Chapter 6 - Chapter 5: Dockside Shadows

The taxi vanished into Sai Kung's narrow lanes before Elara stepped onto the cracked pavement. She kept her cap low, collar up, and cash already in the driver's hand. No words. No receipt. The private dock waited behind a row of shuttered warehouses—unmarked, unlit except for one dying sodium lamp spilling sickly yellow across wet concrete. Salt, diesel, and rotting wood hung thick in the air. Waves slapped the pilings like impatient fingers. She scanned the shadows once, twice. Nothing moved. Then he did. Kai Reyes emerged from the warehouse dark, tall and lean, silhouette cutting sharp against the harbor glow. Jet-black hair swept back. Dark eyes catching the faint light. Black jacket, charcoal shirt, sleeves rolled—casual, but every line of him said ready. He didn't smile. Just nodded once, like they'd rehearsed this."Elara Nyx."His voice landed deeper than the encrypted calls—smoked whiskey, edged with something dangerous."Reyes." She kept her tone even. Her pulse didn't. It hammered against her ribs, fast and loud in the quiet."Nice night for a conspiracy."The corner of his mouth lifted—just enough to notice. "Always is."He jerked his head toward the end of the dock. A black speedboat waited, low-profile, engines idling soft as a held breath. No name. No running lights."Get in. Patrol sweep in thirteen minutes."Elara stepped onto the pier, boots silent on wet planks. The silver pendant at her throat shifted—cool against skin. Kuʻu momi. She pushed the memory down hard. She climbed aboard. The boat rocked once as Kai untied the lines and joined her at the wheel."What exactly are we stealing?" she asked."Proof." He eased the throttle forward. "Phoenix Reserve transfers. Ledger fragment. Names, amounts, timestamps. Enough to prove the laundering pipeline feeds straight through NexusLearn. We get it clean, we broadcast before they scrub."The engines growled low. The boat slipped away from the dock, lights off, navigating by starlight and the faint glow of his wrist display. Elara studied him—the calm focus, the way his hands moved like they'd driven faster things in darker places. "You do this often?""Too often." A beat. His eyes flicked to her. "You?""First time stealing from billionaires on a yacht." A small, dry laugh escaped her. "But I've crashed a few board meetings in my day."His gaze lingered—quick, assessing, almost amused. "I believe it."The boat picked up speed, slicing through black glass. Ahead, the summit yacht rose like a floating fortress—sleek white lines, deck lights dimmed, security drones circling slow and silent. Elara's fingers tightened on the rail. Adrenaline settled into her veins like ice water—sharp, familiar."So... what's the plan, Reyes?"He throttled up. Wind tore past them."We go in quiet. We get the ledger. We get out." A pause. "And we don't die trying."She met his eyes in the dark. "Sounds like a date."For the first time, he smiled—small, real, edged with danger. "Let's make it a good one."The yacht loomed closer. Then the night split open. A drone's spotlight snapped on—blinding white, pinning them in the water. A mechanical voice crackled through the air:"Identify yourself or be boarded."Kai's jaw tightened. "Hold on."He slammed the throttle forward. The boat surged, engines roaring. Elara braced as they cut hard left, spray exploding around them. Behind, the yacht's deck lights flared. More drones lifted. The chase was on.