Isla’s POV
My phone screen had gone dark for the third time. I stared down at the screen again, thumb hovering where her name glowed faintly.
We’re almost there, I had texted her earlier.
Seen. No reply.
I tossed the phone back in my clutch and exhaled slowly as I leaned back into the seat, watching the city lights stretch and blur beyond the glass. The closer we got to the event hall, the heavier my chest felt, like I was walking straight into something I couldn’t yet name.
“Stop worrying,” Rico said from beside me. “She’s fine. It’s her night. They’ve probably taken her phone away.”
“Yeah,” I murmured, though unease still stirred under my skin. “Probably.”
The car slowed.
The venue emerged ahead in a wash of white lights and marble—grand, excessive, and guarded. Bouncers lined th
