Dust Bones [Harry Styles]

041

Zayn gradually turned his head to look at me, emotion lacking in his facial features. "What cobra tattoo? The one Harry has?" 

My jaw tightened, and I frowned deeper. "Yeah. Don't you?" 

He snickered and glanced at his lap. "No. It's just some tattoo Harry has had since he joined." 

I stopped playing with my fingers. My lips parted, eyebrows furrowed as I still questioned things, but I kept them to myself. Zayn noted my silence, and asked, "Why?" His hazel eyes glanced upon me carefully, as if sensing something unnerving. 

I shrugged and closed my lips. "No reason," I sighed. "I just thought you'd know." 

"I thought you'd know since you're his little girlfriend. Surprisingly...no one knows. Maybe your father does," he suggested, grunting as he stood up and stretched. Zayn went through doors that led to Liam and Eddie, leaving me alone to my thoughts. 

Everyone working for my dad has that tattoo, huh, Harry? My hands grasped the fabric of my sweater tightly, the more I thought about his lie, the more I started to over think the things he's said before. I was hurting myself thinking too much about his words. I'm not sure whether I should confront him for it just yet, but I chose to sit back and keep quiet.

He emerged from he bathroom door and  I stilled when he stood in front of me, leaning against the closed door. His arms crossed over his chest, pale green eyes watching my face with barely any emotion. I think he had heard me talking to Zayn. Again, nothing ever goes unnoticed by him.

"Are you nervous?" He asked lowly, chin raised. 

I gazed up at him, trying so hard to pull off a neutral look. "No, not at all. Why?" 

"Just a question, baby," he rasped, lowering his head while his eyes never left mine. My eyes peeked at the cobra tattoo on his neck. It was the same one the man in Brazil had spoken of. He had panicked and let me go just by spotting the drawn art. I wondered what the hell it meant. And why a man miles from us knew about it.

Harry leaned forward to me, my eyes snapping back up to his in astonishment for his sudden short distance. He pressed both of his hands against the seat, face inches away from mine. I swallowed and pretended to be completely unaware of my intimidated feelings. 

His eyebrows furrowed. He seemed to be looking into my mind with those eyes, and it made me more uncomfortable now that I did have something to hide from him. I feel like he could just see it. But I was surprised to feel his lips kissing mine gently. I closed my eyes and kissed back. 

I pulled away then, asking, "Hey uh...do we have a tablet or something I could read on?" 

"Yeah, I believe so. I'll go get it for you. I'm going to be discussing some things with the guys," he explained to me, pressing a peck to my cheek. I forced a smile, trying to hold back the nauseating feeling in my stomach. 

He passed me the tablet a minute later and was gone between the doors, closing them and leaving me on my own. I was sure of what thing; he didn't want to be affectionate towards me around the guys. And that is understandable. 

Of course I wasn't going to read. I was going to try and find what kind of things are associated with the cobra tattoo on Harry's neck. I was on edge the entire time from the Google app to the billions of results that came up. 

Ancient Egypt articles, facts about the cobra, and some tattoo samples, but nothing related to Harry. I didn't know whether I should keep going. There was practically nothing that could hint anything towards Harry and this tattoo. Whatever it was, it wasn't publicized and it was known between people involved in mafias, but apparently no one around me seems to know either. 

I frowned at the bright screen, rubbing my hands over my face. He's had this infamous tattoo since he was so young. Maybe Harry was just known for this tattoo, and I was only making a big deal about it. But he lied to me about it, so he must have been covering something up. 

I deleted the history of my searches and placed the tablet beside me. Maybe I should ask him myself. Nothing good ever comes from trying to defy him in any way, and I've found that I shouldn't have to be afraid to ask him. 

+

The drive to my father's old place was shorter than I remembered. Italy again felt like nothing knew, considering I've been here and last time things didn't end too well. I'm not scared, maybe nervous to bring up that topic with Harry.

We walked through the front like it was no big deal. Harry broke in and expected to see no one inside. There was no one, and he remained calm and unfazed the entire time. I scanned the place, remembering the familiar taste in decor my father had.

"Zayn, you and Liam are going to search every inch of Mr. Gate's office, and find anything and everything to do with Catalina. There's got to be some kind of hint in there," Harry ordered. 

"And if there isn't?" Liam questioned, speaking for the first time I've heard him today. "What do we do if we flew here for no reason?" 

Zayn answered for him with an angry glare. "Then we don't complain about it, and move on. There's gotta be some fucking dirt on here." He gazed at me then. "And you...you should be thinking about what Louis said. I know he's misleading, but that psycho could be right. Even if it's only a fraction of a chance."

I didn't respond to him, I only ignored his advice. There were other things on my mind. Harry stood there with his hand in his hair as the two men marched up the stairs in search for my father's old office. 

"Where do you think my father is?" I asked Harry suddenly, knowing I was stalling from asking him what I've been intending to for hours now. 

He crossed his arms over his chest. "He's not dead, that's for sure." 

I nodded. "It's almost impossible to find out anything. When everyone's keeping secrets. Everyone's almost...two-faced." I know. I know he's protected me from everything so far. He has shown the urge to protect me for months now, but how can I keep off this anxious need to know why he's lied to me as well?

Harry peered up at me, silently examining my face. "I don't want you thinking about it too much," is all he said.

"Maybe the bad guys aren't the only ones keeping secrets, Harry," I added, surprisingly not having that absurd shakiness to my voice. It was more firm, yet quiet.

He clenched his jaw, furrowed his eyebrows, and watched me with narrowed eyes. He didn't like the tone of my voice. 

"Are you implying that I'm keeping secrets from you?" Harry asked, obviously getting peeved off. 

I shrugged. "I didn't say that," I defended. "But it looks like the topic of secrets bothers you."

"Catalina, oh so help me God --- I'm not in the fucking mood for this right now," he snapped. 

My eyes never left his. "You've always kept secrets from me." 

"Where did this come from?" The tone was stern, and he was about to shout at me, but he kept it calm and controlled. 

"Harry, you lied to me about the cobra tattoo on your neck. It's a tattoo you've had for ages now, even before you started working for my dad," I boldly confessed to him. "What's so important about that tattoo that you just can't tell me?" 

He was angry, and there wasn't a point that could prove that wrong. But, he continued stared and announced, "You don't need to know. The reason I lied was to protect you, and because I care about you. If I'm the bad guy here, you're going to find out." 

note: harry...bad guy or good guy? 

q: how long is this story going to be?

a: it's not ending soon. in terms of the plot, it'll most likely be 80 chapters in total. ((: 

thank you for reading!