Michael's POV

I sit up fast as Tatiana moves off of me in her sleep as she lets out a soft moan.

"P-pardon?" I say hoarsely.

"Mr. Jackson we believe we have found Rachel Gordon in Selma, California. The victim was found in an abandoned building--"

"Wait..." I furrow my eyebrows running a hand over my face giving a shaky sigh. "She's dead? A-are you sure that's her?" I say quietly looking over at Tatiana as she sleeps deeply.

"We have reason to strongly believe that the body belongs to Ms. Gordon. An autopsy was completed identifying her."

I give a shaky sigh closing my eyes. "What was the cause of death?" I whisper.

"Cocaine overdose..."

I furrow my eyebrows running my hand over my mouth.

"We have called to let you know that Tatiana's safety is no longer a threat, and we have called off the search for Rachel Gordon."

I swallow hard and nods gripping the phone, running a hand through my hair. "Yes..thank you, for calling..." I whisper before hanging up.

"Michael?" Tatiana whispers sleepily as I look over at her.

"It's okay, baby girl..." I whisper taking her in my arms. "Go back to sleep."

"Mmm..." she snuggles up in my chest as I hold her closer. I watch her as she drifts back to sleep.

I close my eyes, giving a shaky breath.

Rachel? Dead?

It just didn't make sense. Rachel was psycho, manipulative, dramatic. 

But Rachel wasn't a drug user. She was too smart.

Perhaps smart enough to fake her own death? Impossible. The body was identified as hers.

I look down at Tatiana as she sleeps deeply. I run my fingers through her hair as I kiss her head softly. I rub her back slowly as I let out a shaky breath.

"Relax, Michael...she's safe now. Nothing is going to hurt her ever again." I think to myself.

Tatiana moves her head slightly in her sleep, as I sigh.

"How am I going to tell her this in the morning?"

Tatiana's POV

I moan lightly as I slowly open my eyes the sun streaming through the bedroom curtains. I squint my eyes lightly as I rub them groggily.

I hear a soft sigh as I look up at Michael, who's still asleep. I gaze at him and smiles softly watching him. His curls fell across his face and I gently brushed it off to reveal his sharp, beautiful face. Under his eyes, there were dark circles as if he was up all night.

I gently try to move off of him, and his grip tightens.

"No..." he mumbles softly, his eyes closed as I giggle.

"Michael, I wanna shower..." I giggle as he groans tiredly moving his head over.

"Stay." he says sleepily his grip tightening.

"Michael..." I groan trying to wiggle away.

He opens his eyes slightly as the sunlight stream's in his eyes, letting out a groan closing them again.

"Come on..." I giggle. "I have to finish packing before we leave tonight..."

He reluctantly lets go moving his head under the covers mumbling tiredly.

I smirk giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before getting out of bed, heading into the bathroom closing the door behind me. I strip out of my clothes, getting in the shower letting the warm water hit my skin.

I let out a sigh feeling my muscles relax, as I grab Michael's Tom Ford Black Orchid body wash. I let the familiar fragrance soak in my skin as I wash my body, and shampoo my hair.

After I get out the shower drying myself off, I hear a soft knock at the door.

"Tatiana?" Michael says softly.

"Give me a sec...." I call grabbing my robe off the chair slipping it on.

I open the bathroom door, seeing a tired Michael at the doorway. He gives a small smile rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning..." I giggle seeing his bedhead curls, in every direction.

"Morning..." he whispers I lean in kissing him softly on the lips, and he gently moves away.

"What?" I chuckle softly in confusion. "I brushed my teeth you're safe..." I say jokingly.

He leans his body against the door frame, pinching the bridge of his nose looking down as I feel my smile fading from my face.

"What? What is it?" I say studying his stressed face, with a mixture of exhaustion.

"Tatiana--..." he says softly keeping his gaze off of me for a second before exhaling a deep sigh.

"R-rachel is dead." he stutters out. "The police department called last night. They found her body in a hotel, and they are saying it was an overdose."

I furrow my eyebrows sitting down in a chair slowly.

"She's dead?"

I furrow my eyebrows feeling a small pang of sadness come over me. Even though Rachel almost fucked up my entire life, at one point she was my friend and we had good memories together. I stay silent for a moment running my hand through my hair.

"Holy shit." I whisper under my breath.  "She's really dead."

I look up at Michael as he looks away at the floor. "Tati, I don't know."

"You don't know what?" I say looking up at him as his eyes shift to their floor.

"Tat, something just doesn't seem right about it.." he shrugs. " Just how Rachel died, the timing, where she was..."

He shakes his head as I stare at him.

"So what are you saying? She's faking her death?"

"I don't know." he pauses, shrugging again. "It's possible."

I stare at him. "You can't be serious.."

"Rachel was crazy and all, but she wasn't exactly the drug type." he shakes his head. "She was too into her image to do drugs."

"Oh please." I snort getting up. "What stable person can act the way she did?"

"So you honestly believe she was doing drugs?" he says staring at me.

"It wouldn't surprise me." I roll my eyes. "It's unfortunate but let's face the facts Michael..."

I pick up a towel drying my hair. "If they have a body, she's dead." I say walking in the bedroom.

"That doesn't mean anything, Tatiana..." Michael says following after me. "What about the Stonehouse case?"

"The what?" I chuckle slightly.

Michael waves his hands around. "You know that politician....started moving money and set up a new identity, faked his own suicide by leaving a pile of clothes on a beach, making it appear that he drowned?"

"Yeah and...?"

"He was in Australia with his mistress." Michael says as I snort.

"I think you're being paranoid." I chuckle. "And in this case they have a body, so it's completely different."

"Tatiana-"

I cut him off and kisses him softly. "Michael, I know you're trying to be protective. But Rachel is gone, okay? I think you're overly excited about the tour and everything happening with us. "

He looks away and I gently grab his face pressing my lips against his.

"Stop it." I whisper on his lips. "Let's just not talk about it, okay?"

He stays silent and lets out a reluctant sigh, pressing his forehead against mine. "Okay..." he whispers kissing me softly again.

"You promise you won't worry about it and you'll let it go?" I mutter between kisses, as he pulls my close.

"Mhmm..." he mumbles softly.

He presses me close to his body, kissing me harder and more passionate. I run my fingertips through his hair, as our lips move together. I feel him glide his tongue against my lower lip, and I gently open my mouth letting him in. Our tongues slid against each other, our lips were still in motion. The kiss gets more heated and Michael lets out a soft moan pulling his lips away slowly, his forehead still pressed against mine. Our breathing is heavy as he closes his eyes, and kisses my brow softly.

"I-I love you.." he whispers softly as I feel myself blush.

"I know..." I whisper back as he kisses me softly again.

"I'll be back...I-I have to go downstairs for a moment.." he whispers as I nod.

He gives me a soft smile and pulls away walking out.

I blush looking down smiling to myself.

"I love you too..." I whisper walking back in the bedroom.

 Michael's POV

I walk down the steps as I run a hand through my hair.

"Michael!" I look up seeing Bill at the bottom of the steps.

"Bill--" I bury my hands in my pocket, walking down to him.

"Michael, Frank had me come over and talk to you about security plans for the tour--"

"Bill, listen..." I whisper interrupting him. "Rachel is dead."

"Well good riddance." he mutters.

"I need you to find out when the funeral is." I whisper to him as he raises an eyebrow.

"You're gonna be out of town for the funeral Mike.."

"I need you to go." I tell him. "Most likely her funeral will be when the investigation is over and her body is released to the family."

"Why do you need me to go?" he questions as we walk down the hall.

"I need you to make sure her body is in the casket." I look at the floor burying my hands in my pockets. "I need to make sure it's her, and she's actually dead."

"You're kidding." he stops walking looking at me. "You don't think....?"

"I do." I nod. "I believe she's more than capable of it."

"Mike--" he says unsure as I stare at him pleadingly.

"Please, Bill." I whisper. "I promised I'd keep Tatiana safe. Especially now..."

Bill furrows his eyebrows as I look away.

"I can't explain right now, but you'll understand later." I whisper as we walk down the hall.

"Just please do me one favor, Bill."

"What's that?"

"Don't tell this to anyone. I can't have Tatiana worrying..."

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Happy Friday! I tried to make this chapter long! So the question is...Is Rachel Gordon really dead, or will she be haunting from the grave?

I'm sorry for skipping out on Paul's part. I promise it'll be in the next chapter. I also tried to do an edit of Michael and "Tatiana". It might be kinda bad, but I'm working on my photoshopping skills!

Everyone has been asking what I used to make this book cover, and edits. And to answer your question I mostly used picmonkey.com and pixlr.com (both have an app and website).

Hope you enjoyed! Stay tuned cause the squad goals; Greg, Ricky, and Sheryl are coming back!

Vote/Comment!

xoxoxo,

moonwalkergal