He Belongs To Me

Female, early twenties, approximately five foot five, gunshot wound to the side, immense amount of blood loss, pulse fading...

beep....beep...beep....beeeeeep....

One year later....

“Don’t cry little buddy, c’mon, daddy’s here, no more crying” I lifted my son out of his crib and held him in my arms. He was so tiny but boy did he have a pair of lungs on him; just like his mommy.

He was a surprise, that’s for sure!

(Flashback)

My heart broke seeing Skye screaming for me inside the SUV, but, it was the only way to keep her safe. Bullets were flying through the air, targets dropping everywhere, I couldn’t risk her getting hurt. Dad came towards me, pale and slightly shaking. I placed my hands on his shoulders and looked him in his eyes “Dad, I need you to focus, you have two options, stay here with Skye or come back in there with me, guns blazing. But I need you alert and I need you on your game. You shot him, Dad. You shot Charles square in the chest, I don’t know if he’s dead, I need to go back in there and check, if not, I need to finish what you started. This is almost over, I need to know what you want to do. Whatever you decide, I will stand behind it”

“Let’s go finish this” his shoulders squared and his spine went rigid, his mind was back in the game.

“Frank!”

“Yes, boss”

“You stay with Dad, you have his back and you keep him safe. So help me God if there is a hair out of place on his head when this is all over” I trailed off.

“Yes, boss”

“Jim, you’re with me”

My men were in formation, a human shield for Dad and I, as we stalked back towards the house. Guns out, we began knocking down targets, I was highly impressed with Dad’s aim. Two of my men took hits, one in the knee dropping him instantly and one in the neck. We got in tighter, now shoulder to shoulder as we moved closer into the house. Another two of my guys took hits and we didn’t have a choice but to split up. Dad and I both slide behind a wall in the kitchen for cover, I signaled for him to hold until I checked that it was clear. I poked my head around the corner carefully and noticed bodies everywhere, one that stood out was Charles McIntyre. His chest rose and fell slowly, he was hardly holding on. Scarlett was nowhere to be seen, I could only imagine she was dragged out of the house and secured. I nodded at dad and took a step out, I slowly walked towards Charles, stepping over bodies and eyeing my surroundings. I got down on one knee and checked his pulse, it was faint but there.

A shot and then a thud had me looking up. There stood dad, gun drawn, aiming at the body now on the ground “Bastard came out of nowhere” he breathed heavily, no doubt due to his high adrenaline.

“Thanks for having my back” I chuckled.

“Anytime, son” he laughed back.

“He’s still alive” I stood back up to my feet and looked over at my father-in-law, I’m sure he would want to end Charles himself.

“Go on, son, I’m the one to put him down, you should be the one to finish him off. It’s an easy way out for the sick bastard, but he’s better off dead” we heard a shuffle and we both swung our guns towards the front door. The door swung open and swayed from the gusts of wind and we both sighed. It was then, that I felt cold steel pressed against my neck, I stiffened and my eyes connected with Dad’s. “Scarlett!” he screamed aiming his gun at her.

“I’ll kill him, John, I swear I will. Look what you did to Charlie!” her scream pierced my eardrum and I winced.

“He’s just a child, Scarlett! Let him go and we’ll deal with this”

“Where’s my daughter? Give me my Skye!”

“Shoot her, Dad” my voice level and calm.

“What? No!” he shook his head.

“Do it, it’s ok. Right here” I tapped my shoulder with two fingers. Her head was flush with my back, the bullet would go through me and directly into her skull. At least, I hoped it would...

“No!” he shook his head, tears forming his eyes “I won’t make my daughter a widow”

I held back from rolling my eyes “Dad, it’s my shoulder, I won’t die”

“Shut up! Shut up!” Scarlett shrieked.

Dad kept shaking his head and I gave him a small smile, a gentle nod and mouthed, It’ll be ok. I wasn’t afraid of what might happen, even if this did kill me the only thing I would be leaving behind is my sweet love, my sweet Skye. She would have her father to watch over her and my men knew to keep an eye on both of them if something were to happen to me. I had made sure all my properties and money would go to Skye, so she wouldn’t have to worry about anything in the future. All the money was legit and clean so there wouldn’t be an investigation on it how it was made. I didn’t want to leave my Skye, but if my death kept her safe, I’d die a million deaths.

My eyes watched as dad began to squeeze the trigger, hesitancy in his dark eyes. I braced for what was to come and in that very moment, fear gripped my heart.

“Dad, no!!”

Dad took the shot, but so did Scarlett...

Scarlett dropped behind me, I turned and put two bullets in her skull, faced my father and put another two bullets in his skull. I then ran to my wife, now laying in a puddle of her blood.

“Skye! Skye! Baby, can you hear me? Hold on baby, hold on, love”

“Skye!!” Dad shook, tears falling uncontrollably down his face. I scanned him and he didn’t seem harmed. I grabbed his shoulder and our eyes met.

“We have to go” I spoke sternly. He nodded and I lifted Skye into my arms. “Frank, call Doctor Flynn!” I screamed as I ran to the SUV.

When we reached the hospital, Skye was torn from my arms. It took four male nurses to pin me down and remind me that I too was shot.

When I woke, it was mid-afternoon the following day. I felt fuzzy and could only imagine what they gave me for pain pills. I blinked slowly and noticed a figure in the distance. “Dad?” My dry throat strained to produce sound.

“Shh, I’m right here, son” I felt his large, warm hands cradle mine.

“Skye..”

“She’s ok, she’s right next to you” I turned my head to the side and blinked a few times to clear my vision. There was my sleeping beauty. She looked so peaceful, so innocent.

“How is she?” I began to cough.

“Here, drink some water” I felt a straw at my lips and took a generous sip. Dad put the glass down and faced me once more. “She’s fine, they’re both fine”

“They?” I furrowed my brows.

“You didn’t know?”

“Know what? What’s going on, dad?”

“Skye’s pregnant”

(End of Flashback)

I was released from the hospital a day later, Skye on the other hand had to stay there for a few weeks so they could monitor her and the baby. When she was finally released we both attended rehab and our doctor visits were everyday, even though Dr. Flynn said that wasn’t necessary, just for peace of mind that my wife and child were healthy and strong. Six months later and Conner John King was born.

My life was perfect and no one was going to change that.

The door bell rang and with Conner in my arms, I exited his Zootopia themed room.

“Grandpa is here to see his little man, are you excited?” I cooed. Conner gargled and I chuckled.

“I’ll get it!” Skye hollered from downstairs.

“It should be dad, baby” I hollered back as I made my way down the stairs. I walked through the living room and toward the hall to the front door to greet dad; only it wasn’t dad.

“Josh?” Skye covered her mouth and took a step back.

Josh pointed at me, his eyes narrowed. “He belongs to me”

It was then I realized, he was pointing at my son...