three || not a trace



Harry




I woke up early the next morning, as I always do when I have a big day ahead of me. Throughout my years of working for Whit, I managed to acquire quite a large sum of money. I saved a lot of it, I had never been one to be flashy with how much I have, unlike Whit, who did showy things like buying Rolexes, and driving his matte grey Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster, equipped with all of the extra options, like carbon fiber mirrors and the night package, replacing all of the chrome accents with a matte black. I will admit, I have always wanted to drive that car, but I don't think I'd ever be flashy enough to buy one for myself. 


   I did, however, buy myself a flat. It was pretty nice, especially for someone my age, but then again, not most people my age have my occupation. I didn't really consider my flat my home, since I spent more time at the Fort than I did here, but I did enjoy it. It was one of the only places I felt I could almost fully relax...almost. I never quite let myself get comfortable, in any aspect of life, as I learned the hard way, everything can change without a moment's notice.


     It was decorated a little I suppose. Not as cold and controlled as the Fort was, it was warmer, homier. I didn't quite like the harsh decor of the Fort, although I'd never tell Whit that, as it was like his child, he was so proud of his designs for the place.


     I stretched out my limbs in my bed, groaning as different joints popped and cracked, before swinging my legs over the side of the bed, sighing, and standing up. I went from my bedroom downstairs to my kitchen, fixing myself some eggs and toast, and pouring myself a large mug of hot coffee. 


    I sat in silence, while I ate, not yet feeling fully awake. After cleaning and putting away the dishes, which I always had to do right after I ate, I never understood people who could just leave food covered dishes in the sink, I went back upstairs to take a shower. 


   I cranked up the heat almost all the way, leaning my head against the shower wall, letting the water pour over me in a lazy heat, before washing my hair and my body. I don't know how long I stood in there, I had always been a fan of long showers, although my water bill wasn't. Whit bought fancy cars and nice watches, and I coughed up the extra money each month in order to maintain my ridiculously long shower habit. To each their own I suppose.


     After I showered, I decided to watch whatever idiotic movie was playing on the TV, but I wasn't really watching it. I was zoned out, focused on my mission for tonight, and eagerly awaiting a text from Abel, to tell me that he had found the location. I had full confidence that he would, he always did. I always admired his abilities, he was so smart and advanced for someone his age. Just like Whit, if you didn't know him, you'd think he was just a sweet, nerdy teenage boy, who liked to mess around on computers, not the infamous hacker and genius that he was. He was a good kid though, as good as you can be I suppose, when you're in the same field as me. I always thought of him as a little brother, and I think he thought of me in a brotherly way as well.


    It was as though he knew I was thinking about him, because only a few minutes later, I saw his name light up my phone. I sat up straight and opened my phone quickly, excited for what he had to say.


   A smile spread across my face as I stared down at the illuminated screen, finally seeing the words that I had been waiting for all day. 


Abel: "Come down to the Fort mate, I got it. It's showtime."




*****


      After being given my usual hard time by Ralph when I arrived at the Fort, I went straight to work, preparing for my eventful evening. Making my way over to the weapons station, I grabbed a couple of magazines and pistols, stuffing them in the same duffel bag that I left home with six years ago. 


    I packed my holster, looked around for some throwing knives, even though I knew if I used any knife, it would be the one that I carry in my back pocket every day. 


   "Styles! Ready to whoop some ass?" I hear Will's powerful voice booming behind me. When he wasn't on a mission, he had absolutely not one ounce of subtlety, commanding an audience wherever he was. Taking long strides he was right next to me in no time, throwing a bulky arm around my shoulders. I could have sworn I shrunk under the weight of his arm alone. I was in extremely good shape, I had to be, but Will? The man was monstrously ripped. I shrugged his arm off me and chuckled, turning to face him.


   "Yeah, whooping ass I am familiar with, but saving ass? Not so much," I joked.


He laughed back at me, placing his hands on his hips and looking down at my duffle bag, throwing his head back and erupting into another fit of laughter. 


    "Harry, you have had that same bag since the day I met you, don't you think it's time to invest in a new one? It's not like you're tight on money or anything."


I shrugged back and him. "I could buy a new bag, but there isn't anything wrong with this one. It does its job, it holds stuff, that's all I need."


   Will blew out a puff of air, shaking his head at me. "Alright buddy, keep the bag then. I just hope you aren't walking around in public with it when it finally does break, and you spill out enough firearms for a small country for all the world to see."


  Our playful banter is interrupted by Niall and Abel, with all of their supplies in their own bags, looking at us expectantly.


   We stared back in silence, each of us waiting for the other to say something, and I think we were all surprised to find that it was Abel that would break the silence.


   "Well? Are we gonna stand here all day? Or are we gonna get this shit done?" 


   We all burst into laughter at his sudden outburst, Will pulling him in to ruffle his curly head of hair. 


  "Come on team!" Niall called, twirling the keys to our SUV around his finger, already making his way toward the doors. "Let's rollout."




********* 


It's a surprisingly long drive to our location, the sky above us growing darker with each passing minute, my adrenaline already pumping through my veins.


   Abel said we were going near James' flat. Abel had been keeping tabs on him for the past week or two, and reported back to us that every single night, at 9:20 p.m. sharp, James walked from his apartment, down an alleyway, and took a left, continuing a few blocks down, before stopping and going to the local Pub. 


   If a seventeen year old was able to figure out James' daily rituals, then I'm sure Beck's guys had too, and that the assassination would most likely take place in that alleyway, since I doubt there are any cameras or much activity going on there. 


   We pull up near the alleyway, and Will and I pull our hoods up, ready and eager. I check one more time to make sure I have everything I need: gun, extra ammo, Whit's business card, and finally, the knife I never leave the house without.  


    Will does the same thing, loading some more bullets into his gun, when I hear my phone ringing. I roll my eyes, already knowing who is calling. 


   I slide the phone open, answering the call. "Yes, Whit, we are here." 


   "Good, and you understand everything you need to do?" he questioned. I knew how important this was to not only him, but our whole operation. His tone held no humour.


"Yes I know, I know!" I cried out in frustration. 


"Harry, you cannot mess this up. Do you realize how important this is...." he rattled on, and I mouthed, "Blah, Blah, Blah" to Will, earning some stifled snickers from him. 


  I was snapped back into the conversation by Whit, his voice much louder now as he commanded my attention.


"Do you hear me, Styles? You get in, you get out. No screw-ups, no loose ends, and no witnesses."


   "Yes, Whit. We got it. Don't worry. I'll call you when it's done."


"Good. And good luck." And with that, he ended the call. 


  


   Will and I said our goodbyes to Abel and Niall, hopping out of the car and watching the black SUV pull away, leaving only me, Will, and our mission.


  We headed back to the alley, finding a good place to hide behind some old cardboard boxes, about halfway down the alley. I looked down and squinted to see my watch in the faint glow of the streetlights on either side of the alley. 9:18 p.m. Almost time. 


     I heard the faint whispering of two other men, and I discreetly peeked around the corner of where we hid, seeing the two men that I suppose are here to assassinate James, with no idea that it was their bodies that were about to drop, not his. 


  I narrowed my eyes, watching as they hid behind a set of stairs placed under the window of a run-down apartment, and seconds later diverted my attention to the new figure, making his way down the alleyway. James.


   He was a shorter, stouter man. With a quiff of blonde hair that was threatening to turn grey around the edges. He walked at a leisurely pace, blissfully unaware of the destruction that he was about to witness.


   Will nudged me, and I followed his gaze to see James' attackers, readying themselves, and stepping out to reveal themselves to him. 


   James stopped abruptly and clutched his chest, startled by their appearance.


"Uh, e-evening gentleman! Wonderful night out tonight, i-isn't it?" He stuttered.


The two men looked at each other before chuckling darkly. "James, you know who we are, and you know why we are here. Grayson doesn't seem to be taking Quinton's warning too seriously, but I have a feeling that killing his right-hand man will help him to get the picture." One of them sneered, both of them edging closer to James.


   "Gentlem-man, please, I b-beg you to reconsider. Please, I w-will call Grayson now and tell him to return the money. Please, just let me be on my way," James begged.


   "Sorry James, no can do," The other man spoke, putting his hand on his hip, reaching for his gun, before continuing, "But you know what? It is a wonderful night out tonight! A wonderful night to die."


   He grinned at James, flipping the safety on his gun off, cocking it, and aiming it at him.


Will and I stood up and exited our hiding place, revealing ourselves to them.


We pulled out our guns, cocking them, the sound drawing the attention to us.


"You are so right! It is a wonderful night to die!" I chirped, Will and I aiming our guns at James' attackers.  


   "A wonderful night for you to die," I finished, and before they had a chance to even process what was going on, Will and I had pulled the triggers,  sending bullets flying through the air, and directly into their skulls, leaving their bodies slumped and lifeless on the cold unforgiving concrete. 


   James looked up at us in bewilderment and awe, his jaw nearly hitting the blood-covered ground beneath him. 


   "W-who are you?" he asked breathlessly. "H-how can I ever thank you?"


   I laughed, slipping my fingers into my pocket and pulling out Whit's business card with my middle and index finger, handing it to him.


   "By giving this to your boss, tell him Whit wants to talk." Will spoke, watching as James' shaky hand met mine to grab the small piece of paper from my fingers.


   "Well, y-yes of course, I will do that, um, thank you?" He sputtered, still shaken up, probably due to the two dead bodies encircling him. 


   "Good. I suggest you return home now, it's not safe to be in an alleyway all alone at night." I smirked, gesturing down to the corpses.


    He gulped and tried to find something else to say, but all that he could manage was a nod, before turning around, practically running back to his apartment, his short and shaky breaths coming out rapidly and leaving clouds in the cold night air.


  Will and I turned to each other and exchanged high fives, before sighing and remembering our work was not yet finished.


   "Ugh, where are the trainees when you need them?" Will groaned, as we both began the annoying part of our jobs, cleaning up the aftermath.


   I sighed in agreement with him and got to work.




*****


We called Niall and Abel once the work was done, and minutes later saw the bright headlights of our car lighting up the alleyway. 


    We all exchanged congratulations of a job well done, before heading off, back to the fort. Another mission done, and boy did we feel good.


 "Whit is gonna be so pumped," Abel gushed, leaning back over his seat to talk to us, practically bouncing with excitement.


   "I think I see a bonus in our futures!" Niall cheered, slapping the steering wheel.


We all laughed and chatted amongst ourselves as we continued on our long journey back to the Fort. 


   It truly was a job well done. Executed perfectly, to absolute perfection, just like Whit wanted. We got in, we got out. No loose ends, no screw-ups, and no witnesses. 


  Like thieves in the night, we came, we went, and we didn't leave a trace. Now, all we had to do was wait to hear from Grayson, then the real work with our alliance could begin.


   And I have to say, I for one, couldn't wait.










AN: HI GUYS!! Wow, thank you so much for all of your support so far on this story it makes me so unbelievably happy to see other people enjoying my work! I hope you liked this chapter, and that you are bracing yourselves for the next few chapters. Chapter Four will be up soon, and there is someone there that I can't wait for you all to meet! ;) Don't forget to vote and comment, and again, thank you all so much! xx.

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