Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, the bachelorette party was in full swing.
The lounge glowed with warm, feminine light, soft pinks and golds, comfortable seating arranged in intimate clusters, a small stage where a live singer crooned something sultry and slow. Champagne flowed freely. Laughter filled every corner.
Bella had found a comfortable spot near the window, a glass of sparkling water in her hand, watching the women around her with quiet amusement. Hazel sat across the room with Rika and a few close friends, laughing at something one of them had said, her mask still in place but her electric blue eyes bright with genuine joy.
It was nice. Peaceful.
Until the vultures descended.
Three women drifted toward her, all smiles and perfectly styled hair, their eyes sharp with the particular hunger of people hunting for gossip. Bella recognized the type immediately, the kind who smiled with their mouths but not their eyes.
