Dark Desires

chapter 3

The meeting wraps up, and Sarah is her usual bubbly self.

When Damon steps out of the private meeting room, his eyes lock onto mine for a brief moment. Sarah lunges toward him, and he lifts her effortlessly into his arms.

He presses a soft kiss to her cheek.

"Sarah, say thank you to Melania. She helped babysit you today."

Sarah glances at me shyly, her tiny voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Melna."

I laugh softly, but Damon gently corrects her. "It's Melania, baby."

The way my name rolls off his tongue stirs something deep in my stomach. God, even at 35, he's the kind of man that makes heads turn.

Damon gives me a small wave as he carries Sarah out. I smile back, watching them disappear down the hall.

I head to my room, realizing I'm already running late for my part-time shift at the orphanage. I quickly grab my tote bag, tucking a water bottle inside, and slip into a cozy sweatshirt over my black jeans.

The bus stop is quiet, almost too quiet. I'm the only one waiting under the flickering streetlight.

Ten long minutes pass before the bus pulls up. I sink into an empty window seat, popping in my earphones. The familiar comfort of music drowns out the noise of the world, but not the ache I carry.

The orphanage is my refuge-the one place where the weight of life feels a little lighter. Between the pressure from school, my family, and the suffocating expectations of adulthood, I sometimes feel like I'm crumbling. But the kids...they remind me to breathe. To hold on.

When I step off the bus, the cool air bites at my skin. The orphanage is only a minute's walk from the stop. As I approach, Maeve and Gabriel are already there, waiting by the entrance.

"Hey, hot daddy's friend come by today?" Maeve smirks, crossing her arms.

I laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah, he did. Brought his daughter too. I babysat her for a bit. She's adorable."

Maeve wiggles her brows. "So...is he married or what? Because I swear, you two would make the hottest couple."

Gabriel chuckles beside her. "Relax, Maeve. His ex dropped Sarah off with him and bailed. He's single."

Maeve grins like she won the lottery. "Oh, thank God. Mel, this is fate. I'm officially shipping it."

I roll my eyes. "You're delusional."

"No, I'm serious! Come to the party Saturday. No orphanage shift next week, and I'll introduce you to someone. Soccer guy, total ten. You need to date someone, Mel. I swear, half the school's obsessed with you."

I laugh, brushing it off. "Please. No one looks at me like that. I'm too curvy for most guys. I'm practically cake-shaped. They want slim, sleek girls, not..." I gesture vaguely.

Gabriel interrupts. "Don't say that. You're beautiful, Melania. Every guy on the soccer team stares at you when you come to practice. I had to shut them down because they're all players, and you deserve better."

I smile softly. "Thanks, Gabe. You're like the brother I never had."

"Exactly. And if any guy breaks your heart, I'm breaking his face first."

I laugh, but there's warmth in his words. "A little intense, don't you think? Lucky for you, my love life is pretty nonexistent right now."

We laugh and head to our respective sections. I'm assigned to the newborns, while Maeve and Gabriel handle the toddlers.

The nursery is quiet when I enter, the soft hum of a lullaby playing faintly in the background. I head straight for Grace's crib-only days old, left behind in a hospital bathroom by a scared teenage mother.

I named her Grace because she deserves it.

Carefully, I lift her tiny body into my arms, cradling her against me as I sink into the rocking chair by the window. Her small breaths warm my chest as I sway gently back and forth.

But then-

A faint rustling outside catches my attention.

I glance toward the large window, brushing aside the curtain just enough to peer out. The streetlamp illuminates the sidewalk, but no one is there.

Except...

A black Ducati is parked across the street.

I frown, but there's nothing unusual about it. Probably just someone passing through.

Grace stirs softly, and I pull my gaze away, focusing on rocking her until she falls asleep.

By the time I place her back in the crib, the Ducati is gone.

Still, the feeling lingers. The faint prickling at the back of my neck. Like someone's eyes are on me.

I shake it off, staying longer than I should to feed the babies and tuck them in.

Maeve and Gabriel left earlier, but I told them to go ahead without me. Now it's nearly 7 PM, and the orphanage feels too quiet as I lock up and step onto the lonely street.

The cold wind bites at my skin as I walk toward the bus stop. The streets are empty, save for the distant hum of traffic.

But that feeling...

It doesn't leave.