ELENA

“Elena!”

Dominic’s voice ripped through the silence, loud and sharp, cutting through the walls like a blade.

“Get down here. Now.”

I flinched, my fingers fumbling with the last button of my dress. My heart pounded, knowing I had already taken too long. I wasn’t even finished getting ready, but I didn’t have the luxury of time—not with him.

I barely glanced in the mirror. No perfect hair, no careful makeup. Just a hurried swipe of powder to hide the exhaustion clinging ...