Didi spoke in a steady voice despite a quiver running through it, "Sarah, listen to me." Something is important for you to know. Tiger, Bobby's right-hand man? He's my cousin. He sent me here, to look after you, to be your eyes and ears."

Sarah recoiled, the revelation hitting her like a physical blow. "Tiger? But... but why didn't you say anything before?"


"He didn't tell me everything," Didi admitted. "He just said there was trouble, that someone needed protection. He never said it would be you, that we'd be this close."

Silence descended on the line, thick with unspoken emotions. Sarah grappled with the revelation, the weight of Didi's secret hanging heavy in the air. Betrayal? Protection? The line blurred, leaving Sarah unsure what to believe.

"Didi," Sarah finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly. "Where are you? Can you come here? To fully understand what's happening, I must see you."


After a brief period of hesitation, Didi inhaled deeply. "Sarah, I think I can do better than that." Give me your address. I'd like to see you."

Sarah thought about Didi's offer, her heart hammering against her ribs. It was so tempting to think of a familiar face as a refuge throughout the turmoil they were going through. But the revelation about Tiger, Bobby's right hand, cast a long shadow of doubt.


"Didi," Sarah began, her voice cautious, "are you sure about this? I mean, with Tiger…"

"Didi stepped in and said, "I understand your hesitation," in a firm but slightly sad voice. "Believe me, things would have turned out differently if I had known everything at the outset. But Sarah, believe me. Tiger is concerned about you. Had he not, he would not have sent me here."

Mixed feelings churned in Sarah's stomach. Didi's voice had an air of genuineness, on the one hand. But on the other hand, she wasn't sure she was ready to take the chance of trusting someone who was so closely associated with Bobby's inner circle.

"Look," Didi said, her tone softening, "I know it's a lot to ask. Nevertheless, wouldn't you want to accept it for the kids if there's any chance I could help? For you personally?"

A tear ran out of Sarah's eye.. Didi was right. For Ethan, for Leo, she had to explore every option.

"Alright," Sarah said finally, her voice barely a whisper. "But you have to promise me this will be confidential. Derrick and I can't risk anyone knowing where we are."

"Absolutely," Didi replied without hesitation. "This conversation stays between us. Now, where are you?"

Sarah took a deep breath and blurted off the address of the abandoned cabin, her words tasting like ash. Although she was aware of the danger they were facing, her need for assistance and a relationship with someone outside of their remote world overcame her anxiety.

"I'll be there as soon as I can," Didi said in a comforting, warm tone. "Just stay put and don't open the door for anyone else."

"Didi," Sarah called out before Didi could hang up. "Thank you. For everything."

"That's what friends are for, silly," Didi replied, a hint of her usual cheerfulness creeping back into her voice. "Now hang tight. I'll see you soon."

Sarah could feel the knot of nervous anticipation tightening in her gut as the call came to an end. Although there was a glimmer of hope after Didi's remarks, their prospective collaboration was still clouded by the weight of her secret connections to Tiger.

Glancing over at Derrick, who had awakened during their conversation, Sarah shared the news of Didi and her unexpected connection to Tiger. Derrick's brow furrowed in concern as he listened, his expression a mirror of Sarah's own conflicted emotions.

"This is a gamble," Derrick said finally, his voice low. "A dangerous one."

"I know," Sarah admitted, her voice heavy. "But at this point, what choice do we have? We need all the help we can get."

Derrick sighed, the weight of their situation pressing down on him. "Just be careful, Sarah. Don't reveal anything too sensitive until you're absolutely sure you can trust her."

Sarah nodded, her resolve hardening. She refused to allow fear to stop them even though they were in unfamiliar area.

They had to take a leap of faith for their kids and their future, praying that Didi's presence wouldn't be another betrayal but rather a lifeline thrown across the turbulent waves of their uncertainties.

With an orange glow emanating from the setting sun, Sarah and Derrick readied themselves for Didi's arrival.

They could only wait, pulses racing, to see which would win out in the potentially dangerous and hopeful hours ahead.

"Sarah!" Didi called out, waving as she approached the cabin. "It's me!"

Relief washed over Sarah in a wave. ran to the door, flung it open, and gave Didi a fierce hug. The comforting smell of her perfume and her friend's warm embrace restored some sense of normalcy to their otherwise chaotic surroundings.

Sarah blurted out, "Didi," tears gathering in her eyes. "I'm so glad you're here."

Didi hugged her back just as tightly, a silent apology mingling with the comfort in her touch. "I'm here now," she whispered. "Let me in, let's talk."

Sarah ushered Didi inside, her eyes flitting nervously to Derrick. He offered a small nod, a silent acknowledgment of the gamble they'd taken.

The next few hours were filled with tense conversation, with Didi explaining Tiger's growing concern about Bobby's increasingly reckless behavior, particularly when it came to Sarah and the children.

"Tiger doesn't want innocent people caught in the crossfire," Didi explained, her voice serious. "He doesn't want the kids hurt. He feels… responsible for you, Sarah. He feels like he failed Bobby by letting you slip through his grasp."

Sarah listened intently, processing Didi's words, hope igniting in her heart. Maybe, just maybe, there was an ally in Bobby's inner circle. Tiger might hold the key to shifting the odds in their favor because of his distorted sense of shame and loyalty.

With the gaslight flickering and the shadows on the wall performing an unsteady ballet, they gathered together as the night grew darker. With Didi's disclosure still weighing heavily on their minds, Sarah and Derrick shared a cautious look.

"So, Tiger sent you here to help?" At last, Derrick inquired with a suspicious tone in his voice. "But how can we be sure he's not playing some kind of long game?"

Didi looked straight at him, a worried expression on her face. "I understand your doubts," she said. "I promise that I wouldn't have hesitated to warn you if I had known everything from the start. But Tiger... She paused, looking around for

"Tiger cares about you, Sarah," she continued finally. "He genuinely does. He may be loyal to Bobby, but there's a line even he won't cross. Hurting children? That's not part of the plan. He feels responsible for you slipping away, for Bobby's escalating behavior."

Sarah digested this information, a flicker of hope battling with the ever-present fear. "But why you, Didi? Why wouldn't Tiger come himself?"

Didi sighed, a hint of sadness creeping into her eyes. "Bobby doesn't trust him completely anymore," she explained. "Their relationship is strained, especially after you disappeared. Tiger argued against involving the kids, and Bobby… well, Bobby doesn't take kindly to dissent."

"So he sent you, a seemingly unconnected friend," Derrick mused, his voice thoughtful. "Someone Bobby wouldn't suspect."

Didi nodded. "Exactly. Tiger thought it would be less conspicuous, a way to offer you some protection without raising any red flags."

"Protection?" Sarah echoed, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "From the man who employs him? It all seems a bit… twisted."

"It is," Didi conceded. "But trust me, Sarah, Tiger is on your side in this. He wants to help, to see this end without bloodshed. He knows Bobby is spiraling, and he fears for your safety, for the safety of the children."

Silence descended upon the cabin once more, broken only by the crackle of the gaslight. Sarah and Derrick weighed Didi's words, the potential benefits and risks swirling in their minds. An ally within Bobby's inner circle – a stroke of incredible luck if true, or a carefully laid trap waiting to be sprung.

"Alright," Derrick finally said, his voice firm despite the tremor running through it. "We're willing to listen. But we need specifics. What information can you offer? What's Bobby's next move?"

Didi went into her bag and pulled out a small piece of wrapping paper, a look of relief spreading across her face. When she opened the paper, a thorough map of the city with a red X marking an area on the outside was shown. "Tiger intercepted this," she said.

"This," she said, pointing to the X, "is where Bobby and his men will be staying until they find you, Sarah. This wasn't over. They were still in the crosshairs, and Bobby was playing for keeps. But Didi's information, if true, could be the key to turning the tables.

"A safehouse, huh?" Derrick said, his voice hardening with resolve. "Maybe we can pay him a visit."

Sarah's eyes met his, a flicker of determination sparking in their depths. They wouldn't be hunted anymore. They would take the fight to Bobby, and with any luck, Didi's intel would be their weapon.

'Nuh-uh" Didi said, shaking her head. 'The place is crowded with guards. Until Tiger finds a route in, its not advisable to go there."