared more than he let on. He cared not only for me, but the rest of the guys. I’d send Niall on a job and Liam was off before Niall could get out the door. Niall needed to get out there more, he was hesitant and awkward about everything that didn’t include a phone. He could shoot a gun perfectly, hitting whatever target he was asked to. But when it came to the actual killing part, he didn’t do well.

Caring about Niall’s feelings, rather than his experience, Liam took his jobs and did his own. Amazingly, if I might add. Liam was my best man. He could handle his gun, fight hand to hand. He had some skills in knives and he was very stealthy. There was no doubt in my mind that if I were to pick who would be by my side in the worst of any situation, Liam would be the one.

As much as Louis and I fought, he was a great guy. He cared and had so much passion. Behind the “big buff manly” routine he did daily, he was like a big teddy bear. I never got close to him, not at all, but I knew. We’d taken a few girls before, no one with a case like Jasmine’s, but people who needed help. Louis was always the best. He would make sure they were doing well, had everything. It was the reason he had her. It wasn’t entirely to piss him off, that was just the icing on the cake.

I admired Louis, more than I let on. His dedication was amazing. His hand to hand combat was nearly up there with Liam. The boys have fought before, it was always close. Of all the boys, he was the best with a gun. I swear he had echolocation with the thing. Sure, I could send him out on more jobs with Liam and Harry.

But with the threats to the girls, I wanted him there in case he could get something. I knew how quick he was to jump on a case. Without consulting me, he’d run off and handle a problem. It bothered me a lot, but there was never a call he made that I wouldn’t have myself. He taught me everything he knew about leading this group. So I trusted his choices.

Louis and Liam were ready for the Cobra’s. Louis wasn’t going to be in the back when they arrived and I knew they would eventually. Louis would be right beside Liam. I’d keep Niall with me and send the rest following. Even if Niall wasn’t going to kill on a job, he’d do anything to protect me, not that I needed it, but the help would be appreciated.