Stranger at the Door

Stranger at the Door
Ivy’s POV

For a moment the knocking stopped, and there was only the sound of rain. Then I heard it — the man’s boots crunching over gravel as his steps circled the cabin.

“Pretty little place you’ve got here,” the voice murmured, closer now, “Quite cozy and romantic. It’s such a shame it won’t last for too long.”

The air felt heavy, pressing against my lungs with every second ticking louder than the rain hammering the roof. I dropped to my knees and crawled toward the first aid box by the door. The wood creaked beneath me, betraying every sound I made.

I reached the first aid kit and opened it, my hands shaking so hard I could barely grip it.
Then my fingers brushed cold steel…something that looked like a pocket knife of some sort.

“At least this would do better than the lamp,” I whispered more to myself as my hand closed around it like a prayer.

The man’s shadow moved past the window, then a low whistle came out of his lips as though he was trying to signal to me that he was watching me.

“Don’t hide, sweetheart,” the voice drawled, almost amused. “I can see your shadow on the curtain.”

“Mm.” He made a thoughtful sound as he continued, “You’re shaking. I can tell from here.” His tone was calm, steady now—the kind of calm that comes before something breaks. “Let me guess… Adrian told you he’d keep you safe, right?”

A low and humorless laughter escaped him. “Cute. Real cute. But he’s not here, is he? It’s just you. And me.” The floorboards creaked as he circled the cabin in slow and deliberate steps, showing that he was in no hurry. 

“I’ve seen a lot of girls like you,” he went on, his voice shifting closer to the front window. “Brave little things acting like they can take on the whole world…” he paused. “Until a gun’s in their faces and they scream like everyone else.”

I clutched the knife tighter until my knuckles turned white. 

“Don’t bother looking for a way out,” he said. “There’s only one door and two windows. I’ve got both covered. You open one and I’ll catch you, sweetheart.”

Rain slid down the window in slow, silvery streaks and blurred the shape of him outside as he leaned closer, “You should’ve stayed quiet, Ivy.”

My heart stopped the moment he said my name. “How do you—” I caught myself before the words escaped.

He laughed again, soft and cruel. “Cassian made sure I knew where you were. Who you ran away with…your little step-brother.”He dragged a finger down the glass window for me to know that he was standing right there.

“You must enjoy fucking him too much for you to run away with him, huh? Does he fuck you that good?”

I bit back a sob, pressing my back to the wall to breathe without him hearing it.

“Oh, don’t cry now,” he whispered. “It ruins the fun when they start crying too early.” Then he stepped off the porch. “Tell you what, sweetheart — I’ll count down there for you to open that door yourself, or I'll come in and make it hurt.”

He paused, then began counting.

“One.”

I crawled backward, my hand trembling over the knife.

“Two.”

“Three.”

My blood ran cold, this man didn’t look like he was bluffing. I ducked lower, heart slamming against the floorboards. Then—

CRACK!

A sudden crash shattered through the silence as the side window burst open, glass spraying across the room. An uncontrolled scream tore out of me as I stumbled back as a gloved hand reached inside, fumbling for the lock.

“Stop!” I cried, but it was useless because the windows had already swung open, and he climbed through. He had tall, broad shoulders. Rain dripped from the dark jacket he wore as he found mine—and his mouth curved into something like amusement.

“See what you made me do?” he said, in a low and dangerous tone, “If you’d just opened the door, sweetheart, we could’ve done this nice and easy.”

“Who are you?” I whispered, my hand tightening around the knife. He tilted his head, as if deciding whether to tell me or not. “Dante.” His gaze swept the room, then came back to me. “Cassian sends his love.”

The name hit me like a punch. Cassian. Of course, it had to be that damn bastard. He took a step closer, boots creaking on the wet wood. “Now come on. Let’s not make this messy.”

“Stay away from me.”

He smiled faintly. “Can’t do that.”

“Cassian doesn’t own me,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady.  “Tell him he’s already lost.”

Dante chuckled — a chilling sound that gave me goosebumps, before he then parted his lips to speak. “You think this is about love, sweetheart? He just wants his property back.”

I gripped the knife harder. “I’m not his property.”

He shrugged. “Then prove it.”

Before I could react, he lunged at me but I was able to swing the blade, instantly slicing his arm with it. He hissed, grabbing my wrist before I could pull away. “You’re one stubborn one,” he growled, shoving me against the wall and pinning me to it.

“Cassian didn’t tell me you were going to be this much fun.” I struggled, kicking and twisting against his grip to let go, but he was stronger. “I just want to take you home to Cassian….but not before killing that little brother of yours.”

He raised the gun in his other hand and pressed it against my stomach. “Now, let’s try this again. You’re coming with—”

Then I heard it —
Adrian’s voice cut through the tension. “Ivy!”

Dante’s face twisted. “Son of a bitch.” Then he yanked me toward the back door,  “You scream, he dies first.”

I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. “Please—”

He pulled harder. “Move.”

Adrian’s footsteps pounded closer as he closed in. “IVY!” he shouted again, his voice breaking through the rain. My instincts took over and before I could think, I bit the man hard on his hand.

“You fucking bitch!” Dante cursed as his grip loosened for a split second. The next second—

BANG!

BANG!

A gunshot split the air with a sound so deafening I almost went deaf as it recoiled and bounced through the cabin. Dante jerked aside — the bullet slicing past him by just a few inches, but he ducked behind the table, firing back.

“IVY!” Adrian’s voice cut through again, closer this time.

“I’m here!” I shouted back, coughing through the smoke and dust. I peeked up to see Adrain standing by the doorway as he fired again— a clean, perfect shot, but Dante was already moving, fast as a shadow.

“Missed me,” Dante hissed, his voice darkly amused. “You’re good, kid…..but not good enough.”

“Come out and find out!” Adrian shouted back as he rained another shot, shattering the other glass window in the cabin. Without wasting any time Dante dove behind a cabinet, reloading his gun with one hand, blood from his cut arm streaking down his sleeve.

“Cassian’s gonna love watching you die,” he snarled.

“Over my dead body,” Adrian growled.