Damian hauled Clara out of the booth, his grip on her wrist tight and uncompromising. The heavy thud of combat boots hitting the metal stairs of the mezzanine echoed through the VIP lounge, growing louder by the second. Clara’s heart hammered against her ribs like a trapped bird, the sheer volume of

"Clara," Julian whispered softly, the deadly quiet of his voice carrying across the room. "Did you just hear that?"

Time stopped. The shattered crystal on the hardwood floor caught the dim light of the fireplace, glittering like crushed ice. Clara’s heart slammed against her ribs like a trapped bir

The heavy mahogany doors of the penthouse suite slammed shut, followed instantly by the sharp, electronic chirp of the biometric deadbolt sliding into place.

Clara stumbled backward, catching herself on the edge of a velvet chaise lounge. She stared at the locked doors, her chest heaving.

"You'r