After The Los Angeles Billionaires

usual late-night escapades worried me. She forgot we were the Blackwoods, one of

ning the crowded ent

hed over. She giggled

e slurred, her

ing my head. "T

ing around my neck. She whispered silly se

held the door open.

seat, buckling her in.

lolled onto my shoulder. I stro

s leave earlier,

thing incoherent, a

ing the city lig

rents dressed in black, preparing to leave. Their

Mom and Dad?" I asked,

ie," Mom replied, her voice tremb

und it. I kept expecting to see his warm smile, to hear his gentle guidance. But now, he was nothing mor

. "The police are still investigati

of responsibility. I turned to

sis," I whispered, ca

her eyes fluttering o

and comfort. As her protective older b

mma and get away wit

elled up within me. I tore my eyes away, my feet carrying me downstair

intense sex. The same place where we'd shared countless laughter-filled nights, where our happiest memories lingered. The contrast between past

them, my heart racing with rage and

were wedding planning, dreaming of forever. But

ley, I felt tear

d heartbreak. "How could you?" The words felt like they

m sorry, baby. It meant nothing." The phrase hung in the air, a stark reminder

I couldn't bear to look at her, to see the face that had once been my everything. The breakup was a messy, agonizing unraveling of our liv

th life. My mind was a broken record, replaying that fateful night in an endless loo

to cook, to eat, to do anything but exist. The questions swirled, a maddening vortex that threaten

ll the plans we'd made, the dreams we'd shared, the future we'd envisioned. Now, it all seemed like a c

ayground.. I wanted to escape my sad thoughts. I headed

rrounded me. The DJ's rhythm took over, making me forget my wo

Ashley and my pain. All that matt

The beat pulsed through my body, and I let go. Sweat dripp

de me, our bodies moving together. Her laughter wa

nd brushed mine, and we danced closer. The music, the lights

ht, at least

eak. She nodded toward the bar and asked, "Want a drink?" I nodded,

a sense of calm wash over me. The stranger ordered us drinks, and w

nd Matilda's eyes sparkled as she smiled. "I'

asily, like

lose to anyone, especially women. But she was different. Maybe it was the way she smiled, or the way her e

ed, I learned she was single. My heart skipped a beat, bu

rush into anything, I told myself. But as I looked into Matilda'

da my business card. "It was amazing me

?" Matilda's brow arc

hopeful. "I wo

uch, Matilda's fi

handsome,"

ty lights twinkling outside

Matilda would be the

ILDA

y, a satisfied smile sp

nded my next mark.

reel him in. But he was surprisingly an eas

siness card in my hand. Tom

seemed to hold a thousand secrets, the way his smile hinted at a deeper sadness. He was vulnerable, still reeling from

the card's edge, an

would

my purse, my mind alre

fall? How deep w

he hunt coursed

out of the club back to Our hideout. I walked b

y triumph with Sam. "Sam! You won't believe

itement was

or, the furniture. My heart plummeted, my mind racing. "Sam!" I screamed, my voice hoarse with

se let him be okay. I tripped over a broken chair, my hands grasping

t was when I saw it – a gruesome me

are numbered

t. My breath came in short, sharp gasps, like I'd been punched in the gut. Fear

ying thoughts. What if something had happened to Sam? What if I never saw him again? The tho

ld have

I cried out, desperatio

len

resp

rld cr

was t