Page 18 of Daddy’s Perfect Pair

“That’s it, sweet girl. Breathe for me. In and out,” I guide until she’s calmed down enough, before standing back up and leaving the apartment, locking the door behind me.

“He got shot saving some kids. Jumped in front of the bullet to save them.” Her voice breaks, and I close my eyes to take a steadying breath before hitting the parking garage button on the elevator.

“What hospital are you at? I’m on my way, baby,” I tell her in the gentlest voice I can.

“Eastern Central.” I hear her swallow. “I need you, Daddy,” she hiccups out through her tears.

“I’m on my way, sweet girl. I will be there in fifteen minutes. Just be brave for a little longer until I can get to you, alright?” I ask her, pulling out of the parking garage and onto the road.

“Okay,” she whispers, and I hope to hell there’s not a lot of traffic to stop me from getting to the two people I’ve come to love so goddamn fast it makes my head spin.

Chapter7

Julie

The second Trey walks into the waiting room, I run into his arms, sobbing as he holds me tight.

When Pete’s partner knocked on my door, I knew by the look on his face that something was seriously wrong. Finding out my husband, the love of my life, was fighting for his life on an operating table, brought me to my knees.

The entire way to the hospital he tried to comfort me and tell me that Pete is a fighter and he’d make it through this. That his love for me was too strong to ever leave me alone and unprotected in this world. That I needed to fight for him the way he was fighting to stay with me right now.

I understood what he was trying to do, but it made me feel even worse for crashing so damn hard, and feeling like I’d lost my footing in the world and nothing would ever be right again. Without Peter, I don’t have a fighting chance at surviving in this world.

“Oh Jewel,” Trey whispers into my hair, holding me close to him as he walks me over to a couch.

It’s a private waiting room that’s reserved for families of patients in emergency surgery. I hadn’t even known it existed, but I’m thankful there’s no one around to witness my absolute fear and pain.

“Daddy,” I whimper, pulling him tighter to me and burying my face in his neck, trying to find something to hold onto to keep me here in the moment.

“I’m right here, sweet girl. I’m not going anywhere,” he soothes into my hair, rubbing his palms down my back as he rocks me back and forth.

“I can’t lose him,” I admit, feeling more tears rising at the thought.

“You won’t, Julie. He’s tough and he will get through this.” His voice is stern and commanding.

“How do you know?”

He takes a deep breath, pulling back to cup my face in his hands. “Because I fell in love with two of the strongest people I have ever met, little jewel.”

His words hit me like a freight train, anchoring me to the here and now as I look into his eyes.

He loves me. More importantly, he loves us. Pete and I as a whole, and not just one of us more than the other.

“We love you too, you know,” I cry, and lean in to kiss him, my lips wet with my tears, but I don’t care.

He kisses me back gently before the door opens and the doctor I had spoken to earlier comes in.

Clearing his throat, he looks between us. “Trey?” he shakes his head before turning back to me as I climb out of his lap.

“Doctor Meed.” Trey stands up inclining his head in respect.

“Is Peter okay? Please tell me he’s alright?” I wail and beg, feeling my knees weaken the longer it takes the doctor to respond.

“He’s stable and in recovery. As you know, he lost a lot of blood on route to the hospital, but we were able to retrieve the bullet and stop the bleeding,” he states, his eyes travelling between Trey and I as he holds me up.

“Where was he shot?” Trey questions, and the doctor looks to me for permission to divulge the information. I give him a curt nod.

“He was shot in the groin area where the thigh connects with his hip. He got lucky though. It didn’t manage to hit any bone, but it will still be a long recovery and rehabilitation,” he explains to us.

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