“What the fuck am I supposed to do?” I said as I paced the floor, nibbling on my thumb nail.

“Just calm down, Toni. We need to think this through before we come up with some crazy scenario. Now, are you sure he wasn’t there when you packed up your car?” I nodded at Harry, who was typing something on his laptop. Once we had left the police station after questioning, I dropped Rusty off back at our apartment. She insisted she needed to be alone and sleep, which gave me the perfect opportunity to sneak out and see Harry. He sounded so firm and protective on the phone that I couldn’t help but want to see him…even after he made a fool of himself at the club.

“It seems like the Bones have been pretty quiet for a while. The last recorded crime activity was two months ago.” Harry interrupted my thoughts. “You’re positive it was a bone?”

“Yes, Harry! It looked like the bone of a small animal or something. I didn’t look long because it was horrific. Should I have taken a picture?” I knew being a sarcastic bitch wasn’t helping the situation, but I was freaking the fuck out.

“I don’t know what else we can do but wait this out. Maybe they just wanted to make it clear to never fuck with them again? Killing someone is a little extreme, but seeing as how they’re dangerous criminals, it’s not that surprising.” He closed his laptop and walked over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“I’ll keep you safe, Toni,” he whispered in my ear. I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent. He was right – I needed to wait this out. They probably deal with hundreds of girls like me in a day, so odds are they’ve already moved on.

He tightened his hold around me and I looked up into his eyes. I could tell he really cared about me, and for once I felt a sense of security in my life. Even though I was a twat to him half the time, he never gave up on me. I had to give the kid credit. Before I could talk myself out of it, I raised my lips to his and kissed him softly. “Thank you, Harry. I mean it.”

He grabbed my face and before I knew it he was carrying me up the stairs. As his lips explored my body, I let all the bad thoughts leave my mind. There was no use in worrying about the future when I should be focusing on the now. I ran my fingers through his hair as he moved his body with mine, one hand on my lower back to keep me steady. I moaned his name as he threw my body into ecstasy, and held him close as he reached his climax. For the first time I stayed with him in bed, and didn’t bother to leave until the morning.

--------

“Where’d you go?” Rusty asked as I pulled my key out from our front door. Her eyes were puffy and her hair was a mess. She was still wearing the same clothes as the day before and her makeup was smeared all across her face.

“I needed a walk to clear my head,” I lied. I don’t know why, but confessing to her I was with Harry made me feel like a hypocrite. Plus, she didn’t need to worry about anything else right now.

“I could use one, but I just feel so weak. I called her parents a few minutes ago, but they didn’t answer. I had to leave them a voicemail, Toni. A fucking voicemail…” she burst into tears and I ran over to hug her. Poor thing. She always took such responsibility for everything that happened in her life, even when she had nothing to do with it. I held her as she sobbed and began to softly cry as well; the first time I had since seeing Poppy. She stayed in my arms a little longer before pushing herself away.

“Fuck this. Poppy wouldn’t want us to be sad and mope…she’d want us to celebrate her life! I called Derek earlier to cancel tonight, but I’ll call him back and say we need to let loose. How does that sound?” She wiped her face and smiled at me. Smiling back, I nodded my head and went into my bedroom to get ready.

A few hours later, Rusty and I were ready to hit the town. I was going to call Harry, but decided my night needed to be spent focusing on Rusty instead of a boy. Derek picked us up and as we made small chat in the car, I began to like him more and more. He was perfect for Rust, charming yet goofy, and a little crazy but with a good head on his shoulders. He was the perfect support for her right now, and I even got a little teary eyed when he kissed her as she cried.

Once we got to the party, I grabbed the first three drinks I saw and handed them out. As I eyed what was going on around me, I saw the same people I always saw. Druggies, wankers, hipsters, wannabes…I was kind of growing tired of it all. As I drank a weird concoction of mango juice and tequila, I began to wonder about Harry. Surely he didn’t always hang out with people like this, but then who did he hang out with? I wonder if his mates would get along with my mates, and that we could all have a good time together.

A loud bang snapped me back into attention and I rolled my eyes as I saw a drunken slut trying to get up onto of the tables. My eyes then landed on Rusty and Derek, who were dancing and having a good time. This was exactly what she needed.

“Can I interest you in a little fix?” A deep voice asked me from behind. I turned in my chair and felt my stomach drop to the floor. It was a member of the Bones, I could tell by his white shirt and bandana. I simply mouthed a “no” and turned back around, hoping he’d leave me alone. Fat chance.

“Come on, love, everyone needs a good high. And the first one’s on me.” He moved in front of me now, flashing a missing-tooth smile in my face.

“I’m good, thank you. Just trying to have a good time.”

“Well then this would help you! Take it.” He shoved a bag of powder into my hand and then clasped his hands around my own. “And if you need any more just ask.” He kept smiling until he looked up behind me, and his face turned serious as he said, “what’s wrong, Fish?”

I froze in my seat. I could feel his presence behind me, just hovering like a monster. Maybe he didn’t see it was me. Maybe he was just rounding up his gang. Or maybe he was here to kill me next.

“Can you excuse us for a minute, Silk?” Silk nodded and quickly scurried away, making me fear Fish even more. If a huge guy like Silk was afraid of this guy, then I had even more reason to.

Before I could run away Fish lifted my chair with me still in it and turned it around so I was facing him. He then brought over another chair and sat in front of me, our knees touching. As I shakily looked up at his face, I saw a white bandage around his nose and a small black and blue mark underneath his left eye. I was fucking dead.

“Well look who I have here! Has fate brought us together again?” I sat in silence as he raped me with his eyes. “Did you get my message?” he asked cheekily.

I glared at him. “You mean murdering my friend? Yeah, I read it loud and clear.” I cursed myself for being so snarky, but I couldn’t help it. Seeing him in person not only caused me fear, but absolute rage. How dare he act like this?

“Good, so then when are we going back to your place? Last I remember you owe me a little lovin.” I threw up in my mouth. Fucking perverted asshole.

“You killed my friend. Isn’t that all the revenge you need? Now please leave me and everyone else I know alone.” I stood up but he forced his hand on my shoulder to sit me back down.

“I don’t think so, love. You not only hurt me, but my fucking ego. How do you think it is to tell a bunch of gang bangers that a nine-stone whore broke your nose?” The veins on his neck were bulging as he spoke. “Now either you willing fuck me or I’ll make you fuck me.” I took a deep breath but before I knew it a man in black tackled Fish right out of his chair. I jumped up and ran away, seeing an entire fleet of black t-shirts entering the party.

“Toni! Let’s go!” Rusty shouted as she grabbed my arm and pulled me towards an exit. I watched in awe as the two opposite colors fought each other, red adding a new pigment to the mix. As we got into Derek’s car, I felt my phone vibrate in my bra.

My mouth felt dry as I read the text in my head. Some of Zayn’s cousins are with Onyx. Text me when you’re home so I know you’re okay. Told you I’d keep you safe.