The Runner ➳ Narry (Book One)

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"Holy shit!" Niall exclaimed, running and jumping onto me with a huge smile on his face. His legs wrapped around my body and his arms around my neck, causing me to stumble back slightly but still keep my balance.

"I'm so fucking happy to see you, Ni," I hid my face in the crook of his neck, taking in his scent. Niall pulled back slightly to place a long, soft kiss on my mouth. His hands tugged at my hair, making me smile into the kiss.

"Thanks for acknowledging my existence, Haz." I pulled away from Niall and set him down, stepping out of the way. Louis stood, rubbing his chest where I had slammed into him. I walked forward and pulled him into a hug, the way too familiar smell of my best friend comforting my beating heart.

"How did you know where to find me?" I asked once I had pulled away from the embrace. Louis looked to Niall, then looked back at me.

"John gave me a map to Jeff's warehouse. Well, I stole it actually. He didn't want us to find you," Louis said.

"Why not?" I questioned. Why the hell wouldn't John want me to be found? I'm his star runner.

"Uh," Louis started, running his thumb over his lips. "He wants you dead too."

My eyes widened. "What the fuck?"

Louis shifted on his feet, his face unreadable. "He wanted to get rid of you and keep me. He still hates you, I guess."

"Well he doesn't have to fucking kill me!" I threw my hands in the air.

I looked to Niall, who was standing beside me with a blank look on his face. I narrowed my eyebrows, shouldn't he be acting a little... different? Like, confused?

"He knows." I looked back to Louis.

"What?" I asked? He better not be talking about what I think he's talking about.

"Niall knows. Everything," Louis breathed out. "Well, mostly everything. I told him."

"You what?" I looked to Niall in a panic. "Niall, I'm so sorry I didn't tell-"

"It's okay," Niall cut me off. "I understand."

I stood in silence, studying Niall's sincere expression. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Louis spoke for me. "I explained to him why you didn't want to tell him."

I just nodded, letting out a deep breath and pulling Niall into my chest. I let my arms drape over his shoulders, his around my waist as I rested my chin on the top of his head. "I'm sorry," I muttered.

Niall nodded his head beneath my chin. "It's fine, babe." I smiled. That name sounded amazing coming from his mouth.

"Guys, I hate to interrupt this but I think we should go," Louis said, patting me on the shoulder in a panic.

"Why?" I pulled back from Niall, to see Jeff standing at the end of the corridor. "Fuck."

Jeff stood hunched over, his back rising and falling as he breathed heavily. His face was dark, expression cold. He raised his meaty hand, a thick finger pointing at the three of us. "You're dead," he said with a scratchy voice.

Then, almost before the three of us could react, he began to charge. I was frozen in my spot, yanked backwards by Louis. "Harry, let's go!"

I turned and grabbed hold of Niall's hand, the three of us sprinting through the small door and up the narrow stairs. It was dark, and I could barely see where I was going. I kept my eyes on Louis who was in front of me, and focused on Niall's warm palm in mine. I made sure he stayed close behind me and his grip on my hand tight.