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Tiffany finally let out a laugh, her friends’ enthusiasm proving too infectious to resist. She set her drink down on a nearby table and let Cassie take her hand, leading her to the dance floor. The group erupted in cheers, creating a bubble of encouragement around her. With a mixture of nervous energy and growing excitement, Tiffany began to move to the rhythm, letting the music guide her. Her movements were tentative at first, but with every beat, she grew more confident, her friends cheering her on and dancing alongside her.

Ethan caught sight of her as she joined the throng of dancers. Her smile, though hesitant, carried a spark of joy that stood out in the flashing neon haze. For a moment, he felt a flicker of calm, glad to see her loosening up. The vibrant swirl of bodies on the dance floor made it difficult to track her, but her bright laughter carried faintly over the music.

The relief was short-lived.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ethan spotted Jimmy weaving his way through the crowd. The man’s chaotic energy was unmistakable, his movements erratic yet purposeful as he zeroed in on the group of friends. Ethan’s jaw tightened. He could feel the shift in the air around Jimmy—an unwelcome disruption in the otherwise carefree atmosphere of the club.

From his position, Ethan couldn’t hear what was being said, but he saw Jimmy sidle up to Tiffany, his overly enthusiastic moves drawing her attention. At first, she seemed to laugh it off, trying to focus on her friends. But then Ethan noticed the subtle changes—her smile faltered, her shoulders stiffened, and her movements became more guarded. She glanced toward her friends, but they were caught up in their own enjoyment, oblivious to the shift in her demeanor.

Ethan’s stomach knotted as Jimmy leaned closer, his motions increasingly invasive. Tiffany turned slightly, angling her body away from him, her hands coming up in a clear gesture of discomfort. Still, Jimmy pressed on, his grin unfazed as he tried to draw her into his dance. Ethan’s protective instincts flared, the sight sending a spike of urgency through him.

As the crowd shifted, the pair disappeared from view, the bodies on the dance floor creating a moving wall that obscured them entirely. Ethan straightened, his pulse quickening. He stepped away from his vantage point and began moving through the crowd, weaving around clusters of dancers. The press of bodies and the pulsing bass made progress slow, but his focus remained locked on the direction where Tiffany had last been.

The heat of the club, the flashing lights, and the rising intensity of the music blurred together, but Ethan’s mind was sharp, cutting through the haze as he navigated the shifting sea of people. Every second felt like an eternity as he closed the distance, his determination driving him forward. Somewhere in the chaos, Tiffany and Jimmy were out of sight—but not out of mind. Ethan knew he had to get there before things escalated further.