A single bullet // M.C ✔️

54

Time seemed to fly by slowly as my hand pushed against the cafe door, the bell doing its usual soothing ding. Kensie spun around matching red eyes to Michael's before letting out a breath and hurrying over to me wrapping her arms tightly around me as I just stared over her shoulder.

"They haven't been called yet," she whispered in my ear as my eyes flickered around "we wanted you to say bye before family burst into the picture."

"Thank you." I spoke truthfully thankful I got a bit of time before Morgan and Alex came into the room. Kensie let her arms fall from around me sidestepping to the side.

"She's out the back. They moved the body." That explains the blood on Michael's hands, "you don't have to-,"

"No I do." I interrupted looking at her sadly, mascara running into my bags as she shook her head

"I was going to say you don't have to go by yourself. Michael will be back soon, or Calum."

"Calum will want his own time to say bye," I pointed out letting my eyes well up again at the thought of Calum seeing his Grandma, just on the floor. "I need my own time, just... keep Michael out here so he's ready when I'm back out." I also knew that I would need the man as soon as I leave the back and want to break down.

"Are you sure?" I thought over the single question that was just filled and littered with concern towards me. After dad dying my life's been a rollercoaster of ups and downs and drama. I've had issues and deaths clear in my life and this is just another one. I've never had as much happened in a short period of time than this one.

"I think I am." I nodded firmly making myself try to believe the words now leaving my lips. After what felt like forever I finally let myself walk into the back room taking a deep breath at the door and pushing it open. The air felt suffocating as I looked the room over seeing a few splatters of blood from her and her body...

Usually her face was full of so much life and colour but now, it was all grey and dull. Not a hint of a reaction, hint of life, just nothing. She looked so much more frail, more delicate and as if a gust of wind would knock her off her feet. I walked towards the body letting my knees buckle and lower my upper half down so I was right in front of her.

"Thank you Margaret for everything," I let my words hang in the air barely hovering a hand above her own not wanting my own prints on her body. "Without you I wouldn't have met Calum, wouldn't have met Michael." A ghost of a smile appeared as I thought of the man. I met him in a club with would have lost contact with him if it weren't for Calum. "You would be happy to hear we're together. Well I hope you would be." I laughed softly closing my eyes "it means I'm out of harms way of the gang, no one will hurt me. I'm safe and ok. Calum will also look out for me and I'll look out for him."

Comfort flooded my body as I just knelt there talking to her "he's now stuck with me Margaret. I wish you were still here I don't know why you were targeted and by who. I just- wish you weren't. You were like family away from my family. Me and mom had a falling out I kind of snapped at her for not bothering with me. I just wish she knew how much it hurts when she favours Alex." I heard movement behind me looking over my shoulder and meeting Michael's eyes letting me know Calum was here.

Letting myself take a deep breath I pushed my body off the floor and looked down at her still body smiling softly "I'll forever love you Margaret thank you for everything." The words hung around in the air as I swiftly hurried over to Michael throwing my body into his awaiting arms. Gently he pulled me away from the door so Calum could walk in and say his goodbyes as I hid my face in his chest feeling the flood of tears fill my eyes.

"Who did this?" I croaked out. No one hated her, she was the sweet woman who ran a cafe, never had enemies in the world.

"We don't know," his hand rubbed my back softly making me let out another sigh "we have thoughts though."

"Spill." I spoke stern pulling away from him and wiping under my eyes cleaning up any running eyeliner or mascara

"Maybe now's not the time..."

"Michael." I growled slightly wanting to know who they think did this awful thing.

He sighed glancing over at Luke making me clap my hands loudly to bring his attention back over to me. In a whisper he finally spoke making my heart drop to my heart. Of course it was. Every issue recently is to do with them. Every death near me was caused by them.

"Unbroken."

——