Guns & Roses (Larry Stylinson)

Aiming

I'm so sorry I've been gone for so long! I have been so busy with work and school and mental stuff lately, but I am looking forward to updating my stories again. I miss it so much, guys, and I miss talking to all of you. Here's another chapter for you all. This marks one of the first turning points in this story. :)

Chapter 10:

I couldn't sleep, and it was really pissing me off. I spent the whole night tossing and turning, just this about how I locked up and never said a word to Harry after witnessing what I did. Instead, I sat quietly as he made another batch of brownies, and I watched him walk back into his house with the very man who struck him across the face.

The memory never left my mind. The way Harry stumbled back at the force of the hit. He must've cried out, wailed in a futile cry of anguish. Nobody coukd hear him. No, outside of that perfect house with roses, the world was bright and loud and damn near perfection, but inside... inside was agony, a sadness that dripped from the ceiling and clung to the walls. It was terror masked by pretty red flowers. The petals and then the thorns.

Finally, I heard a car backing out of a driveway. I threw the blanket off of myself and stood, walking over to the window to see the car that was leaving Harry's house. Zander's car.

"Good riddance," I muttered, but I didn't dare have hope that, that would be the last I see of him. He seemed to have power over Harry, an idiot he was, but he had control.

Guys like him, they needed to have control of someone. They needed to hurt those weaker than them in order to feel power. They were cowards. Worthless. Unfit to be called a man, a lover, or a father.

I shook my head as I pulled back the curtains, backing away from the window and sighing to myself.

What was I doing? Why did I seem to care so much about one little slap? I told myself that I had no clue why, but that was the biggest load of bullshit ever. I knew exactly why I cared.

I sighed heavily once more as I grabbed my phone, telling myself not to do what I was about to do as I already began to dial the number. It only rang twice before there was an answer.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"No, I'm fine, Liam. My cover hasn't been blown," I replied, hearing the clicking sound of the keyboard he was typing on. I had no doubt that him and his tech team were working around the clock to gather any information they could about the rival gang.

"Then what's the problem? You know that we're only supposed to have contact if it's an emergency or either of us has information to share." I rolled my eyes, knowing that Liam always liked to play by the rules.

"I know, I know," I groaned out. "But, listen, I need you to look into something for me. Preferably without informing Zayn about this."

"Let me get this straight," He began, sounding like a parent who was about to scold his rebellious child. I could practically see his disappointed glare. "You want me to withhold information from our leader? The one who specifically said that all searches, complaints, and information go through him first? From Zayn? The person that you said had all of the authority because you didn't want it?"

I dragged my hand down my face as I rolled my eyes. "Ugh! Why does everyone keep bringing that up? Yes, I want you to withhold this from him. C'mon, Liam. He'll never know because you're the master at covering your footprints. You can literally delete the shit after you tell me what I need to know."

Liam was silent on the other end, as if he was honestly struggling with who he wanted to be loyal to. Maybe he just needed a bit of a reminder of who, exactly, he was speaking to.