A protective, jealous husband. That is all.

Fun fact: This book was meant to end at chapter 50 with Yanis telling Lirry the WHOLE truth and helping them find Dom and everyone else. Then there was a big happily ever after, Larry had sex, Ziam came clean and blah blah blah

INSTEAD I decided to thicken the plot, have Yanis lie, have Larry argue, have Ziam continue to be secretive little fuckers and take this book all the way to 100 chapters smh I hate myself. I really never wanna keep it simple, huh?

Also I want y'all to know that this book should be finished by April next year deadass. I wanna finish it before my birthday so that means new chapters ASAP. You hit the target and BAM. I have most of the book written, it just needs editing. So I already know how it ends etc. 

Anyways, enjoy!

My notifs currently, so excuse me if I don't reply x

Seen as y'all ain't playing, 310 votes and 1000 comments (Yes, bitches. one thousand) for an update

"I don't remember these members of Peter's gang" Niall admitted, flicking through the photos in his hands "I've never seen them with Peter before" he added

Harry hummed in agreement "They may well be new recruits" he said "Zayn, can you please print some more photos from Yanis' phone?" He quizzed

Zayn nodded "Already on it" he replied "Liam's grabbing them from my office on his way through"

Harry smiled in reply "Thank you" he said "Maybe once we have them all, we'll finally be able to piece everything together"

"Need to look through the texts on there too" Zayn said "I'll print them out as well" he added

"The texts creep me out" Niall admitted "Are you sure we really need them?"

Zayn sighed "I'll go through them with Liam if the two of you don't wish to" he offered 

Harry nodded slightly "Niall and I can look at the photographs and the two of you do the messages" he instructed

"Sounds fair" Niall agreed "Anyone recognise this guy?" He quizzed after a couple of seconds, pointing out a guy in the background of one of the photographs

Harry frowned, looking at the man through squinted eyes "Looks familiar" he said softly "Can't put my finger on it" he admitted "You, Zayn?" He quizzed, nudging the dark haired man

"Same as you two" Zayn stated "Don't know who he is" he said "I do recognise him though" he added "Want me to ask Liam?" He quizzed

"Ask Liam what?" Liam questioned, walking into Harry's office with Louis by his side "Got the pictures you asked for" he added, striding over and placing the photograph on the desk

Harry opened his arms to Louis and the blue eyed boy walked straight over, sitting in Harry's lap and curling into his chest as Zayn caught Liam up

"Alright, darling?" Harry questioned softly, wrapping his arms around the boy

Louis nodded against Harry's chest "M'good" the boy replied "You?" He quizzed, stroking at the older mans forearm

Harry hummed softy, running his fingers through the boy's hair "I'm alright" he told the boy "Sorry I've been busy all day" he said softly

"Can make it up to me later" Louis replied, pressing himself closer to Harry

"Anything for you" Harry promised, still playing with Louis' hair softly

Louis smiled gently, eyes flickering to the desk where the photos and folders had been discarded in a messy manner

"Why do you have a picture of my uncle?" Louis quizzed, eyes finally resting on the photo in Niall's hand

Niall blinked, turning the photo from Liam to face Louis "What, this?" He quizzed

Louis nodded "Yeah" he replied, holding out his hand for the photo

Niall hesitated, looking over to Harry for confirmation before passing the picture to Louis when Harry nodded

"Liam recognised him too" Zayn muttered

"That's your uncle, baby?" Harry quizzed softly, frowning at the picture

Louis nodded again "Why do you have this?" He asked "Where's it from?"

"Yanis' phone" Harry answered

The other boys glared at him, Niall signalling an X with his hands to shut the man up

"What?" Harry quizzed "I'm not going to lie to him" he stated "Not after everything" he said

"Harry, it's you who said it was a bad idea to-" 

Harry gave Zayn an eye signal and dark haired man elbowed Liam to shut him up

"What?" Louis questioned, looking between the four men in confusion "It was Harry's idea to what?" He quizzed

Harry sighed, not wanting it to come to this "It was my idea not to involve you in all of this" he said softly

"What do you mean 'all of this'?" Louis quizzed, looking up at Harry

Harry began to fidget beneath him, trying his best to avoid Louis' eyes; looking towards Zayn for help

"Harry" Louis said again, nudging the man softly 

Harry ran a hand over his face, sighing once more and finally looking up to meet Louis' eyes "Leave it, please" he said softly "It's just business stuff" he explained "I don't want you burdened with it"

Louis frowned at him "You told me just yesterday that-" 

"Shall we leave?" Liam asked quickly, cutting Louis off "Is this turning into a couples fight?"

Harry glared at him "Louis was speaking, Liam" he stated "Don't cut him off again, got it?" He quizzed

Liam rolled his eyes and Louis nudged Harry lightly "Don't be rude" the blue eyed boy scolded

"Sorry" Harry grumbled, still glaring at Liam

"So?" Liam quizzed "Should we leave, or...?" 

"Stay" Harry directed "We need to sort through all of this together" he stated

"Then should I leave?" Louis questioned, still in Harry's lap "Seen as this is meant to be some big secret from me" he added

"No" Harry said quickly "Stay" he added, tightening his arms around Louis as if to prove a point

"You know that I could really help you, right?" Louis explained "If you let me"

Zayn shrugged softly "He has a point" he cut in "He knows stuff that we don't"

Louis nodded softly "If you trust me" he whispered, only aimed at Harry

Harry smiled "Course" he replied instantly, reaching out to run his knuckles across Louis' cheek "Of course I trust you, sweetheart" he promised "I'm trying to protect you"

"I know" Louis told him "I know that you are, but you can't protect me from everything"

"I can try" Harry stated

Louis raised an eyebrow "We can protect each other" he bargained "Let me help you"

Harry nodded finally "Alright" he said "Okay, little one" he added softly

Louis smiled, resting his head on Harry's shoulder "Okay" he echoed

Harry plucked the picture from Louis' hand, looking closer at the man Louis had recognised as his uncle, he turned the picture towards Zayn with a confused expression "How do we know him?" He quizzed 

"Well now that we know he was associated with Mark, it could have just been a one time acquaintance" Zayn suggested "I just feel like it's something more significant"

"I think you want it to be something more significant" Liam corrected "Maybe we're overthinking" he said "Not everything is something of importance"

"True" Niall agreed "But if Louis recognises him then surely it's got some sort of importance, right?" He quizzed

Liam nodded slowly "How exactly do you know him?" He quizzed, looking at Louis

"He's Mark's brother" Louis explained "I've met him a few times" he said

"What's his name?" Zayn asked "Might ring a bell" 

"Frank Tomlinson" Louis replied "Do you know him?"

Zayn squinted "I wish" he answered "It would make more sense if I recognised the name"

"Do you reckon we've just seen him whilst doing casual business with Mark?" Liam quizzed, eyeing the picture in Harry's hand

Louis spoke up, shaking his head as he did so "Probably not" he answered "They can't stand each other" he stated "Frank wasn't uh...he wasn't the nicest person in the world" he told them

"Runs in the family then" Niall concluded

Louis frowned slightly "Frank was.... he was a lot worse" he said

"What do you mean worse?" Liam asked "What did he do?"

Louis shrugged slightly "I only know what I overheard Mark saying" he answered "He killed a lot of people, apparently" he explained "Mark was never like that"

"Still a scum" Harry muttered, eyes full of hatred

"Why did they hate each other?" Zayn questioned

"Probably for that reason" Louis replied "And maybe because... uh, never mind" he trailed off

Harry's brows furrowed, looking at Louis directly "What?" He quizzed

Louis shook his head "Doesn't matter" he replied quickly, glancing towards the boys

"Baby" Harry said tenderly, touching Louis' face with his fingertips "What is it?" He asked

"It's nothing" the blue eyed boy answered "Nothing important, anyway" he said

Zayn blinked at him "Look, darlin', you don't have to tell us anything if it's personal" he promised "But even little details could help us piece everything together"

"Wanna tell me?" Harry asked softly "Get them to leave?" He added, looking at Louis with understanding eyes

Louis shook his head "It's... he just- he wasn't very kind to my mother and I when Mark first took us in" Louis said "Or anytime after, actually" he added

"Did he ever hurt either of you?" Harry questioned instantly, hold on Louis tightening as he spoke

"Um, not like- not really" Louis answered shyly

"Right!" Liam announced, standing up abruptly "Shoes on, lads, we've got a murder to commit" he stated

Zayn rolled his eyes, pulling the man back down "Not helping, Liam" he replied "Sit down" he ordered

"He's right though" Harry stated "We've got to handle this later" he stated, shooting the boy's a look

"Wouldn't bother" Louis said "He went missing a couple of years ago" he explained "Mark tried tracking him but never had any luck" he stated "Mark thinks that he joined a gang or something, might have even died"

"When's the picture from?" Harry quizzed, looking over to Zayn

Zayn glanced down at the folder marked with the dates "It's been on Yanis' phone since last Monday, but there's a high possibility that it was taken before that" he answered

Harry hummed thoughtfully "Well there's no doubt that we'll have to at least try to find him" he said, picking up a wad of photos from the desk "Look through these, sweetheart" he told Louis "Tell me if you spot anyone familiar" he added

Louis nodded softly, taking the photos from Harry's hand, flicking through them as the other boy's began to talk

"Do you guys want to look into the messages?" Harry quizzed "I'd rather not do it"

"Oh, yes" Zayn replied "Liam, are you up for it?" He quizzed

Liam pulled a face "I'm not sure" he replied in uncertainty

"Why not?" Zayn questioned "Why is everyone so reluctant to help me with this?" He asked

"Because it's creepy!" Niall exclaimed "I don't mind looking at his business text but the person ones?" He quizzed "Absolutely not"

Zayn rolled his eyes "Niall, it's not that deep" he scolded "It's just research" he explained

"It is a bit weird" Liam agreed "I'd rather not"

Zayn sighed, pulling out Yanis' phone, opening the text app and looking down at the full inbox

P: Where are you?

P: Call me, I'm worried

P: Baby, please

P: Have I done something wrong? 

P: Just let me know that you're okay

Zayn sighed again "Yeah, I guess it is a bit weird" he agreed, scrolling nonchalantly "We can avoid the texts from his boyfriend if you'd prefer?" He offered

"Alright" Liam agreed finally "I'll do it" he said "Just print them out and we can-" 

"I know him" Louis muttered, half cutting Liam off

Harry looked down at him, eyeing the picture in his hands "Which one?" He asked 

Louis placed a finger on the man he was talking about, hardly visible with only his side profile showing "That's Edward" he said

Harry squinted down at the picture "Fuck, I think you're right" he agreed "Good spot, baby"

"Edward's been dead a year" Niall stated

Liam nodded "Yeah, we all remember when you killed him" he stated "Questions in, why does Yanis have a picture with him in it if Yanis was working with Peter?" He asked

Zayn hummed "Peter hated Terrence and his brothers and he hated Edward as well" he stated "Why would Yanis be working for them both?" He asked "That could get him killed"

Harry cringed, not liking this unfamiliar feeling of remorse "It did get him killed" he replied with a sigh

"If Yanis has this picture and Edward was killed a year or so ago, then that means that he's been tempting his fate for a very long time" Liam pointed out "Almost got away with it too"

"But why?" Niall asked "What reason would there be for him to risk his life like that?" 

Zayn shrugged "There's only two options really" he said "Love or hate" he stated "They're the only things strong enough to push him to do something like this"

"So either he did this for someone he loves or he hated someone so much that he was willing to die trying to take them down" Liam summed up

"Exactly" Zayn agreed "Question is, who?" He asked "And was it love or hate?"

"First potential person is his boyfriend" Niall said "Seen as he doesn't have any family" he reminded

Liam hummed in agreement "Whoever 'P' is" he replied

"Not to stereotype, but he's French so I reckon Pierre" Zayn stated

"Nice one, Zayn" Harry agreed "I think that rings a bell, actually" he said

"Yeah?" Zayn quizzed and Harry nodded

"Peirre Antoine" he replied "Isn't that the name of the weapon trader?" He quizzed

Liam nodded quickly "Oh yeah" he agreed immediately "It would make sense"

"Yes, but are you sure he'd be dating another crimina-"

"Speak of the devil!" Zayn said happily, cutting Niall off as he found a picture in Yanis' phone "That him, Harry?" He questioned, turning the phone around

"That's him" Harry confirmed, smiling

"How the fuck did you fucking think of that?" Liam questioned, clearly impressed

Harry shrugged "Simple deductions" he said

"Such as?" Liam quizzed

"Well the name begins with P, I know that he knew Yanis, I know that they were both gay, I know that they lived in the same city and I know Yanis' type" he listed with a shrug "Simple once you can get into someone's head" 

Zayn nudged Liam slightly, muttering "He's on some Sherlock Holmes shit"

Liam sniggered "More like, he's on crack" he replied

Zayn laughed softly, elbowing Liam to shut him up 

"Something funny, boys?" Harry quizzed, raising a brow at the two men

"Nothing" Liam said quickly

Zayn nodded in agreement "Nothing" he echoed "We're going to go look through the text messages and shit" he announced, standing up and pulling Liam with him

"What, right now?" Harry asked

Zayn nodded "What else would you have us do?" He quizzed

Harry shrugged "You could look into Pierre" he replied "Track him down" he stated

Niall groaned "God forbid we have to go back to France" he muttered

Harry shook his head "Not likely" he replied "He shouldn't be a threat as long as he doesn't find out that I killed his boyfriend" he said

Liam sighed "And if he does?" He quizzed

"Then Paul can handle it" Harry replied "Do some damage control"

"Alright" Zayn said "We'll look into him" he agreed "See if he has any connections to Edward, Peter or Frank"

Harry nodded "You track Pierre, Niall and I will track Frank" he bargained

"Good thinking" Zayn replied "Meet you back here at seven to put together what we've found"

"Seven" Harry repeated with a firm nod, allowing Liam and Zayn to leave the room

Today was already a long day

***

"Anything?" Harry asked Niall, glancing up to study his face

Niall shook his head "Nothing of importance" he replied "Zayn sent over the camera footage of Yanis when he met you at the rooftop" he added "Looks like he came in from out of town"

Harry smiled in amusement "Typical Zayn, trying to do both jobs at once" he replied "Check the train and bus times in and out of the city from around the time and direction he came" he ordered

"Am doing" Niall answered "Looks like the most likely option is Senlis" he replied

"Senlis?" Harry replied "That's what, an hour away?" He quizzed

Niall nodded "Hour and a half almost" he stated "Must have been a business trip" he said

Harry nodded thoughtfully "Have Zayn send over the surveillance of the train stations" he ordered

"He's already on it" Niall told him "The footage is going through a face analysis match" he explained "Trying to find any faces matching Yanis, Pierre or Frank using a digital profile"

"Good job" Harry replied "Tell me if you find him"

"Course" Niall promised "Found anything in those pictures?" He quizzed

Harry sighed "No" replied "They're going through the scanner just in case we missed anything" he answered

"And Louis?" Niall quizzed "He found anything?" He asked

The blue eyed boy had disappeared a few minutes ago to eat and have a bathroom break, Harry had finally been able to speak to Niall privately

"He has good eyes" Harry replied "Spotted Edward in three other pictures which means he's definitely related somehow"

Niall hummed "Well I buried him, so this must have been a long going feud" he said

Harry nodded "I'm sure it was" he said

Niall sighed "Who knew Yanis was so involved in everything we were trying to uncover?" He mused "The guy could have helped us if he wasn't so damn shady" he stated

Harry groaned in frustration "And now Mark's brother is involved" he added in "Which makes Louis involved"

"Can't protect the kid forever" Niall told him "He's tough, you know?" He quizzed "Been through more than any of us have in some ways" he reminded "He can handle this"

"I know" Harry agreed "But you don't know how it feels for me when I think of him in danger" he added

Niall gave him a pitiful smile "I get it buddy" he replied "I don't want him hurt either" he said "None of us do" he stated

Harry hummed softly "I know" he said softly

"He's one of us now" Niall promised "One of the five" he continued "Gotta all look out for each other"

Harry nodded "Us against the world" he whispered

"Us against the world" Niall repeated

***

Harry resigned to his bedroom for a break not long after he and Niall had finished putting everything through to be scanned. There was nothing more that they could do but wait now

Not even five minutes into Louis and Harry sitting in the bedroom, Zayn knocked on the door, poking his head around when he got no answer

"I really need to invest in a lock" Harry muttered "Every single time you do this" 

Zayn rolled his eyes, glancing down at the door "You have a lock, you just never bloody use it" he stated

Harry hummed "I'm busy" he stated "Whatever it was, please go ask Liam" he instructed

Zayn raised an eyebrow at him "I was actually wanting to speak to Louis" he replied

Harry's brows furrowed "About what?" He quizzed

"None of your damn business" Zayn told him

Harry's eyes narrowed "Course it's my business" he stated "Tell me what for"

Zayn shook his head "Absolutely not" he replied "I never tell Louis why I pull you out to talk, so I'm not telling you when I do the same to him"

"Is it business related?" Harry questioned stubbornly

"Not telling you" Zayn repeated 

Harry glared at him, arms loosening around Louis as if giving him permission to go "Fine, keep your secrets" he told Zayn "Louis will tell me anyway" he added

Louis grinned, poking Harry's nose "Wouldn't count on it" he replied before hopping up to walk to Zayn

"Come on, darlin'" Zayn said softly, taking Louis' hand and leading him out of the bedroom

Needless to say, Harry was glaring at the back of Zayn's head as they left

"What's this about?" Louis quizzed as Zayn led the boy into his room 

"I just-" Zayn cut himself off, sitting down on his bed as Louis sat opposite him on a spare chair "I just wanted to talk to you about last night" he said

Louis' brows furrowed "What about it?" He quizzed, confused

"I feel awful, Louis" Zayn admitted "We all do" he added

"For what?" Louis questioned "Nothing that Harry said was your fault" he pointed out

Zayn sighed "It was all of our faults" he said "We shouldn't have talked about shit like that, we shouldn't have encouraged what he was saying" he added "I felt so bad when I saw you walk out, I never want to see you upset" he told the boy

"Zayn" Louis said softly, reaching out to take the man's hand

"I never want to be that person who makes you upset" Zayn continued, softly holding Louis' hand "I never should have let Harry drink, or encourage such crude talk" he stated "I'm so sorry for that" he apologised "I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry"

"You were all drunk, it's fine" Louis told him, giving the man's hand a gentle squeeze

"Harry would never do anything like that" Zayn promised "Even if he doesn't tell you how he feels, he tells me" he said "Talks about you all of the time, he'd never do anything to hurt you, not like that" he said "He was just boasting and we all encouraged it" he added shamefully "We're all sorry that our joking around hurt you"

Louis nodded softly "Thank you for that" he said quietly, still holding the older man's hand

"It was eating away at me inside" Zayn admitted with a short laugh "When Harry followed you out, we all felt bad" he told Louis "I'm apologising on behalf of us all" he added

"It's alright" Louis replied "I know how people talk when they're with their friends" he said "Heard it all the time" he admitted "And although that doesn't make it right, I get it" 

"Thanks for understanding" Zayn said softly "Come here" he added, standing up and pulling Louis into a hug "I love you and I never want you to feel how you did last night" he told the boy, hugging him softly

"I love you too" Louis said softly, hugging the man back

Zayn pulled back after a couple of seconds, ruffling Louis' hair "Alright?" He quizzed

Louis nodded, cheeks flushed

"Okay, get back to your man" Zayn said with a smile, leaning forwards to kiss Louis' cheek 

Louis smiled at him, giving Zayn's shoulder a thankful squeeze before complying and going back to meet Harry in their bedroom

"What was that about, sweet one?" Harry asked almost immediately

Louis rolled his eyes in amusement "Not telling" he replied, walking over to the bed, sitting down and wrapping his arms around Harry

Harry scoffed, reaching out to stroke Louis' hair "What happened to no secrets?" he quizzed

"What happened to privacy?" Louis shot back

Harry grinned at him "Fair point" he replied, hugging Louis softly "Don't tell me unless you wish" he added

Louis sighed over dramatically "You're trying to guilt trip me into telling, aren't you?" He quizzed fondly, leaning into Harry

Harry smiled, lips pressed against the side of Louis' neck, kissing softly "Nope" he lied, teeth scraping against the boy's skin

"Ah" Louis sighed softly, wriggling at the contact "Y-you're doing this on purpose" he whined when Harry began to suck at his neck

Harry hummed in agreement, one hand travelling to Louis' hip and squeezing gently "Just wanna touch you" he said "Something wrong with that, little one?" He asked

Louis whined when Harry lifted the boy on top of him, pulling Louis' down by his collar so that they could kiss for a second

"You good?" Harry quizzed, muttering the words against Louis' lips

Louis nodded softy, leaning down to kiss Harry again. Harry's hands went to the boy's waist, holding him softly as they kissed, letting Louis take control

The blue eyed boy pulled back after a couple of seconds with Harry chasing after his lips "It's almost seven-" 

Harry cut him off with a kiss, smiling against Louis' lips

Louis let out a squeak when Harry flipped them over, pinning Louis beneath them "They're gonna be waiting for us" Louis reminded as Harry's lips went back to his neck

"Let them wait" Harry muttered against the boy's skin

"Zayn's going to burst through the door literally any second" Louis stated, subconsciously wriggling beneath Harry

"Let him watch" Harry replied

"Harry!" Louis exclaimed, giggling at the man

Harry grinned, giving Louis' neck a final kiss before pulling back "Oops" he muttered, eyes flickering to the litter or dark bruises running across Louis' neck

Louis hand went to his own neck "You didn't" he said softly, fingers tracing the bruises

Harry smiled at him, lopsided and fond "I did" he replied

Louis shook his head in amusement and Harry pulled the boy up into a sitting position "How am I going to hide this?" He quizzed

"Don't" Harry answered, picking the boy up with ease and carrying him out of the room bridal style

"I have legs, you know" Louis muttered, wiggling them for emphasis

Harry hummed in acknowledgement "Yes, I noticed, little one" he replied "They're lovely, I want to bite them"

Louis' eyes widened comically and his lips parted in shock "Harry!" He exclaimed, making the taller man laugh "Put me down" he demanded but Harry held him tighter "Put me down and maybe I'll let you" Louis repeated quietly, referring to Harry's earlier statement 

 Harry almost dropped him

A bit of a lighter ending because we needed that after the past few sad chapters. Also the next chapter has some TEA. Like serious TEA. Like it would be a season finale if this were a show, so I look forwards to posting that. Also.... *whispers* Larry may or may not finally have s-

Anyway! Questions:

WHAT THE FUCK DOES MARK'S BROTHER HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?

Thoughts on Louis becoming more involved?

Comment what you think they've found? 

Vote? Comment? Ilygsm. Mwah x