Page 42 of Captive Bride

But if David Miller was a killer…well, fuck, what did that make his wife?

Chapter Nineteen: Adriana

Inudged open the living room door, the soft click of the latch barely registering as my eyes fell on a chaotic scene. There it was—Amber's lasagna, splattered across the polished hardwood floor like a crime scene without a body.

Weird.

Guess that was what had made the noise.

It was supposed to be tucked away in the fridge, a simple favor from her to ease my postpartum days.

"Everything alright, Amber?" I called out, my voice steady despite the alarm bells clanging in my head.

Amber's form straightened up like a blade snapping to attention. "Just lost my balance for a moment." Her words were casual, but her eyes calculated the distance between us with an intensity that sent a chill through me.

I barely registered Carmen and Kieran blurring into action, their bodies moving with a swiftness that spoke of their own ingrained training. They were at Amber's side in an instant, courteous, polite. Ready to clean up the mess she’d made.

"Careful there," Kieran murmured, his voice low and even. But it wasn't concern that shadowed his features—it was something sharper, more attuned to the undercurrents of tension that always simmered beneath the surface in our world.

Carmen threw me a look over her shoulder, a silent communication that we had perfected over the years. Her vibrant red hair seemed to catch fire in the dim light of the living room, a beacon of warning.

"Let's get this cleaned up," Carmen said, her tone light but her eyes telling a different story. One that spelled trouble.

"Thanks," I replied, forcing my feet to stay rooted to the spot as every instinct screamed at me to move, to create distance. To protect.

But then, something happened that stole the breath from my lungs. With a swift, unexpected motion, Amber shrugged off Carmen and Kieran's helping hands and spun around. There was a flash of silver in her grasp - a blade. A guttural cry echoed in the room as Carmen was thrown to one side, clutching her arm. Kieran, taken by surprise, stumbled back.

Kieran quickly caught himself, though. “Carmen, run,” he said, his voice sharp with urgency. But Carmen was already moving, her injured arm cradled against her chest.

I didn't wait to see what happened next. My body moved on instinct, fueled by adrenaline and maternal fear. I spun on my heel and ran, my heart pounding in my ears. The nursery. I had to get to the babies.

The hallway stretched before me, seeming impossibly long. I could hear the sound of a scuffle behind me, punctuated by grunts and the crash of something heavy hitting the floor. But I didn't look back. Couldn't look back.

I burst into the nursery, slamming the door shut behind me. My hands fumbled with the lock, desperation making my fingers clumsy. The click of the lock sliding into place was barely audible over the sound of my ragged breathing.

For a moment, I stood there, my forehead pressed against the cool wood of the door. The twins were mercifully quiet in their cribs, unaware of the danger that lurked just outside.

"It's okay," I whispered, more to myself than to them. "Mommy's here. You're safe."

I turned around, my eyes scanning the nursery. The soft glow of the night light cast shadows across the room, making the familiar space seem suddenly alien. My gaze landed on the cribs, where my babies lay peacefully sleeping.

My heart clenched. How could this be happening? How had our safe haven turned into a battlefield?

A muffled thud from beyond the door made me flinch. I had to think fast. Had to protect my children.

This was too exposed. Their cribs were right below the windows, and I knew we weren't safe here. Not with Amber out there, armed and dangerous. My mind raced, searching for options.

Fuck.

Her husband.

Tristan had been right. I should’ve never trusted them.

I didn’t have time to beat myself up, considering I had to take care of Catherine and Matteo, and two potential killers were out there. I was just glad Kieran was here, too.

With shaking hands, I lifted my babies from their cribs, one at a time. They stirred but didn't wake as I cradled them close to my chest. Their tiny bodies were warm against mine, their breath soft on my skin. I pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads, inhaling their sweet baby scent.

"Shh," I whispered. "We're going on a little adventure."

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