TIFFIN 3

67

Hope you are all ready for cuteness overload 🤗🤗😭
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I smoothed my skirt down my legs as I joined him. He bowed his head as he prepared to unload all this on me. I couldn't imagine what he'd tell me. Maybe he really had left because he wanted to give me a chance to spread my wings, but what if he had slept with some girl because I'd upset him?

It wouldn't be the first time he'd gone looking for attention elsewhere.

"Listen," Hero began with a tone softer than he'd ever used, "You need to understand that it fucking killed me to leave you. Things had been going right for once. I had the woman I loved, Diedre was out of the picture, we had all the money in the world..."

I huffed.

"Yes, things had been going alright! You didn't have to leave! You said that you'd ruined me and that you moved too fast and-"

Hero grabbed onto my shoulders, shaking me to death.

"I had to say that. I had to lie so you would let me go. I had to hurt you to save you."

What?

"I'm still confused."

He sighed as if this was the easiest concept to grasp.

"Kristina, do you think everything that's unfolded has been a coincidence? Even with Kylie's kidnapping and the attempts at yours?"

I gasped.

"Are you telling me that you knew about the cafe?"

He didn't quite meet my eyes.

"I may have left, but I always had a pair of eyes on you."

I shook my head, the waterworks already making their way into my eyes.

"Why then? Why put us both through this hell? You should have run back home to protect me!"

He gathered me in his arms, crushing me to the broad chest I'd missed so much.

"It wasn't that simple; just listen and I'll explain everything. Baby, the kidnapping attempts didn't start after I left. They began even before we married. This man- this sick fuck- he was at Josephine's wedding."

"He was?"

"Yes."

This simple response put me on edge. There were so many strange things that had occurred in such a short time span. The kidnappings, Hero's sudden disappearance, Dorinda's absence from her own company, the pictures of her at such a young age, Diedre's strange behavior...

Wait.

The man.

"Hero... did you know what the man looked like?"

He nodded.

"I mean, yeah. I was there at the warehouse when they got ahold of Kylie during the sting."

He was? That must have been after the compound lost signal.

At my confused expression, he tipped his head in understanding.

"There's still a lot I need to explain, but first: why do you need to know this?"

I cleared my throat.

"After everything that's gone on, I don't think this would have been a coincidence. I'm sure I met him at Jo's wedding."

Hero's brows drew together.

"What the fuck do you mean you met him?"

I shrugged.

"There was a man at the reception that had bumped into me and introduced himself. At the time, I thought it was an accident but now that I think about it, I think he did it on purpose and was trying to pry into my business."

Hero's entire body began to bristle. He was pissed.

"That motherfucker. I wanted to kill him when I caught sight of him. Then, when I saw Diedre there with him-"

I gasped. I'd nearly forgotten. I hadn't been sure at the time if it really had been her there but now that I knew she had been, I didn't know what to think or do. 

"I'm sorry about your grandmother."

"Stop. She's not my grandmother. She's not anything. After seeing her take part in this heinous act... I can't bear to look at her."

I couldn't stand it. With tears in my eyes, I pressed my forehead against his. My loving, precious husband. He hadn't given up on me. On us.

"How did you know where the warehouse was?" I whispered.

Hero released me, staring into my eyes.

"As I said: I had eyes on you as much as possible. I noticed some strange behavior regarding our company and the patterns in the man's habits. Were you aware that the apartment had been cased before you'd left for your supplies at the hardware store? Did you notice someone had tried to mess with the locks I had installed days prior?"

No, I hadn't noticed. I also had no idea he'd installed new locks. Had I been that clueless?

"I had to leave to ensure your safety," He went on, "I never left without taking precautions. Granted, the slip-up with the nasty hobo at the hardware store was out of nowhere. My men took care of him."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Your men?"

Hero nodded.

"Kristina. This man was smart. I wasn't ever one-hundred percent sure what he'd planned for you but in his emails..." He trailed off. "don't make me say what I'd found. I met with a group of professionals my father recommended. They specialize in criminal activity. Leon and Trudy. I was away in another state, but we were studying his movements and doing our best to keep an eye on you."

I bit my lip.

"Were you having me followed?"

His eyes darkened.

"Yes. I had to. I couldn't risk you being taken. Some of the men were incompetent. If they had been more street-wise, Kylie wouldn't have been taken. As I was saying, I figured If the man thought I was out of the picture, things would mellow out for you. Maybe he'd back off. I was right, If only for a short time. I was hoping you wouldn't suspect much and I would make my way home as your knight in shining armor or some shit, but things didn't exactly work out that way."

Now, I felt dumb. All the hate I'd harbored for him since he left had been useless. He'd had good intentions. How could I not realize that?

"You... left to keep me safe." I paused to gather him in my arms, which he reciprocated, "And now..."

Hero's arms tightened around me.

"Now what?"

I took a risk and peeked at him through my lashes.

"You didn't show any anger at the fact that I'm pregnant. Only months ago, you were so adamant..."

Hero shook his head, lifting my chin delicately.

"I don't give a fuck about the past. We're in the now. You are mine. She is mine. I will do everything I can to protect you both for as long as I live. Can we take this one step at a time and go back to normal?"

I sniffled.

"I'd love that."

Apparently so did our child because I felt a hard kick. 

Shall we put it to a vote what their little girls name should be?

I'll take suggestions 🥴

Please remember to vote and comment if you enjoyed.