The mansion was unusually silent after Vincent’s disappearance. Elena pressed herself closer to Dante, her body tense and alert. Every shadow seemed to hide a threat, every whisper of air a warning. Her mind spun with the revelations Vincent had delivered, her mother’s death, her stepfather’s betrayal, the enemies now circling closer than ever.
Dante’s hands rested on her shoulders, grounding her. “Listen to me, Elena. No matter what happens, stay close. No matter what you hear, don’t panic. We face this together.”
Elena nodded, swallowing hard. “I trust you, Dante. I’ll stay with you. Always.”
His dark eyes softened momentarily before returning to their stormy intensity. “Good. Because tonight… we don’t just survive. Tonight, we fight.”
From the far hallway came a sound, a faint scrap
