The car screeched to a halt at an abandoned dock, surrounded by tangled weeds and crumbling infrastructure. A rusted surveillance camera, long defunct, hung crookedly from its post, its lens obscured by a massive wasp nest.
In stark contrast to the decay, a brand-new yacht gleamed along the shore, pristine and out of place.
Elizabeth was yanked out of the car by her captors and dragged onto the yacht.
Compared to the Norris family’s opulent custom vessels, this yacht was modest—small, functional, and likely priced at no more than a million. It could accommodate ten people for an overnight stay, but it lacked the grandeur she was accustomed to.
Elizabeth had already ruled out one of her suspicions: that this was an act of revenge from the families of the Foxfire County thugs.
As the yacht’s engine roared to life and it began to glide away from the dock, Elizabeth’s heart sank.
The shoreline grew smaller, swallowed by the expanse of open water.
Her mind raced. Would anyone even know where to find her? Her captors had planned meticulously. Out here in the vast ocean, rescue seemed like an impossible dream.
She was hauled into the lounge, where Elijah reclined casually on an ostentatious leather sofa. His bright floral shirt was a jarring contrast to the polished, gentlemanly appearance he’d once presented.
Elijah’s face lit up with a smug smile as he greeted her. “Elizabeth, we meet again.”
Elizabeth’s expression was stoic, her eyes hard as steel.
Unperturbed by her silence, Elijah stood and sauntered toward her. “Really? Not surprised to see me? You’re more clever than I thought.”
His gaze drifted over her sleeveless dress, lingering too long. He reached out to trace his fingers along her bare arm. “Of course, without that clever little brain of yours, how could you have wormed your way into the Norris family?”
Elizabeth shuddered involuntarily, repulsion clawing at her insides.
Noticing the faint marks left by the ropes on her arms, Elijah chuckled darkly. “So delicate. Even a loose tie leaves bruises.”
His fingers pressed into the tender skin, as if reveling in the thought of leaving his mark.
Elizabeth didn’t struggle. She knew it would be futile against her captors’ iron grip. Instead, she fixed Elijah with a glacial glare, her silence more defiant than any words could have been.
Elijah tilted his head, amused. “Ah, I forgot—you can’t speak.” He yanked the towel from her mouth, letting it fall to the floor.
He leaned closer, brushing his thumb over her dry, cracked lips. “Such a small mouth. I wonder how you’ll—”
Elizabeth jerked her head to the side, dodging his touch with a sharp glare.
Elijah chuckled, lowering his hand. “Still full of fire, I see.” His tone shifted, becoming mocking. “You’re not holding out hope that Oliver will save you, are you?”
Elizabeth said nothing, her eyes narrowing.
Elijah smirked. “If Oliver truly cared, don’t you think he would’ve sent someone to protect you the moment your name hit the headlines? The Norris family has no shortage of resources—bodyguards, detectives, you name it.”
“Even if he doesn’t care about me, for the sake of the Norris family’s reputation and the company’s stock price, he will send someone to rescue me.” Elizabeth’s mind reeled. Elijah’s words stung, but she steeled herself. Even if Oliver didn’t care about her, the Norris family’s reputation and financial stakes were at risk. Surely, they’d act to preserve those.
Elijah chuckled softly. He turned to his henchmen, pulling two thick bundles of cash from his pocket and handing it to them. “Good work. You can leave now. Take the lifeboat to Byburn and catch a ride from there.”
The duo accepted the money with gratitude, their expressions alight with relief.
Once they were gone, Elijah turned back to Elizabeth, his smile darkening.
“Do you believe in luck, Elizabeth?” he began. “Because mine seems incredible. First, you stumble into trouble with those thugs in Foxfire County. Now, Asher’s fanatics have made you a target online. Everyone knows his fans have been doxxing you. Even if Oliver finds you, how can he prove I had anything to do with this?”
Elizabeth’s blood ran cold. Elijah’s words carried an unspoken implication that twisted her stomach.
Dead men tell no tales.
Her heart pounded, terror clawing at her insides. Elijah’s sinister smile left no doubt—he had no intention of letting her leave this yacht alive.
