Body in the lake

𝐋𝐀𝐒 𝐕𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐒 (𝐒𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘)...𝐄.𝐃.𝐄.𝐍

𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘. 𝟕:𝟎𝟗𝐏𝐌

If Tide hadn't thought up an idea fast, he'd be stranded on the highway with the rotting body of that awesome girl.

He crouched by the edge of Dolly Lake, the cool night air pressing against him as he watched the last diver break the surface. Water slid off the diver’s face as he pushed his mask up, and the men exchanged nods. Without a word, they peeled off their wetsuits and tossed the gear into a large waterproof bag. He pulled out a thick envelope, discreetly stuffed with cash, and handed it to the taller of the two, who took it without even looking inside.

The men exchanged a final glance with him before hauling the bag back to their truck, slipping into the shadows as they climbed in. Their headlights flickered on, cutting briefly through the dark, then vanished. He let out a long breath, his eyes trailing over the lake’s surface, looking for any hint of disturbance. There was none.

After a few moments, he turned on his heel and walked back to his car. It was a three-hour drive back to Eden, the secluded but somehow popular estate in the whole of Vegas, hidden behind dense walls of security and miles of deserted land. As he drove, the storm clouds gathered in the distance, darkening the desert sky. Lightning flashed, briefly illuminating the mountains in the distance.

By the time he reached the estate, it was past ten. He wove his way through the sprawling grounds, finally reaching the iron gates of Hera Castle, the heart of Eden. The gates creaked open slowly, and Tide drove in, barely able to contain the smug smile that crept onto his face. He’d handled it—no one would find her out there. Not with the lake so far out, and definitely not in a storm.

He parked his car and stepped out, tossing his keys to a maid—a slender brunette with eyes that lingered on him a moment too long. She gave him a playful wink as she sauntered away, her heels echoing on the stone floor. He hardly noticed, already making his way into the grand entrance of Hera Castle. The towering arches and ornate decor felt almost oppressive, but he was used to it. He nodded at a few passing faces as he climbed the staircase, finally reaching a tall, black-and-gold door.

A maid knelt by the door, scrubbing away at a dark, rust-colored stain on the floor—a stain that looked suspiciously like blood. She glanced up as he approached, her face pale, and scurried aside, letting him pass.

Inside, he found his masters gathered in the room, lounging in various states of distraction. Two leaned against the open window, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he squinted at a well-worn romance novel in his hands. One was in the kitchen island, his hands moving with ease as he chopped vegetables, his apron spotted with red. Three and Four were sprawled across the couches, clearly enjoying the company of two women who looked like they’d been there for hours.

He cleared his throat. “Masters, the body’s been taken care of. As ordered.”

One’s hand stilled, his knife resting against the cutting board. Two glanced over, his expression unreadable as he flicked his cigarette stub out the window. Three and Four looked up, exchanging glances, their attention momentarily drawn from the women beside them.

“Where?” One’s voice was sharp, leaving no room for ambiguity. “Last thing we need is the police sniffing around again.”

Tide straightened. “Three hours away. Dolly Lake. I had divers sink her deep. No one’s finding her out there.”

The silence in the room thickened, stretching on as his words sank in. Two’s book slipped from his hand, landing on the floor with a dull thud. He stared at Tide, eyes wide, as if struggling to process what he’d just heard.

“A… lake?” he asked with a low voice, disbelieving.

Tide frowned, a flicker of unease tightening in his chest. “Yeah, Dolly Lake. What’s the issue, Master?”

One slammed the knife onto the chopping board, the blade embedding itself into the wood with a loud crack. His gaze was hard, furious. “Are you serious? I slit a woman’s throat, and your genius idea was to dump her in a lake? There’s a storm coming, Tide! Her body’s probably already drifting to the surface, and by tomorrow morning, every cop in the area will be poking around that lake!”

Tide’s stomach dropped. In his mind, it had seemed foolproof—Dolly Lake was remote, isolated, perfect for disposal. But now, the doubt crept in, filling his chest with a heavy dread.

“I… I didn’t think…” he stammered, his voice faltering as he tried to process the mistake.

Three ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head in frustration. “Yeah, I know that. Well, what about the divers? Please tell me you took care of them.”

Tide’s face drained of color. “They were hired specifically for this. Flew them in from Rome. They know nothing.”

Two let out a low, exasperated sigh, rubbing his temples as if to ward off a headache. “So let me get this straight. You flew in strangers, left loose ends, and now we’ve got a body potentially floating up in a storm? You could've just flown the body out Tide, We have jet for that or did I gamble it and didn't realize?”

Tide’s shoulders slumped. He dropped to his knees, bowing his head. “I’m sorry, masters. I didn’t think it through. I swear, I’ll fix it.”

Four, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke up, his voice cold. “And what about the girl?”

Tide looked up, confused. “Girl? What girl?”

Four’s gaze narrowed. “You smell like a human—and it’s not a man’s scent, except he's gay. So what was it, then?”

His mind raced, going over his steps at the lake. Racking his brain. Then he remembered her: a young blonde, stumbling along the shore, looking disoriented, crying and maybe a little drunk. He’d barely registered her presence before waving her off, too focused on the task at hand.

“There was… a girl, yes. Blonde. She looked drunk, so I told her to get lost. She didn’t see anything.”

One’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. “You told her to get lost? Lost to where? Heaven? You Just… sent her on her way?”

“She didn’t see the body,” Tide said, trying to keep his tone steady. “It was still in the trunk.”

Three groaned, running a hand over his face. “So let me make sure I have this straight. You left a body in plain sight, ran into some random girl, and then dumped her in a lake during a storm."

"What do you mean—" he paused when three threw him a hard glare. Heat flushed up his neck, and he looked down, unable to meet their eyes.

“Well, I hope you realized,” Two added, voice dripping with sarcasm, “her head was literally sticking out when you left Eden. So, yeah, I’m sure she didn’t see anything.”

Shit!

SHIT!!

Panic clawed up his throat.

“I’ll go back,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll make sure it’s handled.”

One looked at him, unimpressed. “She’s probably told half the city by now. Fix it. Quickly. And next time, please think. It's why you have a brain.”

He pushed himself to his feet, and turned toward the door, ready to leave and correct his foolish, obvious mistake.

“One more thing,” One called out. “If you ever pull a stunt like this again, you’ll be the one sinking to the bottom of that lake. Understand?”