Page 38 of Captive Bride

After feeding, changing and putting the babies back down, I caught a little nap while Kieran and Tristan caught up.

I got up to get a drink and hovered by the doorway, unnoticed for a moment, watching them.

"Remember when we swiped Dad's car for a joyride?" Tristan broke the silence, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of nostalgia.

"Got two blocks before it broke down," Kieran replied, a chuckle rumbling in his throat. "Thought we were goners."

"Should've been scared out of my mind," Tristan admitted, looking down at his hands, then back up at his brother. "But I wasn't—not with you there."

"Always had your back, lad." Kieran leaned forward, elbows on knees, the corners of his mouth turning up ever so slightly.

"Even after everything, huh?" There was a vulnerability in Tristan's question that made my heart twist.

"Especially after everything." Kieran's response was soft, almost lost beneath the hum of life outside these walls.

I stepped into the room, letting my presence be known. "You both have been through more than most could handle," I said, moving to sit beside Tristan. "Look at how far you've come."

"Thanks to you," Tristan said, reaching out to squeeze my hand.

"Yeah, he’s right. I think you’ve made everything make sense for Tristan,” Kieran said.

“Well, he’s going to have plenty of sleepless nights to regret all his decisions.”

Kieran laughed. Tristan didn’t.

"Someone has to keep you Callahan boys in line," I teased, a smile playing on my lips. Their laughter filled the room, easing the tension that always seemed to linger just beneath the surface.

"Seriously though," Tristan continued, his gaze flicking between Kieran and me. "You should have seen her. Adriana was just…fucking crushing it. She gave birth at home and she was amazing.”

“I’m sure she was,” he said. “The Orsinis are remarkable. Assholes, but remarkable.”

I laughed. So it wasn’t perfect…but this was fine. And with Carmen here, it might even be good.

Maybe I’d been wrong. Maybe everything was going to be fine.

Chapter Seventeen: Adriana

The doorbell's chime snatched me from the edge of sleep, a sharp note in the quiet house. I blinked away the lingering fog of rest and watched through the Ring app as Amber and David Miller stood outside, cradling a dish that steamed against the chill of the evening. Her smile was a fixed curve on my phone screen, and despite Tristan's murmur to ignore it, I couldn't.

"Rest," I whispered, brushing my lips against his cheek. His skin was warm, the stubble a soft prickle against my mouth. "I've got it."

I slipped out of bed, my feet sinking into plush carpet as I padded toward the front door. The weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders with familiar ease. Control was something I could never quite shake, even when exhaustion tugged at my bones.

"Evening, Amber," I greeted as I swung open the door. The scent of lasagna mingled with the crisp winter air, a small comfort amidst the chaos of our lives.

"Adriana, darling, I thought you might like this. This is homemade so…" Amber's voice carried that effortless charm as she handed over the dish, her eyes scanning past me as if searching for any sign of discord within the stronghold.

"Thank you," I said, taking the meal. Heat seeped through the foil, promising a warmth we hadn't felt in days. "Come in, both of you."

David followed behind her, silent as a shadow but with a presence that filled the room. My gaze flitted over him, noting the way he moved with careful precision, as if every step was measured and calculated.

"Amber, David, these are Carmen, my sister, and Kieran, my brother-in-law. Tristan’s brother, not Carmen’s husband," I introduced, and they exchanged brief hellos before the conversation drifted inevitably back to the twins.

Carmen had gotten here without pomp or circumstance, and after throwing my arms around her and practically sobbing on her shoulder, she had told me to go rest.

I was glad she was here. I loved her so much.

"Healthy as can be," Kieran was saying, pride lacing his tone. The swelling feeling in my chest agreed—even amidst the tumult of our world, life burgeoned with relentless hope.

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