TIFFIN 3

100

HERO'S POV

Damn diapers. How the fuck did you work these things anyway?

I looked down at Eleanor who was clearly enjoying this torment I found myself in. Her cheeks reddened from the effort of trying to smile. 

Well... Okay. Maybe it wasn't that evil. It was actually cute. Too cute. Holy crap. 

She looked just like her mother. I was in deep shit. The teenage boys would be knocking down our door before she reached her thirteenth birthday.

Just what had we done to ourselves? 

No. I wouldn't allow such a thing. There were cupboards under the stairs, weren't there? 

Didn't Harry Potter's parents keep him safe that way? 

Wait... Oh fuck. 

Hell, I'd find a broom to beat them back with. I didn't care. 

Eleanor let out another squeal of delight as I fastened the diaper straps.

She was so happy. Surprising considering I'd been an absolute dick where she was concerned. 

As I fitted her back into the pink onesie, I stared back at her for a long minute. She sucked on her thumb and rested her small head on my chest as I cradled her. 

I'd been so concerned with my own issues lately I hadn't noticed how nice this was. 

Why did I have such a piss poor attitude with her anyway? 

I smoothed a hand down the wisps of her hair.  

"You're not too bad." I whispered. "You're pretty kick ass. Especially after dealing with me." 

After a few more moments of rocking my daughter and cooing her, she began to snore. How funny. That was a habit of Kristina's. 

How much did these two have in common?

As soon as I settled Eleanor in her crib, I made my way to the bedroom. While I had time to myself, it was the perfect opportunity to watch a movie. 

What were my choices? 

Mean girls? Hell no. 

510 to Yuma? Maybe. 

Zack and Miri make a porno? Let's fucking go! 

I was about to switch on the television when I spotted Kristina's robe in the middle of bed. 

Jesus. The woman got on my case for leaving my shit everywhere. 

lifting the material, I was in shock at the paper that flew out. Was that a last minute work document? God damn it. 

When I finally lifted it to read, my blood ran cold. What the fuck was this? 

You know who I am. 

Your husband's special place. 

That darling daughter of yours will suffer. 

Where had this come from? How did they know where my rock was? 

I knew the answer even as I thought this. Damn it, but how did he manage to.... Fuck! 

Diedre. It had to be her. 

Making my way to my phone, a call rang through. I was tempted to ignore it, but decided to be smart about things. 

"Hello?" I snapped. 

"Hero! Thank god!" 

Looking down, I saw that it was Ezekiel. Kylie's fiance. Dude had joined some functions and was a chill guy. 

But why the hell was he calling me? 

"Yeah?" I said uncertainly.

He breathed heavily, as if he'd finished a marathon. 

"I got lucky I was by my phone... Dude.... I've been notified that Jake Evengot is out!" 

My fury couldn't be contained. 

"What?!" I bellowed. "How did this happen?!" 

Even though I had suspected it, I hoped for it to have been a false intuition. 

"Man... No one knows. One minute he was there, then he wasn't. I have Captain Willard on the other end. We're securing a swat team now. Be sure to keep Kristina under lock and key." 

At my silence, E exploded over the phone. 

"Please don't fucking tell me that something's gone wrong." 

I yanked at the strands of my hair in disbelief. Everything had been going well after last night. Why hadn't I seen this coming?

Realizing I still hadn't replied, I lifted the receiver to my ear. 

"There's this note with threats on it. I don't know when or how she got it, but Kristina left awhile ago. Said she needed to see her mom, but it had been so sudden. I should have known something was up." 

"God," Ezekiel moaned, "Kylie is going to have my hide for this. Helping her friend from a kidnapping just for her to land in danger. I don't even have a lead."

"You might." I interrupted. "The note had a location. I know where it is." 

"Then what the hell are we waiting for? Give me a moment to relay the news to Willard and meet me in front of your place." 

I didn't bother listening to the rest of his sentence. I rushed towards Eleanor's room flicking on the light. 

She began to whine in protest, but I managed to console her. 

"We're going to get your mother. Do me a favor and sleep again." 

I was going to need all the luck I could get.