3161 Words

Sleep was some what the only thing thought blissful these days and at times, it truly was only to be thought about, never played. Every night came a new nightmare, sometimes so chilling it almost seamed real. As a child one certain  nightmare would reoccur each night, and yes you developed the right mind to get over it. But even just being an adult with responsibilities and independence can become the real nightmare. 

A phone call was what woke you from slurring in the bed sheets, the mattress stripped of its clothing as the shared heat tucked under the quilt slowly began to sink into your skin. You groaned as you rolled over, seeing Tom sitting up, staring down at his phone which ignited the whole room in the white light. From what you could conjecture, it was around six thirty, maybe even seven, as the sky was painted in the red blush of the sunrise. The curtains were pre- drawn, having slept through most of yesterday into the early morning of the present. Sex is hard work.

"Everything ok?" you asked as the space where Tom was laying remained empty for a while. Tom ran a hand through his hair, putting his phone down and momentarily moved back onto his fore arms. "What's wrong?" you asked, scanning his face as you sat upright, covering your bare chest with the quilt.

"Uh.. I-I gotta go to work" Tom muddled his brows together, pulling the sheets off of his body and scrambling for his boxers on the carpet. "Somethings gone tits up and they need me" he groaned, pausing to run a hand down his face. You picked up one of Tom's shirts, slipping it over your head and jolted out of bed to the bathroom where you had left your undergarments. Tom was almost fully dressed upon your return, having stopped for a toilet break while you were in there.

"Well is it bad?" You implored, sitting down on the bed as your eyes followed Tom around the room.

"I guess I wont know the real damage until I get there" he shrugged, placing a light kiss on your forehead. Damage? You savoured the heat of his lips even long after he had gone running around the room again, fidgeting in your seat.

"Maybe I could come with you?" you mumbled nervously. You were yet to be enlightened on what Toms job actually was, and if you were going to be playing some kind of role in his life then you needed to know what went on behind closed doors, even if it was non of your business.

"Y/N, I don't know-"

"Please Tom. I can't stay here knowing your miles away after... After..."

"Ok" he knelled down in front of you, cupping your hands in his and cradling your fingers gently. "But you have to promise me that if something happens, you listen to me and no one else"

"Why wouldn't I?" you queried, placing a hand on Tom's cheek. His body language was jagged and stiff, not to mention quit hard to make out what he was feeling right now. What could be so bad about his job?  Tom took a deep breath, leaning into the palm of your hand. "Just trust me" he smiled, repeating what you had said yesterday. You nodded, longingly blinking, "With all of me"

It didn't take you long to change and the morning was still fresh as you left the house. Soon you were travelling at high speeds down the high way on the way to where Tom worked. It was out of town for sure, you'd been in car for around half an hour and had barely changed in speed limit. The soft humming of the radio kept your silence intact, as there wasn't a lot of conversation to go around. You felt the sudden nervousness around Tom that had taken you by surprise. Was there something about Tom that you didn't know? Was there a reason behind what had happened with his family? - which was still something that crossed your mind constantly.

Swerving off the high way, you pulled down onto a junction and down another long road into a small town just outside the boundary. Your eyes followed every sign post and building that past. It was dark and defunct, like nothing had been here for years. Graffiti decorated the walls of some broken buildings, and glass varnished the streets as you drove by. The car began to slow as the streets got narrower, slowly turning into a parking space on the side of the curb. You looked over at Tom just as he was shutting off the car, his grip haltering on the wheel as he turned to look at you.

"When we go inside, don't talk or interact with anyone, ok?" he didn't ask, he more demanded. What was he hiding you from? You palms began to sweat lightly and your heart rate quickened. You were briskly realising how much you would rather be at home right now. You nodded, parting your lips to inhale a deep breath. The car door opened was loud and made you jump from the outside being so quite. If you didn't know any better you would have said there had been an apocalypse. Tom opened your door, helping you out of the vehicle and out into the street. When you had come to meet Tom, you thought maybe he worked in a bank or owned a bar. This... This was something else.

"What exactly is it that you do?" you asked, cupping you hand in Toms as he walked down an alley way. Steam and the smell of sweat and alcohol flooded your nose, strong enough for your hand to cover your nostrils.

"It's just heavy business, nothing for you to worry about poppet" he gave your hand a reassuring squeeze before opening a fire exit door on his left, letting go of your hand as you walked up some stairs. The building had no windows, the glass had been shattered across the floor of the building and the room was empty. No carpets, no decor, no light. Just four, well dressed men sat around a small table, cigarettes in hand and what looked like documents dispersed out in front of them.

"No ladies, Holland" a strong arm gripped your shoulder, sending you back on your feet. Tom quipped around quickly, pulling a gun from his waist belt.

"Get your hands off her Jeremy" he snarled, making your pulse quicken. "Don't you remember what happens to guys who mess with me?" his voice lowered, eyes narrowing before pulling back the rear sight and aiming the muzzle at his temple. Jeremy was quick to loosen his grip, letting your shoulder rest back in it's place. Tom pulled you aside quickly, both their eyes still strained on each other.

"What the fuck was that?" you whisper yelled, pushing Tom's hand off your shoulder. He ignored the distressed shove and continued walking; "Just some old grudge he has against me bringing girls here, it's nothing-"

"That's not what I'm talking about" You stopped him, a firm grip on his wrist.

"This?" Tom pulled back his waist coat, revealing the revolver seated neatly in a glock at his side. "It's called protection"

"What exactly are you protecting us fro-"

"Holland, you made it" A voice cut you off, sending both your attention towards the door. "And I see you brought a friend"

"She's got nothing to do with this, leave her out of it" Tom put an arm across your chest, which you scanned quickly before looking at the shit eating grin on the mans face.

"Oh, Thomas. You haven't changed, have you?" he smirked, allowing Tom and yourself to enter the room. Tom was high on protecting you, one hand still strained across your chest as you walked into the room which only sent your mind wondering further.

"What is it that you want anyway? If you don't already know, I have other things to be taking care of-"

"Like what? Harry?" he asked, sitting down in a chair opposite where you were standing. Your breath was caught in your throat as more men began entering the room. Your grip tightened on Tom's waist coat as they got closer, taking a good look at you.

"Don't st-"

"What? Because your scared that your own brother might take your name of fame?" he chuckled, lighting a cigar before sticking it between his teeth. The man was much larger than Tom, his hair slicked back, he looked strong and was well dressed. It made you nervous, but Tom didn't seem to bat an eyelid. You regret asking to go with him.

"I'll ask you one last time, Luis. Why did you call?"

"What a man can't having a friendly get together with an old friend?"

"I'm not your friend, what do you want?" Tom asked, body tensing, arm beginning to shake.

"We want you back Tom. It appears your name has been floating quite quickly around the media, don't you think?"

"What does it matter to you?"

"Because fame means money and money means business" He sat forward, jumping in at Toms last syllable. He gestured for the men behind you to come closer, your head spinning around as they entered your personal space, drawing Tom's attention away too.

"What's in it for me?" he asked, voice low and dangerous.

"Well it would certainly keep your name above your brothers" he smirked, slowly taking a drag of the cigar. All the while you were trying to posses this. What did it mean? Was this how Tom worked? Was this what Tom worked as?

"Your the best hand to hand combat shooter we've got and the list is getting pretty full Holland. Are you in this with us? Or on the list with them?" He asked, sitting back in his seat and allowing Tom to think.

"Fine, I'll do it. On the condition that this stays between us"

"What about the girl, sir" A man from behind you boomed, his voice bouncing off the walls of the industrial room. "She knows too much"

"Good point" the man conjectured, sitting back in his chair with his arms resting subtly on the side.

"What?" You whispered, breath shaking as a strong grip took a hold on your shoulder.

"Get off her, man" Tom pulled his gun back from his pocket, only for several others to be pointed his way.

"I wouldn't do that" Luis snarked as Tom watched them men drag you away from him. Your hands were tied behind your back, seeping away at your skin as the ropes were fast tighter.

"Tom!" You groaned, back arching as a gun pushed against your shirt, the cold metal hitting your skin. A sharp blade pierced across the skin of your neck, and the knowing feeling if you edged any closer came across you. Because if you were to put one foot wrong it was over.

"Let her go!" Tom yelled, turning around and pointing the trigger at Luis, who sat snugly in his chair, not moving an inch.

"What can I do, Tom? I mean if I'm honest I thought you would have learned your lesson after what happened last time" he smiled a frown, shaking his head as if to be sarcastically disappointed.

"Please, stop!" You squired, nudging your hands against the ropes as your breath hitched in your throat. You were balancing on the edges of your sneakers, the blade slipping closer to your skin.

"I'll make sure she doesn't spill a word, just let her go! You wanted me to take the deal and I took it for fuck sake!" Tom was getting frustrated, hands balling into fists around the gun, his fingers tugging at the unloaded trigger. Luis needed to talk, fast, as the blade was nearing so deep you had to stop breathing.

"Luis, stop this!"

"Let her go" he dismissed with his hand, sitting back forward, eyes trailing to the table. The blade was inched away from your throat and the gun was pulled off your back, pushing you forward slightly. Tom caught you before you hit the ground, a throaty cough surging up to your lips, tearing the ropes off of your wrists.

His hands cupped your cheeks lightly, doing a one over on you with his eyes to make sure you were alright. You slowly got to your feet with the help of Tom, now having his full support.

"Here" Luis stood, handing Tom a set of files in a brief case. He took it hesitantly, pushing his gun back into the glock, locking his free hand with yours. "There's everything you need to know, including some stuff about Harry. Be careful with him, he's dangerous"

"He's my own flesh and blood, you think I don't know that?" Tom snarled, his hand tightening on your palm, crushing your fingers together making you gasp lightly.

"Just do your fucking job n' it'll go the way you want it to. Fail me Holland, and your precious little 'poppet' ll' pay" he was towering over Tom, staring down at him, swallowed in his shadow.

After a moment of checking the files, you were set to go, still shaking and slightly breathless. Tom opened the car door for you, letting you slip inside without a word. Soon, the car was started, brief case in the back, the roads travelling swiftly beside you once again.

The car ride home was silent, Toms hands and eyes completely focused on what was in front of him, while his mind couldn't stop thinking about you. He put you at a risk today, and he'd never felt so guilty. Things like this don't happen at a random, as it had happened before and his subject wasn't so lucky. To be frank this was the first time he'd been towered over, he was usually the intimidating one.

You had to admit that upon arriving home things were different. You slammed the car door harshly as you parked, quickly pacing off towards the door, key in hand. Tom was quick to follow you, the familiar sound of the car locking came from behind you before your name was called.

You headed straight for your room, mouth dry and no words needed to be shared. But, Tom was still strong on your tail, and you were some what thankful for the lock on the spare bedroom door. Knock after knock turned into banging and pleading.

"Leave me alone" you mumbled, slowly lowering yourself down into the soft bed sheets. This wasn't Toms fault and you knew it, but that didn't make up for the fact you needed some space. First it was Jake, and now Luis.

"Y/N please, I can explain"

"Fuck off Tom!" You yelled, turning your head to the door "I-... I just need some fucking space" the last part you mumbled, laying face down in your feather pillow.

"Y/N I can't leave off like this, please let me explain-"

"I'm not shutting you out Tom I-... I just need a minute, okay?"

There was nothing for a moment, before you could just make about a mumbled 'okay' and then there was nothing. For over an hour you sat in the spare room, not even sure if you could call it your own. You'd stilled in different positions, the pillows and quilt now tossed around the mattress. Even trying to distract yourself with Netflix wasn't working.

Eventually you settled your head against the wall, tilted back slightly as you stared out the window. It was still daylight, having only been ten, maybe eleven. And to think a few hours back you were just waking up, thinking that today would flash by in a breeze.

Closing your eyes, your hand recalled to the side of your head gently, caressing your temple where the mark lay. The mark where you hat hit your head just a few days ago. There were bruises yet to fade. There were marks yet to heal. This was not what you signed up for.

A quit knock arrived at the door, bringing your head off of the wall. Standing up, you knew it was Tom, you had neglected his reasoning long enough and you knew you couldn't stay mad. Flicking the hatch, you opened the door to Tom, his hands in his pockets looking guilty. You invited him in, before closing the door behind you.

"I want to know everything" you suppressed past the sympathy given look, and plopped down on the bed. "Okay, I basically fucking asked for this, but when I came here to work for you this is not something I remember signing up for"

"Okay first of all, take your first point"

"Tom, whether I came with you today or not, this was gonna happen at some point wasn't it?" You asked, crossing your legs while your eyes remained on him.

"Believe me when I say I didn't want you in this either, but now they know who you are and that your a part of me so... We're fucked"

"Correction, I'm fucked" you shook your head, biting your bottom lip. "You know, okay, maybe this isn't your fault, and maybe this was just some sort of freak accident that it happened to be today they picked to see you. But that doesn't define the reasoning as to why your in this. What the fuck went down today?"

"They need me, alright?"

"Yeah but what for? They said something about a list, what are you the grim reaper now?"

"If you shut the fuck up maybe I can explain?" He yelled, finally turning to face you. That's when you saw what he really was. It had taken you some time, but you'd been hunting for it. Hand clenched into a fist, now inches away from your face.

"Do it"

"Y/N I-"

"Go on, Tom! Fucking hit me like the man you are!" You yelled, tears balling in your eyes as the spit overwhelmed your tongue. Tom backed away, his hand folding back down to his sides.

"Y/N I didn't mean to, please"

You cut him off, walking over to him and taking his hand. "This is your only weapon Tom. It's your instinct to use it when you feel threatened or angry. But you have to understand that I'm not the one who's gonna hurt you" You whispered, placing a hand on his cheek. "Today's been pretty fucked up" you admitted, bracing your arms around his neck tightly. He was hesitant, and you could feel it, but soon he sank into you. Emotions come and go and they change quickly. Tom wasn't the man he had made himself out to be. The only thing that really mattered now was getting through this, together or alone.

It appears that now, both of your dirty secrets were coming to light.

☕️

The next chapters gonna be longer, as this is where it all kicks off- Some new and old characters are about to be introduced also, so get ready 😂❤️