~LAUREN'S POV~

I stood outside Shadows, the cool night air a welcome relief after the heat of the club. Three black SUVs idled at the curb, their engines purring quietly in the darkness.

The sight of such ridiculous security still felt strange to me—a reminder of the world I had stumbled into when I had lied about dating Alexandro.

Vanessa whistled low. "Someone's paranoid."

Emily folded her arms across her chest. "Or paying back for something."

I shot my sister a warning look, but she merely shrugged, the tension between us still simmering beneath the surface. Sophia linked arms with Emily, her smile bright but determined.

"Don't worry about us,"...