Impulse

chapter Seven

"Stop please." Louis tugged on his arm, pleading to keep any violence at bay. "Nottonight." 

Harry looked back at Louis and gave him a prize-winning smirk. "They asked for it, petal." 

*LOUIS' POV* 

The bed I wake up huddled into is my own and I'm naked down to my tight little black boxers. Myhead was heavy and thumping along to an external beat that was crushing my skull bit my bit. Igroaned and covered my head with one of my three pillows, hoping to block out any noise fromworsening my mild hangover. 

My body was sore and not in any pleasurable way. I felt like every muscle in my body was strainedand stretched like butter too thinly over the driest toast ever. My throat was powdery dry and I didn'tdare speak to test my voice. The events of last night come flooding back to me in a hurry to makeme nauseous, except no alcohol comes up and I'm left with a disgusting taste in my mouth. 

"They asked for it, petal." Harry had given me his most dazzling smirk, probably one thatbelonged on magazine covers.I remember trying to stop him by gripping his right wrist, but he swung with the left. It landedon the obnoxious teenager's jaw with a fierce enough force to send him stumbling back. 

His jaw hadto be dislocated with the amount of blood gushing over his lips, black in the nightclub's awfullighting setup.I'd pleaded with them - both of them - to put an end to this because I was perfectly alright.Edward had pulled me aside and pressed me against a wall. i still feel that cold harshness of hiseyes boring into my softest core, his fingers digging like thorns into my hip and thigh. Then hegrabbed the girl by her hair. 

"Settle down, pup." He had told me, the burn of his voice like lava to my sensitive nerves. "He'sputting on a show just for you." 

Now, I felt like I'd taken a clenched fist to the inside of my own skull. I cringed at all thehappenings of the previous night, wisely choosing to push them aside for the short time it takes meto get myself ready for a new day. The smell of synthetic over-sweet citrus is infecting my nasalpassages and putting me close to a gagging mishap. 

I had to work today on this fine Wednesday but I'd be a lot late considering I received officialpermission to wait for Liam. Another thing I groan and fall back onto the sheets about.When I toss my covers back, the crinkling of something stiff and papery catches my eye. 

I fold mylegs under me as I sit up and grab the folded piece of paper with - why couldn't I predict this - a rosepetal from the bunch I got yesterday placed atop the flap.What the Hell is that orange smell? 

The writing is as eloquent as the speaker, cursive script from margin to margin in deep black ink.Petal,We'll be seeing you again on your last day of work this week. Pack a bag for the weekend anddress formally. Your friend, Anthony, is safe until such time as you should disobey this letter. 

Another groan of frustration. I scream into my pillow with my face smashed painlessly into it,clutching at the sides viciously. The letter wasn't even signed so I don't know which brother wroteit, though I'm sure they both contributed to the threat behind it.More of last night comes back to me as flashing video images. I decide to stay in bed and lament alittle longer, just as bare feet wander across the hallway to the bathroom. 

Niall's awake and livingblissfully ignorant. I want to rewind time to two years ago when I chose the place of my residency,put myself in Seattle or London instead. 

When Harry grabbed her, the girl who purposely spilt her drink on me choked and stumbled. Itwas the worst thing I've ever witnessed - besides my own nightmarish encounters with the twins. Harry's hand was around her throat and nobody tried to stop him, nobody helped her.I didn't want to see what Harry looked like in this beastly condition. Edward kept me as hisprisoner, sandwiched between the wall and his body. I tried stepping aside when he slipped one ofhis legs between mine and did nothing else. It was simply a technique to get me to stand still andstop my squirming.