CHAPTER 2: Where Is Styles Potter - 3

Now tell me where the fuck your brother the thief is or I promise you, honey, there will be blood here — he snaps at me, his mouth just millimeters from mine.

I stand petrified, completely disturbed by his words and the fear that sinks into my entire system from the brutality of his words.

I don't know what to do, I'm between a rock and a hard place.

I know that even if I don't say anything, they'll find him eventually and it's obvious that they're so out of their minds that I'm not going to be able to convince them to leave.

I can't move, I feel useless and to top it all, I'm unable to find a solution that won't make my brother suffer so badly.

Even without knowing what he's up to, my older sister's instinct pushes me to protect him above all and everyone.

So stubborn tears rolled down from my eyes and I was frustrated that I couldn't get rid of them because he had my hands pinned behind my back.

I can barely move and his body against mine is... driving me crazy.

The guy who went looking for my brother comes out of the room with Sandy; he's so angry that it scares me.

Snorting with anger, he heads toward us, holding a gun.

WHERE THE FUCK IS HE HIDING?! he roars, pointing the gun at me to get me to talk.

I cried and shook my head, nervous.

This is the end.

I see that he's more than capable of pulling that trigger; I close my eyes.

I won't say a word.

An impulse leads me to confront him.

Shoot me if you're such a man!

I'm not going to give you shit! I scream so loud that my vocal cords burn.

The grip around my body tightens, but I catch a hint of a smile on my captor's brutal features.

My interlocutor, on the other hand, seems ready to explode at any moment while the others approach, shaking their heads as if to say, "There's nothing here."

They've left the apartment in a mess.

What the hell am I going to do now? I can barely afford to live on what I earn...

Hunter, the tone of the man holding me sounds like a warning.

Hunter nods, his jaw so tight I fear it will crack at any second and takes a deep breath to calm himself.

Then a tall man with a thick, ruddy beard stares into mine with his ebony-black eyes and speaks.

His accent is rhythmic and aggressive.

Where's your brother hiding?

We know, you know how to fuck! He blow.

And if he hadn't just called me a bitch, I would start to tremble but instead, anger makes me raise my head haughtily and give him my best "fuck you" look.

He punches the wall.

Listen, sweetie, you better talk now.

What your little brother has done is very serious, nobody steals from wild Fiends, are we clear?

So be a good girl, move that fat ass, and tell us that cowardly dog to come here, now.

We will settle the score with him and leave you alone — a very attractive man with long blond hair and seductive features intervenes.

He seems less brutal but his words send one wave of alert after another through me.

He's gone on a trip, I lie shamelessly.

Which makes several of them burst out laughing, some out of pure rage, like Hunter, who looks at me like he wants to kill me.

Presi, what do we do with her? A bearded man who wears a black jacket and his appearance is that of a soldier asked.

I immediately stepped forward, pleading.

Please let me go.

I won't do anything, I swear.

It's a big lie but he doesn't have to know that.

The club president growls at my face and shakes his head in annoyance.

I have no trouble admitting that he didn't believe a single word I said because to be honest, I wouldn't have believed it myself.

Anyone in my situation would do anything to defend their family.

I'm capable of anything and he reads my intentions very well.

I hope the neighbors hear the scandal and call the police...Although I don't have much hope of that happening.

In my neighborhood, it seems that the law doesn't exist; you see very crude things every day, and we citizens have to fend for ourselves.

It is the law of the strongest that prevails, I learned that from a very young age.

I do not flinch before his wild gaze, even though my heart is racing and fear is eating me inside.

My pride has always been very strong and prevents me from giving him the satisfaction of knowing to what extent he intimidates and upsets me.

Hunter, Hector, search every corner — a very attractive, dark-skinned man with green eyes orders the crazy guy who has his gun pointed at me, who nods obediently.

Hunter, on the other hand, gives me a few disturbing words before disappearing down the hall.

Rest assured that if I find him hiding like the rat he is, I will teach him to respect women.

Nobody touches my wife, he tells me, with so much hatred that I am paralyzed, not daring to reply.

Then it leaves, like a whirlwind, ready to sweep everything away.

Presi, what if we tie her up? one of them suggests.

I'll take care of her, Parry — he answers, impassive.

My arms are already hurting from the brute force with which he grabs me, the worst thing is that he doesn't seem to be aware of it.

This man is very dangerous, every pore of his body screams it.

They are all criminals.

"God, styles, what the fuck have you gotten yourself into?"

What did he do? I asked him.

I need to know something, anything but he ignores me.

I curse him inwardly.

I have the right to know! I lose my temper and end up shouting.

I quickly realize the grave mistake I have made as his sea-blue irises darken completely in anger, his expression becomes dangerous and so authoritarian that it intimidates me to the core.

I had to apologize but he moved in front of me in a surprising movement, coming within a millimeter of my mouth.

I can smell his minty breath, which sends a chill down my spine.

Heavens, what is he going to do to me?

NEVER SHOUT AT ME AGAIN the voice whispers, very slowly, so coldly that I cringe.

Then he walks away, freeing me.

I am stunned, I can't believe he let me go.

I look at him, hoping there's something fishy going on.

If you move or try anything, it will go very badly for you, he threatens me and I nod like a madwoman.

Then a very loud bang resounds from inside my room and it is the alarm signal I had been waiting for a while, like the confirmation of my worst fears.

They have found him.