WEAK // (Harry Styles)

10

CHAPTER 10

*current time*

CLAIRE

How could I be so stupid?

It's just a matter of time before someone I love gets hurt. Zayn almost killed Micheal to get to me last time, who's to say this accomplice won't do the same? Every second we spend out here, in the middle of the ocean, is another second I put the people I love at risk.

"Harry, just please hear me out-" I try for the third time.

"Claire, no. That is my final answer. We are safe here, and I'm not taking you home," he says, rapidly shaking his head. I dig my fingers in my hair, trying to massage away the gnawing headache.

"Listen to me," I say, reaching for his hand, which is clutching the side of the bed so hard his fingers turn white. He closes his eyes, his knuckles tensing under my touch. In order for him to understand, I have to tell him.

"Zayn didn't work alone, he had an accomplice."

Harry opens his eyes, and they slowly turn towards me. He inhales sharply, like a shiver just passed through him.

"I know that," he says warily. "Niall was his accomplice."

I sigh, my heartbeat speeding up as Harry's eyes become wider.

"After you left Yang's office, she told me. Zayn was involved in some heavy shit," I say as calmly as I can, but it doesn't help much in soothing Harry's panicked look. Tell him everything, I order myself. I clench my jaw before continuing.

"They have been looking for another person ever since you shot him. Someone supplied him with all of his resources. The drugs, the gun, the van..."

"There is no way he could have made the drugs on his own, and it's too rare for him to have bought by some random drug dealer. It's so rare in fact, Yang is convinced he had a supplier, someone close to him." With every word rolling off my tongue, Harry's brows get lower on his face. By the end I can barely see the green sparkle of his eyes.

"And that couldn't have been Niall."

His hand, still resting beneath mine starts to shiver.

"And Yang... You... Didn't think I should know?" he asks, his accusatory eyes tracing me up and down. He jerks his hand away from mine, standing up.

"I'm sorry Harry, I only found out a few days ago and I didn't want to-" I start blurting, but he cuts me off by walking up to me, his broad frame eclipsing me as I sit on the bed. He stares down, and points his finger down at me.

"If you think I am letting you go anywhere now, you are dead mistaken Claire," his low voice vibrates in my ear. "Zayn was working with someone to kidnap you, sexually assault you, drug you and ultimately shoot you, someone who is still out there, and you're thinking about going home? Are you fucking stupid?" he says, his voice becoming sharp and scary by the end. I lean back, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. It's been a while since I've seen him like this.

"Harry, I need you to understand, that is why I have to go home. If Zayn was willing to kidnap Michael and he's not even the one who was pulling the strings, I can't imagine the lengths this accomplice is willing to go to. Before they take one of my family members or friends hostage to force me to come back to the city, I can go back before they even get the chance and make sure that they are safe," I explain. I've had time to consider this now, and it's the right thing to do.

"Claire, you need to understand," he says, leaning over so his face aligns with mine. His finger still sits between us, and his eyes squint. He's really starting to scare me.