Chapter One
I smell danger.
I pull down my black face mask to catch unfamiliar scents. I lift my head and scan my immediate surroundings, but nothing seems to be out of place inside the café.
Outside then?I straighten up from behind the counter, instinctively rolling my shoulders and stretching my limbs in the process.
“Isabela, you always look like you’re getting ready to fight. Can you relax a little?” a voice from behind breaks me out of my thought process. I turn and face my friend, Rie.
“What do you mean?” I ask, turning to empty the cash register and putting the money in the envelopes before me.
My ears pick up on slight movements coming from the bushes outside.A small animal?I try to figure out what I’m hearing, but Rie grabs my head and pulls me down close to her face.
“Are you even listening to me?” she makes a fuss. I can easily overpower her, but I don’t dare make a move. She is one of my closest friends after all.
“You know, you can be intimidating… if you weren’t so tiny,” I reply. Rie grits her teeth at that. Her small frame starts to shake from annoyance and she lets go of my face almost immediately. I smirk victoriously. The rustling stops outside.
Maybe I’m overthinking things.
A shrill laugh comes from the open kitchen where Nina, our other friend, is currently checking inventory. I spot her strawberry blonde hair swishing side to side while counting stocks of baking powder. “You two need to stop fighting in my café. It’s sending bad vibes to the customers,” she half-yells.
“Okay, first of all, there’s no one here since we’re about to close. And second of all, she’s the one who called me small! Completely unprovoked too,” Rie responds with a petulant huff. She gathers her blue locks in one ponytail while glaring at me. I grin and reach for her, but she slaps my hand away. “Also, it’s notyourcafé yet, Nina. If I remember correctly,daddysigns the checks around here.” Rie stomps to where Nina is and starts cleaning up Nina’s station. Flour decorates the entire kitchen table, along with chocolate syrup and colorful sprinkles.
“Please don’t ever call my father that word again,” Nina says rather sternly.
I chuckle as I lock up the cash register and head to the kitchen. Rie throws me a towel and points at a specific spot to clean. “Why am I doing this for—”
I’m interrupted by the sound of windchimes ringing in my ear, and my body freezes before I can even make sense of what’s happening. An overwhelming earthy scent of sandalwood mixed with musk wafts through the air, and I know that the person who just walked in isn’t entirely human. Just like me.
At that realization, my body activates its fight or flight response as if on cue.Do something!I desperately try to move, but my feet feel glued to the floor.
“Oh, he’s hot. Like, Tom Cruise in ‘Top Gun’ kind of hot,” Nina whispers beside me, blissfully unaware of my worries. “Isabela, go ask him what he needs. You’re technically not done with your shift.” She smiles coyly.
My head starts to pound as alarm bells are going off inside me. Every fiber in my body is imploring me to leave but I can’t just run away, especially if my friends are in potential danger too.
“Isabela, go,” Rie urges. I take a deep breath and find enough strength to take one step after another out of the kitchen and back to the counter.
Just know, if you can smell him, he can smell you.I secure my mask back on before I face the man.Be prepared to fight for your life.
“We’re closed,” I declare curtly while fiddling with the cash register.
“Oh, no. I’m here to pick something up. I ordered earlier today.” His deep voice startles me.
A sweet floral scent lingers in the air while he speaks.I’ve never smelled that before. Perfume? No, that can’t be right. I furrow my brows in confusion and look at him.The scent is a little addicting. I find myself inhaling again. He gives me a smile and I’m almost convinced that he’s not an immediate threat. Almost.
“I have the invoice here, if you want to check for yourself.” He fumbles for something in his back pocket, but his hazel eyes hold my gaze steadily.
I sigh. “There’s no need. You ordered under what name?”
“Gregory.” I nod.
“Wait here,” I say as I quickly return to where Nina and Rie huddle together. “He’s picking up an order under the nameGregory,” I half-whisper.
Nina clasps her hands together. “Oh yeah! Let me go get it.” I situate myself by the door frame of the kitchen entrance. I look back at the man and keep my eyes trained on every miniscule move he makes.
He’s focused on the phone in his hand, long fingers grasping the entire device, thumb scrolling up from time to time. The gesture seems normal enough, I guess.It doesn’t seem like he’s planning something devious. His dark hair is tousled to one side, and his strong jaw complements his round cheeks, making his entire face a little softer to look at. His black shirt barely hides the muscles underneath, and his tall figure makes him a bit more intimidating than most people. If we got into a fight right now, he could easily take me down.
But if he wanted to kill me, he would’ve done it by now… Right?My muscles stiffen almost instantaneously.Maybe he’s planning an ambush?I ask myself.