Ella

Elijah bursts through the club doors, panting, his chest heaving like he's just run a marathon. His eyes are wild, and without him even saying a word, I know Lambert got away.

A few seconds pass, and Elijah grips his knees as he bends over to catch his breath. No one moves. The air is thick with confusion and tension, like a knot too tight to untangle.

"Everyone needs to leave," Elijah says between gasps, standing up and scanning the room. His voice ...