Music was blaring from the bar, which was away from the residential areas.

The wooden door swung open and a girl flew out of the bar. A blast of cold air scorched her pale face, her short hair fluttering in the wind.

Stooping and trying to wrap herself more tightly in a leather jacket, the girl headed away from the noisy place. Walking quickly, Lera thought that she really had nowhere to go. She wandered, timidly looking back at the half-naked trees, and intently peered into the darkness between them.

Finally, the lights of the lanterns appeared, which opened up a view of the river. Quickening her pace, she headed for the bridge. Straightening up, she walked slowly to the railing and looked at the water. Before she could catch her breath, a familiar rough voice rang out from behind her.

Did you decide to run away?

“Go back to the bar,” she said without taking her eyes off the water.

- Let's get back together. We didn't agree and...

- Fuck off, - interrupted Valeria, maliciously looking into the eyes of the man. I call a taxi and go home.

With trembling hands, either from the cold, or from the newly surging negativity, she took out her phone from her pocket. Before she could unlock the screen, a thing was snatched from her and thrown into the water.

- Moron!

The man roughly grabbed her by the shoulders.

- You slept with my best friend! His flat voice turned into a scream.

- Not true! You fell for his chatter...

A sharp crack interrupted her speech.

- You were beaten a little!

He swung again for a slap.

After another punch to the face, the girl fell prone to the ground. Palms touched the cold asphalt. Severe dizziness made it impossible to rise to his feet.

“Throw you off the bridge,” she whispered almost soundlessly, touching her burning cheek.

- What are you doing there, huh? Listen carefully…

- Hey, what are you doing, freak! – breathed steel voice from darkness.

The unknown was slowly approaching, and became better visible, thanks to the dim light of the lantern. It turned out to be a tall middle-aged man. A black, leather cloak to the knees, casually thrown over and unbuttoned.

A stand-up collar protected the stranger's neck from the wind, which was growing again, as if accompanying a gloomy guest.

- You need to pass by, ghoul, - the man hissed menacingly, clenching his fists.

"I don't think so," the stranger replied calmly. “I will still stay and tell you how to treat a lady.”

He was approaching imposingly, and excitement shone in his eyes. The space seemed possessed by its energy and gloominess. Valeria got up in a second, taking a few steps back.

- You know who I am? the stocky man gritted his teeth.

The man in black suddenly grabbed him by the throat. Pushing closer to the fence, he said irritably:

- You're dead.

With his free hand, he, as if by chance, threw back the edge of his cloak, and a silver trunk flashed against the background of a black shirt. Then a sharp blow to the temple, and the stocky one collapsed to the ground.

- Bitch! - shouted, with difficulty rising and holding his head. - Well, we'll meet again! The face contorted into a grimace of disgust.

Giving the girl an angry look, he staggered away.

- Nice fellow, - mockingly threw after the man. - Yes, we can meet.

The stocky one disappeared into the darkness of the park.

- My name is Vlad.

He suddenly introduced himself and was already measuring Leroux with his eyes. Frightened eyes looked at him intently. It can be seen, waiting for further actions or words. To dispel the oppressive silence, he said:

- Do not be afraid, I'm just here ... walking.

- I ... Valeria, - the girl drawled uncertainly.

But Vlad didn't look at her anymore. Squinting, as if trying to see something in the night distance, he took a pack of cigarettes from his inner pocket, grabbing one of them with his lips, slowly lit it.

- Thank you. I'll go, - her voice sounded hoarse, with a share of trembling.

- Where? – blocked the way, taking another puff, and releasing smoke in her face.

There were signs of beatings on his cheekbone and cheek, red spots from cracks would soon turn into one continuous bruise, blood appeared on his lips. Otherwise, she looked attractive: regular, symmetrical features, straight eyebrows, which gave an expression of indifference to what was happening.

“I want to go home,” Lera said irritably.

- I can give you a ride, I have a car here ...

- No, thanks, I'll go myself.

“Don’t be stupid, girl, at least call a taxi,” he threw after her, taking the last puff. - You are tired and the wounds are aching. My head hurts.

She turned around to glare at the man.

- You always like this...

- Yes. But today I can give you a lift, - with a share of cunning in his voice, Vlad repeated his offer.

- I will not go with a stranger who has a holster under his raincoat, - Valeria hesitated.

- And this is your Andrew, for example. What hit you here... He's a reliable type, right? Do you ride with these?

- Do you know each other?

But the man didn't seem to hear. And with undisguised curiosity, he examined her from head to toe. Without waiting for an answer, she sighed.

“Listen, I'm very… I'm cold. I could have called a taxi, but he threw my phone into the river. And I...

She immediately fell silent when Vlad approached, quickly took off his cloak and threw it over her shoulders. Lera involuntarily glanced at the weapon. Still casually, on a black shirt, a holster with two silvery barrels is put on.

"Let's go," he hugged her, guiding her towards the car.

- Stop! Just call a taxi.

- Come on, your mother! The man started screaming, removing his hand from her shoulder. “Are you going to stand here and wait for a taxi?” Then why don't you warm up in my car while you wait?

He turned around and walked away without looking back. Lera remained in place while he continued to walk forward, chasing a step and not reacting in any way to the cold. Stooping, the girl followed him.

The black boxy Range Rover parked at the end of the bridge flashed its headlights. Covering herself with a raincoat from the wind, she went to the passenger door of the front seat.

Vlad almost friendly opened the door. And the girl immediately climbed inside, wrapping herself more tightly in a cloak. Feeling bliss from the long-awaited warmth that slowly spread through the body.

- How do you look at walking through the night, quiet forest? Vlad said with a devilish grin, quickly slamming the door.

Lera sighed in exhaustion, wiping the blood that was already flowing down her chin. A few seconds later, the man got behind the wheel, and throwing a handkerchief on the girl's lap, started the car.

The Rover moved off smoothly...

‍​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‍Four months later.

One of the chain of luxury restaurants is located on the outskirts of the embankment. The name of the restaurant, "La primavera," glittered in golden, calligraphic Spanish letters.

Alexei looked with disgust at the tall columns of black marble. The noise of the water that enveloped each column, like a snake, did not allow to hear the interlocutor. He squeezed the phone tighter, moving away from the noisy place. After a minute, he rejected the call and headed for the beige steps that led to the pompous entrance to the restaurant.

He looked at the double table in the center of the spacious hall and met the gaze of a girl who angrily put a glass of water on the table. He exhaled sadly, moving towards her, and quickly took a seat opposite.

I thought the food had already arrived.

- No, - quickly threw Valeria.

- I'm sorry, daughter. I wanted to invite you to dinner on the 8th of March, but I have urgent business.

- What the heck?