"U-uncle?" I managed to stammer, staring at Aaron in disbelief.

Harry steps in front of me, his posture rigid. "What do you want?" He snaps at Aaron.

"We need to speak to Rose. that's all." A wicked grin spreads across Aaron's face. It's hard for me to believe this is the same boy that asked me out for dinner five months ago--the smart, nice medical intern.

"What do you want to speak to her about?"

"I believe you know exactly what we want to speak to her about."

My heart drops to my feet.

I step around Harry so i can see his face. "You knew," I breath in realization. "You knew Aaron was--was--"

"Rose, I'm counting to three," Aaron says, cutting me off before Harry can respond. "You's better come with me."

"And if I don't?"

Aaron laughs darkly.

"She's not going anywhere."

At the top of the stairs stands Zayn, arms crossed over his chest.

Aaron turns around, a smirk spreading across his face. "Oh. What do we have here?"

Someone else steps into the stairwell. I recognize the face and bling hair as Niall's.

"A big, fat can of whup-ass," Niall says, smirking.

Harry smirks as well, running his tongue over his teeth.

I feel confused, but I'm intrigued by the turn of events.

Does this mean Harry, Zayn and Niall are rebelling?

Zayn and Niall walk down the stairs to stand by me and Harry. Niall winks at me.

"Alright, boys." Aaron says. "If this is how shit's going to go, so be it. I think you're forgetting the power of Wolfe Enterprises and Alec."

"We're the ones dealing with the money that goes to Alec, and without us Wolfe Enterprises isn't shit." Harry spits.

"You're wrong." Aaron sneers.

"No, he's not," Zayn says. "He's completely right."

"What I'm wondering here is how a little fuck like you managed to date Rose," Niall says.

Zayn, Harry and Niall chuckle lightly as Aaron locks his jaw.

"I'm wondering the same thing." I say and Harry catches my eye. I feel like melting under his heavy, approving gaze.

Aaron takes a step forward and grips my wrist, yanking me towards him. I try to pull away, but he's too strong.

Harry moves instantly, but Zayn grabs his arm.

"Stop," I say to Aaron. "I don't know what you want from me, but you're sure as hell not going to get it," I spit, my eyes flashing with disgust at him.

"Wrong again, Rosie." Aaron says, beginning to tug me back up the stairs.

Adrenaline rushes through me as I reach up and slap him across the face, hard. Perhaps even harder than what he did to me the night we broke up. And it feels damn good.

I yank my arm away from him and step back next to Harry.

i feel Harry's warm hand press to my lower back almost protectively and my pulse quickens.

Aaron clutches his cheek in pain, his gaze venemous.

Niall and Zayn, meanwhile, are cracking up at Aaron's pain.

"Good hit," Harry says in my ear. I can tell he's smirking.

Aaron straightens his posture. "This isn't over," He snaps. "You'll get what you deserve. All of you."

He turns on his heel and climbs the stairs, his footsteps echoing.

"Rose, you're my hero," Naill says. "His face when you hit him, Jesus--"

"I hate that little shit," Zayn says.

"Don't we all," I sigh.

"This is bad," Harry says, beginning to pace.

"We can't talk about this here," Zayn says. "Let's go back to Harry's."

Everyone agrees and we climb the stairs down the lobby, going to our respective vehicles.

The ride home is agonizingly slow as my mind runs wild.

If Alec is Aaron's uncle, did Harry and Aaron know each other all this time? Has Harry known the entire time that I was in fact dating the nephew of the man that was after me? Why didn't Harry tell me?

My hands grip the steering wheel as I park my car in the lot of the apartment building.

I knock on Harry's door and he answers, nodding for me to come in.

Inside, Zayn and Niall sit on the couch, serious expressions on their faces. Louis and Liam have arrived as well. Louis leans against the wall next to the window and Liam sits in an armchair.

What's going on?

"Alright, We're all here now," Harry says as I take a seat next to Zayn on the couch.

"This is serious shit," Zayn says, shaking his head.

"Do you think Aaron told Alec what happened?" Niall asks.

"Of course he did. He's a little fucking snitch, that's what he is," Louis snaps.

"Wait," I say. "You have all known Aaron...all this time?"

"He's Alec's closest executive," Liam says. "And he's annoying as fuck."

I look at Harry, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Harry looks down.

"That's not important now," He says. "What's important is that Aaron knows what we're planning on going against Alec, and Alec's not going to be happy about it."

"Aaron only knows that Harry, Zayn and Niall are going against him," I point out. "He doesn't know about Louis and Liam ."

"This is true," Niall says. "If we can keep it a secret that Louis and Liam are with us, this could work."

"I think we need to establish somethings here," Harry says, "This is an alliance now. We've got to stick together." He begins to pace, like I've come to know he does when he's thinking. "If this is going to work, We have to be on the lookout at all times, Because we know how Alec works. He puts people everywhere, on the lookout for anything out of ordinary."

"I agree," Louis says. "Without us managing hid funds, he's nothing. It doesn't matter what happens."

"I think we need to prevent Aaron from talking," Liam says. "If we can stay on Alec's good side for a bit longer, we can wait for a good opportunity to strike."

"That's true, but Aaron's probably already talking." Zayn says.

"No," Harry says. "He's going to wait for the perfect time. That's how he does things, the bastard."

"Harry's right," I speak up. "He's not going too just tell Alec because that would be too easy."

"Alright, so one of us have to prevent Aaron from snitching, then what?" Niall asks.

It's silent for a few moments as everyone thinks hard.

"I have an idea," I blurt. Everyone looks to me. "What if we spoke to one of the companies being conned by Wolfe Enterprises? We could get them to be skeptical of Alec, which would perhaps cause him to throw a party..."

"That's it," Zayn says. "If we can get one of the companies to see through him, it could act as a chain reaction."

"It would have to be one of his biggest clients." Liam says.

Harry nods. "Crystal."

I stifle a gasp. "Crystal is one of Alec's clients?"

They all nod. "That's pretty much how Harry and I got jobs a couple of years back." Zayn says.

I am completely shocked by this--Robert Crystal doesn't seem like a man that is easily deceived.

"It's getting late." Louis says. "We'll talk soon."

"Definitely." Liam says as the four gather their things.

I stand by Harry as they file out of the apartment, rain beginning to fall outside.

As soon as the door shuts, I turn to Harry.

"How could you not tell me? I shout. "I was dating Alec's nephew for fuck's sake!"

Harry avoid my gaze. "I..."

"I can't believe you." I say, shaking my head. "I had just began trusting you, and now..." I shake my head.

I turn on my heel and storm out of his apartment.

"Rose, wait--" Harry follows me on my heel.

I burst into my apartment, Harry right behind me.

"Harry, I dated Aaron for five months. All that time, he...you..." I run a hand through my hair.

Harry steps forward and grabs my wrists, I try to pull away but he uses one hand to hold my arms and the other to turn my face to look into his eyes. His face is merely inches from mine, His breath hitting my skin.

"I'm sorry," He says, catching me completely off guard. "I...I did know who Aaron was, from the moment you said his name, alright? I didn't tell you because it would have required you knowing about Wolfe Enterprises early on, and after I told you about Wolfe Enterprises...I knew he would somehow find out I told...He's sketchy, and he's sly. He weasels his way into everything."

I look down, a terrifying thought dawning on me.

"What's wrong?" Harry asks, noticing my change of mood.

"I just remembered," I say. "I gave Aaron a key to my apartment when we were dating,he...he could get in..." Fear shoots through me. How could I have been so stupid? I didn't even love him, yet I gave him easy access to my apartment.

"Shit, Rose." Harry lets go of me and runs a hand through his hair.

My bottom lip trembles and I try not to cry.

"Alright," Harry says finally. "Pack a bag."

"What?"

"you're staying with me for a few days until I can get the key back from him."

"What? No. I couldn't---"

"That wasn't a question. You're staying with me until I get the key, it's not safe for you here." He turns back around and meets my eyes.

"How will you get the key back from him?" I ask quietly.

"I don't know yet, but I will. Let me worry about that. Just pack a bag."

I sigh and nod. "Alright."

"Be over in ten minutes." Harry says, walking out my door.

I hastily throw clothes and other items into a bag, my nerves highly strung. This is all a mess.

I noticed the photo of Aaron and I on my dresser. a crack down the centre from the time my apartment was ransacked.

Anger courses through me as I take the picture from its place and throw it in the trash can in the corner, the sound of breaking class echoing through the place.

A few minutes later, I tentatively knock on Harry's door. I'm worried and a little scared and I don't know what to expect from Harry. How long am I even staying with him?

He answers the door, a small smile on his lips. "You can put your stuff in my room," He tells me and I nod.

I drop my bag in Harry's bedroom, taking this time to look around the room. His room--- his whole apartment--- is impeccably neat and organized. The navy blue sheets are made cleanly on the bed. no clothes are strewn anywhere---the opposite of Aaron's apartment.

My eye catches on a single photograph on his dresser, next to the TV. It's on a girl---long, blonde wavy hair, clean blue eyes, and a mysterious haunting smile.

Violet.

Harry was right. She is beautiful. Her eyes seem to draw you in, the half smile on her face alluring.

"Rose, are you---" Harry stops short when his eyes land on the photo in my hand.

"Sorry," I say, placing the photo back on the dresser.

Harry's jaw tenses. "You found that, didn't you?" His tone isn't angry, like I anticipated--- it just sounded sad.

I nod.

He sighs, walking over and picking up the picture, looking over it.

"She's beautiful," I say quietly as the two of us stare at the photo.

"She is," He agrees. I watch as his eyes move up and down the photograph, examining it over and over. "I remember the day I took this."

I find myself yet again intrigued by Harry and his dark past.

"It was maybe a month before she left," He says quietly, " We were on the coast for the weekend, and she was half drunk on white wine, hell, we both were and...I just snapped the picture. The only picture I ever got of her."

"You really loved her, didn't you?"

Harry meets my gaze. "I've come to realize that I didn't really lover her," He says, his brow furrowing. "I was more infatuated with her." He laughs a bit, without humor. "I mean I've spent years of my life convinced I loved that girl, when really...I loved the idea of her. I loved the idea of...being loved." He looks back at the picture. "Except she didn't love me."

The next thing he does completely and utterly shocks me.

He opens the back of the picture frame, sliding the photo put of the glass. I watch as he turns around, pushing open the window.

Rain pours outside harshly, and wind blows into the room.

I walk over next to him, confused.

"I've held onto her for too long," He says. He held the photo outside into the rain, and lets go.

At this moment, I see a change in Harry. It's almost as if a heavy ton has been lifted from him. setting him free. His eyes dilated, the green pigment becoming just a bit lighter, and the smile that spread across his face is just a bit wider than before.

Watching Harry let go is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.

He shuts the window, still smiling.

"That felt good," He breathes.

I smile. "That was big of you, Harry."

His eyes move to me, and something else replaces the joy in his eyes.

The smile slowly falls from his face and his eyes ignite with lust, and the next thing I know, his lips are on mine.