The car rolled up the long drive, headlights cutting through the trees until Liv's mansion appeared, glowing in neon and glass. Music pulsed from inside, low and heavy, vibrating through the walls.
Nicky stayed in the back seat, staring at the house, debating whether to go in or tell the driver to take him back to his hotel. Silence pressed in on him, but he knew the hotel would be worse, only more echoes of words he could not escape. He rubbed his temple, trying to breathe.
Before he could decide, a valet opened the door, smiling. "Good evening, sir, welcome."
"I was about to go back to the hotel."
"No need for that tonight. The party is waiting. We have every distraction you could want. I'll have your driver park around the back."
The words left no room for retreat, and Nicky felt himself being ushered forward before he could argue.
The moment he crossed the threshold, the world changed. Music wrapped around him like a storm.
