A single bullet // M.C ✔️

53

"Is that her?" A photo album was sprawled out on the table of young Michael and the boys. "She's beautiful." A splitting image of Ashton was on the table, a small Polaroid photo of Lauren at Ashton's house surrounded by the boys. Her brown hair framed her face perfectly, and a flowery dress covered her body.

"That was the last time we went back home to Australia to see everyone. Ash's mom had a little welcome party and forced us to take that photo. None of us wanted to, but now we're all glad we did." Michael was beside me, playing with his hands, and his few rings glancing occasionally at the photos.

"I can't believe he wanted to get rid of these." I spoke sadly, shaking my head before moving to tie my hair up so it was out of the way.

"He was hurt Ni, we all were. Luke just had the smart idea to hide the photos, especially that one." A tattooed finger reached out and ran softly along the surface of the photo, barely touching the surface. I refused to talk about Lauren in the past tense to him to help him not go into his bubble.

"He'll be thankful one day." I reached for another photo of Ashton and Lauren with a cake saying 'welcome home' in red icing.

"If Anne knew that was the last time she would see Lauren, she wouldn't have let her fly back home." I turned my body and hugged Michael, sighing.

"We can stop." I muttered into his chest, seeing him work himself up as he shook his head.

"If I don't do it now, I never will." I sympathetically smiled at him, nodding once and looking at the photos again, moving some around into nice little photos.

"Did, did whoever do it get caught?"

"We never found out who did it. We put a pin in it after loads of dead ends, and we had to move on. It's the one killing I wish we didn't move on from."

"My dad?"

"We're still trying to figure that out, Ni, don't worry. I feel like we're getting closer, but then we hit more dead ends." He was under strict instructions not to tell me anything he finds out about Dad's murder until he was completely sure it was the truth. I didn't want any fake stories and lies. I didn't want false hope to then be shot down in a million pieces and rebuilt with every scenario.

"I trust you. I just want an answer I can give Mom." The fact the funeral was drawing closer meant it was more in my mind day in and day out. I just wanted a reason to tell my aunt when she blames me like she will regardless of it being his funeral; she won't care. She'll tear me down till I'm broken more and unable to speak. It's what she does until Mom... or Dad, would come and stop her.

Mom deserved an answer, Alex deserved an answer as to why he lost a Dad and threw himself deep into work or so Morgan says. And Morgan, just needs a reason to stop blaming the gang.  Granted it's been a while since the boys went on a proper killing spree, but their team still does, and I know Morgan's waiting for one slip-up from one of them to trace it to the four known leaders.

"What's this?" I grasped gently at an envelope, putting it out of the book and holding it delicately between my fingertips.

"A letter I wrote to her..." he looked at the messy writing scribbled on the front.
'Lauren's eyes only'
"Never got the chance to give it to her." He removed the thin paper from my hands, sliding it back into the book.

"What did it say?" I dared to ask, leaning to the side slightly to watch him closely.

"It was a way out of the gang," instantly his words were sent towards me. "Money, new ID, just a bunch of things that couldn't be tracked back to her. She went before I gave it to her." My heart ached hearing his tone a lot softer than usual, his eyes not leaving the paper even if it was not the other side of the table. "None of the boys knew about it, just me. It was my plan."

"That's so sweet, Mikey." I turned the page, meeting the baby eyes of him staring back at me.

"You have one to..."

"Funny joke." I couldn't help myself, slamming my hand down on the photo and looking up at him. "I'm not going anywhere."

"Nicky, please-,"

"No!" Rapidly shaking my head, I removed my hand, shifting my body to the side on the dining chair to fully face him. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I'm not sending you anywhere, Nicky," his hands gently caressed my knees, sighing softly. "But you have to promise me if something happens, if something kicks off, you leave. I don't want you to get hurt or killed because of me."

"And I won't." I pushed, leaning forward. "The same as I'm not going anywhere."

"The names Ava Johansen and you have about $40,000 waiting for you."

"Michael-,"

"You have a home up north in the Uk, I couldn't bear to send you back to London with unbroken bones. It's only a small thing with basic furniture, which is why you have so much, so you can decorate how you want."

"Michael."

"Just say yes, Nicky, to ease my mind. I lost Lauren without giving her hers. Let me give you yours even if you don't physically take the shit. Just ease my mind; you'll be safe if shit goes down."

"I-," his eyes were pleading and slightly glossy, making me nod. "Fine. I'm not taking it physically from Michael, but I'll take it. I promise if shit goes down, I'll be Ava. If you come and find me."

"I don't think I can..." I frowned at that, shaking my head.

"No, you can. You want me to leave you on a battlefield in the middle of fire? You can at least promise me you'll make your way back to me after, unharmed and alive. I don't want any messages from the gang saying you're dead." The fact we were even having this conversation hurt me deeply, but I knew it was needed. I knew Kensie had this talk with Luke; there's no way she hasn't.

"I'll try."

"No, a proper promise." My voice didn't waver as I spoke the clearest I had for a while, only really keeping the tone just for Michael when he gets stuck in his mind and I have to draw him out of it.

"Nicky..."

"Then no, I'm not going anywhere." I pushed against the table, making an awful screeching noise fill the room. Annoyed, he couldn't see where I was coming from. I thought we were good, great even.

"You are even if I make one of the boys take you."

"As if they have any say in this shit. Why can't you see I'm as scared for you as you are for me? I'll need to know you're safe, Michael, as much as you need me safe," he didn't even move as I stared him down in disbelief. "You know what? Fine, if that's what you want to hear. If anything kicks off, I'll be Ava and forget all about this stupid fucking life I had here! I'll drop everyone like you're asking me to. My friends, my family." Everything just bursted out of me, and he just took it. "You." My voice changed to a whisper, pushing the chair in, photo albums long forgotten. "I'll be a new person."

——