ASHORE

The river hurled them downstream like rag dolls. The icy water clawed at Elena’s clothes, dragging her under before she fought to the surface again. Her teeth chattered, lungs burning. She kicked wildly, trying to keep up with Adrian’s powerful strokes.

“Almost there!” he shouted over the rush of current. “Stay with me!”

The shore blurred past — dark trees, flickering streetlamps far above. The current twisted, spinning her sideways. Her fingers grazed something solid — a low concrete pillar jutting from the water.

Adrian caught her arm and hauled her against the pillar. “Here!” he gasped, voice raw. “There’s a landing ahead — old ferry dock!”

She clung to the slick concrete, shivering violently. “I can’t—”

“Yes, you can.” He locked his hands around her waist, kicking hard, propelling them both toward a shadowy arch beneath the riverbank. Water poured over them, but suddenly there was a gap — a break in the current — and Adrian pushed her up onto a crumbling wooden platform.

She collapsed, coughing up river water. Adrian hoisted himself up beside her, dripping and pale, chest heaving.

They were inside an old stone tunnel, maybe part of the abandoned ferry system. The air smelled of damp wood and rust, but it was dry enough to breathe. Faint daylight filtered through cracked boards above.

Adrian collapsed beside her, leaning against the wall. “We’re out of sight for now.”

She hugged herself, shaking. “They’re going to find us.”

“Not immediately,” he said. “This place isn’t on any map.”

She turned her head to look at him. His dark hair clung to his forehead, his shirt plastered to his chest. A bruise was forming along his jaw where someone must have hit him. And yet his eyes — still burning, still steady — were fixed on her.

“Why did you come for me?” she whispered. “You could’ve escaped.”

“I told you,” he said softly. “I’m not leaving you.”

Her chest tightened. “You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough,” he murmured.

Silence fell, broken only by the drip of water from the ceiling. Elena shivered, pulling the hoodie tighter. She didn’t know whether to scream at him or lean into him.

“What now?” she asked finally.

He rubbed his hands over his face, then reached into his soaked jacket. To her surprise, he pulled out a tiny waterproof pouch. Inside, another flash drive gleamed.

She blinked. “Is that—”

“The real one,” he said. “Calloway’s already en route to a secure server. By morning, everything will be public.”

Relief flickered through her — but it was fleeting. “Then why are we still running?”

“Because public or not, they’ll want to clean up loose ends,” he said grimly. “Us.”

She stared at him. “So we’re targets forever?”

“Until my team extracts us,” he said. “They’re on their way.”

“You have a team?”

He gave a humorless smile. “It’s complicated.”

Her head spun. “Everything about you is complicated.”

He didn’t deny it.

A thump echoed above them. Elena stiffened. “What was that?”

Adrian held up a hand, listening. Another thump — heavier this time. Then faint voices, distorted through the boards.

“They’re sweeping the riverbank,” he murmured. “We can’t stay long.”

He stood, moving to a rusted metal door at the end of the platform. “This leads to an old maintenance stairwell. If it’s still intact, we can reach street level.”

She tried to stand, but her legs trembled. He caught her elbow, steadying her.

“You’re freezing,” he said quietly.

“So are you,” she whispered.

He hesitated, then shrugged out of his soaked jacket and draped it over her shoulders. It was warm from his body heat. She looked up at him, startled.

“Don’t argue,” he said softly. “You’ll go into shock.”

She swallowed hard. “You’re supposed to be my professor.”

His lips curved faintly. “I’m supposed to be a lot of things.”

The moment hung between them, heavy and strange. For the first time, she saw him not just as a protector or a liar but as a man — exhausted, battered, and yet still shielding her.

Another thump above snapped the moment. Adrian moved to the door, testing the handle. It groaned open, revealing a narrow staircase spiraling upward.

“Come on,” he said. “Quietly.”

They climbed the stairs slowly, every creak of the old metal echoing. The stairwell ended at a trapdoor. Adrian eased it open a crack, peering through.

“Clear,” he whispered.

He pushed it up and climbed through. Elena followed, emerging into a derelict boathouse hidden under a highway overpass. Through a cracked window, she saw flashing lights sweeping the opposite bank.

“They’re close,” she whispered.

Adrian nodded. “We head north, stick to shadows. My team’s rendezvous point is five blocks away.”

She hesitated. “Are you sure it’s really your team?”

His eyes met hers. “No. But it’s our best shot.”

They slipped out a side door into the night. The rain had slowed to a mist. The city’s industrial edge loomed around them — warehouses, shipping containers, flickering neon signs. They moved quickly, staying in the dark between pools of streetlight.

As they rounded a corner, a figure stepped out of the shadows. Elena froze.

It was the hooded man from the hallway — pale eyes glinting under the streetlight.

“Going somewhere?” he drawled.

Adrian stiffened. “Damian.”

Elena blinked. “You know him?”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Unfortunately.”

Damian’s smile was slow, almost amused. “You’ve been busy, professor. Uploading files, playing hero. Did you really think it would be that easy?”

Adrian shifted subtly, putting himself between Elena and Damian. “Step aside.”

“Or what?” Damian said softly. “You’ll shoot me? Oh right — you don’t carry guns. Too ‘ethical.’”

Elena’s pulse spiked. “Who is he?”

“A former informant,” Adrian said flatly. “Now a mercenary.”

Damian tilted his head. “Don’t be so cold. I prefer the term entrepreneur.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out a phone. “You know what this is?”

Adrian’s eyes flicked to it. “Tracker.”

“Bingo.” Damian smirked. “And guess who’s on their way right now?”

Elena’s heart hammered. “What do you want?”

Damian’s gaze shifted to her. “Insurance. The professor here has been a thorn in a very big paw. But you…” His smile sharpened. “You’re leverage.”

Adrian’s muscles coiled. “Don’t touch her.”

“Relax,” Damian said. “I’m not here to snatch her. Not yet.” He tossed the phone to Adrian, who caught it instinctively. “Consider that a gift.”

Adrian frowned. “What game are you playing?”

“No game,” Damian said. “You’ve got ten minutes before they converge on this location. If you’re smart, you’ll be gone by then. If you’re stupid…” He shrugged. “Well, you’ve always been stupid about women.”

Adrian’s eyes darkened. “Stay out of my way.”

Damian grinned and melted back into the shadows. “See you soon, professor.”

Silence hung heavy after he disappeared. Rain dripped from the overpass above.

Elena exhaled shakily. “What just happened?”

Adrian pocketed the phone. “We just got a warning from the enemy. Which means the trap’s already set.”

Her stomach twisted. “So what do we do?”

He turned to her, eyes blazing. “We stop running.”

Her breath caught. “What?”

“We take the fight to them,” he said. “We can’t keep dodging forever. If they want me, fine. But they’re not touching you.”

Her pulse raced. “And if you’re wrong?”

He gave a grim smile. “Then we both go down swinging.”

She stared at him, heart hammering. “You’re insane.”

“Maybe,” he said softly. “But you’re still here.”

Another silence stretched between them. Rain pattered softly. His hand brushed hers — a fleeting, almost unconscious touch — and she didn’t pull away.

“What’s the plan?” she whispered.

His fingers closed around hers, warm despite the cold. “We make our stand.”