TIFFIN 2

9

Hey everyone! I hope you're doing swell 🥺💗

Yes, the gif will correctly depict what will be going down in this chapter so...

NSFW.
_________________________________________

When Hero had finally decided to drive Emma home (wherever that was) and I was alone with the documents, I didn't know how to take this all in.

I'd been proven right in the fact that my parents had been lying to me my entire life.

I'd been living under the roof of criminals and had let them dictate my decisions, from my clothes to my career choices. 

How could I have been so stupid?

Better yet, how was I supposed to refrain from talking to the cops?

If I even tried to convince them now, there was a good chance Emma would be thrown into a mental hospital again.

I couldn't do that. 

If Elouise and Charlie tried to contact me, what was I supposed to do?

I could pretend to hold a grudge against them, but for how long?

As I strutted across the suite floor, my door clicked open. Without warning, Hero stepped over the threshold, shutting the door behind him. I didn't bother screaming at him.

How could I?

He didn't make it to the bed before I leaped into his muscled arms.

For a moment, he was taken aback, resisting, then crushed me to his chest in an unbreakable bond.

"Kristina-" He began to say but I interrupted. 

"No, don't say anything. Nothing else matters. Just hold me."

We stood in each other's arms, with Hero stroking my hair, until I pulled away.

"You did this," I sobbed, my voice barely audible, "You helped my real mother tell her truth. Why?"

"Are you kidding me?" Hero scoffed. "You're my everything, Kristina. I don't give a fuck what we fight about. I had to do this. I had to show you I want you back."

"Hero, I love that you did something so selfless, but... it's too soon. What you did was unforgivable."

He groaned. "I know that."

"Look," I said, "Emma told me something when you were downstairs. She made me realize that I can't resent what you did for the rest of my life. I can't stand to lose you."

The air went silent.

"What are you saying?" Hero breathed.
 
I shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. I just need time to think it over."

Hero nodded. "I understand that, baby, but there's something we need to talk about-"

I did my best to pull away from his tight grasp. 

"Can we not do this tonight? I need to check in with my boss and-"

Hero pulled me gently down on a bed.

"This can't wait. Please just let me tell you this, then I promise I'll leave."

I shut my eyes tightly, willing myself to have the strength to do this.

"Okay. Let's talk."

Hero held my gaze. "From now on, I swear to not lie to you. It is true that I agreed to tape you. I had a chance to delete it, yet I didn't. That's all my fault. But believe me when I say I'm not the only one that was in on this game."