I kept Hero and me in the treasurers office longer than necessary, scared that Tawnee would catch us in there.

Hero, however, wasn't concerned about this. He opened the door without preamble and led us out into the main office again. 

After he kissed me goodbye and left, I was aware that I was still at work. Crap.

That so unprofessional. 

And we hadn't even done anything. 

Brendan was standing behind the desk, tapping his finger impatiently. 

"Have something to tell me?" He spoke, making me jump. 

"What-? No!" I quickly exclaimed. "I..." 

He hurried from around the desk, gathering me in his arms.

"Did Mr. Sex On Legs just coerce you into one of the offices?" 

I blushed. "Brendan!"

He ignored me, snorting indignantly. 

"I'm no saint, Kristina. I won't tell." 

I huffed angrily.

"We didn't do anything. Tawnee knocked on the door and interrupted us. Just as well; I think Jo would have killed me if I made a mess on her documents." 

At this, Brendan face became contorted. He began laughing.  

"Girl, you nasty." 

After a moment of laughter between us, he took on a more serious tone. 

"I'm still your friend, right?" 

I gasped, astonished he would ask such a thing. 

"Of course you are, Brendan." 

He frowned.

"Forgive me. I'm just feeling like a third wheel. Everyone knows I'm gay. Guys avoid me at every cost. Josephine is off on her honeymoon and isn't aswering her phone. In all honesty... you've seemed a bit preoccupied lately. At the wedding, you two disappeared and barely talked to me." 

Oh no. I knew what he was getting at. He thought we were cutting him loose. 
I immediately gathered Brendan in for a tight hug. 

"No... please forgive me. You saw how Hero blindsided me with that proposal. It was a lot to take in. Lately... he and I are just going through a rough patch." 

Brendan furrowed his brows. 

"Is there anything I can help with?" 

I was about to say no, but I didn't want to take the chance of making him feel more isolated than he did. I also needed one of my best friends to be by my side. 

"Would you mind tagging along with me to my fiance's mothers house?" I asked. "There might be some drama." 

It took less than a second for a smile to form on his face. 

"I'm in." 

Later in the afternoon after our shifts ended, I gave Brendan the necessary directions, leading the way down the interstate. 

When we finally made it to the familiar fortress, I took a deep breath before I stepped out of my car. There was a good chance that Diedre was here, but she'd have to deal with the fact I wasn't here for her. 

I wasn't about to deal with her bullshit.

Like a force to be reckoned with, Brendan and I clung onto each other, approaching the front door. When it opened, Dorinda's pretty, but pale face materialized. 

She looked worse than ever before.

"Oh," her feeble voice croaked, "it's you." 

Her eyes then slowly shifted to look at Brendan whose arm was linked with mine. 

"Did you break off the engagement already?" She said. 

Brendan scoffed, offended by her remark. 

"Excuse me." He snapped. "I'm gay." 

Dorinda's smile lowered.

"Oh, I see." 

I shook my head, knowing we were off track. 

"May I come in? There's something we need to talk about." 

Dorinda began closing the door the barest of an inch. 

"I'm afraid I cannot-" 

"Why?" I demanded. "Is Diedre here?"
 
She peered through the slit of the door, pausing her movements. 

"No... she's not." 

"Please." I begged. "I need answers. I promise it has nothing to do with her." 

After a moment of contemplation, she opened the door again, allowing us to enter. The house was just as crisp and clean as last time, despite Dorinda's harsh appearance. I was sure they had a maid for that. 

She led us to her bar, sitting on a stool. 

"What can I help you with?" 

I cleared my throat, eyeing Brendan awkwardly. 

"Can you give us a minute?" 

Before he could stalk off, Dorinda called out for him, though her voice sounded weak and brittle. 

"There's a game room down the hall, dear!" 

When we were finally left alone, I thought hard about where I wanted to start. 

"What in the world is going on?" I began. "My fiance and I should be enjoying our life and making wedding plans, but he's been so distant it's not funny." 

Dorinda seemed unbothered, looking off into the distance. 

"I'm sorry, I can't help with the future of your married life. It doesn't concern me." 

I scoffed. 

"I saw how upset you were at our engagement. I know what you're feeling at the moment. Also, this does concern you. What's this about a ransom?" 

Her eyes went wide. 

"He told you?" 

I rolled my eyes. 

"Of course he told me. He's been worried sick, up at all hours of the night, trying to pin the person who is doing this to you." 

Dorinda sighed. 

"I never asked him to do anything." 

I took a moment to compose myself.

"Dorinda, you may have not asked him to, but he is. That's what family does. They are there even if you don't ask. Maybe I can help." 

She stared off behind me as if in deep thought. 

"No one can help me." She whispered.
 
"What do you mean?" I asked. "Does someone have something against you?" 

Hero had said that he thought it was someone in her inner circle. 

Dorinda laughed. "Everyone has a vendetta against me." 

I took ahold of her arm, feeling her body shake. Holy fuck. She was terrified. What wasn't she telling me? 

"Is it someone close to you?" I urged. 

She held a trembling finger up to her lips.  

"I was sold out." She murmured. "I need to make payment." 

Oh, so this was a money dispute. 

"Are you going bankrupt?" I asked. 

For the first time, she turned to me with a pleading look in her eyes. 

"They're asking for something I can't offer anymore." 

The air went cold as she said this. 

What did she mean?