Page 50 of Captive Bride

I nodded, relief washing over me. At least they were safe for now. The image of Adriana's face, etched with worry as the two of them carried the twins out the door, flashed through my mind. I pushed it away, focusing on the task at hand.

"Good," I muttered. "We'll need to move them again soon. Can't risk staying in one place too long."

Kieran hummed in agreement, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. The sky was lightening rapidly, the darkness giving way to a pale, watery dawn.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, Kieran was shaking me awake. "We're here," he said softly.

Blinking away the remnants of sleep, I looked around. We were parked in a deserted lot near the beach. The ocean stretched out before us, a vast expanse of dark, churning water. The sky was overcast, matching my grim mood.

"How long was I out?" I asked, straightening up in my seat.

"About an hour," Kieran replied, his eyes scanning our surroundings. "It's still early. We should be okay."

I nodded, steeling myself for what came next. "Let's do this."

I reached for the door, but Kieran stopped me. “Listen,” he said. “You should stay here.”

“What?”

“You heard me.”

I stared at Kieran in disbelief. "What do you mean, stay here? We're in this together."

Kieran's eyes softened with concern. "Tristan, you're exhausted. And let's be honest, the beach isn't exactly wheelchair-friendly. I can handle this part on my own."

I clenched my jaw, frustration and anger bubbling up inside me. "I'm not some invalid, Kieran. I've been doing this job just as long as you have. Longer than you have.”

“I know, but look, if someone sees us…they’ll be able to see your silhouette with the chair, right? And the sand will be hard to navigate no matter what.”

I glared at Kieran, anger and frustration warring inside me. But as much as I hated to admit it, he had a point. My wheelchair would be a liability on the beach, and we couldn't afford any mistakes.

“Okay. I’ll walk.”

“Tristan…”

"Don't 'Tristan' me," I growled, pushing open the car door. "I'm not sitting this out. End of discussion."

“You’re so stubborn. It’s not endearing.”

“It’s a little endearing.”

I gritted my teeth as I swung my legs out of the car, my muscles protesting every movement. The cold air hit me like a slap,sending a shiver down my spine. Kieran hovered nearby, his face a mask of concern.

"You sure about this?" he asked, his voice low.

"I'm sure," I grunted, pushing myself to my feet. My legs trembled, but I forced them to hold my weight. "Let's just get this over with."

Chapter Twenty-Two: Adriana

We’d gotten away.

At least the babies and I had gotten away…but I didn’t know what had happened with Tristan and I felt sick to my stomach.

The lobby's marble floor was cool under my heels as we made our way to the front desk, the air rich with the scent of polished wood and subtle cologne. Carmen strolled ahead, her red hair a fiery contrast against the muted elegance of the hotel. The twins were nestled in their carriers, unfazed by the opulence that enveloped us.

"Two rooms," I told the concierge, my voice steady despite the adrenaline still fizzing in my veins from our swift departure from Delaware. "Adjoining."

“It’s six o’clock in the morning,” the concierge said.

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