The next morning arrived bright and calm.
Soft sunlight spilled through the curtains, painting the room in warm gold. Outside, the air carried the scent of the sea and blooming flowers... peaceful, calm, and almost enough to make Izzy believe everything was fine. Almost.
She sat by the window with a cup of tea in her hands, watching the waves roll slowly toward the shore. It was beautiful, but her mind was far away. She hadn’t slept much. Every time she closed her eyes, her thoughts wandered back to last night... to Dominic, his voice, his message, and the way her heart had ached when she didn’t reply.
Her phone lay on the table beside her. She picked it up again, staring at the message that still sat on the screen.
“Meet me. East gate. Ten minutes.”
Her chest tightened. For a moment
