Chapter 33
Whether or not this story has a happy ending depends, of course, on who is reading it. Whether you are a wolf or a girl. ~Kelly Link
Axel
Long weekend over, I double-park in front of the brownstone and stretch. Although I love vacationing, I miss my bed. Someday, we’ll own a condo or perhaps move to the burbs. Right now, we call this DC garden apartment home, and it’s a relief to be back.
Impatient, my dog woofs in the seat behind me, so I grab his leash and hold it so he can see. “I hear ya, pal.”
Leaning over the cupholder, I kiss my wife. “Honey, you take Abbie inside. I’ll empty the car and find a parking place after Bear has done his business.”
My wife's soft hands cup my cheeks, eyes bright with sexual promises. “Deal.”
While my two girls skip to the front door, I sigh contentedly. Work tomorrow, but we’ve got a lifetime of ocean vacations ahead of us.
Gwen lets Abigail in the door, then races back. “Shit, I forgot my phone.”
By the time she’s halfway up the walkway, our little girl is by her side. “Mommy, there’s a monster under my bed.”
We two adults chuckle and share a smile. Our first-grader’s been adamant about finding the portal to the dream factory since watching the Disney movie at the beach.
“Hold on, sweetie. Bear can find him.” Once I unleash the beast, he barrels up the stairs into the house.
“Woof, woof, woof.”
Before I can call him back, the six-year-old races in behind him. “Wait for me.”
Without warning, the child screams, my canine growls, and a gun goes off.
Abbie? Oh, please God, no. I drop the groceries, unholster my pistol, and bolt toward the building. “Gwen, dial 911! Do not come in. You hear me?”
Now inside, I brace my firearm between both palms. Knees bent, arms outstretched, I inch nearer to my sobbing daughter.
“Wulf, kick your weapon through the door, and no one gets hurt.” Brittany Babcock? What the fuck?
“Daddy.” As Abbie’s pleas cut me to the core, I send thankful prayers to the Guy Upstairs.
Glad she’s still alive and hoping my dog is too, I place my handgun on the shiny oak floor and toe it just past the opening. “Don’t harm the girl.”
If she does, hell’s fury will be mild compared to mine.
“Her survival depends on you. Hands up. Walk in slowly.” The steady tone of the murderess’ voice sets me on edge as I inch around the corner.
Inside the bedroom, in front of the open closet, my longtime friend whines as he bleeds out next to my adopted daughter.
“Let her go. This is between us.” As I negotiate, my former teammate snorts out her nose and starts to giggle, reminiscent of a poorly-written horror flick. Either she’s high as fuck, or she hasn’t had any sleep.
“C’mon, Britt, this has nothing to do with her.” My pleas stop her weird laughter, but now, her mouth tightens.
“Oh, it has everything to do with her. Why do you get to have your happily ever after? Huh? It was supposed to be me.” Undaunted, she continues to rant, even as my phone buzzes.
Because the sound grates on my nerves, I reach for my device. “Can I get it?”
“No. Let it ring.” The annoying chirping stops, only to start right up again.
The tension grows, Bear whines, and I open my palms. “What do you want, Britt?”
I hoped using her nickname would bring some sanity back to her eyes.
It doesn’t.
“Apologize.” Brows furrowed, her barrel rises and points at my forehead.
At least I’ve drawn her attention away from the child. “Okay, I’m sorry.” It’s not hard to sound sincere because I am. I wish like fuck I had never answered when she knocked on my honeymoon door.
“What for?” This, of course, is a trick question, so I answer vaguely.
“For what happened to you.” Where the hell is the police?
As I pray they’ll get to me in time, the insane woman’s mouth purses. “It’s all your fault. Everything.”
“Yes, I agree.” The time readout on my phone makes my heart race. Even with shots fired, it can take up to fifteen minutes for the locals to arrive. I don’t know if I have that long.
No amateur, she keeps her finger on the trigger, the gun beyond my reach. “I’m wanted for murder because of you. Your sperm was found inside her. You were supposed to take the fall, not me. I planned it perfectly. Your wife should not have followed. She ruined everything.”
When the gun’s barrel shifts again, I step in front of Abbie to shield her with my body. “Stop. Shoot me if you must. Then, you should run because you've triggered my silent alarm. SWAT will be here any second.” At least I hope so.
Personally, I don't give a flying fuck if she catches a bullet, but I don’t want my young charge to witness the carnage. The images could haunt her for a lifetime.
“I disabled your security system. I still have ten minutes.” Babcock’s confidence may be something I can use against her.
“I installed a new one last week.” My brows raise while she digests this input.
Trained by the FBI, she senses my truth, and yet insists on her alternate reality. “You’re lying.”
“Can I show you?” Phone in hand, I open the app and toss it on the twin bed.
Brittany reads it, then screeches. “Fuck!”
Outside in the street, my car idles, but my wife has disappeared. Logically, if she’s not out there, she’s inside the house, close by.
I take a huge risk and use her playbook. “SWAT has arrived. Give yourself up.”
Ignoring me, the unhinged former agent raises her weapon. “Step over there, next to the kid and the dog.”
As she places her finger on the trigger, I shove my child into the closet and brace for a bullet. Instead, Brittany drops her pistol and clutches her chest.
Once her knees buckle and she lies flat, my wife pops her head around the corner. “Is everyoneokay?”
“Except Bear.” Rushing to Brittany’s side, I kick away her handgun.
Finding no pulse, I consider CPR, then change my mind. Ding, dong, the evil bitch is dead.
While Gwen pockets her weapon, I race to the wardrobe, lift Abbie into her mom’s open arms, then put pressure on Bear’s wound.
His eyes focus on mine with so much trust, my throat tightens. “Hang in there, pal.”
From what I can tell, the bullet didn’t hit any vital organs, but I need to get him to a vet, stat.
When the first paramedic on the scene offers to bring Bear to the closest animal hospital, my eyes water at the kindness. “Thank you.”
“I have a dog, so I get it.” After he leaves, me and my family wait in the living room.
Minutes later, my team arrives as I’m giving my statement to the local cops. “I swear to God, as she was about to shoot us, she clutched her chest and fell to the floor.”
Rhonda, behind me, shakes her head and says with a straight face. “Been a lot of that going around lately.”
Hiding her own grin, my wife nods. “Weird. Go figure, right?”
That night, because our apartment has been declared a crime scene, we crash at Callie’s and Lucky’s. In the living room, we all eat popcorn. While the adults discuss the day’s events, the kids and my stitched-up dog watch Monsters, Inc.
After the movie ends, Abbie stands, puts her hands on her hips and announces, “My mommy is a badass.”
A horrified Gwen sends an apologetic glance at Callie before kneeling in front of our daughter. “Where did you hear such language, young lady?”
“Uncle Lucky and Daddy.” The innocent tattle is funny as hell, but neither of the two adult males in the room dare laugh.
“Oi, busted mate.” The Patten man can’t hold back his chuckle, and when his spouse joins in, mine relaxes.
Somehow, she manages to hide her smile so she can admonish our cheeky kid. “Well, make sure you don’t say that bad word at school.”
“Which one?” The grade schooler smirks which earns her the dreaded don’t-be-a-smartass-look and a long talk in the kitchen.
Once the drama ends, I pull my wife into my arms, amazed at how gifted she is at everything. “I love you, Dr. Wulf.”
“Right backatcha, Mr. Big Bad, but no more potty-mouth.” Smirking, she grabs a handful of popcorn, stuffs some between my lips, and snuggles into my side.
No longer a lone wolf, I squeeze her close, and picture howling at the moon. Because of her, I have found my pack.
The End