ISABELLA
The scream cut through the hall like a blade. Conversations halted. Chairs scraped. Every Salvatore man in the room shifted instantly, hands near concealed weapons, eyes scanning for threats.
Adrian’s arm tightened around my waist as he turned toward the sound. “Stay close.”
Tobias was already moving, signaling to the guards with a sharp flick of his hand. Nico and Luca broke off from the group they were speaking with, weaving through the crowd like wolves scenting danger. My heart hammered. This was it. This was the moment everything would explode. We followed the ripple of alarm toward the far corner of the hall, where a small crowd had gathered. Murmurs rose, sharp and anxious.
“What happened?”
“Is someone hurt?”
Adrian pushed through the cluster of guests, shielding me w
