Beneath The Bloodline

Volume five: ❝BENEATH THE BLOODLINE❞

𝐀 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 : "𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐆𝐔𝐓𝐙 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐙" 𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐄 5—BENEATH THE BLOODLINE

𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒛

**Chapter 31: Shadows and Secrets**

The evening air was electric as Karla and Colani, affectionately known as Coco, stepped out of their taxi and into the glamorous event. Lights twinkled in the distance as the sound of music and chatter filled the air. The event was a mixture of fashion, elegance, and a touch of thrill, complete with a gambling section that instantly drew eyes. Karla and Coco exchanged a look, both eager to see what the night would unfold.

As they made their way through the crowd, Karla couldn't help but feel a familiar presence behind her. She turned, spotting Celeste lingering nearby with one of her friends. It seemed that wherever Karla went, Celeste was close by. The subtle sense of being followed had become too hard to ignore, but she tried to brush it off, focusing instead on enjoying the night.

After grabbing cocktails, Karla and Coco ventured to the dance floor, the rhythmic beat pulsing through their bodies. As they twirled and laughed under the neon lights, Karla felt a sense of temporary freedom wash over her. That is, until something—or rather, someone—caught her eye.

Upstairs, standing on a balcony overlooking the dance floor, was a figure she recognized immediately. Giovanni. His sharp features were unmistakable, his dark eyes fixed on her as if he was watching her every move. Her heart quickened. Was he really here, or was the alcohol playing tricks on her?

Without thinking, Karla broke away from Coco and started pushing through the crowd, determined to confront him. But the mass of people grew thicker as she approached, blocking her view. By the time she reached the staircase, Giovanni had vanished, swallowed up by the shadows. She stood at the bottom of the steps, her heart still racing.

"Maybe I imagined him," she whispered to herself, doubting her own clarity. "Maybe it's just the drinks."

Before she could dwell on it, Celeste appeared by her side, her face flushed with what seemed to be fake worry. "Karla, I need your help!" she exclaimed, her tone urgent. "Can you come with me to the girls' bathroom? My dress is too tight, and I can't breathe."

Still shaken from the moment with Giovanni, Karla reluctantly followed Celeste. In the bathroom, Celeste fidgeted with the hem of her designer dress, her fingers trembling dramatically. "Can you fix the zipper? It's pressing too tightly on my stomach," she asked, turning her back to Karla.

Karla sighed, placing her handbag down on the bathroom counter. She adjusted the zipper, loosening it enough to give Celeste some relief. "There, it should be better now," Karla muttered, straightening up. Celeste mumbled a quick thank you and darted into one of the stalls.

Feeling uneasy, Karla grabbed her handbag and checked her reflection briefly before heading back to the dance floor. As she reached Coco, who was still dancing, she realized something felt off. A subtle sense of emptiness. Her phone... where was her phone? Her fingers quickly rummaged through the bag but came up empty.

She retraced her steps in her mind. It had to have been Celeste. Suspicion nagged at Karla, but before she could confirm her doubts, she found herself bumping into someone on the dance floor—a stranger.