BITTER - Michael Gray.

FIFTEEN.

♛

"Stay there." Tommy instructed as he got out of the car. Michael was in the passenger seat and Olivia was sat in the back.

They were parked up in a warehouse. A car much larger than theirs was parked opposite, and out came Mr Alfie Solomons himself. He seemed to have brought an accomplice with him.

"My heart breaks for him." Michael sighed.

"Didn't know you had one." Liv joked. Instead of shouting at her, Michael appeared to laugh. Just a little one, but definitely a laugh.

"I'm all heart me. Just need to get me to show it." He rested his arm on the window frame.

"I don't get why they took Charlie. And I barely know who Father Hughes is so what's he got to do with it all?" She thought aloud.

"They took him as an incentive. If Tommy does what they want he'll get his boy back. Father Hughes is a story for another time." Michael's voice lowered at the mention of the priest.

Realising it was probably best to leave it, Olivia stayed silent. She watched Tommy as he handed over a bundle of cash and reading some bits of paper. The amount of money he handed over seemed disproportionately large compared to what he got in return.

He drew out his gun and pointed it at Alfie. Alfie's accomplice did the same, instead pointing at Tommy.

"Oi, should we help him?" Michael sat up properly.

"Nah. It's Tom. He's got it under control." Liv patted Michael on the shoulder.

"They're using my boy!" Tommy shouted in despair.

"Just give it a minute. Then we'll go." Liv lent forward to watch the scene unfold.

Michael's head was extremely close to her own. If either of them turned their head then their lips would be touching. Liv could see the nerves, he was bouncing his leg up and down whilst picking his nails.

Tommy made a leap at Alfie, pinning him down to the ground and throttling him.

"Go." Liv slapped Michael's shoulder once more as he leapt out of the car.

Alfie's accomplice pulled Tommy off of his employer and held a gun to his throat. Michael reacted like lightning, sending a bullet just about the accomplice's ear. His body pushed Tommy over so that they were both on the floor. Tommy's face was blood splattered.

Michael was white as a sheet. He'd just murdered someone.

"Oh for crying out loud. What the fuck is going on?" Alfie clambered up off the ground.

Tommy pointed his gun at Alfie as he approached him. The two men started shouting at each other whilst Michael stood there like a spare part. He quickly pushed his way in between the men and shouted at Tommy.

"I know this bastard deserves it. I know. But if you kill him now, the truce with the London Outfits will be blown to fucking pieces, all right?" Michael yelled in Tommy's face.

"Don't worry about the truce kid, it fell apart." Alfie breathed heavily as he spoke. "You've got nothing to worry about when it comes to the old scary London boys."

"Which fucking side are you on Alfie?" Michael screamed at him.

"I don't give a fuck right now kid, right?" Alfie shouted right back.

"Michael, calm down." Olivia spoke slowly. Both Michael and Tommy had forgotten she was in the back of the car.

"I do not want him to spare me because of some fucking peace pact! I want him to acknowledge that his anger is un-fucking-justified! I want him to acknowledge that he who fights by the sword, he fucking dies by it Tommy. So what, they took your boy, eh? They got your boy. And what fucking line am I supposed to have crossed? How many fathers, right, how many sons have you cut, killed, fucking butchered, innocent and guilty, to send straight to fucking hell ain't ya! Just like me! You fucking stand there, you judging me, standing there and talk to me about crossing some fucking line. If you pull that trigger, yeah, you pull that trigger for a fucking honourable reason. Like an honourable man, not like some fucking civilian that does not understand the wicked way of our world, mate." Alfie finished his speech.

Olivia was just as guilty according to his words. She'd done her fair share of cutting in her short time.

"Look Tommy, the killing of Alfie Solomans is not going to help." She spoke softly.

"It'll be very bad for business." Michael added.

"Michael. Go and call Inspector Moss. Tell him it's Palmer." Tommy didn't take his eyes off Alfie.

Michael and Olivia both walked away quietly from the scene. On their way, Michael's eyes met the body of the man he'd shot. He slowed down and stared at him. Blood was pooled around his head as he lay face down in the concrete.

"Don't look. Makes it worse." Liv whispered.

She placed her hand on his back and lead him away slowly. She gently rubbed his back as he got paler and paler.

"I just-" He started to speak as he truly realised what he'd done.

"I know. I know." She wrapped her arm around his higher up shoulder. He was much taller than her, something that was rare and she enjoyed.

"Liv, I need to-" He ran over and leant on the wall as he vomited.

She swiftly followed him and tried to calm him down. Her head was rested on his shoulder as he wiped his mouth and tried to compose himself.

"Don't think about it. Come on, let's get out of here." She led him to the car. They returned to their seats beforehand and said nothing.

A million thoughts ran through each of their heads. Michael was fixated on the man he'd killed, whilst Olivia was manically thinking of ways to take his mind off it. She decided the shock tactic would do the trick.

Leaning forward, their heads were close again. She could hear his heavy breathing as he hid behind his hand. Not wanting to go full out after he'd just thrown up, she pressed her lips to his cheek. She then moved her lips to next to his ear and whispered softly.

"You're doing alright kid."

♛

a/n: hello hello hello what's all this then??? x