I want to apologize for the mix up with the last two chapters. I even got a comment or two about the mess up and I still didn't understand. Now, the chapters are as they should be so I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you go back and read from the beginning and then read this new chapter. (31 May 19)

Anyway, happy #LeaveMeFriday everybody! Enjoy xo

***

Marcus was exactly like Liam remembered him. For a while after they moved, Liam thought he'd exaggerated how intimidating and off-putting Marcus was.

He hadn't.

"You better make this worth my while, slave. I could put you down right now and it would be your own fault," Marcus quipped, not even deeming to face Liam as he spoke. He continued across the dimly lit space to the large cherry wood desk in his office. When he reached it, he didn't sit like Liam thought he might. Instead, he opened the top drawer and pulled out a pistol, setting it down ever so gently on the desktop. "Start talking."

Liam smoothed down the lapels of his suit jacket. "I want to make a deal."

"We already had a deal. One which you are currently in breach of."

"I have a better offer."

Marcus' brow perked up. "Really? Better than the two of you out of my hair?"

"How about one of us under your control for the foreseeable future, and the other out of your life forever?"

"Sounds complicated."

Liam bit the inside of his cheek as he stepped closer, pointedly ignoring how Marcus rested a hand on the gun. "Maybe, but the results are simple. Me. Yours. Zayn. Gone." And happy.

The smile that slid onto Marcus' face made shivers walk across Liam's spine. He tamped down the need to vomit. Marcus sneered. "Out of love already? Your soft, weak Master not what you expected? I warned you he could never give you what I could."

Liam snarled, "You only wanted to give me away."

"That was your doing! You couldn't keep your filthy hands to yourself!" Marcus shot back and gripped the gun tighter on the desk.

The slave put his hands up in concession. "I didn't come to fight about it. I came to give you what you want."

Marcus licked his lips. "You."

"Me," Liam answered.

___

"What is a sun square?" Niall asked. "And what deal would Liam make with Marcus?"

They were just sitting in the car, the sun glaring down on the tinted windows. Harry was fingering the note, folding one corner over and under. Louis had been silent the whole ride, and moreover, not a word of substance since they arrived in the city.

Zayn.

Zayn couldn't comprehend; he didn't understand. Why would Liam even meet Marcus, much less leave with him? For all Zayn knew, Liam could be dead right now. Then what would he have left?

Harry murmured, "Could it be Sunflower Road on the edge of town?"

"I doubt it. That strip is full of glitzy nail salons and bistros; there's nowhere to meet privately over there," Niall confirmed. "Oh, what about Red Sunroof at the old town square?"

"That place was torn down years ago. Nothing's there now," Zayn hummed distractedly. He was so busy staring down the bright ball of fire in the sky, daring it to mock him. "They took it out so the apartments could see the sunrise over-" Zayn's mouth fell open.

"Zee? What's wrong?" Louis asked, voice serious and low.

Zayn pressed the Start button hard enough to turn the tip of his finger white for a long moment. He ripped out of the parking lot with a crease between his brows.

"Where are you going?" Niall questioned.

The Master didn't slow down, his hard eyes tracking the dashes on the road as they passed in a blur. "To watch the sunset."

Niall slapped a hand on the dashboard as Zayn whipped around a corner. "Buddy, sunset isn't for hours. Why don't we slow down just a little? I've got two slaves in the backseat."

Zayn's foot slightly lifted from the gas pedal without thinking. He spared a glance in the rearview mirror. Harry was wide-eyed and squeezing Zayn's seat in front of him. Louis looked back at Zayn with sadness in his eyes. "I know where he's going," Zayn informed them.

"You do?" Harry asked. "Where?"

"St. Constance Park." It was Louis who answered.

Harry turned to him. "How do you know?" He faced forward again. "Zayn, how does he know that?"

"Apparently, some things don't change," Louis added unhelpfully.

Niall was turned around in his seat and reached out for Louis' hand. "Sunset square," he offered with recognition. "I'd totally forgotten about it."

"Why am I the only one who doesn't know what we're talking about?" Harry demanded.

The blond sent him a smile. "It's Zayn and Louis' place."

"Not anymore it seems." Louis retracted his hand and folded his arms across his chest.

Zayn was still moving down the road, but not as fast as before. "I gave him every piece of me, Louis. Including that."

"What's so special about this park?" asked Harry.

Louis glared at the back of Zayn's head. "Do you want to tell him, or should I?"

Niall could see Zayn physically grit his teeth together. To save him, Niall answered, "That's were Zayn and Louis had their first kiss."

"No, I know where you had...I mean-" Harry deflated when he realized he didn't. "Why haven't we talked about this before?"

The blond sent Zayn a questioning glance, and when he received nothing he answered his slave. "Louis was paired when they met- when they...got together."

Everyone was quiet, staring out windows, until Harry made a choked off sound and blurted out, "I'm not the only one thinking it right? I mean, Zayn's got a type."

"Harry!" Louis scolded, then hid his smile behind a hunched shoulder.

When Louis started laughing, Harry started laughing. When Harry started laughing, Niall couldn't help it. Niall covered his mouth with one hand and his eyes with the other, but when he peeked through his fingers, he saw the upturn of Zayn's terse line and grabbed his friend by the bicep. "It's only funny because it's true."

Zayn rolled his eyes. "It's not a type," he declared indignantly and everyone went quiet. "It's a proclivity." The car erupted and Zayn joined in. 

***

Zayn and crew are hot on the trail! Maybe next week they'll actually catch up to Liam and Marcus. We'll see. Until next week, let me know what you think.

Mwah! Xoxo, Jess