My Stepbrother - Zarry

HQ - 36

So um, I know I haven't updated since forever. I got locked out of my account and it took me so long to log in again ughhs. anyways, back to the story (^‿^)

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Zayn's POV

I fiddled with the gun in my hand, leaning my head against a small tree.

In a place about an hour away from London, we had set up our tents. Getting away from all the commotion and risk of being there was what was best for us right now.

Everyone in my gang was here. For the first time in a year, we were all gathered together at one place.

The sun had set about two hours ago, after which we decided to light up a pretty huge fire for light and for warmth. Some people sat beside the fire, making small conversation about their plans for our upcoming missions, while some decided to use this time for training.

There weren't any houses, or any people beside's the gang members, as far as the eye could see. This was an ideal location for our temporary HQ.

Even though we had set up various tents, with each one inhabiting no more than four people,
there was still more than enough space for everyone to train comfortably. This large patch of land was surrounded with tall green trees that towered above us.

It was relaxing.

"Boss, here's your coffee." One of the newbie's said to me, handing me the cup.

I nodded my head at her, getting up with my coffee in hand as I decided to look around a bit.

I walked towards the thick trees, away from where the tents were at. Don't blame me, I like dark isolated spots.

"Maybe Harry was right. I am a bit of a loner." I sighed, smiling a little.

It had been a week since we talked, the last time being when I told him I was leaving. I knew that it had somehow hurt him, but I didn't understand his way of dealing with the problem; pretending like I didn't exist.

Despite us living in the same house, he was surprisingly very good at ignoring me. He even started sleeping in the spare room, instead of sleeping in our shared one like usual.

I reached in my back pocket for my phone, then remembering how I didn't bring it. No one was allowed to bring their smartphones to HQ, as they were easily trackable. We could only use burner phones.

The sound of leaves crunching underneath someone's weight caught my attention. The noise came from fairly close to me, and as far as I remembered, I didn't ask for any of my men to be in this area.

I slowly put my hand in my pocket, feeling around for my pistol, but to my disappointment, it wasn't there.

"Damn it." I whispered, remembering how I had left it behind while getting ahold of my coffee.

In the dark shadows of the trees, it was almost impossible to see around me.

I took a few steps back, using my hands to feel around me, while also being careful to not trip over anything.

Considering how I didn't have my gun right now, the only way I would be able to defend myself right now would be by fighting the threat; hand to hand.

I leaned my back against a tree, looking over my shoulder to see if I could spot anyone. And surely, I saw a silhouette crouching down, opposite to where I was standing.

Suddenly, I felt a cold metal press against the back of my head, making me inhale sharply. A gun.

There is no way the same guy could've suddenly come behind me, as I just spotted him not even a second ago.

There were two of them. Both were probably armed, while I was not.

I slowly raised my hands above my head, showing the person behind that he could have his way with me.

"Get down on your kn-" the man began, but before he could finish, I punched under his jaw as fast as was possible, and twisted his arm with my other hand, snatching the gun away from his grip.

Before he could react, I pulled the trigger, without second thought, sending a bullet through his chest. The man's body fell limp in front of me.

I stared at him as the life in his eyes drowned in his own blood, almost forgetting about the second man.

I was harshly pulled back by my hair, and then pushed into a tree. I winced as the rough surface of the tree scratched the side of my face.

"If I wasn't ordered to get you alive," the man growled in my ear, "you would've been long dead by n-"

I swung my arm back, repeatedly shooting with the gun in my hand. His grip on me loosened, and soon, he had met the same fate as his partner.

I dropped the gun in my hand and rested my head against the tree, panting due to the heat of events that had occurred.

The sound of the bullets thundered through the silence of the forest, and surely, everyone around us had heard it. I heard the running footsteps of my gang mates.

Liam and Louis were the first to reach me, steadily holding their pistols in front of them, while some other men went checking around me to make sure the area was clear now.

Liam knelt next to the bodies, examining them. "Take them inside." He commanded to the juniors.

They quickly complied, but didn't bother to lift them up, instead just dragging them by their arms or legs.

"Bloody pick them up, will ya lads?" Louis spat at them, annoyed by the juniors as usual.

Louis then headed over to me, snapping his fingers in my face.

"Wakey wakey, boss."

I lifted my head away from the tree and raised an eyebrow at him.

"What's happening to you?" Louis said, looking me up and down.

"Huh?"

"You're really not performing at the best of your abilities anymore."

"Who're you to tell me how I'm performing?" I glared at him.

"I don't know. You just seem distracted, maybe even a little lazy about your job. I don't know what that brother of yours has done to yo-"

I grabbed him by his collar, "What do you know about Harry? Huh?"

I released him from my grip, and he staggered back. "I'd recommend that you stay focused on what you're fucking asked to do, Louis."

He turned away from me, leaving without another word.

Even though I couldn't bring myself to admit it, in the back of my mind, I knew that he was right. Everyone had noticed, but unlike Louis, most weren't bold enough to spit it at my face.