Niall has been on the phone with Harry for almost two hours. He'd been reassuring his slave that they were fine; that Liam was a bit worse for wear, but too happy to be with Zayn to care. He didn't mind taking the time to repeatedly assure his boy, because Zayn and Liam had been huddled together on one of the beds, whispering to each other. Whatever Zayn was saying had Liam smiling wide and fiddling with the hem of his shirt.

Niall tried to give them the time to get reacquainted, but he needed to discuss details with Zayn and he wasn't sure Liam was in the right place to listen to it. "Babe, I have to go. We'll be home tomorrow," he told Harry. Niall said his 'I love you' and hung up. He walked up to the edge of the bed and cleared his throat politely. Liam brushed his lips across Zayn's, just a ghosting breath. Zayn poked his tongue out and licked across his own lips, brushing barely over Liam's bottom lip. Liam stuttered a breath.

"Zee?" Niall tried again "Can I get a moment? You can get back to your sexual tension as soon as we're done."

Zayn laughed at Niall but kept his eyes on Liam. "I don't want you to go anywhere."

"How about I just go get some ice, and you can talk business? I'll be so fast, you won't even notice."

Zayn kissed his chin, then along his jaw as he whispered, "I'll notice."

Liam just giggled and pushed gently on Zayn's chest to get off the bed. He grabbed the ice bucket and gave Zayn one more look over his shoulder before heading out to look for the ice machine. The hallway was long, but the rooms were scattered far and few between, privacy a perk of a fancy hotel. He walked down to the end of the hallway and saw a sign saying "Ice" pointing around the corner. Liam followed it and finally found the dispenser.

He couldn't hold back his smile as ice clanked into the bucket. He finally had his Master and he finally felt safe with someone. They'd get to go back to Marvin and Kalli and everyone that Liam had become so attached to while he lived in Zayn's home. His home, hopefully, soon.

Liam turned with a wide, dreamy smile only to be faced with the end of a barrel. Liam froze, brows furrowed, before recognizing the looming figures with the weapons. It was the same men that took him to a back alley when they found him far from home what seemed like a lifetime ago.

"Come on now, slave. Time for a lesson."

Liam stood his ground with a firm set to his jaw. "My Master is right down the hall. He's expecting me back."

The man just laughed. "Firstly, you don't belong to anyone right now. You're free game. Secondly, I don't want to keep you. Like I want that trouble. I'll give you back to your poor excuse for a man, but not until Magee gets his message across."

Liam stepped back from them, back hitting the machine, before he was yanked forward by one of the other men, dropping the bucket and being pulled towards a room further from his own. Liam fought, but three men held him, one with a hand over his mouth, mostly incapacitated until they pushed him into a room and shut the door.

Liam went to run on instinct but one of them was blocking the door. He turned back to see the leader with his gun resting by his side and an expectant brow raised. "Any other escapes you'd like to futilely attempt?" Liam just swallowed and darted his eyes around, looking for anything that would help. In his silence the man got his answer. "Good. Then, let's get started." He raised his hand and swung the butt of the gun into Liam's temple.

***

"I'm glad Liam's safe, but something's not right," Niall worried. "Marcus just gave up Liam and Magee all but bowed out. It doesn't feel right."

Zayn scratched his fingers into his slim jeans and nodded in agreement; knowing, of course, that Niall was right. Marcus would be expecting Zayn's share of the company and his resignation as soon as they got home. And with Marcus' lawyers, he should be out in no time; a slap on the wrist and a fine maybe, and with more power than ever.

"There is something," Zayn admitted.

Niall sighed. "I figured. What did Marcus want?"

Zayn shook his head in defeat. "Liam and I will be leaving town as soon as possible."

"What?" Niall laughed nervously, unbelieving.

"He asked for my disappearance. I'm giving up my house, my part in the company. We're going away."

"Zayn, that's insane!" Niall stood up from the bed, hot with betrayal. "You can't do that. We've spent years and millions on this company. It's ours!"

"I know," Zayn agreed regretfully. "I did what I had to. I love him."

Niall pressed his lips together in anger. "What about me? And Harry? He'll leave us out to dry, Zayn. Don't you love us?"

"Of course. You're my brother, Niall. I'd do anything for you and Harry."

"Liar," Niall accused.

"I made sure Marcus knew you had to be safe."

"And he agreed?"

Zayn opened his mouth to say of course he did...but he didn't. He never did. "I..." Zayn crawled across the bed to stand by Niall. "I will do everything I can."

"Right. You get your slave, you get what you wanted, and then you just leave. I'll lose my company, too, Malik! He'll try to take Harry from me to get back at us for taking Liam!" Niall screamed the realization. He walked lamely to the end of the other bed and fell to sit on it, covering his face with his hands. "He'll take Harry from me."

Zayn heard the tears before he came around and knelt to see them. He pulled Niall's hands from his face and could see the way Niall's lips shook for something to say but nothing came out.

"I'm so sorry, Niall."

Niall yanked his wrists from Zayn's loose grip. "Don't." He got up and turned away from his best friend. "I glad you got Liam back, I really am. But if I had known I'd lose my slave for him, I wouldn't have helped you."

Zayn couldn't be angry at him. He knew if the roles were reversed the same would be true for him. Zayn knew Marcus would destroy Niall's life if he left him without an income or support and at the end, yes, Marcus would go for Harry. Zayn was nothing but sorry.

"I'll do anything I can."

Niall just laughed, loud but humorless. "I think you've done enough for now, thanks." He opened the door and grabbed his keys by the door. I'm taking the car. Stay the night and I'll send a car for you. Enjoy your slave, Zayn. I hope he was worth it."

Zayn tried to reach out for him again, but Niall was already out the door and around the corner to the elevators, and Zayn was left in near darkness. He brought a hard fist into the thick wooden barrier once the door shut and then brought both hands roughly through his now shaggy hair. He realized, bitterly, that he'd neglected to cut it since Liam left, and he didn't even have anyone to touch it while he was living all alone in his huge house.

Now he'd finally gotten his someone to hold, but lost everything else in the process. And the worst part was that he didn't regret it. Liam was everything. He wished it didn't have to be like this, but he couldn't bring himself to change his mind when his slave was on his way back to him.

Speaking of, what was taking Liam so long? Zayn collected himself as best he could before opening the door. What he got was an armful of broken slave, blood staining his shirt. "Oh my God! Liam!" Zayn pulled him inside and laid him on bed, the door slamming shut behind them as he hovered over a barely breathing Liam. "Liam, what happened? Fuck, baby, talk to me," he begged. Liam just groaned and reached out for Zayn, who crawled in close and tried to wipe the blood out of Liam's eyes. Liam was trying to say something, but Zayn couldn't understand him. "What, baby?"

"I-I learned...my less-lesson."

Zayn didn't understand, and it didn't matter. He just picked up the phone and dialed emergency while he kept a firm hold on Liam, sure to never let him out of his sight again.

***

Zayn was wringing his hands and pacing the bleak white hallway waiting for word. He hadn't taken Liam to the hospital the first time, but this was worse, way worse. At least when he met Liam in the alley, he could talk, even limp. This time Liam had to be carried on a stretcher to the ambulance. He had no idea what could've happened between when Liam walked out of the room and when Zayn caught him in his arms.

He had a feeling, but it seemed absurd. Would Magee really chase after them like this? He couldn't just let go? But then again, Zayn refused to let go, too. Zayn wasn't a coward, but he was afraid for Liam. If fighting back and messing with these men was putting Liam in these positions, then he'd take Liam and run. Today. Now.

He was just planning on marching into Liam's room and ripping all the cords off and stealing away into the night, when Liam's doctor bumped into him. "Oh, Mr. Malik; good. Liam is awake and on significant medication, but he seems tough and should be quick on the healing track."

"When can he leave?" Zayn nearly interrupted.

"Well, I'd like to keep him a couple more days. His wounds are extensive, and unless you have a full time medical professional on hand, he'll need to stay and be looked after."

"I can get him the attention he needs. He's coming home with me." Zayn stepped past the doctor and towards Liam's room.

"Mr. Malik," he called after the Master and followed quickly. "I must advise against this; Liam needs to rest."

"He'll rest when he's safe," Zayn mumbled to himself. He turned into Liam's room and found the slave awake but drowsy, a half smile tilting his face when he saw Zayn. "We're going, Li." He peeled off the patches and carefully removed Liam's IV.

"Mr. Malik! Considering you aren't technically his Master, you can't just take him."

Zayn hauled Liam up with an arm around his shoulder. He walked a lagging Liam to the door of the room. "Try and stop me." Zayn pushed past the medicine man and soothed patterns into Liam's hip as he walked them towards the exit. A nurse came up and blocked their way.

"Sir, you can't leave."

"If you want to go home tonight in one piece, I advise you to move out of my way."

The nurse dropped her jaw in shock and moved aside. Zayn nodded his thanks and led Liam outside, into the blurry early morning. He spotted the line of waiting taxis against the curb.

Liam was getting slower and leaning more heavily on Zayn. "Come on, baby. We need to get out of this town. Just get home and you'll be fine."

Liam mumbled some sort of agreement and kept picking up his sluggish feet. Zayn hailed a taxi with one arm still supporting his slave. Liam fell easily into the passenger seat; a little blood from his wrapped wound staining the headrest. Zayn shivered at the reminder and hurried around to the other side.

"We're getting away the moment you can walk. I promise I won't let anything else happen to you."

Liam turned to look at Zayn, lids heavy and smile dropping. "I love you," he slurred and Zayn nearly tore apart the Earth with his inferno of need to protect this man.

"I love you, Liam." Zayn gave the driver his address and they drove away from the town and didn't look back.

***

Happy #SlaveMeThursday! I know I promised happy go fluffy Ziam time but I've never been one for an easy story. Only a couple more chapters and then book 2 will start eventually (after a small break). And I SWEAR I will give you the fluffy Ziam you deserve then.

Until then...

COMMENTS AND VOTES! MWAH!! Xoxo