It was 2 weeks later when I finally agreed to see Michael again. It wasn't that I didn't want to see him. It was just that I had a lot going on with my job and helping Sean. I didn't have time to make for Michael, But after 2 weeks of him dropping several hints of me being a workaholic, I gave in and agreed to meet him for lunch the following Monday.
It was Friday night and Michael wasn't responding to my text right away, meaning he was busy. I was helping Sean with a job by meeting his buyers so he could be in Grennech for another meet. The first hint that something was off was Michaels abrupt response after I mentioned doing Sean a favor.
'A favor?' He texted. 'What kind of favor?'
'Can I help with the favor?' He immediately sent several texts.
'Is it safe?'
'You should ditch the favor and meet me for a late dinner tonight.'
I laughed, a little suspicious of his erratic behavior.
'What is happening right now?' I asked.
'There's just been a lot of crime lately and I don't want you out and about tonight.'
'Is that right? Well, don't you suppose I could take care of myself?'
'Fiona, I'm serious. Whatever it is you're about to do, please dont do it.'
'What are you saying, Michael?'
'Tell Sean you're sick.'
'I'm not.'
'Please.'
'Michael, you're being weird right now.'
'I'm just worried. I saw a girl on the news who got attacked. She looks just like you and it just has me really worried. It's Friday night. You're alone. Just let Sean do his thing and you mind your business.'
I thought about it, laughing as I arrived at the meeting.
"Hello, Fiona." Armand greeted me warmly as I stepped out of my car to meet him.
"Armand. You look well."
"As do you. And its unfortunate isn't it?"
I narrowed my eyes at him as his men surrounded me. "Armand. We've known each other for a long time."
"Yes, and its unfortunate that Sean sent his baby sister to do a man's job isnt it?"
The men hand cuffed and blindfolded me. "Such a pity." He commented as I was stuffed into a trunk.

I had been knocked out for at least an hour before I recognized voices speaking in spanish. I was in a trunk and the car was stopped. I could tell that much. I listened to the voices and heard one of them say "You go get the snacks and I'll go pee. Hurry. Armand wants us to meet him in an hour"
I waited until the voices were further away and then used all my strength to kick out the tail light. It took a few tries but when it was finally done, it waas simply a matter of shimmying through the opening. I was grateful for this not being the first time I'd been in a truck or else it might be the last anyone ever heard from me. However this wasn't my first rodeo, so I was calm cool and collected as I slipped my blindfold and took off running into the woods.
I ran as hard and fast as I could for as long as I could until I came across a road. The first street sign I saw, I walked back into the woods and started walking parallel to the road in hopes of coming across civilization while not getting spotted by any passing cars. I was starting to feel like I didn't know where I was or when it was because the street names were completely unfamiliar. When I saw one called BlindPass road, I stopped and started running North on it. I'd been on that road before. It was the first thing I'd recognized in miles and I was increasingly exhausted. Blind Pass Apartments was lit up in the distance and I began crying in relief. Michael would help. He would know what to do. I made a beeline for his door and knocked with my knee as my hands were still cuffed. I was several minutes before I knocked again. No answer. I sighed and went around to the balconies under his. I used the metal rails as leverage and forced my feet between me and the bar, pressing as hard as I could until the cuffs broke apart, dislocating my shoulder in the process. I screamed in pain and hurriedly climbed to his balcony using my good arm. It was all I could do to break the lock on the glass door on his balcony. It was the least of my worries. I wasn't expecting there to be a gun on the coffee table. I was grateful, though. Seeing as the night had not turned out as I had hoped, I was relieved that michael had a firearm out and handy. I picked it up and noted the excruciating pain radiating from my still dislocated shoulder.
"Think, Fiona." I spoke to myself, sitting on the couch.
The door busted open and I jumped, holding the gun out at the intruder. Michael had a gun in his hand as well, but seeing my scared expression, immediately placed it in his waistband and regarded me with his hands up.
"Fiona. Sweetie."
I breathed out.
"Put the gun down." He took a careful step forward.
"I'm sorry." I apologized but didn't set the firearm down, still scared. "I'm just... my night... you were right..."
He continued slowly and carefully stepping toward me with his hands up. "Fiona. It's ok. Just put the gun down."
"I'm scared." I whispered.
Michael nodded. "I've never spoken those words before. I'm scared. I don't know why."
He nodded again, now face to face with me, grabbing the gun and pointed it toward the wall while twisted it gently out of my hands. He set it on the coffee table and offered his open arms to me.
"My arm." I said. "Its dislocated. Please help."
He nodded and guided me to the bedroom. "I can do that."
"Shouldn't we go to the Dr?" I spoke, feeling a little high.
"No. The men who grabbed you. They will know if you show up at a hospital." He pointed at the bed. "Lay down and I'll fix it."
I nodded. "How did you know?"
"You stopped responding, so I checked your snapchat location and your phone was on the ground at an abandoned warehouse. I remembered you had mentioned Sean being an arms dealer and you said you were doing him a favor. I put the pieces together. It wasn't that difficult."
I laid down and tried to calm down. "No."
"No?"
"You knew something would happen."
"I worried something might."
"But then something did." I explained, flinching when he gently touched my hand.
"I'm sorry." He said, very sincerely. "I really am. This is gonna hurt, sweetie."
I nodded. "I know. Don't try to distract me, McBride."
He sighed. "My name is Michael." He snapped my arm back into place.
I screamed in pain. "I'm so fucking sorry." He winced, hugging me tightly.
I sighed heavily, calming myself. "Michael, how did you know?"
"I didn't" He said. "Honest, Fiona."
"Honest, Michael."
We stared at each other for a long time. He leaned down over me and I stopped breathing. He touched the back of his hand to my cheek and narrowed his eyes at me. "Can I tell you something Fiona?" He whispered, inches from my face.
"Anything" I whispered back, smoothing my hand over his shoulders softly.
"I think I love you, Fiona Glenanne"
I smiled. "I think I love you too, Michael Mc-" He kissed me before I could finish.
He pulled back and smiled. "Just Michael."
I kissed him again and pulled him down on top of me. He used his forearms to balance on the bed and shimmied his hips between my legs. I laughed at his soft lips, making their way down my chest. "God." He sighed, unbuttoning my shirt.
I helped him remove the shirt by lifting my shoulders. "Michael, I don't want you to think I'm a missionary style lover... but... I can't move."
He continued kissing my neck and collar bone. "Whatever you say, Fiona."
I laughed. "I just need you to know... next time I'm on top and I'm gonna blow your mind."
"Thats fine, Fi." He said, laughing a little, sounding far away.
"You okay?"
"Sure, fi."
"Michael?"
He stopped. "what's wrong?"
"What wrong with you?"
He sighed and sat back on his heels. "I just... I thought I was gonna lose you... tonight..."
I sat up to console him.
"When I saw your phone on the ground..." He shook his head. "I thought I'd never get the chance to tell you that I loved you. I thought you would die unaware of my feelings."
"I'm ok." I reminded him. "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"How did you know?"
He laughed lightly. "Fiona."
"You arent as slick as you think."
"I don't think I'm slick at all."
"Michael, whats going on? I know something is off. I don't know what it is."
"Do you want to spend the night?"
I sighed. "I don't know where else to go."
He pulled back the quilt and tucked me in. "Sleep Fiona. Nothing is wrong. Nothing is off. Everything is fine. I love you. Thats it."
I nodded. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
He tried to pull away.
"Stay with me." I pulled him back into bed behind me.
"Ok. I'll stay." He formed his body to fit mine perfectly from behind. "Sleep now, Fiona. I'll protect you. Always."
That was 7 months before he vanished.