She glanced at her phone, propped on the dash. Julian's text glowed: Meet me at the diner on 5th. 4 a.m. Be careful. It was 3:50 now, and the diner wasn't far, but the car behind her was a problem. She swerved into a side street, her breath hitching as the headlights followed, relentless. Her old life had taught her how to smile at galas, not outrun a pursuer. But her mom's strength, her sister's dreams those kept her foot on the gas.
The street narrowed, lined with shuttered shops and flickering lamps. Elena's eyes darted to the mirror. The car was closer, its grille gleaming like a predator's teeth. She took a sharp left, tires squealing, and the car followed, faster now. Her stomach churned. They weren't just watching anymore. They wanted her or the papers she'd left hidden in the penthouse, proof of a land deal tying Marcus to the Whitmores.
She spotted an alley up ahead, barely wide enough for the car. Her dad used to brag about his driving, weaving through traffic like it was a game. Elena channeled that now, yanking the wheel and plunging into the alley. Metal scraped as the car grazed a dumpster, but she kept going, bursting out the other side. The headlights vanished for a moment, and she floored it, weaving through streets until the diner's neon sign flickered in the distance.
She pulled into the lot, parking behind a truck to hide the car. Her hands shook as she killed the engine, scanning the street. No headlights, no grille. For now, she'd lost them. But her relief was thin, Sofia was still missing, and the stranger's words at Marcus's apartment echoed: Bring the papers to the old pier, midnight. She had until tomorrow night to save her sister, and no idea who to trust.
The diner was a greasy spoon, all chrome and red booths, the kind of place her family wouldn't have touched in their rich days. Elena slipped inside, the bell jingling, and spotted Julian in a corner booth. He looked up, his dark eyes locking on hers, and her heart did a stupid flip. He was in a leather jacket, hair messy, like he'd rolled out of bed to meet her. She hated how he made her feel seen, alive, wrong. He was Xander's brother, a line she couldn't cross, but his warning about the marriage had been her only truth so far.
She slid into the booth, keeping her voice low. "I lost a car following me. Someone's after me, Julian. And Sofia's gone."
His face tightened, and he leaned forward, close enough that she caught a hint of his scent leather, something sharp. "Gone? What happened?"
She told him everything about the texts, the photo of Sofia, the stranger at Marcus's door, her dad's vague confession about a deal with Victoria. Her voice shook, but she kept going, needing him to understand. "They want the papers you gave me. They're giving me until tomorrow night. What's this deal, Julian? What's worth threatening my sister?"
He cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't know they'd move this fast," he said. "The land deal, it's not just about money. It's a cover. The Whitmores, your dad, they're hiding something bigger. I've been digging, but I don't have all the pieces yet."
"Then get them!" Elena snapped, louder than she meant. A waitress glanced over, and she lowered her voice. "Sofia's out there, Julian. I need more than hints. Why's Victoria involved? What's my dad hiding?"
Julian's eyes softened, and he reached across the table, his hand brushing hers. The touch was quick, but it sent a jolt through her, warm and dangerous. "I'm trying, Elena," he said. "I got you those papers to protect you, not to put Sofia in danger. But you have to be careful. Victoria's got people everywhere—cops, business types, even in Xander's company."
Her breath caught. Xander. She'd left him in the penthouse, his protectiveness still lingering in her mind. We're in this together, he'd said. But Julian's words painted him as part of the problem. "Is Xander in on this?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Julian hesitated, his jaw tight. "I don't know," he admitted. "He's my brother, but he's a Whitmore. Duty comes first. If he's involved, he might not even know the whole truth."
Elena's stomach twisted. She'd grown up watching her dad hide behind half-truths, promising her mom things he couldn't deliver. Xander's face tired, almost kind clashed with Julian's warning. She pulled her hand back, needing distance. "I need to find Sofia," she said. "What do I do about the pier?"
"Don't go," Julian said, his voice firm. "It's a trap. Give me the papers. I'll handle it, keep Sofia safe."
She stared at him, her heart torn. He sounded sincere, but her dad's lies had taught her to doubt everyone. Giving up the papers meant giving up control, and Sofia's life was on the line. "Why should I trust you?" she asked. "You're a Whitmore too."
His eyes darkened, like she'd cut him. "Because I walked away from that family," he said. "I'm not them, Elena. And I… I care what happens to you."
Her face heated, his words hitting too deep. She wanted to lean into him, let his warmth chase away her fear, but she couldn't. Not with Sofia missing, not with Xander waiting back at the penthouse. "I'll think about it," she said, standing. "But I'm not promising anything."
"Elena, wait." He grabbed her wrist, gentle but urgent, and her pulse jumped. His touch was a spark, pulling her back to the fountain, to the way he'd looked at her. "If you go to that pier, they'll hurt you. Let me help."
She pulled free, her heart racing. "I've been cleaning up my dad's messes my whole life," she said. "I don't need another hero. Just find me answers."
She walked out, the bell jingling behind her. The cold air hit her, clearing her head. The diner's neon buzzed, a far cry from the grand parties of her childhood, when her family's name opened doors. Now, it was just her, a stolen car, and a sister to save. She climbed into the car, checking the mirrors. No headlights, but she wasn't safe yet.
As she started the engine, her phone buzzed. A new text, not from Julian or the unknown number, but from Xander: Where are you? Security found a breach in the penthouse. Call me. Her heart stopped. A breach? The intruder from earlier, or something new? She stared at the screen, Julian's warning clashing with Xander's urgency. One of them was lying or both.
Before she could reply, a loud bang shook the car, metal crunching behind her. She whipped around, and headlights blinded her, a dark SUV slamming into her bumper.