"Zayn calm down."

The raven-haired Master picked up a paper weight and launched it across his office at a wall. "Don't tell me to calm down!" Niall only sighed and went to pick up the heavy glass piece that had made a very sizable dent in the wall. "He's with that man!" Zayn pointed out the window like Marcus was waiting on the sidewalk. "Marcus is doing something, and he's with that man!"

Niall gently placed the weight back on the desk while he nodded. "I know. But Liam sounded fine. I don't think Marcus would hurt him."

Zayn laughed, loud and scared. "You really think anything of that man after what we've learned about him from Liam."

"We haven't learned anything, yet," Niall reminded, and when Zayn gave him a glare he added, "But we will."

Zayn crumpled into the desk chair and let his head fall into his hands. "I can't do anything. If we send the cops in there and they find nothing, Marcus will be scot free and hunting me down."

"Exactly," Niall agreed and came to stand next to Zayn's hunched form. "Which is why we have to find out what it is.

"Daddy?"

Niall and Zayn both looked up to find a sleep rumpled Harry at the door to Niall's home office. He rubbed his eyes and pushed back his unruly hair while Niall cooed at him and motioned him towards him. "Did we wake you, baby? I'm sorry." Harry buried his head in Niall's neck and let Niall wrap his arms around the taller boy.

"What are you fighting about?"

Zayn was still silent, head in hands, so Niall leaned Harry's head up and kissed him softly. "We're not fighting. It's just been a long day is all."

"I heard a bang."

Niall pet his hair and hugged him close. "Just an accident. Uncle Zayn is clumsy."

Zayn's head lifted at his name and revealed red rimmed eyes and dried tear tracks. Harry whined and wiggled out of Niall's hold to kneel at Zayn's feet. "What's wrong? Can I help?"

Zayn softened at the boy he's practically come to know as family. "I'm okay."

"You don't look okay," Harry pointed out. His hands slid up Zayn's trousers to his belt. "I can make you feel better." Harry looked over his shoulder at Niall for permission, but before he could grant or deny it Zayn was pushing his hands off. It didn't feel right this time, not with Liam like...just not now, not like this.

"Thank you, baby boy, but I'm fine."

Harry looked offended instantly. Zayn had never actually turned down an opportunity to be with him. Niall picked him up off the floor and wrapped his arms around his waist. "Thank you for trying to help, kitten, but that's not what he needs right now."

Harry pouted. "That all I know how to do," he mumbled.

"And you're very good at it," Niall assured. "If you go back to bed and get lots of sleep, I promise you can prove it to me in the morning." Harry hummed and nodded easily so Niall turned him around and kissed him long and slow until he smiled, sending him off with a pat to the bum.

The moment Harry was gone, Zayn was back in tears. "You're an excellent Master," he sobbed.

Niall rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't be for anyone but him. We're a perfect match." He squeezed Zayn's shoulder. "Just like you and Liam are."

"We're not-"

"You are. No offense to your system, but it's fallible and this time it messed up."

"It's not wrong."

"Once in a blue moon, it is."

Zayn shook his head, but didn't argue again. "I have to have him. I can't let him stay there."

"Then let's figure out what Liam is trying to tell us, and then let's go get him."

***

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Liam walked into Marcus' office, wary of why he was finally being allowed in here.

"Yes, Liam. Sit." Marcus waved to the chair in front of his desk and Liam sat. "I was wondering what you thought of my restaurant. I know you like to cook and I wanted your opinion."

"My opinion?" Liam asked, surprised. "Well, sir, it was great," he lied. He would have to stick to the honest things in hopes that Marcus didn't see right through him. "The food was amazing."

"Good, good. And you liked the people there?"

Liam swallowed thickly. "They were very...enthusiastic about their work."

Marcus nodded, lips pursed. "I was thinking you would enjoy being a part of the staff there. Something high up, no sous chef or anything. More in a management capacity. You'd spend quite a lot of time there during the day, give you something to do while I'm at work and I can keep an eye on you."

Before the visit, Liam would have jumped at the chance. Being the boss' slave had some perks. He would've just sat around all day socializing and taste testing dishes, but now. He was afraid to even set foot in that place again. That poor girl, and who knows how many else were too scared to say anything. What if Liam could go back and try to figure out what she meant? He could report to Zayn and get everyone out of this mess. He had to try.

"That sounds...great, sir."

"Great." Marcus rubbed his hands together in glee. "I'll have a car take you down tomorrow to get you introduced to the staff and the way things are done. You'll start right away." Marcus put a light fist on the desk, drawing Liam's eye. "This will be the perfect fit for you, I'm sure."

Liam nodded, shaky and unsure. "Yes-yes, sir."

"Good. Get some sleep." Liam nodded and quickly got up to leave. "Oh, Liam." He turned back. "I've disconnected your phone. I'm having a new phone under my name sent here. Until then you'll do well to keep me informed via other phones."

Couldn't be. Liam had just used his phone earlier today to tell Zayn about the restaurant. Liam just nodded and sent a murmured, "Goodnight," before nearly racing up the stairs to his room. He grabbed his phone and entered Zayn's memorized number.

Nothing. No ringing. He looked at his phone and saw the glowing 'No Network". Liam wanted to scream. This couldn't be happening. He buried his face in his pillow and screamed until his lungs were sore and his head hurt, until his eyes drooped from crying and his mind fell black from exhaustion.

***

"This is your office," the manager, Fulton, he'd learned, informed him with a grimace. It looked newly cleaned out, a few papers still strewn.

"This was your office."

"Was," he affirmed.

"You can keep you," Liam urged. "I don't need an office. I don't know what I'm doing." He tapped the empty wooden desk. "It's yours. You need it way more than I do."

Fulton looked mildly taken aback by that. "You don't really belong here."

Liam frowned. "Well, I'm mostly here for moral support I think. Marcus just wanted me to have something to do during the day."

"Right," Fulton pursed his lips. "Too bad," he mused sadly. "I'm sorry for it."

"For wha-" But Fulton was already walking away.

Liam decided now was a good a time as any to search for the girl that talked to him. He made his way through the kitchen, stopping to look at any small girl that was at the stoves or counters. He went through the entire staff of cooks and came up empty. He hoped he remembered her face correctly. But then again, he knew he did. He couldn't get it out of his head. The fear, the need for his help.

"Excuse me," he asked one of the assistants that was chopping vegetables.

When he turned he must've recognized Liam from yesterday. "What are you doing here?"

"Marcus wanted me to hang out here during the day."

"Oh," he said, mouth turning into a grim line. "You work here now?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

The man nodded. "I'm sorry."

Why did everyone keep saying that? "There's a cook that works here. Small, brunette girl. She was at that station yesterday," he pointed to the where she'd pulled him to the side and the man's eyes followed.

"She didn't come in today," he answered quickly before turning back to his station.

"Has she missed often?" The chef scoffed, but didn't answer. "Please, I need to talk to her."

The chef's shoulder stiffened. "I don't know anything."

"But-"

"Liam." The slave turned to see Fulton standing with two built men at the entrance to the kitchen. "You'll be accompanying these men to pick up a delivery from the warehouse."

"Um, I don't really know how-"

"You won't be doing much. Trust me," he said, eyes downcast. "Just do what the tell you and you'll be fine."

The entire room was literally crawling with bad vibes, but what was Liam to say? "Let me just tell Marcus I'm going, in case."

"Yes, you should tell the appropriate people you're going," Fulton answered carefully.

Liam eyed him, wondering at the weird behavior. "I'll just use the phone in the back."

"No! Um, here just use mine. I don't want to miss any important calls while you're on the phone."

Liam nodded and thanked him before taking the phone out the back door of the restaurant and dialing Zayn immediately.

"Hello?"

"Zayn," he sighed, relief washing over him at his Master's voice.

"Oh my God, baby. I've been trying to reach you since yesterday."

"Marcus turned off my phone."

"Are you okay?"

"I am, yeah. But..."

"But what, love? What's going on?"

"I don't know. This place-there's something going on. I can't tell what."

"You're at the restaurant? Why?"

"Marcus wanted me here. But now I'm supposed to go to some warehouse with some guys to pick up an order."

"Okay," Zayn drew out the word. "What's that mean?"

"I don't know. Nothing, I guess. Things are just shifty here. The girl from yesterday isn't here today and no one can tell me who or where she is. And the manager is off."

"I don't want you going with those men. Just stay there and I'll come get you."

"I can't, Zayn. Marcus obviously keeps a close eye on this place. You can't be anywhere near here. It's just an order. I'll be back before you know it and I'll call when I am."

"Promise me. You'll let me know the moment you're back."

"Promise."

Zayn sighed into the phone. "Please be careful."

"Of course. I love you."

"Liam," Fulton called from the door. "You should get going."

"I love you, too, baby. Call me."

"I will. Bye." Liam hung up and handed the phone back to the manager. "Okay, all set."

Fulton nodded, but couldn't meet Liam's eyes. He led Liam out front to a large van. "Just do what they say and you'll be fine."

Liam's eyebrows furrowed. "It's just an order. How hard can it be right?" He smiled but Fulton didn't smile back.

"Right." He opened the sliding door and Liam got in with one of the two men to sit on the floor in the open cabin. The other got in the driver's seat and Fulton gave one last look at Liam, sad like he was sorry, before closing the door.

Panic started to set in. Why was Fulton acting so weird? Everyone was. "So what are we picking up?" The man just grunted and kept looking at the wall of the van. "Okay, then."

"You are his slave, correct?" The man spoke in a thick Tussaud accent that Liam wasn't expecting.

"Yes," he admitted hesitantly.

"What did you do?"

Liam shook his head. "I don't know what you mean?"

"You must've done something, or you wouldn't be here."

"Helping with the delivery?"

The man just laughed. "There is no delivery, little boy."

***

Happy #SlaveMeThursday! Crazy stuff! Poor Liam! Team Master Zayn unite!

COMMENTS AND VOTES! MWAH!! Xoxo