A single bullet // M.C ✔️

07

'Please come into the office at 8 a.m. sharp for a meeting.' Is a message that I woke up to on my phone, messing me up to be standing in the office on a day I'm usually off.

"Couldn't have done this on a day I'm in?" The scruffy man rolled his eyes in front of me, resting his elbows on his desk and leaning forward.

"Want to explain your last article? They have gone into hiding, have they?"

"That wasn't my article." It's too early for this; my brain can't process what's happening. "And that isn't a lie either. The article that was published wasn't my article."

"Because your article, Nicola, was quite frankly shit. How can you make reports on a gang if they have gone into hiding?!" He raised his voice at the end, making me now roll my eyes at him.

"Listen here, Dave, I did one article about C coming out, and the next murder he did... they are using my articles as plans." I was losing my temper at this man.

"Don't be so delusional, Nicky," delusional, delusional my ass.

"The gang has been around for years, Dave. C never and I mean never has been seen or even made a single appearance. It was rumoured he was the mind behind disarming cameras and stuff back at their base. Never in the killing, never in the limelight. My article comes out, and all of a sudden, he comes out to play. I gave him an idea!"

"You're lucky you're a good writer, Nicky, or you would have been fired for the way you're talking to me right now. You are to take a few days off writing them. I want another article in my inbox middle of next week. Preferably staying they did the plan that you found."

"I would prefer it if you did fire me. Would mean I wouldn't have to do this and put myself in danger."

"You aren't in danger." Was his short answer before he started typing on his computer.

"Is this conversation done? I have plans..." no answer, "I'll take that as a yes. I'll send you the new article next week." I need this job time to make my mouth shut up. I pushed against the heavy wooden desk and stood up, sending Dave a fake smile before heading towards the door. "Waste of my fucking time."

"Watch where the hell you're going!" Was yelled at the person who nearly body slammed me as soon as I stepped foot out of the office block, making my stop in my step. "What is with people bumping into me the last few days? Am I all of a sudden a magnet?"

"Fancy seeing you here." Fucks sake.

"You." I turned and faced him. "You stalking me? Watched me leave Margaret's, followed me home, and found out where I work?"

"Not many N.S. who do reports, Nicola Smith." Calum smirked, pushing off the wall he was leaning against, kicking against the floor.

"You are such a fucking creep."

"And you're someone who's been driving me mental since I met you yesterday."

"And now you're obsessed. Do me a favour, Calum, and just leave me alone before I report your ass."

"Report me to the only person who will care: your uncle or your brother?" Ok now he's creeping me even more out.

"Who are you?" I whispered, confusion clear all over me.

"I'm Calum. Like you said." He laughed. "Gran talks about you all the time; that's how I know all this stuff. She was concerned for some reason. And when she was on about some loudmouth girl with black and white hair, I thought it was you."

"There's no reason for Margaret to worry like she said. I'm a loudmouth girl with black and white hair."

"Who's sprouting her mouth all over New York about the biggest gang?" He smirked, stepping closer. "Revealing their biggest secrets. How did you know C was planning on coming out, huh? Biggest reporter for the biggest newspaper in on the biggest gang? You got links, darling?" If I get called darling one more time.

"If I had links, I wouldn't be doing these reports, would I?" Stupid. "Luckily for them, I'm just amazing at guessing clearly, or they use my articles as their plans." Why am I okay with spilling all this to a complete stranger? I was about to say something else before he snapped his head to the side, looking down an alleyway.

"Best get home, Nicky. It's going to be crazy out here."

"It's only 9am the fuck." I turned and tried to see what he was looking at. Ominous darkness. Again, what a fucking creep. "You got a tattoo?" I focused in on the small tally marks on his collarbone, barely peeking out from his top.

"Checking me out?"

"I like tattoos." I shrugged, wishing I had some ink covering my skin.

"I have plenty of tattoos, just not for your eyes to see."

"What's the meaning of the tally?" I leant up closer, making him groan and push me away.

"Beat it, Nicky. I meant it. It's about to get really messy down here. And you don't want to be around for that."

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