The night air was thick with the scent of rain and danger. Lightning carved jagged lines through the dark sky, and thunder rolled like a growl from the heavens. Isabella pressed closer to Dante as he guided the car down the narrow, twisting road that cut through the mountains. Each turn felt sharper than the last, the headlights slicing through mist that seemed alive with shadows.

“Dante, they’re still behind us,” she whispered, her voice trembling. The rearview mirror reflected the distant glint of headlights—too steady to be coincidence.

“I know.” His knuckles whitened around the steering wheel. “Hold on.”

The car surged forward as he pressed the accelerator, tires...