Elena’s POV

I stayed pressed against the back of the door, crouched low, trying to make myself as small as possible.

My pulse hammered in my ears as I peered through the peephole, watching the chaos outside gather like a storm about to break.

Xue Man moved first, pushing through the crowd with a precision and force that made every step sharp against the polished floor.

Her heels clicked in a rhythm that seemed to echo through my chest, and when she stopped in front of Lounge 6, I ...