n. i'm honored to be able to write this story and receive comments that I just made your day by simply doing something i really enjoy. and i just want to say thank you for everyone who's been commenting since the beginning and has been giving me their full support in every piece of this story. there are about 29 chapters left, and the first 50 or so have been an honor to write. thank you for always supporting me, homies.

 - zeffervescent

mature content

His low voice and his warm breath fans against my skin, causing the unabashed goosebumps to rise on my skin. I raise my eyebrows in focus, continuing to jot down numbers and letters that I have surprisingly remembered.

"You sure you know these?" Harry inquires huskily, yet again, as if doubting.

"Certain," I hum quietly, the pen gliding onto the rough paper with ease. My effortless surge of memory provides a quick photographic memory of those numbers and letters specifically, yet not for their initial purpose. "I didn't think I'd ever need them later on."

Harry pauses for a moment before muttering, "He puts codes on everything. Preferably on anything he wants to hide with excessiveness. Never once has he told me these, and you've managed to spill them out of him?"

I shake my head with disagreement, purposely continuing to write the series of numbers and letters one after the other, not stopping for a second with surprisingly legitable and coherent sentences. "It's not that he told me. I just was around when he'd open them. And I wrote them down once, trying to find out where my mother is, which...I evidently found out. But that's another story," I explain quietly. "He keeps them on his money, illegal agreements with political parties, and such things that he prefers no one is able to find without his consent."

"Not concealing enough, though," he assures, watching me right them down. "How'd you remember them?"

"I wrote them down after every time I saw him put them in. If I couldn't catch all of the parts, then I'd have to wait days or even months before I was able to see him do it again," I said, sighing. "Took me a while, but I was convinced I needed them to find my mother."

There is a silence as I continue on the last code I remembered that my father kept. Harry later rasps, "You never bothered finding her, did you?"

"I couldn't," I reply softly. "It's not like I cared much afterwards, though. I didn't want to complain to my dad."

"You did a hell of a lot of complaining with me, so," he testifies, making me smile. "Still do," he reminds me.

"Ass," I laugh lightly, finishing up the codes. I feel his hand for a slight second as it smacks against my arse as usual. My laughter increases as I elbow him in his chest with playful intentions. "Here, they're all written down. The problem is that I don't remember their purpose. I was like nine, and all I was focused on was remembering the sets, not...the reason for them."I turn around, bodies close as they were before. He takes the piece of paper from me, and examines the numbers. His pale green eyes stare at the paper for so long, I'm unaware of the time that passes before he speaks again, gazing up at me with furrowed eyebrows. I feel like I did something wrong, until he speaks again.

"Cata..." he starts slowly. "I think I understand nearly everything at this point."

My eyebrows furrow and a unstable, short laugh escapes my lips. "What?"

"Hmm...does this ring a bell?" He questions. "You know the sets of codes, you just don't remember their purpose."

I watch him carefully, acknowledging the emphasis he put on know and remember. Our shared gaze is intense as I think over his words, feeling like I know exactly what he's hinting at, though I can't really shine a light to the thoughts. "Baby, you know this," he assures me, his raspy tone almost coaxing me to remember. "You're forgetful as fuck." Oh, forget the coaxing, then. The gasp that escapes my lips next is evidence that his words have marked the x in my mind. Harry nods. "There it is," he murmurs.

"So...so...," I start, shifting my weight to one hip. "That's why? Something I know, but don't remember? The sets of codes...not their purpose." He snaps his fingers, clutching the paper in his hand and shoving it into the back of his pocket. "Bingo," he smirks faintly. "Somewhere in these ten codes you just gave me, is a purpose that really has them in a frenzy for it. I wonder what it is..."

"Money?" I think out loud. These codes are the reason people want me.

"No, there's plenty of that. We were wrong. They're not chasing you for money. They're chasing you for these codes," he assures me. "And the reason they most likely won't go for your father is because Fray didn't want him dead. He wanted you dead, as if to prolong the torture for your father," Harry whispers lowly, all of it coming to his head whereas I stand there, soaking in his words.

My lips pressed together and I sigh heavily. "They tried killing my father in Italy, though. How's that going to work?"

"These men are precisely accurate shooters. Anyone Fray would hire would not miss. It was a deceiving move. It was made to look like they wanted to kill your father as well. He was never in danger. You were this entire time. Because if Fray has the codes and your death in his hands...he basically wins this competition, derived from a passive aggressive relationship he and your father have had for decades," Harry announces. There is not a doubt in my mind when I repeat my family are all good for one thing and one thing the best; malice. They're so good at manipulation, deception, and behavioral courage. Most of them were born into mafias and abusive, powerful ranks in the black market. This is too good of a plan for it to just go to waste.

"How many mafias are working with Fray?"

"All of which we've seen and possibly the ones yet to come," Harry assures me. "Now this bloody spy that is among us really concerns me. I can't leave you alone anymore. Fray waits a while until things have settled before he makes a move.'

I nod my head slowly. "Okay...but what are we going to do? I don't think my dad's aware." 

"Don't peg your father for an idiot. I think he's more aware than ever. That look on his face before the bank break in...he's got little hope he'll succeed against Fray," he explains, placing his hands over my cheek. His touch soothes my apprehension that had been building up over the minutes.

For a moment, I shut my eyes in thought. When I open them, Harry's watching me with those pale green eyes and those furrowed eyebrows, a habit of his from being observant and focused.

He continues to lowly speak his thoughts. "If I'm right...if Fray's got many mafias hunting you down for the sets of codes and your death, and your father is giving up...Not to mention the snitch, then there's no doubt that we can't stay here."

"You want me to leave my dad?" I question him softly. His face softens for a mere second, and I watch him clench his jaw in thought.

"Honestly...yes. I won't sugarcoat anything. I want to take you with me, and do things my way. No orders...no lies. My plans, my decisions," he assures me firmly, clutching my face in his large hands and bringing it closer to his.

Our noses brush and our breaths fan against our skin. I pause, eyes shut as I breathe out, "It's not the first time. He's been cold with me because he knows. I see it, too. I just didn't want to say it or hear it out loud."

Harry lets go of my face, not separating our bodies and faces as his hands travel down my sides until he grasped my hips. "They won't come after him. Fray likes pain games. It's you he wants and it's you he wants the codes from."

"And us?" I ask. "Where do we go? What are we going to do by leaving?"

"Your father is days from giving up. A man like your father doesn't give up easily, but he doesn't want to lose to your brother, and the minute he started to realize he was, he hit rock bottom," he explained firmly. "I want you in my sight, baby. I already told you, you're mine. To protect and just all mine in general."

I open my eyes with little worry. "If this is what you think is best, then I think so, too. You do know more than I do when it comes to both Fray and my father....But I need you to promise me one thing."

He stares silently, nodding his head slightly to encourage me to continue.

"No more lies, Harry. Please. Tell me what's on your mind every time. It wouldn't hurt either of us to communicate."

"Here you go with that communicate shit," he mutters, jaw clenched.

I frown. "It's not shit. It's important, especially now. Not everything is guns and violence, Harry. There are times where communication is needed, and this is one of them. We talked and you told me your thoughts. I didn't fight back to you..."

At this, he becomes silent. Though he looks irritated, he sighs heavily and snaps, "Okay. Fine."

I'm pleased, but show it with a soft peck on his neighboring lips. My hand touches his jaw as I murmur against his lips, "Good." He still seems on edge after my small vent, and though this is obvious I peck his lips again. "You know I love you, right?"

Harry tightens his hands around my hips at my words. "You better. I didn't get shot, nearly killed five times, and beaten to a pulp for a job."

I smile faintly and nudge my nose with his, lovingly. "I love you," I repeat. 

"I love you," he lowly whispers, tugging my body tightly against his. I wrap my arms around his neck, wanting to feel his kiss. He senses this, and does not hesitate to forcefully kiss my lips, the want and plain passion never forfeiting.

It's not long before my back hits the mattress, and his body is over mine, held by his hand that rests against the bed by my head.

Our lips kiss feverishly without pause and interruption except to remove any fabric barricading our skin to skin contact.

I sigh into our heavenly contact. His free hand roams my bare sides, lips falling to my neck and biting, sucking on occasion to leave bruises as decor upon my skin.

Nearly breathless, my hands roam his now bare back and the warmth that the skin provides. His lips fall back upon mine whereas his fingers tug down at the last thin piece of clothing that covers my body.

The ache continues for him. He doesn't waste time, leaning on one of his elbows, while his free hand brushes against every curvature and flaw my body acquires, though in his eyes, that I once believed were judgmental, I felt little to no regret.

A hand of mine finds a handful of his hair as we kiss once again. He suddenly pulls away and sits up, taking his eyes off me; never. They roam every inch of my bare skin. His bottom lip is trapped between his teeth as his sight fills his conscience with pleasure.

When he resumes and is over me once more, just his touch initiates this arousing emotion only he can. Only Harry makes me feel this way, and as he looks down at me, lengthy hair falling just at his cheeks, he knows like always.

His arm is beneath my back, bringing my body up slightly as he relieves our tension, slowly moving his pulsing length into me. He bites harder onto his lip, and mine part in utter bliss at just his feeling.

The arm that holds him up is the one I reach for, squeezing it tightly. My fingers dig into his skin lightly, and with that gesture he pulls his hips back before thrusting his pulsing length back in. The rhythm begins to form after he can assure himself I'm adjusted.

As time passes, my toes curl in relief. My eyelids drift together at his hard, sudden thrusts. In a matter of moments, hard breaths turn into pants. His low groans are only for me to hear, but with difficulty as for my own soft whimpers mix in.

My legs wrap around his waist as our bodies rock together. A moan slips past my lips due to a particularly deep thrust. He holds me tightly at that angle, penetrating me hard to his impressive ability. The noises from my mouth don't stop, never ending gratitude falling in cries of his name.

I can feel his panting breath against me when he rasps, "Shh, quiet, baby." His voice only makes me feel more intense, the pleasure finding extreme levels of utter euphoria. Harry kisses me then, silencing me for the time being. Not until my walls clench around him, causing a low groan to past him. "Fuck," he pants lowly.

His movements, his touch, his affection, voice, and in general him make it so hard to suppress my vocalization of bliss. "H-...Oh...Harry."

Harry gazes down at me, pale green eyes examining me. Our bodies feel hot and sticky as he continues to move. His moves his arm from underneath me, slipping his hand down where we meet to stimulate further the errotic feeling. My head falls back hard against the pillows when I finally reach my end, feeling his fingers and his cock too much at once.

He releases into me afterwards. Both of our bodies completely spent, we end up lying on the mattress with only the sound of our heavy breaths audible. In that moment, I remember I should be aware that my regularly every three and a half months shots for protection should be in check soon.

In our silence, we manage to regain what is left of our composure. He moves slightly to pull me towards his body, an arm taking me into his own. I quietly lied my head onto his chest, shifting to only place a kiss on the toned skin beneath me.

+

The next morning, I'm aware that I wake up before Harry. I attempt to get up, and when I've finally got him to release me, behind me, I hear, "I did that on purpose."

"Darn it. Are you ever really asleep?" I question amusingly, my body now clothed in his black button up and my underwear. I turn around to face him, seeing as his eyes briefly take notice of my attire. He faintly grins and motions me to get back to him. I groan and claim I need to use the bathroom.

When out, I go back to the bedroom to find Harry sitting up, a blanket covering just below the defined v-lines. I bite my lip and move towards him, taking a seat on his lap. His husky, raspy voice as usual in the mornings makes him so irresistible. I feel a blush, even.

"I like my shirt on you," he comments, gazing down at me again. His voice is strained, like it killed him to say it. I realized that he was actually doing this 'communication crap."

That makes me smile, and I grasp his jaw and place a sloppy kiss on his lips. "Me, too," I replied softly.

Later on the day, when we've showered and managed to get out of the lovely comfort and warmth of the bed, Harry resumes his work with my father. Our knowledge over the things we've discovered remains between us. I don't find time to think about if I should tell my father or fully trust Harry with everything I've got.

The second option just seems easier for me than confessing to my father that I knew every single code.

What concerns me the most is how Fray knows I know this. He must have been assuming that I do, and if and when I didn't know them, he'd kill me anyway in order to function the power of his plan to torture my father.

I sigh to myself and walk around the corner in the hallways to get my stupid tablet. I figured I'd read again and try and then maybe later I'd try to remember the maps we made and the things we've concluded yet.

But my thoughts are interrupted by Jinx. He comes in contact with me harshly from each of our sharp turns. I end up nearly tripping, but I gain my balance as Jinx grunts and rubs his shoulder.

"Hey, watch it, Catalina," he amusingly snaps at me.

I force a laugh and apologize. "I'm sorry."

"Don't fuss about it! It happens all the time," he assures me.

"Yeah, I guess," I politely smile.

His bright blue eyes and slick black hair contrast each other very sharply. It's a beautiful contrast and he wears it perfectly and pulls it off effortlessly. Those eyes stare at me carefully, light smirk on his lips.

"Yeah, they do," he repeats quietly. "Never know. Life can be pretty surprising."

I watch him quietly and nod my head, unsure of what to reply with. My only excuse to escape his intense gaze is to say, "So um...I have to get something. Congrats on not getting killed the other day."

"Oh, that?! That was a piece of cake," he snickers. I get ready to get off, but he grips my forearm rather quickly and straightforwardly. My heart launches up to my throat in astonishment. He only murmurs, "I'll see you around."

I nod and with that he disappears further down the hallway. My head turns to watch him go down the stairs at the very end. I turn back around and there they are; pale green eyes staring at me with anger.

I'm startled to the point where I yelp out. My hand flies to my chest, inhaling shakily. "Christ, Harry, maybe announcing your appearance would be a good idea."

He doesn't respond to me right away. He stares off into the distance where Jinx had walked down. Harry clenches his jaw and his nostrils flare. "Stay the fuck away from him," he snaps.