The Bullet Meant For My Daughter Killed His Son

Id just settled into the Officer's Quarters with my husband, Commander Marcus Cole, and our three-month-old daughter. Three months old.
And his eight-year-old adopted daughter, Piper, used a gun she'd somehow hidden in Marcuss study to shoot her. Right in front of me. The gun was pointed at my baby.
My daughter only managed two choked whimpers before her breath simply vanished.
I went crazy, screaming for a medic, for justiceanything. But it was too late.
Because Piper was just a child, my mother-in-law and Marcus only gave her thirty minutes of standing at attention. Her biological mother, Sienna Reed, arrived and theatrically fell apart, claiming I was trying to destroy their lives.
But all I wanted was my baby back!
I cried until my chest felt shredded, demanding accountability. Marcus and his mother just looked at me with cold disapproval.
"Piper is just a child, Gen! Are you going to ask for an eight-year-old to pay with her life just because your daughter is gone?"
I had nowhere to turn. My heart tore itself apart, and I died in that bitter winter.
Then I opened my eyes. I was back. Back to the morning of the day she died.
1
I didn't hesitate. I immediately ordered my personal detail to secretly take my daughter to my parents safe house.
But even this time, Piper managed to shoot another infant.
Id barely stepped back into the Base Housing when a deafening gunshot ripped the air from the street below.
BAM!
A small bundle wrapped in an O.D. green tactical blanket lay in a growing pool of crimson blood.
A cold dread washed over me. I lifted my gaze to the second-floor study window. Piper peeked out, gave me a look of pure, chilling provocation, and then pulled back.
My mother-in-law and Marcus rushed down. The moment my mother-in-law saw the scene on the ground, she let out a piercing scream and nearly collapsed.
Marcus staggered forward, bending down for a look, his voice shaking. "Genevieve, the baby it's not breathing."
I didn't dare look closer. I bolted for the second floor. Pipers door was shut, locked from the inside.
I slammed my foot against the solid wood. "Piper! Open this door! Who did you shoot?"
The room went quiet for a moment, then I heard Piper and the nanny giggling.
"Miss, what if they call the cops? The mistress will be after me"
"Who cares? Its not like we meant to. Besides, I'm only eight. What are the police going to do to me?"
The brazenness of their conversation was like an ice pick to my ear. I was shaking uncontrollably.
I kicked the heavy door again with all my strength. "Get out here! You just committed murder!"
Marcus, a step behind me, grabbed my arm, his eyes red-rimmed. "Gen, you need to calm down! Dont terrify the child!"
I glared at him, pure hatred in my eyesit was the exact same script as the first time. Our daughter was deadhe thoughtand his only concern was protecting his little terrorist.
My mother-in-law wiped her tears and tried to sound reasonable. "Sweetheart, I agree Piper went too far this time, but Gen, don't be so unforgiving."
"The baby was only three months old. Gone is gone. You're young, Gen. You can always have another one."
I froze, then the realization hit methey thought the dead baby was mine. But my daughter was already safe, spirited away by my security detail.
Then who was that small, bullet-ridden body on the cold asphalt downstairs?
Marcus came closer, trying to hug me, promising, "Gen, I swear I'll get justice for the baby, but Piper is still small and doesn't understand"
Before he could finish, I shoved him away, hard.
"Doesn't understand? Then why doesn't she try shooting herself to see what she understands then!"
With that, I grabbed a sturdy wooden stool from the hallway and smashed it repeatedly against the bedroom door.
The wood groaned and splintered. The entire floor seemed to shake.
"Piper Cole! Get out now, or Ill tear this door off its hinges!"
How dare she murder someone and hide comfortably inside?
Even if the body downstairs wasn't my flesh and blood, I would get justice for that innocent infant!
A scream came from inside. "Stop smashing! If you break the door down, I'll shoot myself!"
Gasping for breath, I turned and stormed into the kitchen, grabbed a heavy butcher knife, and slammed it against the door.
The blade bit deep into the wood, stuck fast.
"Shoot! If you don't, when I get in there, I'll make sure you pay for a life!"
Piper finally gave in and unlocked the door. Her small face was a mask of annoyance and impatience.
"Who did you shoot?"
She jutted out her chin, swaying carelessly. "Your daughter, obviously. Who else?"
I slapped her.
The sharp crack echoed. Half her face instantly flushed red.
Tears welled in her eyes. She clutched her cheek, disbelief etched on her face. "You hit me? My real mom never hit me! You evil woman"
I slapped her with my other hand. "Its precisely because your real mother indulged you that you grew up to be this monster!"
Then I grabbed her by the collar and hissed, "I'm asking you again! Who did you shoot?"
Only then did fear creep into her eyes. She covered her face and mumbled, "It was your daughter. But I didn't mean to. I just wanted to see what happens if you shoot a baby"
"How was I supposed to know she'd die?"
I looked into the room. The window was wide open, letting in a chilling gust of air. The nanny was huddled in a corner, shivering and silent.
They were both well over eight years old. How could they not know the danger of a loaded gun?
Marcus stepped closer, trying to intervene. "Piper knows she made a mistake, Gen. Youve let out your anger. Lets lets bury the baby now."
The sheer absurdity of his statement stunned mea life was gone, and the only requirement was a half-hearted apology?
My mother-in-law rushed forward, tightly hugging Piper, gently caressing her swollen cheek. "You hit her so hard. Youve ruined her face"
She only had a swollen face. The baby downstairs lost her entire life!
I pushed my mother-in-law away and grabbed Piper by her braid, dragging her toward the open window. "You said you didn't know what happens when you shoot? Why dont you experience it firsthand, then?"
Piper was hysterical, snot and tears running down her face. She struggled wildly. "No! Shooting kills people! If you kill me, youll have to pay too!"
So she did know about paying with her life. Yet she did it anyway.
In two lifetimes, I could never fathom how a child's heart could be this wicked.
A sharp pain shot through my arm. Marcus had violently pulled me away. The force of the movement sent my forehead smashing against the window frame.
Warm blood immediately streamed down my brow bone.
Marcus shielded Piper behind him, his face a mask of revulsion. "Is this ever going to end? The baby is dead! Why are you fighting with a child? This is your fault for not securing the weapon properly in the first place!"
Marcus and his mother stood shoulder to shoulder in front of Piper, looking at me as if I were a threat.
I saw it clearly in the first life, and now again: they were the true family.
My three-month-old daughter and I were nothing.
I clutched my forehead, my hands trembling as I reached into my pocket for my phone to call the MPs.
Marcus snatched it away and threw it to the floor. "This is a family matter! Why are you calling the MPs?"
"Piper is under ten. Even if you drag her to the police station, what are they going to do?"
I leaned against the wall, rising slowly. I looked at him, despair absolute. "Is it because you don't care, even though it's your biological daughter who died?"
Seeing the blood covering my face, a flicker of somethingmaybe guiltcrossed Marcus's eyes.
"Gen, we we can have more children."
"But Piper, I only have this one adopted daughter."
What a noble Special Forces Commander! What a dedicated family man!
I was once charmed by his supposed loyalty to his family. I never thought that "loyalty" would become the blade that gutted me.
He had never considered my daughter and me to be his true family.
All he cared about was the bloodline he acknowledged, and apparently, an adopted daughter was far more important than his own flesh and blood.
I turned to go downstairs, but Sienna, who had rushed back, slammed into my shoulder.
She lunged past me to hug Piper, her eyes blazing. "How dare you hit my daughter? I wouldnt lay a finger on her, and you, you wicked womanwhat gives you the right?"
I was shaking with rage. "Why dont you ask your daughter what she did first?"
"Your daughter died, and you blame my Piper? Clearly, your daughter was weak and meant to die!"
My hate for Sienna was immense, but right now, my heart ached for the child who had just been shot.
Who was she? Why was she here on the compound?
"Sienna, you're a mother. If that was Piper lying dead, could you still say that?"
Sienna's pupils constricted. She pointed at me and shrieked a curse. "You poisonous shrew! Your own daughter dies, and you curse mine? I hope your daughter is dead! She deserved it!"
I picked up the cracked phone and headed straight for the stairs.
My mother-in-law yelled urgently, "Stop her! Shes calling the MPs! Shes going to the police!"
Sienna was unconcerned. "So what if she calls them? Piper is only eight. Are they going to lock her up in juvie?"
"You idiot! If she takes this public, what about the Commander's reputation? Well have to pay a massive settlement!"
Siennas face paled as the financial implications hit her. She turned on Marcus, her expression twisted with malice. "Marcus, look at the wife you married! Her daughters dead, and all she cares about is scheming against us!"
Marcus's face was iron-gray as he chased after me, but I had already hit the emergency distress button.
Marcus tore the call box off the wall. Seeing that I had already alerted the security detail, he was so enraged he slapped me.
"I said this was a family matter! Did you have to broadcast it to the entire post?"
"Sienna and Piper have already had a hard life. Are you trying to destroy them? I never knew you were this cruel!"
I pressed a hand to my chest and smiled a bitter, desolate smile.
Yes, I was cruel.
I wished this entire house of monsters would burn to the ground alongside my daughter!
I said nothing more, only stumbled down the stairs. I needed to know who that child was.
I had a terrible hunch, but I didn't dare confirm it.
Seeing my silence, Marcus panicked and followed me.
Just as I was about to step out of the Officer's Quarters gate, he grabbed my shoulder, his grip bone-tight.
"Gen, don't make this worse. Please. I checked the baby. She's she's gone."
"Let's bury her properly, and we can move past this. Okay?"
I pulled away, my face expressionless. Then my eyes widened in a sudden, horrific realization
The granite ground where the infant had been lying was now empty.
I whirled around, grabbing Marcuss collar. "The baby? Where did you take the baby?"
The rhythmic sound of boots approached. A squad of MPs quick-marched into the courtyard, snapping to attention. "Report, Madam. What is the emergency?"
Marcus slapped a hand over my mouth, forcing a smile. "Nothing, fellas. My wife was just distressed and pressed the wrong button. You can go back now."
My mother-in-law and Sienna hurried down the stairs. My mother-in-law pointed at me. "Shes lost her mind! Fighting with her husband and calling the MPs! The disgrace!"
The patrol leader looked confused but saw it was a domestic issue within the Officers Quarters and wisely didn't press. He saluted and led his men away.
Only when the sound of their boots had faded did Marcus remove his hand.
"Gen, you think I don't hurt when a child dies?"
"You want to broadcast this to the entire post? How is Piper supposed to live her life? Where does that leave my reputation as a Commander?"
I wiped the cold tears from my face. "Does any of that compare to a human life?"
I frantically searched the area for any sign of the child. I scanned every corner of the housing area. The small body was gone.
My gaze landed on the equipment warehouse in the backyard.
Piles of military-green weapons crates sat in the corner.
Seeing me walk toward the warehouse, Sienna rushed over and gripped my arm. "The warehouse is restricted access, Madam. You shouldn't go in there."
I coldly shook her off and charged inside. The sharp smell of metal and military-grade oil assaulted my nose.
In the deepest corner, a partially opened weapons crate showed a faint edge of the O.D. green blanket.
I trembled so hard I felt my teeth rattle. A gut-wrenching scream tore its way out of my chest. "Are you are you even human?!"
Sienna actually looked proud, clearly pleased with her quick thinking.
"If I hadn't reacted fast, you'd have pinned this on us. Its just a body, and we cant afford the settlement for a Commander's daughter."
Piper hid behind Sienna and stuck her tongue out at me. "Evil woman! Your own daughter died, and you just want to shake us down for money? Shameless!"
"Your baby was only three months old, and you think you can bankrupt us? Then you should have had a dozen more and become a millionaire!"
My mother-in-law and Marcus came in, urging me to let it go.
Marcus put a supportive arm around me, whispering, "Tomorrow, Ill get a bank transferfive thousand dollars for you. Calm down. It's just a baby. We can have another one."
I was so choked with fury and grief I could barely stand.
I had only one thought: I must know who this child was.
"Bring bring the baby out. Well we'll bury her properly."
Marcus frowned, glancing into the dark corner of the warehouse, clearly disgusted and unwilling to touch the crate.
I laughed a hollow, bitter laugh. "This is your flesh and blood, Marcus. And you're too squeamish?"
Marcus took a deep breath, as if accepting his fate, and instructed the duty officer to move the crate.
But Sienna blocked the way, her eyes fixed on me with suspicion. "Commander, shes setting a trap! The moment we bring the baby out, shell call the MPs again!"
"Then shell charge Piper, and how much money will we have to pay? Pipers life will be ruined!"
Piper clutched Marcuss sleeve, tears streaming down her face. "Daddy, I don't want to pay! If we pay, how will Mom and I live?"
Marcus put down the tools and sighed at me. "The child is gone, Gen. Let's not disturb her any further."
I closed my eyes. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
I turned and stumbled toward the exit.
Sienna was desperate. She grabbed my wrist, squeezing hard. "Where are you going? Don't even think about calling the police!"
"You're staying right here until spring. We'll tell everyone your daughter went missingthat it was an accident!"
By spring, the body would be too decomposed to clearly identify a gunshot wound.
My mother-in-law retrieved a pair of handcuffs from a cabinet. She and Sienna quickly cuffed my hands to the stair railing.
"Gen, sweetheart, you behave, and you're still my good daughter-in-law."
I struggled, but the handcuffs only dug deeper into my wrists.
I looked at Marcus, my final plea. "Do you do you really think Im doing this for money?"
Marcus averted his eyes. "Gen, just stay put. Don't damage the post's reputation any further!"
Piper seized the opportunity, rushing forward and delivering a hard slap to my face.
She made a mocking face. "You were so tough! Go ahead, hit me! Nah, nah, nah!"
I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood. I was trembling like a leaf, but my hands were cuffed. I couldn't even defend myself.
"You are a born monster! A terrible seed!"
Piper was ecstatic with her power. She kicked me hard in the stomach.
My postpartum incision screamed in pain. I clamped my mouth shut to keep from crying out.
I held onto a sliver of hope that Marcus, remembering our marriage, would let me go.
But he was busy comforting Sienna, and casually dismissed my pain. "Its a child, Gen. How hard could she kick? You terrified her earlier; let her blow off some steam."
Piper kicked me again, screaming triumphantly, "Your daughter deserved to die! She should have died!"
"Who said my granddaughter died?!"
A furious roar, like thunder, exploded behind us.
My father, General Robert Harrison, stood in the doorway of the Officer's Quarters, holding my very much alive daughter, flanked by his own security detail.

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