Chapter 20

Zara’s POV

The music swallowed us whole.

Alex’s hand was warm in mine as he pulled me toward the center of the room, the bass thudding so hard it felt like it was vibrating inside my chest. Lights flashed above us, blue, red, white blurring faces into streaks of motion and shadows.

For once, I let myself be pulled. I let go.

Alex moved easily in front of me as the noise belonged to him. He laughed when I stumbled slightly, steadying me with a hand at my waist.

“You good?” he asked, leaning closer so I could hear him.

“I’m great,” I said, louder than necessary.

He grinned. “That’s what I like to hear.”

We danced until my legs burned and my hair stuck to the back of my neck. Sofia disappeared and reappeared every few minutes, shouting comments in my ear, dragging me into circles of strangers, and handing me drinks I didn’t remember asking for.

At some point, my cheeks started to ache from smiling. I didn’t think. I mean I didn't need to.

I didn’t remember the mansion, or the cold walls, or Matteo’s voice curling low and annoying in my ear. I was just a girl in a room full of sound and heat and laughter.

Alex spun me around once, twice, and when I laughed, breathless, he leaned down. Smirking at me and staring down at my lips from time to time.

“You’re different tonight,” he said with a smile still creased on his face.

“Different how?”

“Looser,” he replied. “Happier.”

I snorted. “You don’t know me.”

“Maybe not,” he said, eyes staring back slightly. “But I’d like to.”

Sofia shoved between us suddenly, holding up her phone. “Dare game!”

“Oh no,” I groaned.

“Yes,” Alex said immediately. “Absolutely yes.”

We gathered with a group near the bar, six of us, pressed shoulder to shoulder, shouting over the music. Someone started spinning a bottle. Someone else counted down dramatically.

“Truth or dare?” a guy asked me, smiling into my eyes.

“Dare,” I said without hesitation. Alex’s eyes flicked to mine, amused.

“Dance on the table for ten seconds.”

Sofia screamed before I could even respond. I hesitated for exactly one second and then I climbed.

Cheers erupted as I stood on the table, arms raised, laughter bubbling out of me as I moved to the sound of the music.

My world at that point felt light. I didn’t care who was watching. Not even Alex who watched me the whole time.

When I climbed down, breathless and flushed, he clapped slowly. “Impressive.”

“Your turn,” I said, pointing at him.

He leaned in. “Careful what you dare me to do.”

The game went on and on. Drinks flowed freely. Shots I shouldn’t have taken. Laughter that came too easily. My head felt fuzzy, like I was floating just a few inches above my body and time for some reason blurred.

At some point, Alex handed me a drink, clear, cold, the rim wet with condensation.

“Hydrate,” he said lightly. “You’ve been dancing nonstop.”

“Hero,” I teased, taking it from him. And then I drank.

The taste was sour and so unfamiliar, but I didn’t think twice. I’d already had too much of everything else.

A couple of minutes passed and then the room tilted.

At first, I thought I was just drunker than I realized because the lights felt too bright, the music too loud and my stomach twisted uncomfortably.

And that feeling went on and on for a couple of seconds.

“You okay?” Alex asked, noticing my expression.

“I—” I swallowed hard. “I feel weird.”

“Too much to drink?”

“Maybe,” I said, though something felt off. My limbs felt heavy and slow. My head buzzed in a way that wasn’t just alcohol.

“Let’s get some air,” he said quickly, placing a hand at my elbow. “Come on.”

I nodded, grateful as I let him take me by the waist. He guided me through the crowd, bodies brushing past us, voices fading as we pushed through the exit. Cool night air hit my face the minute we stepped out, and I sucked in a breath, swaying slightly.

“Whoa,” he said, tightening his grip on me. “Easy.”

“I’m fine,” I insisted weakly, trying so hard to get to the door without stumbling.

We moved a little farther from the door, toward a darker side alley where the noise dulled into a distant thrum. I leaned against the wall, head spinning so badly.

“Just needed air,” I murmured, placing a hand over my head but Alex stepped closer.

“You sure?” he asked, his voice lower now.

I nodded, though my swam vision. “I think so.”

He brushed a strand of hair away from my face, his touch lingered for a minute. “You’re really beautiful, you know that?”

Something in my chest tightened at his statement.

“Alex,” I said, uncertain but then he leaned in. I registered it a second too late and his lips were almost on mine when—

Everything exploded.

A sudden force shoved me hard to the side. I cried out as I stumbled, my shoulder slamming into the wall. Someone grunted followed by the sickening sound of impact.

“What the—” Alex started.

I tried to straighten, my head spinning violently now, nausea surging inside me. My legs buckled but then strong familiar hands caught me.

I blinked up, vision blurring, struggling to focus and then I saw him. Familiar dark eyes. Sharp jaw. A look I know too well.

Matteo.

I stumbled in his arms trying not to give in, but in seconds my breath left me in a broken sound.

“Zara,” he said, voice edged surprisingly with so much concern. Relief and fear crashed into me at the same time as I try to open up my eyes again.

“Matteo?” and just when I managed to, I whispered. Then the world tilted once again, darkness creeping in from the edges.

The last thing I felt was his grip tightening around me—And then everything went black.