Retrospections of a Poetic Cutthroat (H. S. AU)

6. Ante

Yo, yo! Finally back at it with the sixth installment! :)

More of a short buildup chapter ahead but the next one will contain more juicy stuff. ;)
Enjoy!

*****

Ante (lat.)

before, preceding

*****

With Pippa gone back to her place, she could at least clear her head a bit and think things through. Whoever sent her the letter was directly targeting someone she cared about and that didn't sit well with her. It's one thing to have a grudge against her, God knows she's done things to deserve the ire of others, but not like this.

H. S.

The initials stare back at her, as if mocking her every attempt to sort this mess out. Nothing is adding up, and as much as she doesn't want to believe it, she knows there must be a connection to Harry Styles even if an indirect one.

Early on, she dismissed the posibility of him being H. S. Even he wasn't that good to bust of that neigh-impenetrable fortress without some careful planning and outside help and besides, she'd most likely be informed and put on guard should it happen.

She hates being this powerless in the face of this chaotic turn of events. Being out of the loop and put into protective custody makes everything a hell of a lot more difficult for her to handle.

She runs to the bedroom, spurred on by the dim flicker of hope and the outlines of an idea forming in her mind. Opening the drawer by her bed, she pulls out one of the many disposable phones and types in Niall's safe number.

If she can't see Harry, she can at least try to dig up whatever she can on him and tie all the loose ends.

"Hello? It's me, I need a favour."

*****

Niall thinks he's going to end up regretting this, just like he usually ends up doing whenever he decides to help Harper. The goodness of his heart will be his undoing.

That's what he grumbles to himself as he waits in the car, in front of the Veritas watching all sorts of rich men step past the threshold, dressed in impossibly expensive suits and ready to waste away money they probably haven't obtained through legal means.

He gives himself a once over and looks at the person sitting in the passenger's seat.

"Thanks for coming, Tommy." he mutters, more to himself than to the burly man next to him.

"Y'know I can't say no to you, mate. And when you said it was for that sweetheart Harper, I had to tag along 'cuz you sure as hell need someone to have your back in there."

"You ready?" Niall asks again, checking once more that the knife was secured up his sleeve and out of sight. They'd be searched for guns and they most likely won't expect a knife if it came down to a fight.

They pass through security easily enough and when they get inside, they are met with both welcoming smiles and unmasked glares. To his right, Tommy looks tense but he doesn't stop walking.