Chapter 22

Elena grinned and linked her arm with mine as we walked out of the dressing room. The music throbbed through the walls, the bass sending a pulse through my chest, matching the unruly beat of my heart. We made our way into the dimly lit heart of the club, the air heavy with a mix of sweat, perfume and alcohol. The crowd seemed to merge into a single living entity, writhing under the neon lights.

As Elena and I approached the main floor, I spotted Enzo and Jake seated at the bar, their faces illuminated by the soft blue glow. I could already feel Enzo's gaze on me, so I tried my best to ignore it.

As the hours passed, my attention was drawn to a man who entered the club. Something about him—a silhouette in the entrance, backlit by the doorway's neon frame—seemed hauntingly familiar. The feeling crept into the edges of my mind, like a word on the tip of my tongue. I tried to place him, but his face remained shrouded in the shadows of my memory.

Before I could think too much about it, the