Page 48 of Captive Bride

“Well, the way I see it, you have two choices.”

I waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. He just took another swig of his beer instead.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Alright, I'll bite. What are my two choices?"

Kieran set his beer down, his expression turning serious. "Option one: You run. I tell him I came to see you and, in the scuffle, all four of you had been killed. You run, go to Europe. Bellamy rules over Boston. I become de facto heir. Just like our uncle has always planned.”

“The Orsinis?”

“Adriana’s parents and sister will know the truth.”

I shook my head immediately. "No. I'm not running. What's option two?"

Kieran looked right at me. “You go home, Tristan. And you take back your throne.”

Chapter Twenty-One: Tristan

Blood had seeped into the crevices of the old living room floor. Kieran and I moved methodically, scrubbing away the evidence of the night's work. Our movements were silent, save for the occasional slosh of water and rustle of plastic. I eyed the crimson stains darkening the rags—reminders of what we had to do.

"Kieran," I murmured, my voice a low thrum in the quiet of the Delaware hideout, "once we're back in Boston, it's going to be a damn minefield."

He paused, his eyes lifting from the stained wood to meet mine. There was an understanding there, a shared knowledge of the dangers that waited for us back home.

"Nick Rossi won't take this lying down, and Bellamy? That bastard's just looking for a reason to come after me." The names felt like lead on my tongue, each one a potential bullet aimed at our heads.

“I mean, you’re going to have to kill him,” Kieran said. “Though I can do it, if you’d like. I’m feeling very used.”

I chuckled darkly, shaking my head. "Nah, lad. This one's on me. Bellamy's had it coming for a long time."

We fell into silence again, the rhythmic scrubbing filling the air. My mind raced with plans and contingencies, each scenario more grim than the last.

"What about the police? I know law's the least of our worries, but even they've got longer arms when it comes to guys like us." I tossed a bloodied rag into the black bag with more force than necessary. It wasn't just about getting rid of the physical traces; it was about staying two steps ahead of those who'd want us dead or behind bars.

"Let them come, Tristan," Kieran replied, straightening up, his dark hair falling into his eyes. "We'll handle it, like we always do. Together."

“You’re not worried about the cops?”

He smirked. “I might be sleeping with a legal assistant to the DA,” he said. “She’s clerking for him and, I mean, she doesn’t tell me anything she shouldn’t, but I do know that right now, they have bigger fish to fry than our families.”

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head at my brother's audacity. "Of course you are. Jesus, Kieran, you've got balls of steel."

He shrugged, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "What can I say? I'm a man of many talents."

I wiped the last of the blood from the countertop, the cool marble a silent witness to our grim task. The Delaware house was quiet except for the methodical sounds of cleanup—the snap of latex gloves, the rustle of plastic as we worked to erase any hint of violence that had stained its walls.

"We still need to deal with the bodies," I said, my voice low and grim. The weight of the situation pressed down on us, heavier than the corpses we'd soon have to move.

Kieran nodded, his eyes dark with concentration. "River's our best bet. Cut 'em up, weigh 'em down, let the current do the rest."

“Isn’t the river frozen over? I probably need a little refresher on Delaware geography.”

"Shit, you're right," Kieran muttered, running a hand through his dark hair. "I forgot we're not in Boston anymore. This damn Delaware winter's got everything iced over."

I leaned against the kitchen counter, my mind racing through our limited options. The bodies in the next room were a ticking time bomb. We needed to act fast.

"What about the ocean?" I suggested. "It's not far, and the currents would carry any evidence far out to sea."

Kieran's eyes lit up. "That could work. We'd need to drive a bit, but it's doable. Less chance of being spotted too, especially at night."

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