I shake his hand off, but cover it by picking up my bag and pulling out my bottle of vodka.
Hilman chuckles and says, “Man, it must be bad if you’re drinking at work.”
“I’ve had to drink at work since he’s been my TA.” I pop the top and bring it to my lips, then pass it to Hilman. He takes a greedy swallow, hissing as it burns a trail down his throat. “Come on, let’s move back before someone spots us.”
We take a seat on one of the large fans dotting the rooftop. Hilman passes me the bottle and I tip it up to my lips.
“Luca isn’t who everyone thinks he is,” I say, shaking my head sadly. “He puts on this innocent act, with those wide brown eyes, but he’s nothing but a seducer.” I scoff and look away, letting him see my throat bob as I swallow hard.
“I knew it,” Hilman says, slurring slightly. “He’s always given me that vibe. Like he knows exactly what he’s doing, teasing us the way he does. What happened? Maybe I can help.”
“He needs this position for his resume, but he didn’t want to actually earn it. So he made up this bullshit lie that I was sleeping with him. When I told him I’d tell the dean, he… he coerced me into being with him.” The lie burns on my tongue and I hate talking about Luca this way, but I need to get Hilman deeper into this trap. Only a few more minutes, then he’ll do what I want.
Hilman laughs in a hard burst. “So he’s that type, huh? Little minx didn’t want to give it up to me. Now I have him right where I want him.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, bringing the bottle to my lips before passing it over.
“Oh, I saw what happened between you two. Now that I know he made you blow him on stage where anyone could see? He’ll give me whatever I want from him or he’ll be out on his ass. No grad… grad program for him.” He hiccups before taking another swig of his drink.
“He’s done the same to you?” I ask, surprise coloring my tone perfectly.
“Not yet, but he will. I just have to play it right. Now he can’t turn me down. Now he can’t tell me he doesn’t want it when I know what type of man he is.”
I sigh and bring up the bottle. It’s nearly empty. “I just can’t believe he’d do that to me. He looks so innocent. But he’s really a snake.”
“They all are. Here’s a secret.” He leans over and incline my head as if to hear him better, holding my breath as the smell of vodka wafts over me. “All you have to do is tell them you have something on them and they’re hooked. They can’t squirm away when their futures are on the line.” The scumbag fucking winks, like what he said isn’t predatory as fuck.
My blood boils as I think about all the other students he may have done this to. Luca might not have been the first, but he’ll definitely be the last.
I hand him the bottle and he sucks down the last bit, finishing the entire bottle himself. He’s so preoccupied with wanting to spill his secrets that he didn’t even realize I hadn’t drunk any of it.
Or notice the gloves I’ve had on since we got up here.
“You have it all figured out, huh?” I ask, dropping my act. “You just… make students fuck you because you’re too pathetic to get someone your own age?”
He turns drunk eyes on me, a twisted smile on his face. “Huh? No, it’s just… just easier with these students. They’re all so… so happy to have the attention of… someone… older. I’ve just… taken what I’m owed.”
“Taken from Luca?” I stand from the fan and push him with force until he flies over the other side. “You hurt him, even after he said no.”
Hilman is too drunk to break his fall, so he tumbles over and his face slaps hard against the rocks lining the roof.
“Levine… what… what…”
I grab him by the front of his shirt, pulling him up until his feet no longer touch the ground. He lazily slaps at my arms, trying to dig his fingers into my flesh, but my long sleeves prevent him from doing damage. “You tried to take something that wasn’t yours to take. Now you’ll apologize to all the people you hurt. You’ll tell everyone that you’re sorry or I’ll toss you over the side of this fucking building!”
“Okay,” he slurs, trying to drag in a breath. “I will. I’m sorry. Just don’t kill me.”
I let him drop at my feet, and he coughs, pulling in greedy gulps of air.
Going to my bag, I bring over a notepad and a pen, pushing it into his chest. “You will write an apology for all the wrong you’ve done. You’ll say you don’t deserve to live because you fucking don’t. You don’t deserveanything,” I snarl.
With tears streaming down his face, he writes a sloppy confession, apologizing for all the students he hurt and promising not to do it again.
After I read it over, I put the notepad away and watch in disgust as Hilman tries to get to his feet.
“I’ll be ruined,” he cries, his head in his hands. “My life is over.”
“Yeah, it is,” I growl. Reaching out, I grab him by the front of his shirt again and toss him off the building.
