Running Scared

Chapter 15: He's Gone

Seeing Charlotte on the verge of tears as she was being held at gun point just about stopped Jack's heart when he walked into the kitchen. Peter had a crazed look in his eye as went on and on about how Charlotte was his and that he was going to take her to start a new life.

Like hell he was, Jack made a promise to keep her and Theo safe and he intended to keep it. He whispered to Theo to keep his head down and away from the bad guy, there was no telling what Peter would do if found out Theo was his and not Jack's like he assumes.

"Don't move" Peter aimed the gun at him as he set Theo down.

"Let him go, he's just a child." Surly this guy wasn't crazy enough to kill a kid. By placing Theo behind him, it would be easier to reach his gun.

"Unfortunately he's your kid and I can't have that. Not after you tainted her." He said through clenched teeth.

"Please Peter just let him go." Tears swelled in her eyes "I'll go with you, I'll do anything just let them go" Charlotte pleaded.

What was she thinking? She can't actually think that going with this lunatic is good idea? Jack slowly reached for his gun but Peter stopped him. With no other choice he slid his gun over hoping it'll get him to let her go. Anger swelled when he saw her flinch as Peter tighten his grip. Jack assist the best way to get to her without getting them all killed. Fear and anger surged though him as Charlotte promised to leave with Peter as long he and Theo were left alone.

"Charlotte, no. Don't do this" Jack pleaded. There was no way he was going to let her put herself in danger to protect him.

"Shut up, this doesn't involve you! She wants to be with me!" Peter turned her to face him, Jack's anger flaring again when he saw his hand painfully squeezing her arm. "Don't lie to me!"

"I'm not lying. I've always wanted you, I- I love you Peter." Jack could hear that she struggled to say those words and apparently so could Peter.

"Don't fucking lie to me!" He pushed her into counter, gripping her harder.

"Let her go!" Jack stepped closer but held back as he felt Theo clinging to his pants. He didn't want to scare him any more than he probably already was, but with Charlotte no longer blocking Peter there was a better chance for Jack to rush him.

"Stay out of it!" Peter pointed the gun straight at Jack. He wasn't scared of the gun pointed at him, it was his job to face things like this; it was what happened next that just about stopped his heart.

"Daddy I'm scared." Theo peeked around from his legs, his scared face taking in the scene of his mother being held against a bad guy with a gun. Everyone froze as Peter took in Theo's face. Jack tried to step in front of the kid to block him but it was too late, Peter had already seen.

"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" Peter roared throwing a punch to the side of Charlotte's face. The punch knocked her back onto the counter where a loud thud sounded as she hit her head. Peter was on top of her in an instant throwing more punches.

Jack pulled Theo off his pants and pushed him out of the kitchen, "Theo go to your room, now!" He turned back to Peter, throwing him off Charlotte. Peter hit him in the jaw, knocking him back. Jack came at him knocking him to the floor, using his anger to drive him. He hit him for hurting Charlotte and for putting her through this. Peter grunted, using his knee to kick Jack in the side.

Winded, Jack let up allowing Peter land a punch to the jaw. He scrambled for the gun that been knocked out of the way.

"Oh no you don't" Jack lunged, landing on top of him.

"Get the fuck off me!" Peter flipped slamming Jack into the corner of the counter. Pain erupted up his spine, but he couldn't let that stop him. Peter was standing over an unconscious Charlotte, gun pointed at her head. "It's a shame I couldn't enjoy her more. Now I guess you won't either"

"NO!" It's never a smart idea to lung at a guy holding a gun but that's exactly what Jack did. They wrestled for the gun before the sound of a shot rang out. The vibrations shook Jack to the core, he was afraid to move in case in his shock he was shot. It wasn't long that Jack realized he wasn't the one who had been shot, it had been Peter.

His eyes drained of life, a pool ofblood slowly forming around his chest. Jack didn't give a second thought to thedead guy on his kitchen floor, he was more concerned with Charlotte. He rushed toher side, a few bruises were starting to form on her face and she was barelybreathing. His officers rushed in guns drawn after hearing the shot. He gavethem a brief run down about what happened and left them to finish up. He had toget Charlotte to the hospital, to make sure she was alright. Jack grabbed ascared Theo from out his room and drove them to the hospital behind theambulance.