DIEDRE'S POV

An earsplitting headache erupted through my skull. I must have lost my footing, but I couldn't be sure.

Everything was confusing as I tried to convince myself that my body wasn't as frail as it felt. It was no use. I wasn't as young as I used to be. 

I looked over at him, trying to gauge his anger. He must have fallen over too because he grunted as he scooted across the hard floor. 

We didn't have time to do much of anything. We both were too busy assessing the calamity around us; the smoke, the debris. It was all too much to handle, too much to breathe in.

I wasn't sure what exactly it was, but it felt suffocating. 

What the hell happened? 

"FBI! PUT YOUR HANDS UP!"

Oh no. 

Appearing from within the purple-grey smoke, were several men adorned in black gear and guns held in front of them. They didn't show any sign of ceasing and I was sure that we were toast. 

"No!" He argued with the FBI holding our lives in their hands. "What have you done? My warehouse, my private property! It's all gone to shit-"

"Nothing you need to worry yourself with," a broad man with a heavy-duty helmet growled, "We have been trying to catch you for years, Mr. Carronton. We have Ms. Benson in our custody and unless you want to meet the demise your employees have, I suggest you not put up a fight." 

He wriggled on the ground, sneering at the speaker. 

"You will not get away with this! I have money and connections! I-"

The speaker laughed like none of this mattered. 

"That has no meaning to us. No matter how wealthy you are, you stand no chance against the law. I know you're used to getting what you want, but that ends now. You are a sick individual and deserve nothing but pain. Now, are you going to comply?"

When He showed no sign of relenting, the man motioned to a few of his cohorts, the armed soldiers forcing him to his feet. 

As they led him out of the room, the speaker turned to grin at me maliciously. 

"And you, Ms. Tiffin, are in a world of trouble."

I wanted to fight and insist that I was innocent, but there was nothing I could say. Nothing that could get me out of this pickle.

I was screwed and I have no one to blame but myself. 

HERO'S POV

I must have spent what felt like an eternity fighting Niall's tight grasp.

Fuck, what was he doing?

If it was his precious Josephine inside that damn warehouse, he'd be murdering anyone in his way.

I was close to knocking him on his ass. 

"We need to get in there!" I screamed, elbowing him in the side. 

"It's not what you think!" He grunted from the force of keeping me in place. "She's okay!"

"How the fuck would you know? Huh?"

"Hey!" 

Leon made his way around the limo, with Trudy on his heels. Our chauffeur sat in his seat, staring at us in bewilderment. If my eyes didn't deceive me, he was shaking like a leaf.

That explosion hadn't been small. 

"Calm down," Leon demanded, taking ahold of my shoulders, "Listen to what the man has to say." 

"Fuck what anyone says!" I bellowed, staring him in the eyes. "That's my wife in there? What if it was yours?"

At this, Leon's hold loosened. 

"Don't bring her into this." 

Ignoring his retort, I swiveled around to glower at my best friend.

"Niall, I swear to fucking God, if you don't let me go, I will make sure you don't walk for a month. Move now." 

Just as I was about to push my way past him, Trudy spoke up. 

"Shut up, you idiots! Look!" 

We all lifted our heads to find that a few men were making their way out of the smoking building, holding a small figure in their hands. 

If that was Kristina they were manhandling- 

No. It wasn't her. It was...

"DIEDRE?!"

As I shouted her name, she snapped her lifeless eyes open in confusion. Then, as she recognized me, she began crying. 

An unmatched emotion coursing through me, I trudged forward, only for Niall to stop me. 

"Let go of me-!"

"Not yet," He hissed, "Listen to me; Kristina is safe at the swat team's compound. We didn't let her anywhere near this place. Just wait a moment." 

Expelling a breath, I watched as Diedre struggled with the men. She screamed for me, but I made no move to come to her aid. She still was no part of my life, but I couldn't help but feel... mystified.

Why was she here? 

Not long after they managed to get her under control, two more men exited the warehouse with a scraggly-looking geezer in their arms.

Yes. That had to be the fuck we'd been hunting.

It wasn't long before another load of armed guards exited, barricading a small, but dirty female like a forcefield. 

Even with dirt marring her features, I could spot this girl from a mile away. 

Kylie. Fuck. She did not look good. 

What did that man do to her? 

The broader guard of all the men, approached, holding out a hand. I saw that he wore a patch that read: Captain. 

I immediately greeted him. I had him to thank. He did the work I was unable to do. 

"Hello, Captain Willard, I'm-"

"I know who you are, Mr. Tiffin. I want to thank you. Without the assistance of your dear wife, we would never have caught this guy." 

My eyes widened. 

"Is she-?"

"She's fine. Completely safe back at our compound. I'm sure she'll be relieved to see you." 

As a silence ensued, I couldn't deny my suspicions any longer. 

"That's my grandmother in your custody." 

The captain nodded gravely. 

"Technically, I can't relay this information because it's unprofessional, but yes, she was involved in this case. She will be locked away for a long time." 

I tipped my head in understanding. 

"Of course. Could I speak with her? I just... want to know why..." 

To my utter shock, the captain smiled. 

"For you, yes." 

As he led me across the small distance, it felt like a mile away. I couldn't wrap my mind around just what Diedre had done. It was unfathomable. She really was the monster my wife saw. 

I hated her. 

When we reached her and the man that had caused so much pain in my family, I glowered at them both. 

The man grinned, daring me to punch him. No. I wouldn't give him what he wanted. He was a worthless fuck. I turned to look at Diedre who wasn't calling for me anymore.

She appeared utterly guilty. 

I couldn't see Kylie past her barricade, but that was good. The heinous acts against her made me want to vomit. 

"Tell me why, Diedre," I growled, tears gathering in my eyes. "Why would you do this to not only my... friend... but also attempt to with my wife." 

She didn't try to deny a thing. 

"She- they had to go." 

I recoiled as if she'd burned me. 

"You're a disgrace, Diedre. You are no longer my grandmother. You're nothing but an abuser and rapist. You mean nothing to me."

Only when I turned my back, did she begin to scream for me. 

Who else is glad Hero put Diedre in her place again?

I am 🤪🤪