Morning crept in slowly, almost politely, as if it knew the sun wasn’t entirely welcome yet.
The roaring underground club was nearly empty now. Where a sea of sweating, packed bodies had once pressed together, only a handful of lingering souls remained—slumped deeply in leather booths, high heels and dress shoes kicked off, their voices hushed, low, and heavy with fatigue. The thumping bass had softened into a distant, muffled hum, a dying rhythm barely holding itself together. Overhead, the pulsing strobe lights had dimmed to a dull, stagnant glow, no longer pretending to be a sanctuary for the night.
Behind the bar, Amelia leaned heavily against the counter, her shoulders aching in places she didn’t even know could ache. Her fingers felt stiff and numb from hours of lifting heavy gla
