𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪 𝕤𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖𝕤
꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱
･:*:･｡☆･:*:･｡☆
I gave my black button-up shirt's cuffs one last adjustment and finished styling my hair before going downstairs. My eyes landed on Lunas right away.
She was lying on the couch wearing a baby pink shirt and a pair of low-waisted light blue shorts, and she looked beautiful as always. Her braided hair remained in place, and a fresh, clean bandage covered her stitches. she had no makeup on, just some light pink lipstick.
She turns to face me when she hears my footsteps and has large, greenish-gray eyes fixed on me. She grinned, put the book down on the couch, and closed it. " leaving already?"
" yeah," I murmured.
" where are you going?" Placing my hands on the couch behind her and knees on either side, she looks up.
"I'm heading to the warehouse to check on the man and see if I can ask him any more questions." I sucked in. "then headed to a new factory I built to check it out. Check to see if everything is running smoothly, if we have enough supplies, and what is in today's shipment."
" Can I go with you?" I lift her face and bite down on my bottom lip, staring into her eyes.
" No, my love." she frowns and grabs my arm.
" please? I'll behave, I promise." I couldn't help but laugh, pressing a kiss on her nose, then checking and finally making my way toward her lips.
"I don't know what might happen at the warehouse, and you're a distracting, darling." I licked my lips, melting into her touch as she rubbed the sides of my cheeks with the tip of her thumb. She smiles and puts her arms around my neck to pull me down.
My back hits the couch, and she crawls onto me, sighing loudly and rolling her eyes. "All right, do what you want. You're lost." My hands found her waist squeezing it.
I shake my head, and she lowers her head, kissing me while muttering, "Truly, my loss. I'll try to be home as quickly as possible; call me if anything. If you want, invite Jeni or even Gemma around."
She beams a big smile, and her face lights up. "Gemma wanted my help in organizing the nursery. Let me check to see whether she's okay with me going to her house."
" Want me to drop you off? I'll wait. I don't think you can drive yet." She groans, placing her hand on my chest.
"I'm fine, Harry; it's been a day. the doctor—"
" The doctor said you need to rest. Luna, you're still a little weak. I'm just worried about you."
"I'm fine," she frowns. " you have a busy day. I'll even take a taxi if it helps?" Hope was in her eyes as she spoke.
I shook my head as I drew her closer to me. " I don't like that idea. I'm worried, alright? And I'm sorry." She grips my face in her hands while sneering.
" I'll text you when I get there." I whispered. "please? When I get into my car and arrive, I'll send you a text." Her hopeful expression encourages me to say yes.
" fine." She smiles at me and envelops my neck while kissing my lips. I murmured as I kissed her, pulling back just enough to rest my forehead against hers. " call me as soon as you get to Gemma's house, alright? Or if anything happens, I'll leave work immediately."
" Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." She gave me a cheeky kiss on the lips.
"I love you," I murmured. A part of me hoped to hear those words. to listen to Luna say them, but I could tell she was not ready and afraid, so instead, she leaned in and gave me another kiss. Slow, gentle, and intense kiss. My lips emit a murmur. She gave me three last kisses before she started to back away, crawling off me.
"see you soon. Please, for the love of God, text me as well, and stay safe. Come home in one piece." She spoke while looking directly into my eyes. "No cuts, bruises, or blood that belongs to you. in one piece. Do I make myself clear?"
I chuckle as I push her hair aside. "Yes, Lu, I'll make it home safely. Bye." I walked out of the house with one last kiss, Niall waiting for me inside the dark black car.
The moment the doors open, a chilling breeze hits my skin. "Good morning," Niall said softly.
I muttered, "morning," and he handed me a cup of coffee.
"just as you like it." I sipped my coffee while nodding. " how's Luna doing?"
" much better now; she woke up with a headache, but she's going to leave the house later today." Niall nods, turning down the street. " can you get someone to follow her around?"
"Yes, sir. Did you read all the information about Seth?" Niall asks as he nods. I hummed and gently tapped my thighs with my fingertips.
" Yes. I did. Everything Liam gave me, he's still searching for more. I have someone watching his family. They have already filed a missing person report with the police."
" Have you been there?"
" to give him food and water."
"How is he doing?" A moment of silence followed.
" on edge, at first, he refused to drink and eat what I brought him. I was questioned a little bit about you and Luna, but of course, I didn't answer."
" What did he ask?" As I finished my coffee, I placed it on the cup holder, the warmth leaving my fingertips.
"He mentioned how strong the drug was and how lucky she was that it didn't affect her when it should have and asked me, "where were you" and "whether Luna was dead."
I felt enraged all over as my jaw clenched. I felt like I was about to erupt in rage, and I certainly will on Seth.
" Is that all?"
"I didn't give him another opportunity to speak before leaving. He didn't ask to be let out. He just stayed there." He hums.
" do you think he has a tracker or is wired up?" When I asked, there was a brief moment of stillness between us; all that could be heard was the sound of the car accelerating down the highway.
" I didn't check for that. That evening, Zayn did remove his gun, pocket knife, and a pack of lighters, but that is all."
"He had a pack of lighters. What was he going to do, set the club on fire?"
I kept looking straight ahead as the thought persisted in my mind. What if Seth intended to kidnap Luna and set the building on fire while hundreds of people were inside? He could have done that without a doubt. That he could've killed a few, knowing I wouldn't leave the building without having Luna in my arms.
"He is stupid if he believes I would let him go so simply. We'll check him for any wires or trackers before moving him to a new area."
"I agree, sir."
We quickly arrived and parked the car outside of the woods. I looked down the empty dark road glancing at my phone as it rang in my hands
" Luna," I murmured, walking into the woods, careful not to trip over branches or fallen trees.
"Hi, baby. I just arrived at Gemma's home." I grin as I let go of a burden I wasn't even aware I was carrying.
" Good. I've just arrived at the warehouse. If anything happens, my love, call me."
" I will! Stay safe, bye."
" Bye. I love you," Luna giggles on the other line as I watch him unlock the doors.
" bye!" She laughs once more. I chuckled and hung up after running my tongue over my lips.
I approached Niall, who entered the password, and he followed me into a small room. I turned to face the glass wall and saw nothing but blackness.
I moved over to the switch and watched as all the lights came on. The man on the mat had his hands chained to the wall and was either trying to lay down or was already asleep.
I walked over to Niall as he discreetly opened the door next to me. My shoe made noise throughout the room whenever it contacted the hard cement floor. Seth jumped awake, pushing himself against the wall with his back while he gazed around the room. He looked perplexed, and my mind was swimming with ideas.
I stopped myself at a closet and opened it after clearing my throat. As I use the combination to open a cabinet, I can feel eyes on me. "How are you feeling this beautiful morning?" I smile villainously, watching Niall drop a water bottle and some sandwiches to the ground.
He briefly focuses on it before turning to look at me. "Go eat; you'll need energy," I murmured once Niall let go of one of the chains.
He swallowed, and I watched him pick up the sandwich, taking a bite. His eyes shut closed. He appeared hungry and drank the remaining water without pausing to catch his breath.
As soon as he was done, he looked up at me and then down at the knife in my hands. He swallows but doesn't look mortified. " untie him." I demand.
He displays a surprised expression at my recommendations but says nothing. Niall approaches Seth and swiftly releases the tie, taking him by the shirt to help raise him.
Seth was a few inches shorter than Niall and didn't speak. He glanced at Niall before turning back to me as I moved closer and ripped open his shirt. He winced while glancing below.
He gasped as he stared at the knife scraping his skin and the blood trickling down. "Spread out your legs." he obeys, and I pat him down, not feeling anything.
"For a guy who was just kidnapped, you seem calm."
"You surely wouldn't be doing this to me if you knew who I work for," he says with a smirk growing up.
I chuckled. and encircled him while turning to face the tool-filled table. "Am I Supposed to Care in Any Way?"
" you should."
Silence.
I smiled and uttered, "Please explain why I should," grabbing his hand where the barcode was located. He sucked in death and remained motionless while watching the knife.
" what's this?"
He again maintains silence while clearing his throat. His brown eyes glanced at me, looking down at the barcode again. " some tracker?"
I encountered more silence, but I didn't let it bother me. Instead, I released Seth's hold while he reached for the lighter.
He kept quiet as he watched me slowly heat the knife."You can keep quiet; it's only worse for you."
He threw his head back, laughing intensely and rustily. I don't pay him any attention and refuse to let his laughter make me feel anxious. I seized his wrist once more, pressing the hot knife against it. That immediately silenced him as he struggled for a breath. He attempts to punch me with his free hand, but Niall stops him letting him fall to the ground.
"Fuck you," he shouts. He raised his hand to his wrist. "You and Lu are always being watched; you won't be able to escape this." I grabbed hold of his jaw before he could even finish speaking.
"don't you fucking dare and say her name," I smiled at him as I pushed him down with a thud that reverberated throughout the room. " tie him up."
" why were you following us—Luna? Why did you continue to follow her?" I walked back towards the table, grabbing pliers.
"Do you genuinely believe I'll tell you? I'm not hired to talk about my job." I hummed and squeezed his mouth roughly, pulling one of his front teeth and watching the blood spill out.
His eyelids squeezed shut tightly, blood spattered everywhere, and his head shot forward. "You're not going to tell me?" I moved on to his molars as he shook his head, his mouth filling with blood and a shriek coming from his mouth. Before he could spit it out, I closed his mouth, tilting his head back and watching him choke on his blood.
He writhed beneath me, struggling to breathe as his hands tangled in the chains and pulled on them. I grabbed hold of his hair and pushed his head down, watching him puke up all the blood.
As he saw blood on the floor, his breathing became labored. "I'm not patient, but I do have the entire week. You won't die at my hands because I will have someone stitch up your wounds so that I can rip them open once more."
" you're insane." he gritted his teeth, spitting more blood. "You're a filthy sociopath; my boss was right about you."
"You're right," I once more dropped the tool, " I am insane." I wiped the blood from my fingers with a towel as I turned to face Niall.
Seth spits blood on the floor and breaths heavily
" if this is your way of scaring me, it's not working," he says, his teeth all bloody " I have nothing to lose, so if I die, I fucking die."
"Is that true?" I hum, " you don't have a family?"
This drew his eye, and he gave me a silent glance. "No. I am not a family man." I raised an eyebrow breathing out a laugh.
"Does Adalia sound familiar to you?" I murmured, watching the color drain from his face. "How about Edmond and Adden? They all look amazing, people. It would be a shame for them to open the door and find your dead body on their doorsteps."
"You better not touch them," he raised his voice while screaming through my teeth; Niall took this opportunity to smash the bat into his rips, stunning his body. He shouts and launches forward, unable to rest on the ground due to the chains holding him up.
He mumbled with a struggling breath. " you better not touch my family. They're innocent." I shrugged and threw the document at him while he was on his knees. I saw as he struggled to calm himself and took long breaths, a wheeze emerging from his mouth with each one.
He muttered, "Please leave them alone." I then stepped back while grabbing the knife.
"Then all you have to do is work with me, or someone will be at your house with only one Text messaging." He struggled to speak, pulling on the chains as his arms grew weak.
" why were you following Luna?"
"I had to," he admitted. "There are others who are also watching you guys. Someone knows I'm here. We know where you live; we know where you work. We are watching your every step."
I raise his head with the tip of my knife, poking his skin and looking him in the eyes. He was exhausted already, so I grinned at him as I saw his eyes fluttering and blood being drawn by the knife as it rubbed against the cheek.
" and you don't think we know that? That I know that all you do is watch and watch," I chuckle.
" Who do you work for?" He doesn't say anything, and the knife drags against his ear and toward his lips.
Once more, blood splattered everywhere, covering my flesh and clothes. " you can't hurt my wife and kids. You don't hurt children or women " He exhaled and shut his eyes. I took another step back and sat down on the chair.
"You hurt my wife, and I don't care about anyone else when someone hurts her," I admit remembering how I found her twice, especially the other day. I still can't get the blood out of my head, and how she stopped breathing in my arms.
" she's not your wife. Your marriage was arranged." I chuckle, stepping back to give Niall room to sew him stand back up.
" who's feeding these lies to you? Your boss? Your boss is a piece of shit who hides." I laugh, " a piece of shit that doesn't know their actions have consequences. They're going to get killed, them and all of their workers."
"I've been treating you nicely. I'll ask you again: "How did you get this job?" My palm balled into a fist as the boiling rage in my body increased.
He whimpers when the needles pierce his skin and emerge from the other side. His flesh was fusing, and there was blood all around. Every time the needle was inserted into his skin, he was breathing hard, and his chest was rising and falling. His eyes no longer appear bright, dark, or colorless, framing every hue in him.
He rambles, "a guy, he came up to me." He paused, sucking in a breath. "And he made me a job offer. I wasn't sure of his line of work, but I liked the amount of money he offered."
" and who offered you this job?" I asked again, Niall passing a cloth of alcohol against his skin.
I kept quiet as I observed him cry whenever the needle pierced his skin, and Niall tugged to tighten it. "I—I'm not sure. I recently began working for them."
" who's them? I would hate to deliver a body piece to your family." I laughed as I noticed his face becoming ghostly pale. "I would hate for one of the kids to open the mail and find one of your fingers.. perhaps even your ears, or a few teeth—slowly, and slowly cut every single piece of your body and present it to your family."
He closed his eyes after Niall was done, a haze coming and going. I watched him with disgust as he continued to spit blood out of his mouth.
He grunted through his teeth, "Fuck you. If you think I'll say anything else, fuck you. They'll find you before you can kill me."
I chuckled while sucking on my teeth. " right." Niall backed away, and I was making my way back towards the drone, this time with my gun, tilting his head upwards, watching the fear in his eyes.
He grunted through his teeth, "Go to hell." I smile, grabbing the knife.
" just the place I wanna go." I grabbed his hands and ran the knife down his knuckles while examining the spot where a ring should go. " not a faithful man are you?" I mumbled, cracking a slight chuckle, cutting down on his finger.
He stared intently into my eyes while trying to communicate but failing to do so. I lifted an eyebrow, mimicking him with my mouth before chuckling. " what's wrong? scared?" He closed his mouth, cleared his throat, and swallowed.
"Leave Adalia and my children out of this; they didn't do anything." he struggled to talk-- to breathe, watching his finger disappear.
I took a breath and murmured, "Your right. My family didn't do anything, but you did, and as a result, your family will bear the consequences of your idiotic acts. Do you want that?"
He shook his head in agony and shut his eyes. "with just one phone call, your wife will be sitting on the opposite side, and I wouldn't be the one to kill her. You'd do it."
"When I get my hands on—I'll kill your fucking wife." My hand strikes his face with the gun, causing him to look sideways. I observed blood and teeth falling on the ground.
He exhaled once more, laughing aloud and spitting blood on the ground. I put the gun away, turned his face back toward me, and punched him again. The room began to shake.
My head jerked around, and I was unsure who I had just become because all the rages I had stored up over what had happened to me were erupting—aiming at every inch of his body. I was pouring out all my anger from everything happening to me— to Luna. Us. I watched as he struggled to breathe to even look at me.
Everything around me was blocked; I felt alone—only me. I hit Seths face again, feeling bones crack, moving down to punch his ribs, and hearing the air leave his lungs with every punch.
I jerked and stopped when a hand touched my back. Observing the mess I created, Seth was nearly breathing. His face was unrecognizable, his body was covered in blood, his eyes were almost closed, and his lip was split. My rings and hands were stained with blood. Blood that wasn't mine was all over my torso and face.
He was weak and labored to glance up at me. I took a step back while exhaling heavily. I reached for the rubbing alcohol bottle, cracked it open, and poured some on him.
He yells while raising his head and arching his back. I watched it burn him while he sobbed. " I'm done." I said, taking one more look at him before turning towards the door. " turn off the lights and leave him like that."
I stressily wipe the blood off of my hands. The woods remained silent and lonely. It didn't take long for Niall to arrive outside and stand in front of me. " should I call someone to transport him somewhere and mail the finger?"
I nod. "Take Seth to the downtown warehouse." Niall nods as he types a phone number while unlocking the vehicle.
I walked over to the car, got in, and made a call to a person I knew would be able to help me.
" Hi!" On the other end, she had a cheery voice. "I was just about to give you a call."
" Why? Are you okay? What's wrong?" I swallowed as I observed how dirty my hands were.
"I'm fine, killer; Gemma's in labor; I'm at the hospital with Amara and Cora,"
" Is Louis there?"
"yeah! Just got here." she murmured. " are you okay, baby? You don't sound alright."
I exhaled and cocked my head to the side. "Just ran into some issues, my love; I'm fine."
"Do you promise me?"
I muttered, "I can't."
"Harry, what's wrong?"
"Can I talk to you when I see you? There was a moment of silence,"
" Are you hurt?"
"No, never that." She exhaled,
" Okay, good. Come to the hospital. I'll send you the location."