Hide and Seek

Chapter 19

*LOUIS' POV*

"Who is the man from the closet, Phoebe?" Harry now speaks, abrupt and the cherry laughter

drops from her cheeks at his stern voice.

"Ruppie. He's nice now, Lou." She answers earnestly.

"Ruppie? As in Rupert?"

Rupert. Fuck! He's the man from the closet. He was in here? How if the window is shut and

latched from within? Harry has turned to stone behind me.

"Yeah. He gave me this and-"

"Give it to me." Harry demands and I do not appreciate the tone he is using with her so I take

what she has instead and warn him off with a glare.

It's a black case. Slender and made of a soft fabric like cotton or wool. I pass it to Harry inevitably

before turning to a lax but confused Phoebe.

"Why don't you come sleep in the living room?" I make myself come across more insisting than

suggestive.

"Okay." She gets up, sounding disappointed but listens to the only remaining individual who

knew exactly what was good for her and what isn't.

Harry let's her pass and I ensure that she's curled up on the new couch, in front of the television. I

say nothing. I don't know what to say. Accuse Harry of not keeping her safe?

"What I that?" I ask about the mystery object.

"It's a knife case." He answers through a tight jaw and a frosty glare.

A knife case? Why the fuck is a knife case in this mess? I frown, my skin feeling tight and so cold

in the exposure.

"I didn't think he'd show up again." Harry hisses when we're in the kitchen and Phoebe is out of

ear shot.

I didn't want him to do something rash but I needed to keep my sister safe. "What made you so

sure?"

Harry slams his fist on the cold, weak surface and Phoebe's head lifts to see what happened. I

smile weakly at her and she goes back to watching cartoons.

"I fucking took care of him. That's what made me so sure." Harry's voice is lethal on its own

terms, dripping and spreading venom from fertilised hatred.

"Harry." I warn him and his language. Surprise is evident in my eyes when I hear him curse.

"Sorry." He mutters halfheartedly.

"I thought you didn't swear."

"I never said I didn't swear." He bites back. "I just hate when you do."

Well that made no sense. "What about Rupert now? He's going near my sister, Harry. She's

defenseless."

"I'll.....I'll handle it." He runs his fingers, three out of five have silver rings on them. "We have to

go back."

"Back? Back where?"

"Middleston. To the house. Phoebe can't come with us, it's too dangerous for her."