Chapter 2

Ivy

The second I heard his footsteps nearing the door, my entire body tensed as if the air itself had frozen around me. My back pressed hard against the cold wall, its chill biting into my skin. My breath caught somewhere in my throat and refused to come out. Even the faint sound of my heartbeat felt too loud.

Through the narrow crack, I saw his shadow stretch across the hallway floor, tall, sharp, and patient, like a hunter who already knew the prey was close.

Mr. Dante.

He pushed the door open wider, his hand steady on the handle. His head tilted slightly to the side as his brows pulled tight, his piercing blue eyes scanning the hallway. That sharp gaze could cut through walls.

“Who’s there?” His voice was low, smooth, but carried a dangerous edge.

I swallowed hard, my thighs pressed tightly together as if it would stop my trembling. My pulse hammered so violently I swore it could be heard outside my chest. One wrong breath, one tiny sound, and he’d see me standing here, half hidden like a coward.

Seconds dragged out like hours. His eyes hovered for a heartbeat too long, searching… until finally, he stepped back and closed the door.

Click.

The sound was soft, but to me, it was everything. A release. My lungs expanded in a rush, and I inhaled as if I’d been underwater. My legs were weak, quivering, but I forced them to move. I slipped down the hallway fast, each step careful, silent, like someone running from a ghost.

By the time I reached Rosa’s room, my chest burned.

She was out cold on the bed, mouth slightly open, hair sticking out in every direction, breathing softly like she didn’t have a single worry in the world.

I crawled into bed beside her, still shaking, pulling the blanket over my body as if it could shield me from what I’d just seen. But the images didn’t fade. They played on loop in my head like a scene I couldn’t unwatch—Mr. Dante’s hands gripping tightly, his hips moving, Mrs. Tessa moaning like someone drowning in pleasure.

My face heated at the memory, shame twisting into something more complicated, something I didn’t want to name.

Nothing compared to what I saw tonight.

Eventually, exhaustion dragged me under, but even then, my body still buzzed with the memory.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, soft and golden. Rosa was still snoring like a truck when I got out of bed. Today was supposed to be important, my first day of college. But as I stared at myself in the mirror, toothbrush hanging loosely in my mouth, all I could think about was what I’d witnessed.

The ache in my stomach wasn’t from fear anymore. It was a mix of something hotter, stranger, and heavier.

I showered, dressed, brushed my hair, and forced on my usual hoodie. The girl in the mirror didn’t look any different, but inside, everything felt unsettled.

Bag slung over my shoulder, I walked into the kitchen… and froze.

He was there.

Mr. Dante.

Standing by the counter like nothing in the world could shake him. His white T-shirt clung to his chest, outlining his firm abs. His hair was a little messy, like he’d just run his hands through it. He held a mug of coffee in one hand, his jaw sharp, his expression unreadable.

I’d seen him countless times. And I hadn't noticed he was this attractive until last night.

Oh gosh! I need to get a grip, cause he works as a teacher in my college, he teaches history and I take his class.

This is gonna be bad! oh no! How could I just get rid of him from my head?

“Morning,” he said casually, like he hadn’t just been inside another woman a few hours ago, making my heart race.

I stiffened. My fingers gripped the strap of my bag so tightly they went numb.

His eyes met mine, calm…

“Uh—morning,” I muttered, praying my face didn’t show anything.

Curiosity slipped out before I could stop it. “Um… where’s Mrs. Tessa? I haven’t seen her around this morning.”

For a second, something flickered in his expression. Barely. Then his jaw tightened, and a small smile curved his lips, but his eyes didn’t smile with it.

“She left around seven last night,” he said smoothly, almost too smoothly.

Seven?

The word echoed in my head like a bell. I remembered the clock clearly, past one, almost two in the morning.

Why would he lie?

I forced a polite smile, nodded, and hurried out, but my stomach churned the whole way.

By the time I sat in my first class, the lecture was background noise. My knee bounced under the desk. Every time I blinked, I saw his face. That lie.

Why cover it up? Where did she go?

And then… movement caught my eye.

Jaxon.

He strolled in wearing his hockey jersey, every step dripping with confidence. His dark hair was tousled in a way that looked expensive, his grin cocky as ever.

My heart did that stupid flutter thing again. Last night’s humiliation still burned, but when his gaze swept the room and landed on me, he smirked and puckered his lips like he was blowing me a kiss.

My jaw nearly hit the desk.

Oh my God. Did he just—

A stupid, nervous laugh bubbled up inside me. Maybe he didn’t remember. Maybe he was too drunk to remember rejecting me like trash last night. Relief tingled through me, tangled with embarrassment.

And then his voice cut through the chatter like a blade.

He was talking to a shy girl holding his key card. “Don’t come if you’re a virgin,” he said, laughing.

The girl turned bright red.

My smile died instantly. His words slammed into me like a punch.

So that was it. That was why he shoved me away. Not because it was me… because I was a virgin.

Heat burned in my chest. My nails dug into the edge of my notebook.

Fine. If that was what it took, then I’d lose it.

I didn’t have time to be picky. I didn’t have the luxury to wait for the right guy, the perfect moment, the cheesy music. My time was ticking.

My gaze shifted across the room to Davis.

Everyone knew Davis. The guy with the reputation. The one who took girls’ first times like it was some sort of community service. He didn’t care about feelings or attachments. He’d do it and move on.

Maybe that was what I needed.

I scribbled a note, my hands slightly shaky, and slid it toward him.

When he opened it, one eyebrow arched. I braced myself for laughter. But instead, a slow grin crept across his face. He scribbled something back and passed it to me.

Meet me at the abandoned warehouse.

My stomach flipped. Fear and excitement tangled inside me like two snakes fighting for space.

The warehouse smelled like dust and old wood. My hands were clammy as I rubbed them against my jeans.

When he walked in, Davis had that swagger that said he knew exactly why I was here. His tongue ran slowly over his bottom lip, his eyes dragging over me like I was already stripped bare.

I told myself I wanted this. Needed this.

When he stepped closer, I turned, bracing myself, bending slightly forward. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like a drum.

Then he unzipped.

My eyes widened.

What the hell? That tiny thing?

This had to be a joke.

He spat into his palm, slicked his fingers, and without warning, pushed two inside me. I gasped, knees nearly buckling. It hurt, but it also sent a strange jolt through me, something unexpected.

“That’s it,” he muttered, zipping up. “I’ve got practice.”

I blinked at him, stunned, panties half up, dignity fully on the floor. Why did he undress himself if he wasn't going to penetrate, shit!

“That’s it?” I croaked.

But he was already walking away, not even bothering to glance back.

Anger boiled too late. My fists clenched. My body shook, not from pleasure, but humiliation.

This was not what I wanted. Not what I needed.

And worse, he couldn’t even break my hymen.

I stood there in that empty warehouse, breathing hard, wanting to scream.

There was only one option left.

The only man who had already made me feel things without touching me. The one who looked dangerous and untouchable.

Mr. Dante.

And tonight, Rosa wouldn’t be home.

A shiver of something sinful slid through me at the thought.

I reached for my phone, desperate to distract myself… and then I saw it.

A headline

A woman was found dead.

Identity confirmed: Mrs. Tessa.

My hand flew to my mouth. The air left my lungs in a sharp gasp.

Rosa had always said the women who visited him disappeared or turned up dead.

My chest tightened, everything spinning around me.

Could it be… him?