Chapter 195
Elara’s POV
55
45 vouchers
The pier stretched out in front of Elara continuously. Weathered wood planks, rusted metal railings, the smell of salt water and rotting fish guts. The Hudson River churned below, gray and cold in the afternoon light.
Elara walked slowly, the duffel bag cutting into her shoulder. Twenty million dollars felt heavier than she’d expected. Each step echoed in the empty space, her footsteps the only sound besides water lapping against the pilings.
Where was he? Julius had been so specific about the time and location. Two PM at Pier 76. She was here. The money was here. But Julius was nowhere to be seen.
Elara reached the end of the pier and set the bag down. She pulled out her phone to call Marcus but it rang before she could dial.
Julius.
“I’m here,” Elara said. “Where are you?”
“I can see you. Nice jacket by the way. Is that where you’re hiding the gun?”
Elara’s stomach dropped. “I don’t have a gun.”
“Don’t lie to me mama. I can see the outline in your inside pocket. Also, tell Marcus that his attempt at plainclothes surveillance was pathetic. Did he really think I wouldn’t notice a dozen cops pretending to be tourists?”
“They’re gone. You saw them leave.”
“I saw them move to different positions. They didn’t leave, they just spread out. Marcus must think I’m stupid.”
“He’s just trying to protect me.”
“Well, his protection just cost you.” Julius’s voice hardened. “You were supposed to come alone. That was the one rule. The only rule that mattered.”
“I am alone. The police aren’t with me, they’re just nearby in case something goes wrong.”
“That’s not alone, Elara. That’s coming with backup. Which means you didn’t follow instructions.”
Elara felt panic rising in her chest. “Please. I have the money. It’s all here, exactly what you asked for. Just tell me where my babies are.”
“Did you really think this would be that simple? That you’d drop off a bag of cash and I’d hand over your children like we’re making an exchange at the post office?”
“What do you want me to do? I followed your instructions. I’m here at the pier with the money.”
17:13 Mon, May 11 …
Chapter 195
“That’s not what happened-”
ଚା
66 voucher
“I don’t care what you think happened. I care about making you pay for destroying my sister’s life”
Elara’s hand moved toward the gun in her jacket pocket. “Where are my children?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to throw the rest of that money in the river. All of it. Every single bill. And then you’re going to stand there and wait for my next call.”
“I’m not throwing away twenty million dollars!”
“Then I guess you don’t want your babies back.”
Marcus’s voice came through her other phone, the one connected to Dante’s tracking system. “El, don’t do it. Keep the money. It’s our only leverage.”
But Elara was already pulling out another stack of cash and throwing it into the water. And another. And another. She threw money into the Hudson until her arms ached and the bag was half empty.
“That’s enough,” Julius said. “I’m bored now. Leave the rest of the money and walk back to your car.”
“Not until you tell me where Alexander and Catherine are.”
“I’ll tell you when I’m ready. Right now I want you to walk away from the money and go home.”
“No. I’m not leaving without them.”
“Then I guess we’re at an impasse. Because I’m not giving you anything until you do exactly what I say.”
Elara looked out at the water where millions of dollars had just sunk to the bottom. Marcus was right. This had been a trap. Julius had never intended to give her the children. He just wanted to watch her destroy herself following his orders.
“You’re not going to give them back, are you? No matter what I do, no matter how much I beg, you’re just going to keep playing games.”
“Now you’re getting it. But don’t worry, Elara. I’m not a monster. Your babies are perfectly safe. For now.”
“Let me talk to them. Let me hear their voices again.”
“No.”
“Please, Julius. I need to know they’re okay.”
“You don’t get to make demands. You lost that privilege when you brought the police.”
Elara’s phone with Dante’s tracking suddenly buzzed with an incoming call from Marcus.
“Don’t answer that,” Julius said. “In fact, throw that phone in the river too.”
“What?”
17:13 Mon, May 11 M
Chapter 195
“Your tracking phone. The one Marcus is using to follow you. Throw it in the water right now.”
55
55 vouchers
Elara looked at the phone in her hand. If she threw it away. Marcus and Dante would lose their ability to track her location. She’d be completely alone with no way to call for help.
“I’m waiting,” Julius said. “Throw the phone or I’ll hang up and you’ll never hear from me again.”
Elara threw the phone into the Hudson.
“Perfect. Now turn around.”
Elara turned and saw a black van pulling up to the pier entrance. The side door slid open but she couldn’t see who was inside.
“Get in the van, Elara.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Get in the van or your children die. It’s that simple.”
“How do I know they’re even in there?”
“You don’t. That’s what makes this fun. You have ten seconds to decide. Get in the van and maybe you see your babies again. Stay here and definitely never see them again. Ten. Nine. Eight.”
Elara started running toward the van.
“Seven. Six. Five.”
She reached the van and looked inside. Empty except for a driver wearing a ski mask.
“Four. Three.”
“Where are my children?” Elara demanded.
“Two.”
The driver reached back and held up a phone. On the screen was a live video feed of Alexander and Catherine in their cribs. They were awake, crying, reaching for someone off camera.
“One.”
Elara climbed into the van.
The door slammed shut behind her and the van took off before she could change her mind.
Julius’s voice came through the phone she was still holding. “Did you really think I’d make this easy? That was just the first stop. Now the real game begins.”
Through her remaining phone, she heard Marcus screaming. “Elara! El, what’s happening? Your tracker just went dead!”
17:13 Mon, May 11 M…
Chapter 195
53
55 Younus
But before she could respond, the driver snatched the phone from her hand and threw it out the window.
Elara was alone in a van with a masked stranger, no way to contact anyone, no idea where she was going
And Julius was laughing. “I told you to come alone. Now you really are alone. Let’s see how brave you are when there’s no one left to save you.”
The line went dead.
Elara reached for the gun in her jacket but the driver was faster. He grabbed her wrist and twisted until she cried out and dropped the weapon.
“No weapons,” he said in a voice she didn’t recognize. “Boss’s orders.”
He zip-tied her hands in front of her and pushed her down onto the van floor.
AD
Comment
Send gift
No Ads
