Page 49 of Captive Bride

I nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope. "Alright, let's finish up here and prep for transport. We'll need tarps, weights, a chainsaw..."

My voice trailed off as I mentally catalogued the grisly supplies we'd need.

“We have the tarps and we have the chainsaw. What do we need the weights for?”

I raised an eyebrow at Kieran. "You really want to risk those bodies washing up on some family beach? We need to make damn sure they sink and stay sunk."

“I mean, I knew that. I just thought they might wash away.”

“Or they might end up in the Hamptons,” I said. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Look, we can't take any chances. These bodies need to disappear completely."

Kieran grimaced, nodding in agreement. "Right, good point. We don't need some rich kid stumbling on our handiwork during spring break."

I pushed away from the counter, my muscles aching from hours of scrubbing. "Let's get moving. We'll need to hit a hardware store for the weights. Maybe grab some heavy chains too."

We moved through the house, gathering our supplies with practiced efficiency. The chainsaw's weight felt familiar in my hands, a grim reminder of the task ahead. As we loaded the car, the predawn sky began to lighten, painting the quiet suburban street in shades of gray.

"We should move fast," I muttered, glancing at the neighboring houses. "Don't want any early risers getting curious about our little road trip."

Kieran slammed the trunk shut, his face set in a determined mask. "I'll drive. You look like shit, Tristan. Get some rest while you can."

I didn't argue, sliding into the passenger seat with a grunt. Kieran loaded my wheelchair in the backseat, because we were going to need the trunk.

I watched in the rearview mirror as Kieran loaded the bodies into the trunk, his movements quick and efficient. The suburban street was still quiet, houses dark and peaceful. If anyone looked out their window right now, they'd see two brothers loading up for an early fishing trip. They'd have no idea of the grim cargo we carried.

As Kieran slid into the driver's seat, I felt the weight of exhaustion settle over me. The adrenaline that had kept me going was fading, leaving behind a bone-deep weariness.

"You good?" Kieran asked, his voice low as he started the engine.

I nodded, leaning my head back against the seat. "Yeah. Let's just get this done."

I wasn’t good. Everything hurt. Everything.

But that was better than not feeling my legs, so I tried to take deep breaths and ignore the faint metallic scent of blood that lingered in the air.

As we pulled away from the curb, the first rays of sunlight began to peek over the horizon. I closed my eyes, trying to find a moment of peace amidst the chaos. The gentle hum of the engineand the rhythmic sway of the car threatened to lull me into sleep, but my mind refused to quiet.

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?”

But that was better than not feeling my legs, so I tried to take deep breaths and ignore the faint metallic scent of blood that lingered in the air.

As we pulled away from the curb, the first rays of sunlight began to peek over the horizon. I closed my eyes, trying to find a moment of peace amidst the chaos. The gentle hum of the engine and the rhythmic sway of the car threatened to lull me into sleep, but my mind refused to quiet.

“Adriana and the babies?” I asked.

“I got a text from Carmen. They’ve checked into a hotel. All four of them are alright.”

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