Strings (Book 2 in the CCHR Series)

Chapter 8

"Who do I think I am? I can't threaten you?" I almost yelled, my fists clenched. I didn't want to start screaming at him. I was determined to come out on top of this argument. "Who do you think YOU are? You can't fucking kidnap a band member! You can't fucking force one of your employees to break up with the love of his life, threaten to ruin both their careers, and sit back and watch as they fucking destroy themselves!"

"But I did, and here we sit. You have no power against me. You and your friends are nothing without me," Ryan said sneering.

"Actually, last time I checked, you were nothing without us..."

I turned, and saw Liam walking through with his arms crossed. He had several bruises, and a bit of a puffy eye, but looked otherwise unscathed. I wanted to wrap my arms around him and apologize, but he brushed past me, followed by several police officers.

"Ryan McConnery, you are under arrest for the assisted capture and holding of Mr. Liam Payne. You have the right to remain silent, anything and everything you say can and will be used against you."

The officer began to remove him from the room.

"Wait!" I yelled. Everyone looked at me.

I cracked my knuckles, and walked straight up to Ryan.

"This is for ruining my life," I said, and punched him square in the face. His nose began to bleed, and I honestly half expected to get in trouble. Instead, the officers gave me a nod, and escorted him out.

"As for you Eleanor," I said, finally turning to her. "Congratulations for successfully ruining your own life, mine, and that kid's all at the same time."

I grabbed Liam's arm gently, and ushered him towards the door. Before we left, I turned around again.

"I'm filing a restraining order. I don't ever want to see you again."

With that, I closed the door on her for the last time.

When Liam and I were a safe distance from Eleanor's room, I turned to him and gently pulled him toward me.

I just held him there. I think that was all both of us needed, was to simply hold and be held.

We both shed a few tears, I was terrified for him. They only held him for a few hours, but the experience would have been exceptionally traumatizing.

He admitted that he was terrified for me aswell. He knew that this whole situation was a gigantic mess as well as any of us. It made it just a little easier for me to know that I wasn't alone in this.

After several minutes, we pulled away, and I asked the question that had been eating at me. It had been around 6 hours since I "broke up" with Harry.

"How is Harry doing?"

There was a lot one person could do to themselves in 6 hours. It only really took a minute to end it all. He was allowed 6 hours to contemplate.

"I checked his wrists quickly, and secretly. It appears he hasn't cut there. I can't say for sure about his hips and stomach though..." Liam replied quietly. "He is really confused. Niall filled me in on their entire point of view. What happened to you?"

"Ryan set Paul up to inform me that I had to break up with Harry. He made me tell him I wasn't in love with him anymore. So I did. He threatened to take away our jobs, all of ours, and of course I would trade in a heart beat to be happy with Harry, but I can't vouch for 4 other people."

"We would do it mate," Liam said.

"I figured, but now we don't even have to worry about it at all. Ryan's gone, and hopefully somebody who isn't such a dumbfuck will replace him. Anyway, so after I broke up with Harry, I was taken to Eleanor. She told me we were going to elope, and attempted to force me to sign a contract. When I refused, she showed me footage of you."

"They hacked into Eleanor's computer..." Liam muttered.

"What?" I asked.

"Three girls, brilliant girls, found the footage of you, and leaked it. That's how we nailed Ryan. Eventually they'll trace the footage to Eleanor's computer. She could be arrested as well."

"I hate her, but I don't think that she should be arrested. I doubt it was her idea. Besides, with Ryan locked up, that poor kid's going to need someone."

"I swear to God Louis, you are too kindhearted for your own good sometimes," Liam laughed.

I smiled.

"What do we do now?" I asked.

"What I do this moment, is irrelevent," Liam said. "But I do believe there is someone waiting for you in the lobby."

Niall POV

We basically told the police that we knew the official kidnapper's accomplice, but of course they couldn't immediately take our word for it.

They did, however, manage to get it out of their already arrested Mike. He told them everything. Ryan was the actual father of Eleanor's baby, and that he was hired simply to take care of the doubts Ryan had that Louis would sign the contract. The officers relayed everything, and we and three of them were immediately flown back to London, to the hospital where Eleanor was staying.

That's how we found them, but Liam claimed it was better for us to stay down in the lobby. Harry desperately wanted to go up, he knew that Louis was there. LIam said it was most likely better for Harry's emotional state to avoid being thrown into that situation. Credit to him, it was definitely a wise decision.

Harry was pacing back and forth, internally going insane for lack of Louis.

"What if he really doesn't love me?" He asked Zayn for the tenth time.

"Harry," Zayn sighed. "Louis was so incredibly in love with you. I literally think it would be impossible for him to fall out of love with you in a matter of minutes."

"But.."

He ran his hand through his hair, and sat for a second, contemplating what Zayn said.

I pondered for a few minutes, but the same questions were eating at me. What if Louis didn't really love Harry? What if he pitied him?

If he really claimed he did, I don't think I could believe him. Louis was too big hearted. He wouldn't completely tear down Harry like that. He wasn't capable.

Apparently though, Harry was still unassured.

"What if he..." he started.

"Hell will freeze over before Louis stops loving you!" Zayn yelled.

Harry stepped back a few times, bumping into a man behind him.

"He's right you know..." Louis said quietly.

Harry whipped around.

"I have a lot of explaining to do," Louis said. He gently caressed Harry's cheek and slid his hand down to Harry's shoulder. He pulled him away from the rest of us, and began walking and talking.

I smiled slightly, because the entire time, neither of them could stop looking at the others eyes.