Chapter Three

In a city that never rested, the garden on the rooftop was a secret. It was the only spot Ivy felt alive again, hidden above the bustle of the Las Vegas Strip, where the noise finally subsided. The aroma, which clung to the skin like memory, was a subtle combination of flowers and stormy rain.

After looking for hours, she had found herself here. Her phone was full of unanswered texts, and the Aurelia lounge was suddenly deserted. The previous evening, Luca had disappeared like smoke, leaving her with only the sound of his words.

He had once remarked, "You don't chase what isn't ready to be caught."...