Wicked Little Thing

by McDonald, Chelsea

  There’s a bang that rattles the walls, but, remarkably, isn’t close enough to be our room. I hear Tyler’s quiet curse on the other side of the door.

  Another bang, closer this time, and followed by a scream. They must be checking the rooms one by one. I run the hand that’s not clutching the gun through my hair. It quickly gets tangled in knots, and I’m left just smoothing it down instead. I look at the gun, it gleams in the light, but it unmistakably looks like a machine made to kill. I pass it to my left hand and back to my right. I think for a moment that I hear voices outside and my entire body goes stiff. But nothing happens. The seconds stretch out like hours. I want to call out to Tyler, to ask if he’s okay. The urge to go to him is so strong. But more than anything, right now, I need to protect the child I’m carrying.

  Our child.

  Tears prick at my eyes as fear begins to root down in me. I let out a long shaky breath. I open my mouth to call for Tyler but a third bang, louder and closer than ever, interrupts me. My words turn into a yelping gasp. Three gunshots ring out, rapid-fire, I cover up my scream with my mouth. Another shot, returning fire. Then another, and a third. The last bullet impacts the bathroom door, going straight through the thin wood and lodging in the wall to my left. Through the bullet hole, I see that someone passes the door, coming further into the room.

  I have to get to Tyler. He’s outnumbered. I should have fought to stay with him. I should never have hidden. I surge to the door, before I lose my nerve, as another gunshot rings out.

  Tears are streaming down my face now. I’m afraid, so afraid. For myself, for Tyler, for our baby. But I can’t let it consume me.

  My fingers fumble with the lock on the door as I try, and fail, to unlock it. Something slams against the other side and the door shudders — another gunshot. I feel the force of it resound through my chest. I take a breath and blow it out, then unlock the door, properly this time. A weight pushes the door inwards, and I scoot out of the way. One of the men from the SUV is slumped against the open door, well, more sprawled across the entrance to the bathroom now.

  Two men stand between Tyler and me. Tyler’s pale: blood is spreading down his side from a wound on his right shoulder. He must have been shot, or at least grazed. He raises his pistol again, faster than I can think and shoots the man furthest from me square in the chest. As he does, the other man shoots Tyler. A scream of horror rips from me as Tyler staggers backwards. No! He can’t. His eyes flutter closed as he slides down the wall and onto the ground.

  The man turns on me. Not thinking, I copy what Tyler did. I pull the trigger once, twice, three times. He goes slack-jawed and falls to his knees. I drop the gun, and I’m past him before his face hits the floor.

  “Tyler.” His name is on my lips. A hope. A prayer. A need. “Please, Tyler…”

  My knees slam into the thin carpet, barking in pain, but I barely notice. Tyler’s eyes are still shut, a bloom of blood spreads across his abdomen.

  “No, no, no, no.”

  I lift his shirt, which is stuck to his body with his blood, and see the wound a few inches above his right hip bone. His breathing is shallow. Raspy. But at least he’s breathing. I press my hands over the wound. Someone has to be coming to help. Someone has to have heard the gunshots. Blood runs over my fingers, and I press down harder.

  “No, please, no, Tyler.” It feels like a repeating mantra as I kneel over him, pressing down on this wound, trying to stop the blood. I don’t stop, I don’t look away. I have no concept of time passing until gloved hands are pulling me away — a feral scream tears from my throat as I struggle away from their grip.

  “Ma’am, you’ve got to let me help him.” The words cut through the haze of fear. A tall man in a dark blue shirt and trousers takes my place in front of Tyler. He begins barking orders. The world tilts as my vision goes dark around the edges. Someone’s holding me upright, guiding me past bodies and out of the motel room. I stumble as I try to look back to Tyler.

  “Where…?” I feel all my energy begin to drain from my body. I’m nauseous and faint, I stumble and would have fallen were it not for the strong arms holding me up. I almost make it to the ambulance before the darkness consumes me.

  Jessica

  I jolt awake at the sound of the door closing.

  My eyes can barely stay open, heavy with sleep, but I’m already scanning the room for Tyler. The last thing I can remember is the shoot out. We were on the run, heading god knows where, and then just as suddenly the gunshots started. After that, everything is black but the soundtrack of the gunfight will forever be burned into my mind.

  Tyler’s not here, but I spot Angel seated in an overstuffed blue chair in the far corner of the room.

  “Where’s Tyler?” I croak, my voice barely coming out a whisper.

  While Angel and I don’t know each other very well but on some level, I’m glad to see her somewhat familiar face. Angel drops her magazine and looks up with a small smile. “Jess! Well, it’s good to see you awake again.”

  I smile back as much as I can - considering my current situation. I hope my smile shows my gratitude at her being by my bedside, but I’m not one to beat around the bush. “Thanks. Where is he?”

  “He came out of surgery about an hour ago.”

  “What?!” My heart accelerates, my eyes going wide as I stare at her. “Is he okay?”

  Angel rises from her seat and moves to the bed, she holds my hand and hands me a plastic cup of water. “Jess, calm down. You need to be taking it easy.”

  I take a few small sips to satisfy her, “Angel?”

  “Tyler is doing just fine. I’ll go check to see if he’s awake, okay?” She smiles sympathetically before walking towards the door. I call out a quick ‘thanks’ before the door swings shut behind her.

  While Angel is out of the room, a nurse comes back to take my vitals and does an ultrasound to check on the baby. I don’t know who told the hospital I was pregnant — maybe I told a paramedic in the ambulance? I don’t remember.

  She tells me the police apprehended three men from the motel and are waiting to take my statement if I’m willing. I tell her I’m willing, but that I want to see Tyler first. She nods and finally tells me everything on the ultrasound looks fine, but that I need to take it easy.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” she says before packing her machines and leaving. Angel doesn’t come back.

  A few minutes later, the door opens again, and I see a nurse wheeling in a wheelchair. “Tyler?” My voice cracks when I see him, beat up and bloody but unmistakably alive.

  “Thank god, Jess. Are you okay? Is the…“ He pauses, then swallows. “Is the baby okay?” It’s almost a whisper, but the way he says it ‘the baby’ takes my breath away. It makes it all so much more real.

  “We’re both fine,” I assure him, feeling like I can smile for the first time in, I don’t even know how long.

  A throat clears and I realize for the first time that we’re not alone. I nod at the big man standing beside the door. “Cohen.”

  “I’m gonna step out for a minute. Tyler.” They nod to each other and I wonder if Tyler coming in here had interrupted something.

  “What was that about?” I ask Tyler.

  “We were just talking about what to do now.” He goes to shrug but winces then presses a button attached to an IV on the back of the wheelchair.

  “‘What to do now?” I echo. “And what is that?”

  “Well, that’s actually something that I need to talk over with you. I can’t be the one to decide what happens next because it doesn’t just involve me anymore.”

  “You mean… After all this, you still want to be with me?” My mind is reeling. He’s not breaking up with me and he actively wants to involve me in this decision? A decision that will affect the rest of his life?

  “Of course I do, Jess baby! It’s you that should be running for the hills, with all the shit I’ve brought into your life.” He wipes a hand over his face as he grimaces.

&n
bsp; “You mean; this doesn’t scare you?” I say ‘this’ because I’m not sure I can say ‘baby’ without crying.

  “Fuck no. I’m saying that I love you, Jessica, and baby or no baby, I want to spend my future with you. Scared doesn’t come into it anymore, Jess.” He reaches out for my hand, and I reach out to meet him halfway. “That being said, and I know this is a big ask, I need you to decide if you’re willing to risk it. My family knows about us now - they’re not going to stop sending people after us. You will always be in danger if you’re by my side.”

  “Won’t I be in danger, anyway? They know about me and about the baby.”

  “I’m not sure, Jess.” He sighs, looking defeated.

  I forge on though: “As you said, they know about us, all of us. If this baby is going to have any chance at a normal life, it’s going to be with you and I sticking together.”

  Tyler

  I look over at Jess as she tosses her head back in laughter. Her blonde hair is gleaming in the spotlights of Sal’s bar. Healthy hair is a perk of the pregnancy, she keeps telling me. She laughs easily with us now, not awkward like the other times she’s met some of the guys. I guess it has a lot to do with how she’s now been adequately introduced as my girlfriend. I pat the pocket of my jeans nervously. Maybe more than a girlfriend soon, if all goes well.

  I think back to the last few weeks. It seems like a whirlwind has ripped through our lives. Jess moved in with me after we got out of the hospital — she didn’t feel safe in her own house after the break-in.

  Instead of leaving Memphis like I’d planned, we decided that it would be safer to stay with the Sapphires. With Cohen and Sage, and the rest. Just in case my family get any more big ideas. And anyway, with a baby on the way, moving house would suck.

  The fake IDs and supplies that Angel had given Jess were taken by the police when they cleaned up the motel after the shooting. Luckily, because Jess and I acted in self-defense, there were no charges. Angel confessed to putting a GPS tracker on both of my vehicles when she realized I was gearing up to leave the city.

  I didn’t tell her, but I was thankful for that small mercy. If Angel hadn’t done what she did, the Sapphires’ wouldn’t have been able to find us after the shooting. Even though the shooting itself had been blasted on the police scanners at the clubhouse — the ones that I’d personally tuned for them.

  This was a mess. A chaotic mess. One that I never wanted to be at the center of again.

  I wasn’t naive enough to think all our problems were solved, after all, I still have my family to contend with. But for now, we would relax and lie low. The time for my previous family would come, right now, I had to focus on my new family.

  Jess and our unborn baby. They were my family now.

  With my hands in my jeans' pockets, I can’t help but finger my grandmother’s wedding ring. I want to do it, I want to do it right here, right now in front of everyone. But that would be selfish.

  I know that Jessica deserves more than that, it needs to be a special and private moment. She needs to understand why and trust me when I say that I love her unconditionally. I know for a fact that it’s going to take some convincing.

  “Jess?” I interrupt while glancing at the clock on the wall. Yeah, we’ve got to go. “We’ve gotta go.”

  “Oh, shit. Yeah.” She jumps up and gathers her coat and bag in her arms. “Sorry guys. We’ve got a reservation.” She says, excusing herself from the conversation.

  “We’ll see you later,” I call to the guys as I lead Jess to the door.

  It’s a twenty-minute cab ride to the restaurant — an upmarket Asian fusion place Jess has wanted to try for weeks since it opened. We sit in the back of the cab, holding hands. Her hand is small in mine, delicate but not fragile. I know that now.

  She took a life for me, and I know she still struggles with it. Especially at night. But I’ve been there to soothe her, to help her through it, and things are getting easier.

  I squeeze her hand as the cab pulls up to the restaurant.

  “This is us. Thanks.” I pass a fifty to the driver and tell him to keep the change. I need good karma tonight.

  Inside the restaurant, we’re led to a table that looks out over a water feature and zen garden. It’s beautiful. It could be the perfect place.

  “Want to take a walk after we eat?” I ask Jess, gesturing with my thumb at the zen garden. It’s getting near to dusk now, so by the time we’ve eaten, the sun will have set, and the long strings of fairy lights will be the only light in that pagoda at the back. My leg jiggles restlessly under the table while she looks the zen garden over.

  “Yeah, that would be nice.” She smiles over at me, and it lights up her eyes. I can almost feel the wedding ring burning a hole in my pocket. I wish I had a box for it. Maybe it’d look nicer in a box. I try to put the doubts out of my mind as the waitress glides over to us.

  “Good evening, can I get you anything to drink, or would you like another minute to look over the menu?”

  I haven’t even considered the menus on the table. I pick up the drinks menu and glance down the list of beers. Tsing Tao is familiar, so I order one of those. Jess asks for a glass of lychee juice and a jug of water for the table.

  I try not to act nervous through the meal. I don’t let myself even consider the fact that Jess might say no to my proposal. I’d nearly driven myself mad with that the last few days, I wasn’t going to let it ruin this evening together.

  * * *

  We step out of the restaurant into the cool night. It’s like walking into another world. The hubbub of the restaurant dies away as Jess’ low heels clunk on steps. Wide wooden boards make up a winding path around the zen garden. We walk hand in hand in the near silence, the trickling water of the fountain is the only real sound.

  As we step into the open-walled pagoda, Jess pauses and looks around. You can see the whole garden from here. I stand behind her as she looks outwards and wrap my arms around her chest.

  “What’re you thinking?” I ask.

  “Just…” she sighs. “Just about how far we’ve come. It’s just a lot sometimes.”

  “How do you feel about that?” I ask quietly. I can’t see her face, but she doesn’t sound sad.

  “I’m not sure. Nothing’s the same. It’s a little scary…” Jess takes a deep breath and covers her stomach with her hands. “I love you, though.” She dips her head and lightly kisses my forearm.

  “Jess.” I unwrap my arms and take a step back, dropping to one knee as she turns around.

  Her eyes widen, uncertain, hopeful, nervous — a rush of emotions in those beautiful eyes. I take the wedding ring out of my pocket, holding it up in the tips of my fingers. The glow of the fairy lights set the diamonds in the ring shining.

  Taking a deep breath, I say what has been bursting from me all evening. “You saved me, Jess. You saved my life, now I would be honoured if you would let me spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Jessica’s hands cover her mouth as tears fill her eyes. Slowly, silently, she holds out one shaking hand — her left — and allows me to slide the glittering gold ring onto her slender finger.

  In one smooth movement, I rise from my kneel and scoop her up in a hug, our lips crashing together as we kiss.

  “I love you,” I whisper against her mouth.

  She squeezes me tighter as I set her back on the ground. “I love you too, Tyler.”

  Jessica

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  I smile with anticipation as I throw my arms around Tyler and smash my lips to his.

  If I were being completely honest, the ceremony was far too long for my liking. Nearly an hour standing at the altar all the while being tempted by Tyler in a tux. Not to mention our very prominent seven month old that’s still growing inside of me. I’m in flats but that hasn’t stopped my feet from aching.

  Tyler’s lips leave mine, traveling to my cheeks. His kisses capture the few tears tha
t have managed to escape.

  The loud applause starts to break through our private moment and steal our attention. We turn, arms linked, and make our way down the aisle.

  Bursting through the church doors, the cheering crowd follows us. Tyler jumps into the backseat of the idle limo at the curb, I follow close behind ready to get the hell out of here. I’d give anything for just a moment alone with Ty.

  It’s been a long ass day and I’ve been apart from him for most of it.

  Last night, I stayed at a hotel with Tammy and some of the Sapphire girls, while Tyler stayed at home - our new place. I was woken up with massive amounts of room service - bagels, sausages, eggs, bacon. Everything and anything I could ever want, or dream of.

  My stomach was in knots the whole morning, with the amount I actually ate, I think I surprised everyone. Tammy made me force down some plain toast and orange juice by reminding me that I wasn’t eating for myself but for the baby.

  Tyler squeezes my hand, pulling my attention back to him - my husband.

  God, I love the sound of that.

  “Are you ready?” Tyler asks, wrapping me in his arms.

  “For what?”

  “For this next stage of our lives?”

  Aww. He could be such a sweetie when he wanted. If I hadn’t seen him in the midst of a firefight I’m not sure I’d have believed that he was actually a part of the South Street Sapphires.

  “Yes,” I answer while trying not to giggle at his sensitive nature.

  “And for this party?”

  “Not really. Angel had a hand in it so you know it’s gonna be as extra as it can be.”

  This time Tyler laughs. We both know I’m right.