Page 24 of Bound in Debt

But the moment my palm touches the knob, a loud and startling knock shakes the door in its frame.

My spine immediately hits the wall like I’m some sort of secret agent and Professor Moretti comes out of the bathroom. His eyes turn into murderous slits when he notices how close I am to the front door.

There’s another knock, followed by Liam calling out, “Uncle Dante, are you in there?”

The back of my skull thunks lightly against the wall. Professor Moretti is going to rat me out, I know it. And I know exactly what Liam is looking for.

Me.

My mother and Marissa gave me less than ten minutes to get ready before looking for me. They must have seen the window. And thanks to Professor Moretti, any chance I had to get away is long gone.

“What do you want?” Professor Moretti shouts back, not bothering to open the door just yet. “I’m about to take a shower.”

“I’m looking for Victoria. Have you seen her?”

I turn pleading eyes on my professor. I’ve been a pain in his ass and this is the perfect opportunity for him to be rid of me. Silently, I beg him not to give me up. I know he doesn’t owe me anything, but if he hands me over to Liam, I’m done for.

“Hold on,” Professor Moretti calls out before reaching for the hem of his black button-up shirt, lifting it over his head.

Holy shit.

Tan skin, sculpted muscles, black tattoos inked all over the planes of his chest… Professor Moretti is a man of many mysteries, but Bailey was right, he’s fucking hot.

I stop breathing when he erases the space between us, leaning close and reaching to place his index finger to his lips. I suddenly can’t focus on anything except how close his lips are to mine, how my tits would feel brushing against his chest if I dared to arch my back. I can feel my nipples pebble and my panties growing damp in sheer lust for my teacher.

The teacher who hates me.

The teacher who I wish I could’ve met under different circumstances.

The teacher that clearly has some issues.

Red flag.

But my body doesn’t care and my traitorous eyes can’t help but stare at this man and his glorious muscles.

9

DANTE

If the mob ever decides to go after Victoria Waldorf, they better keep two guards on her at all times—I’ve never seen a woman climb out a window just to get away from a party.

I knew Marissa was throwing some expensive shindig tonight, so I went around the house to keep from making an appearance. What I found was a perfect, peachy ass and long, curly hair dangling from a fucking tree.

Honestly, the shit this girl does to get her way.

Yet, the pure panic in her eyes when she heard my nephew’s name urged me to keep her away from him.

This isn’t my circus or my monkeys.

But I still block her from view when I open my door and find my nephew on my doorstep, looking like a rich tool with a blue polo shirt and a fucking popped collar.

“Yes?”

Liam lifts a brow. Yeah, he already told me what he wanted, but he should know I’m too much of an asshole to give it to him straight and easy.

Plus, I want some information from the boy made in Marissa’s image.

She’s obviously paranoid about her endgame which means there’s a chance someone could fuck it up. And I have a funny feeling that someone has plush lips and blue eyes.