Next to You, Then Gone

Chapter 6: The River's Edge

Elara stared at Victor Kane, her back pressed against the rusty railing of the dock. One wrong move and she would plunge into the cold, dark river below. Her heart hammered so violently she could feel it in her throat.

Victor smiled calmly, gun steady in his hand. The moonlight made his sharp features look almost inhuman.

“Damien really picked a fighter,” he said, sounding impressed. “Most women would be crying by now. But not you. I like that.”

“Where is he?” Elara demanded, trying to keep her voice from shaking. “What have you done to Damien?”

Victor chuckled softly. “He’s alive. For now. Though I can’t say he’s… comfortable. The man betrayed the Syndicate. You don’t walk away from us and expect a happy ending.”

He took one slow step closer. “Give me the drive, Elara. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll let you see him one last time before we decide your fate.”

Elara’s mind raced. She could feel the USB drive pressing against her skin. If she gave it up, she might lose the only leverage she had. If she didn’t…

Her eyes flicked to the river. It looked deep and unforgiving.

Victor noticed. “Don’t be stupid. You jump and you drown. Or my men fish you out and things get much worse.”

A sudden loud splash came from the other side of the dock. Victor turned his head for half a second.

Elara didn’t hesitate.

She swung her leg up and kicked his gun hand with every bit of strength she had. The gun flew into the water with a splash. Victor cursed and lunged for her.

She ducked under his arms and ran along the dock, but he was fast. His hand grabbed her wrist, yanking her back brutally. Pain shot up her arm.

“You little b***h,” he snarled, face twisted in anger now.

Elara headbutted him. Stars exploded in her vision, but Victor staggered back, blood trickling from his nose.

She turned and sprinted toward the end of the dock. Shouts and running footsteps echoed behind her. More men were coming.

There was no way out.

With a silent prayer, Elara jumped.

The cold river hit her like a slap. Water rushed into her nose and mouth as she sank fast. She fought upward, breaking the surface and gasping for air. The current was stronger than she expected.

Gunshots rang out from the dock. Bullets hit the water around her.

Elara dove under again, swimming desperately toward the opposite bank. Her clothes and shoes weighed her down. Her lungs screamed for oxygen.

When she finally surfaced near some old wooden pillars, she was hidden from direct view. She clung to one of the pillars, coughing quietly, body shaking from cold and fear.

She could hear Victor shouting orders above. “Find her! She can’t have gone far. I want that drive!”

Tears mixed with the river water on her face. She was exhausted, freezing, and terrified. But she was alive.

And she still had the USB.

After what felt like forever, the voices grew distant. Elara waited until she couldn’t hear them anymore before slowly swimming to shore. She dragged herself onto the muddy bank, collapsing for a moment.

Her phone was dead. Ruined by the water.

“Great,” she whispered bitterly. “Just great.”

She forced herself to stand. Her body ached everywhere. The cut on her hand from earlier was bleeding again. But she started walking, stumbling — toward the city lights in the distance.

She couldn’t go back to the penthouse. Not now. They would be watching it.

Sophie’s place? No. She didn’t know who to trust anymore.

The only name Damien had given her in the video was Marcus.

Damien’s best friend. The charming, always-smiling businessman who had attended every dinner and celebration with them. The one who always joked that he was the best man at their future wedding.

Could she trust him?

Elara walked for nearly an hour, soaked and freezing, before she found a working payphone at a quiet gas station. She used the emergency coins she always kept in her pocket and dialed Marcus’s number. It rang three times.

“Marcus speaking.”

His voice sounded normal. Calm.

“Marcus… it’s Elara. Damien’s gone. People are after me. He left a message saying I should come to you. I need help.”

There was a short pause.

“Elara? Where are you? Are you okay?” He sounded genuinely worried. “Tell me your location. I’ll come get you right now.”

She gave him the gas station address, teeth chattering from the cold.

“Stay there. Don’t talk to anyone. I’m coming.”

Elara hung up and waited inside the small, brightly lit store, pretending to browse snacks while the attendant gave her strange looks because of her wet clothes.

Twenty minutes later, Marcus’s black SUV pulled up. He jumped out, eyes wide when he saw her state.

“Jesus, Elara!” He pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “What the hell happened?”

She broke down in his arms the moment he hugged her. All the fear, pain, and exhaustion poured out.

“They took him, Marcus. Victor Kane… the Blackthorn Syndicate. Damien recorded a video. He said you know the truth.”

Marcus stiffened slightly but rubbed her back soothingly. “Let’s get you somewhere safe first. We’ll talk there.”

As they drove away, Elara leaned her head against the window, fighting to stay awake. The heater felt like heaven on her freezing skin.

She didn’t notice Marcus glancing at her with an unreadable expression.

Or the second black car that started following them a few blocks behind.