Three days had passed since that morning in Jason's apartment, but the memory of it clung to Antonella like a second skin. No matter how hard she tried to push it out of her mind, it was always there-his touch, his voice, the intensity in his eyes. The way he had taken control, made her feel things she hadn't thought possible.
But now, standing under the dim lights of the club, surrounded by the familiar haze of alcohol, perfume, and muffled conversations, Antonella felt worlds away from that moment. The hum of the crowd buzzed in her ears, the thumping bass reverberating through the walls as bodies moved to the rhythm of the music. It was a Friday night, and the place was packed, the usual chaos of the club almost comforting in its familiarity.
Still, her mind drifted back to Jason, to the way he had looked at her like he owned her, like he could read every thought running through her head before she even spoke it. She hadn't seen him since that morning, hadn't heard from him. And as much as she wanted to pretend she didn't care, there was a part of her that had been waiting for a message, a call-something.
She couldn't deny the pull she felt toward him, the way her body reacted when he was near. It scared her, the way he seemed to unravel her so easily, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. And yet, there was something addictive about it. Something that made her crave more, even though she knew she should stay away.
Antonella leaned against the bar, her fingers tracing the rim of her empty glass as she watched the crowd move around her. The music pounded in her chest, but it did little to drown out the thoughts swirling in her head. She hadn't talked to Belcalis about what happened-hadn't told anyone, really. How could she explain what had gone down between her and Jason when she barely understood it herself?
She had always been in control of her life, or at least she had convinced herself of that. She had built walls around herself, kept people at a distance. But with Jason, those walls had crumbled so easily, and that terrified her.
The sound of laughter broke through her thoughts, pulling her attention back to the present. She glanced over her shoulder to see a group of men gathered at the VIP section, their drinks raised high as they celebrated something she couldn't care less about. But then, for a split second, she caught sight of someone familiar.
Her heart skipped a beat.
It wasn't Jason. But the man standing in the VIP section, laughing with his friends, was someone she recognized. Someone who had been at the club that same night. One of Jason's friends, or maybe just an acquaintance, but seeing him brought everything flooding back.
Antonella's pulse quickened, her fingers tightening around her glass. She turned away quickly, hoping he hadn't noticed her, but her mind was already racing. Did that mean Jason was here too? Was he watching her, waiting in the shadows, just like he had been that night?
A strange mixture of anticipation and anxiety settled in her chest. She didn't know what she wanted. Part of her wanted to see him, to feel that intensity between them again, but another part of her-the part that still clung to her sense of control-wanted to run. To get away before she got pulled in any deeper.
"Need another drink?"
Antonella looked up to see Belcalis standing behind the bar, her sharp eyes studying her with curiosity. "You've been nursing that empty glass for a while now."
Antonella forced a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Just lost in thought."
Belcalis raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Uh-huh. What's going on with you? You've been acting weird all week."
"I'm fine," Antonella lied, though her voice was a little too quick, a little too defensive.
Belcalis narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "You sure about that? You know you can talk to me, right?"
