HERO'S POV

The plane ride was taxing as all hell.

The airport had been packed with idiots, making our departure even longer than it needed to be.

When we had finally managed to purchase a few last-minute tickets and boarded the plane ten minutes later, I wanted to wring the fat fuck belching behind me. But I reminded myself that this would all be worth it, getting to Kristina in just the nick of time. 

By the time we touched down in Sacramento at the municipal airport, there was a limo, of all things waiting for us. As I settled in the plush seat and reached for a small Fireball shot, I almost immediately dropped it into the basket.

Despite the amount of money my parents had flaunted over the years, I would never be used to this. 

Do not get drunk. You need to be sober for this. 

Jesus. What the hell were we going to do from here?

"Where are we going?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"The warehouse," Leon replied, "I've been pinpointing the address. I'm just not sure how long the private land extends. It could be guarded to the nines. We're going in blind. No choice."

I took a long, shuddering breath. 

Great. This was going to be a shit show. 

Leon sent me a worried glance. Trudy remained neutral, but I could tell even she was nervous. 

"Are you ready for this?" he asked. "After all this time away from your woman, things will be tense." 

I nodded, already feeling uncertainty kick in. It was unforgivable the way I'd left her all those months ago. I'd lied. There was no other word for it.

Kristina had moved on and tried working things out with other guys as I told her to. I wouldn't be shocked to find that she wanted nothing to do with me. 

If she wanted me gone, I wouldn't stay around to bother her. 

Fuck. Even as I thought this, I knew it wasn't true. I wasn't letting my goddamn wife out of my sight.

Even if I had to lock her down with me for days on end, she wasn't leaving my side.

I would claim her body again and show her how much I loved her. 

"I honestly don't know what the fuck to expect. This business with the swat team and her being involved isn't relieving any stress I have. I was an asshole and I don't think she'll be happy to see me." 

I looked towards the driver worried that he was eavesdropping. 

Leon, being the fucking softy he was, laid an arm on my shoulder. 

"It will take time, but she'll forgive you. As for this swat sting, I will make sure we do everything in our power to get her out of there. I hope the motherfucker that took her friend is ready to hurt."

I stared ahead, grinding my teeth. I was going to strangle him if I had anything to say about it. 

It didn't take us long to reach the lone dirt road. I'd seen private property like this before but it didn't stop my stomach from churning.

It was vast and winding and had no warning of what lay ahead. 

When we reached a bend in the road and came across an expansive plot of land that looked like it had seen better days, I knew we were in for it. 

I, however, was confused when the limo was bombarded by several men with guns pointed at the windows. 

Crap. 

"Who the hell are you?" 

My head snapped up. I recognized that voice. Jesus christ. 

"Niall, you fucker! Chill out, it's me!" 

His eyes widened. 

"Hero?!" 

After snapping his gun back in its holster and screaming an order at the guards flanking him, he yanked my door open. 

"What the hell are you doing here?" He snapped. 

I glowered. 

"What are you doing here? I've been following and keeping track of-" 

Before I could continue explaining myself, an enormous explosion erupted from the warehouse, glass flying out towards us. 

I couldn't think. Couldn't move. 

All that I was aware of was a gripping fear sweeping through me. 

"Kristina," I growled, "she's in there, isn't she?" 

When Niall only stared at the destruction, his mouth opening and closing like a fish, I jumped out of the limo, fisting his uniform in my hands. 

"NIALL, WHERE IS SHE?" 

Thank you all for giving this chapter a read 🤪

Little does Hero know Kristina isn't present.

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