The Trap
826 Words
📖 Chapter 15: The Trap
Something felt wrong.
I noticed it the moment I stepped out of school.
Not obvious.
Not loud.
Just… off.
“Liana!”
I turned.
One of the school staff stood near the gate.
“Someone is here to see you,” she said.
I frowned slightly. “Who?”
“They said it’s important.”
A bad feeling settled in my chest.
“Where?”
She pointed toward the side building.
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then remembered Dante’s words.
If things get dangerous… you’ll listen to me.
I almost laughed it off.
Almost.
“It’s probably nothing,” I muttered to myself.
Big mistake.
The hallway was quiet.
Too quiet.
My footsteps echoed softly as I walked further in.
“Hello?” I called.
No answer.
And then—
The door behind me shut.
Hard.
My heart dropped.
I turned quickly.
Locked.
“Finally.”
My breath caught.
I knew that voice.
Victoria stepped out slowly from the shadows.
Elegant as always.
But this time—
There was nothing soft about her.
“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to stay calm.
“Talking,” she said smoothly. “Something we couldn’t do earlier.”
My heart started racing.
“This isn’t funny.”
“I’m not trying to be funny.”
She walked closer.
Slow.
Controlled.
Dangerous in a different way from Dante.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I said.
“No,” she agreed. “You shouldn’t.”
My chest tightened.
“You really think you belong with him?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.
I stayed quiet.
Watching her.
Careful.
“He’s not a man you play with,” she continued. “And you’re not built for his world.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
That made her smile.
Sharp.
“But you need it,” she replied. “Because you clearly don’t understand what you’ve stepped into.”
“I understand enough.”
“Do you?” she challenged.
She stepped even closer.
Now the space between us felt suffocating.
“Men like Dante…” she said softly, “they destroy everything they touch.”
My heart skipped.
“He won’t destroy me.”
Her smile widened.
“That’s what they all think.”
Before I could respond—
The door suddenly unlocked.
And opened.
Hard.
The air shifted instantly.
Cold.
Heavy.
Familiar.
Dante.
His eyes locked onto Victoria first.
Dark.
Dangerous.
Deadly.
“What did you do?” his voice came out low.
Too low.
That kind of calm?
It was worse than anger.
Victoria didn’t move.
Didn’t even look afraid.
“She’s fine,” she said casually.
“For now.”
That was enough.
Dante stepped forward.
Fast.
Closing the distance in seconds.
“Don’t,” I said quickly, grabbing his arm.
His body was tense.
Ready.
Dangerous.
“She didn’t touch me,” I added.
It was the only thing that stopped him.
Barely.
His jaw tightened.
His gaze flicked to me.
Checking.
Making sure.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
“No.”
“Did she threaten you?”
I hesitated.
That was enough.
Dante turned back to Victoria.
And this time—
There was no holding back in his eyes.
“You crossed a line,” he said.
Victoria exhaled slowly.
“And what are you going to do about it?”
Silence.
Heavy.
Deadly.
“You know exactly what,” he replied.
For the first time—
Something flickered in her expression.
Not fear.
But awareness.
“This isn’t over,” she said softly.
“No,” Dante agreed.
“It’s not.”
She walked past him.
Calm.
Controlled.
Like she hadn’t just started something dangerous.
The door closed behind her.
And the room felt different.
Dante turned to me immediately.
His hands gently holding my arms.
“Look at me.”
I did.
“You don’t go anywhere alone anymore,” he said.
“That’s not—”
“It’s not a suggestion.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
But it was final.
“I can take care of myself,” I said.
“I know.”
“Then trust me.”
“I do,” he said.
Then his eyes darkened slightly.
“But I don’t trust them.”
Silence.
“This is exactly what I didn’t want,” I whispered.
“You don’t get to choose that anymore.”
That hurt.
Because it was true.
His hand lifted—
Brushing lightly against my cheek.
Gentler now.
“I told you it would get dangerous,” he said.
“You didn’t tell me how dangerous.”
A pause.
Then—
“That’s because I was hoping it wouldn’t reach you.”
My heart softened slightly.
Even now.
Even after everything.
“Come,” he said.
“We’re leaving.”
And this time—
I didn’t argue.
Because now I understood something clearly:
This wasn’t just love anymore.
It was war.
- Writer
