A single bullet // M.C ✔️

85

Alex had left my message on read. I had sent him a simple message asking to meet him because I had something important to discuss. However, he had decided not to respond, which made me anxious. I hadn't told Michael about it yet because I thought it would annoy him.

He was fast asleep, letting small puffs of air escape his lips on the sofa beside me. This was the first time in a while that he had been able to fall into a deep sleep. Morgan had left him stressed yesterday, barely uttering another word after he reluctantly agreed to meet me and then left, also ignoring my messages that were sent to him. I had made sure he knew he didn't have to do this.

"You could just go over," Kensie's soft voice came through the phone, accompanied by slight rustling.

"Are you painting?" I had grown accustomed to that familiar noise from when we lived together, which felt like an eternity ago. The bristles brushing against the rough surface of the canvas added paint to the pristine white canvas. The soft hum I received in response confirmed my suspicions and suggested that I had possibly called her at the wrong time, though I knew she would never admit it.

"Don't change the subject on me, Nicky," she laughed, and a clatter was heard: "shit."

"Making a mess?" I joked, chuckling back down the phone to her.

"Always, but seriously, Nic, just go over. They were your family all your life."

"But Kens," I whined, throwing my head back. "It isn't that simple. I-" movement beside me as Michael woke up, rubbing his eyes harshly. "I don't think I'm welcome."

"Again, you're family to him, Nicky. Just go and see him in person. Maybe if you show interest, he'll show interest back."

"I detest that you're always right." I didn't. I adored it, and she was aware of my affection. She consistently had the knack for saying what would soothe me. Although I genuinely didn't want to see Alex in person, I recognised that it would be the most suitable course of action moving forward. It's a significant request and one that I'm going to be making to him, asking him to meet me in person and make an effort.

"No, you don't. Please say hi to Michael for me. I have to clean up this mess before Luke actually kills me. We'll have to go out tomorrow or something just the two of us to catch up properly."

"Will do, love you Kens,"

"Love you to Nic," silence struck me as she hung up. I placed my phone down on the coffee table with a soft clatter before settling. I sheepishly glanced at Michael, hoping he hadn't heard my one-sided conversation. However, the expression on his face betrayed me; he had.

He looked stern and resolute at me, rubbing his eyes and giving me a pointed look.

"I know I have to go see Alex," I muttered, defeated. "And I will. But I just don't know when." My hands slightly shook as my mind raced with every possible outcome. I didn't think he would agree to help, and that pushed me away from mentioning it to him. As much as I love Alex, he isn't as understanding as Morgan. He won't understand why he has to help; why he can't hurt Michael. If he knew the truth, he would know what would happen.

"Did he not reply?" Michael knew I had messaged him, did it before he fell asleep, which happened while waiting for a reply. There was no point lying to the male. His jumper sleeves were bundled in his fists tightly as his knee bounced brutally up and down, showing me how he was feeling. Nervous. It sent a nice feeling through my body knowing he's feeling the exact same way about this as I am.

"Read it but didn't reply," my fingers moved to unlock my phone before I pushed the lit up device towards him so he could read u weren't lying. "I think I'll go over," my mind had been made up as Noah popped back into my mind, someone who's been living in there rent free at the moment. Something needed to happen to him before something happened to me again or someone else. There was no idea who his next victim of the gang would be and if it was Kensie again I don't think I would cope.

Luke would charge in guns blazing, and Calum would follow suit. I would lose my best friend and my brother before our lives could truly evolve together. I couldn't bear that thought, and I knew that if Kensie survived, she wouldn't be able to cope with her boyfriend's death due to being outnumbered by Unbroken. This was necessary, even though I loathed it.

"I believe that's probably the best course of action. We need him to have Morgan," he gently grabbed my arm and pulled me into his side, softly kissing my forehead and sighing, "When did things become so challenging?"

"When I met you," I looked up at him through my lashes with a cheeky smile that was evident on my face, causing him to actually laugh out loud.

"I would rather say that's when my life improved, not when it became more challenging, although you did introduce some complications." His voice was calm and soft as he looked back at me kissing my forehead again and softly letting out a warmth breath warming the skin underneath it. His hand travelled around my waist and hovered above my stomach "made me realise a few things."

"What?" My mind raced with possibilities, trying to decipher his meaning and reference. However, I hesitated to voice my thoughts, fearing I might be mistaken. As he attempted to position himself slightly closer, our eyes met, and I remained still.

"When everything settles down and life becomes more manageable, I want to start a family with you, Nicky. I yearn for a life free from the gang's influence, a life where we can build a normal existence together."

My breath got caught in my throat in a small gasp pushing away from his body, his hand falling away from my stomach.

"You would leave this life?"

"I would... for you Nicky. Luke had briefly mentioned it with Kensie and I thought it was so fucking stupid but seeing what happened with you and Noah, loosing the baby. I think it's needed once Noah's dealt with."

"I'll make you a deal, Mikey," I said, locking eyes with him. His eyes were so sincere that I could see every inch of emotion he usually tries to hide. "If Alex helps us sort Noah out once and for all, and if Alex helps, you don't have to leave this life." I shook my head, pleased that he agreed, but I couldn't let him go if it wasn't something he truly wanted deep down. "Just calm down a bit. If life allows it, I want a baby, and nothing will stop us," I gulped, trying to swallow my emotions. "I don't want to put them in danger, so I want to move out if we have a child. Out of New York and the busy city, to a little suburb somewhere where you can still run the gang, but we'll be out of harm's way."

Each word was being took in by Michael and I could tell as he gently nodded and hummed along. "But if something happens to me..." I stopped seeing him frown "I want you to move on and do this with another girl,"

"Where is this coming from Nicky?"

"Just promise me Mikey please."

"Nicky-,"

"Please Michael," I begged feeling so pathetic but I needed him to utter the two words I promise to me. "You can't be hung up on me if I die."

"You're not going to die. Don't talk like that,"

Slight stubble was under my fingertips as I finally made skin to skin contact with Michael, gently gripping his face letting him turn his head slightly and kiss the palm of my hand delicately.

"I know I'm not because I have someone who will protect me. But I also refuse to let you kill yourself for me. Just promise me Michael," he couldn't go back into the fortress I've worked so hard to break through, building the walls back up and filling in the holes. This was a new Michael and hopefully one that's here to stay.

"Fine I promise."

"Thank you. I love you."

"Forever."

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