TIFFIN 3

106

I bursted into tears as soon as I made it to the compound. Several of the swat officers cringed at my behavior, but I could have cared less.

My sweet daughter was here and I could have lost her.

Eleanor squealed in delight and stretched out her grubby fingers as I approached. She really had no idea how close she had come to losing me. 

Thank God for her oblivious nature. 

As I gathered her close and ran a hand over her brown hair, a guard grunted at us. 

"That demon yanked on my hair so much, I think I may have a concussion." 

Instead of taking offense at the comment, I laughed, smiling down at my girl. 

You cheeky little thing. 

"Did she?" I asked, feigning innocence. 

The guard frowned. 

"Yes, but... I let it go. Good thing she's so cute. Or else I wouldn't have forgiven the assault so easily." 

I was aware of words being spoken, but it faded into the background. All that mattered was how precious the moment was, gathering her close to my chest. 

At another response, I lifted my head in irritation. 

"What?" 

"Sorry. I said that you're going to need to lock this girl up the rest of her life. The boys will be difficult." 

This made me snort.

"That they will." 

God help us if her first boyfriend was anything like her father.

Before we could continue with our conversation, crunching gravel sounded. 

"Huh." Another guard began. "They can't be here already unless Willard decided to turn Evengot in himself." 

They.

Hero was here. 

Without thinking, I thrusted myself out into the cool air. It knocked at me like the force of a wrecking ball, but I recovered quickly enough. 

Several men in combat gear made their way towards the building. It didn't take long to spot my husband. He headed straight for us, lifting the helmet off his head. 

He looked as sexy as could be with his unruly hair in a heap.

"You're safe." I breathed. "I would have stayed but I was told to come here and..." 

Hero shook his head, silencing me with a deep kiss that stole my breath away. 

"Don't worry about it. You needed to see to our daughter." 

With that, he pressed a tender kiss to the top of Eleanor's head. It made me smile. 

We were all safe and there wasn't a hint of annoyance between either of them. If things really had gone south with Jake... 

No. I couldn't think about that. 

As everyone headed inside, I looked past the armoured vehicles. 

"Where's the captain?" 

Hero didn't bother answering; he gathered me close, wrapping the length of his arms around me. His breath released, brushing over a strand of my hair. 

"That was fucking stupid what you did. I could have lost you, baby." 

I sighed. I really didn't want to fight. 

"I had to do something. Surely... You understand." 

He grabbed ahold of my face, pulling back so he could look at me. 

"No. I really don't fucking understand, Kristina. What you did was stupid and idiotic. What would I have done without you? You were so close to being..." 

So close to being tossed over the rock. 

He didn't need to finish his sentence. 

"You would have found another girl. I knew you'd find someone good to care for Eleanor by your side." 

Even though it killed me thinking of it. 

"No!" He snapped, tears filling his eyes. "Fuck that. I would have died without you. She would have-" 

I drew in a ragged breath, burying my face in his neck, Eleanor protesting. 

"Please... Let's not fight." 

Much to my shock, he relented.  

"Okay. You're right. Let me change out of this bullshit and we'll go home." 

I nodded, already feeling the winter creeping up on us.

Writing this while watching Sorcerers Stone.

Such a good movie. 💞💞