Another party. Another action. As much as I had grown used to these events, they drained me. The constant buzz of chatter, the glittering gowns, the sound of Laughter ringing hollow–it was exhausting. All I wanted was to be at home, wrapped in a blanket with Ava’s giggles filling the room. But Dominic had insisted we attend, his reasons vague but laced with enough persuasion to comince me.
The venue was as grand as ever–chandeliers that sparkled like diamonds, walls lined with gilded frames, and the unmistakable scent of money in the air. It was the same crowd, too. The high and mighty of society, gathered under the guise of charity, but really just eager for a mason to flaunt their wealth.
From my spot near one of the omate pillars, I observed the crowd, my champagne glass untouched in my hand. Dominle was chatting animatedly with some across the room, leaving me with a race moment of solitude. It wasn’t peaceful, though. My skin prickled, a strange sensation crawling up the back of my neck
I turned subtly, my eyes scanning the room for the source of my unease. I didn’t have to look tar
There he was–Alex
He stood near the entrance, his sharp suit tailored to perfection, his piercing gaze scanning the rooms until it landed on me. I held my ground, refusing to let him see the way my pulse quickened under his scrutiny. His expression was unreadable, but the weight of his stare was suffocating.
Achill can down my spine
He stood near the entrance, his sharp suit tailored to perfection, his piercing gate scanning the room until it landed on me. I held my ground, refusing to let him see the way my pulse quickened under his scrutiny. His expression was unreadable, but the weight of his stare was suffocating. I took a calming breath and looked wwwy, determined not to let him affect me.
But then it happened again.
That same prickling sensation along my skin. The unmistakable feeling of being watched.
This time, it wasn’t Alex
as inconspicuously as possible, I scanned the room again, the golden glow of chandeliers reflecting off polished marble floors. The fun of laughter and the clinking of glasses seemed distant as I searched for the source, it didn’t take long to find it.
Nathan
He sat a few rows back, partially obscured by a group of older men in dark sults. His posture was relaxed, almost casual, but his eyes were anything but. They were Jocked on me, intense yet unreadable, as if he were studying me.
The sight of him here caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected to see Nathan at an event like this. Sure, he had an air of confidence that hinted at success, but this crowd? These were the movers and shakers of high society, the kind of people who casually dropped six figures on meaningless baubles at charity auction. Nathan didn’t seem the type. And yet, here he was, blending in seamlessly, as if this world were as natural to him as breathing.
Rucher than expected.
A part of me was surprised. Another part of me.. wasn’t
I didn’t have much time to dwell on it, though, because then I saw bee.
My hear leaped into my throat, and the glass in my hand suddenly felt too heavy
She stood near the back of the room, partially concealed by a column, her posture stiff and predatory. Her eyes, sharp as lives, cut through the crowd until they found me. My stomach twisted as her gaze met mine, a cruel smile tugging at the cupners of her lips
The memories came rushing back, uninvited and relentless the terror, the helplessness, the cold malice in bet es as she looned over Liam. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, the stem of my champagne glass digging into my plan
Stay calm, Raina.
I forced myself to look away, to steady my breathing as my chest lightened. She didn’t deserve my tear. Not anymore. But the reminder of what she was capable of was enough to reignote the smoldering embers of deead in my chest.
I needed to talk to Dominic. I needed to contion that the SD card was safe, that the evidence we’d fought so bad to retrieve was still intact. I wouldn’t–couldn’t let Eliza win
But before I could move, Dominic appeared at my side, his easy umile and casual demeanor a stark contrast to the turmall raging inside me.
“Who’s that?” he teased, nodding toward Nathan with a mischievous glint in his eye.
tell my cheeks flush with heat, and I quickly averted my gaze. “No one,” I said hastily, taking a sip of clungagne to avoid his scrutiny
Dominic chuckled, clearly not buying my attempt at nonchalance, but thankfully, he didn’t press
I was just about to broach the subject of the Sand when a sudden jolt made me gasp, Champagne splashed across the front of my dress, the ley liquid soaking through the tabric and clinging to my skin.
ון
tuted sharply, ball exper
see an apologetic face, but et conse, Il washer,
she stood there with her arms crossed, a look of taki
Cimrmer plasteurden berface. “Walchi sherie poucie standing,” she sneered, her voice dripping with
Leben bestuve jm, my teeth ginuding together as 1 bat kabersharp retout that was bezzing to escape. “I waun’t moving,” I said evenly, my voice calmo but them.
Her sudak deepened, betrees glating with satisfaction as she santried oft without so much as an apology.
The andacity of that woontan
Tuning, 11s) back ta bemink, who was alivade evening Alex approaching with thinly veiled your
~‘t clean up,” I immitened to Domic, shooting him a look that I law he’d west ANI.
Dominic neckled, stepping forwand just as Alex reached on, his fonceding presence effectively cutting lilin off.
“Raisa,” Alex began, histone wally son, “I’ll go with you.”
“L don’t need yom help,“ 1 said shamph, boushing past him without a second planer.
Domino’s voice/Ton and tum, carried over twe shoulder as he addressed Alex. “You beard her. Leave letalone.”
Dahidn’t stay to heat Alex’s response I needed space, and more than that, tended to clean heal.
za’s presence, Alex’s persistence, Nathan’s unexpected
As Troade ur way tow and the restroom, the weight of everything pressed dosiven me the motion, Eliza’si appearance. It was ten mach, allot it swirling together in a suffocating storm.
1 just needed a mODWOŁ.
Jst one moment to brothe
idn’t know then that I won’t get it. With each step, something tell… wrong. A strange dizzinesserept over me, me vision blurring at theirdges, My limbs telt hewey, steps unsteady.
I barely made to the hallway leading to the restrooms when telt a tim band grab my ann. Before Frould react, I was pulled into a quieter comer
“Hey let po!” protested, trying to winchu antree, but the man didn’t budge.
He was tall, broad shouldered, and his gap was like steel. His face was partially obscted by the dim light, but the low, menacing chuckle he let out sent chills
“you’re not going amwhere,” he said, his voice dark and cold.
Pasic set in as I realized the hallway was comply, the hom of the party muttled by theglick walls. I tried to push him away, but my busty was growing weaker by the
- e. My vision swan, and we breaths came shallow and rapid.
stefforts to soural stron
“Let me go,” I demanded, my voice trembling despite my best
The man leaned doses, his grip tightening. “Someone paid good money to make sure you had an ultorgettable night,” he suerada. “I’m just here to make sure you
The meaning bet
his words hit me like a freight train, and tear coursed thumugha
I shook my head, trying to clear the fog that was quickly overtaking me. “I’ll pay you double,” I blurted out desperately, hoping to appeal to whatever shred of humanity this manmight have
He laughed, the sound vusd of humor: “Not adunor
I struggled against him, adrenaline surging despite the growing weakness in my limbs. I managed to taise my knee and drive it into his goo
He let out a grunt of pain, his grip loosening just enough for me to break her. I stumbled toward the hallway, vision owing into a tunnel, but before i could teach the door, he caught up tome
“stupid bitch,” he smiled, grabbing me again and pinning me against the wall
Í thuashed against him, my voice boarse as I screamed to help, but the noise of the party downed me out. His has gripped the fabric of my dress, the (pating, Tablic sending a fresh wave of panic through var.
Haught with everything bad left, but my strength was failing fast. Tears streamed down my face as I prayed for someone–anys–to ad me just before l mould give up, he lacked me out
+25 Bonus
ALEXANDER
She was stunning, as always, even atter all these years and the chaos life had thrown at her. It wasn’t about the wealth she had at her disposal–it never had been. It was just her. The way she moved, the effortless grace in every step, the quiet fire in her eyes. Even in a crowded mumm, the commanded attention without trying.
Ads it if she didn’t know how to take my breath away,
It had been even half as in love with her back then as I was now, I wouldn’t have let her go. I wouldn’t have let my pride anlanger blind me. I would have gotten to the bottom of the accusations, demanded the truth, and given her a chance to tell her side, Instead, I’d thrown it all away–and for what? Lies, bittemess, and years. Leould never pel back.
But tonight, even this perfect evening wasn’t safe from Eliza’s interference. Het poisonous presence was always just close enough to main things, like a shadow Iwaking in the comer of my vision And then there was the fact that Raina had been gone tattoo ko
I tried to ignore it at List, convincing myself she was just taking a moment to escape the crowd. But the longer she was prome, i
, the more the unease gnawed at me
Dominic, ever the overprotective
setive brother, was keeping a hawk’s eye on me, making sure I didn’t so much as glance in Raina’s direction for too long. I knew he was doing it to keep me away from her, to ensure I didn’t start another argument or make her incomfortable.
nut when he got distracted, I saw my chance.
1 moved quickly, weaving through the clusters of people without drawing too much attention. I knew where she’d gone–the restroom was the only logical place — hut when I got there, it was empty.
I frowned, a flicker of concern sparking in uw chest. Was she avoiding love?
I was about to leave when i heard something. Faint noises cousing from a room nearby. Muffled sounds—something heavy hitting the wall, a low groan, and the sound of someone strippling
My instincts kicked in immediately.
Hollowed the noise, my steps quick and purposeful. The closer I got, the more certain I was that someone was in trouble. My pulse thundered in my ears as i approached the door. It was locked.
Through the small window, I caught a glimpse of the scene inside, and my blood ran cold.
A man stood over a woman, his trame towering and menacing. She was pinned against the wall, struggling weakly.
And then I saw her face.
My vision tunneled, rage boiling over as I processed what I was seeing. The bastard standing over her turned his head at the sound of my voice as I shouted, “Get the bell away from her!”
His lips twisted into a sick smirk, and he started to unbuckle his belt.
I now red.
