Chapter 5
Chapter 5
The hallway was tight. Squeeze-past-sideways tight. I flattened myself against the wall, holding my breath to make room for Captain Congeniality.
But he didn’t even flick his gaze my way. He stalked past me-silent, broad-shouldered, and arrogant. Like I was invisible. Just thin air.
Heat rushed straight to my head. Annoyed? No. I was livid.
Cynthia’s excuse about him being “slow to warm up”? Total bullshit. This was personal
I stared at his back, my jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached.
Next time he tries to stomp on my dignity? I bite back. Hard.
Honestly? I didn’t miss Chicago. No nightlife? Fine. No fake friends climbing the social ladder? Even better. I wasn’t high-maintenance enough to cry about missing Fashion Week But there was one thing I craved. One thing that was practically a biological necessity
A double-shot espresso. The kind that kickstarts a heart from flatline and makes you feel like you can conquer the world.
My lifeblood.
So this morning, before Natalia could pour me a mug of her usual liquid sludge, I stopped
her,
“Hey, Natalia, Long shot here-but is there anywhere in this town where I can get an actual espresso? Or even just a decent machine p>
A snort loud enough to rattle the windows ripped through the air.
ALL. Michhard Now I’m His-No Escape.
Chapter 8
Harry Lance was sitting at the counter, looking like he’d just heard the joke of the millennium.
“Espresso?”He looked at me like I was a different species, “Sweetheart, if you want that kind of fancy nonsense, go buy a ticket back to Chicago p>
Right next to him, Declan let out a low chuckle. Deep, raspy, and sounding like pure trouble.
Snap.
That was the sound of my last nerve breaking.
I didn’t even give Harry the dignity of a glance. I leaned clear across the counter, planting my elbows on the surface, and stared aggressively at the side of Declan’s face. Then, I turned my head and flashed Harry a smile so sugary it was venomous.
“Well, Sweetheart’, since Chicago is a little far, I guess I’ll survive. But I’m worried… “I paused, eyeing their chipped, stained cups. “If I pick up one of these lumberjack mugs you tough guys use, do you think I might chip my fresh manicure p>
Harry choked on his coffee. “You teach our kids with that mouth p>
“Depends, “I shot back, voice ice-cold. “Only the ones who can understand human speech
That’s when Declan looked up. Not at Harry. At me.
And-he was smiling,
Not a smirk. A real, unguarded smile, It transformed his face instantly. The frozen. stone-cold mask shattered, and suddenly he looked… distinct, sharp.
Devastating,
My stupid, traitorous heart skipped a beat. The insults I had lined up died in my throat.
Chapter 5
When this jerk smiles… it’s lethal.
Our eyes locked.
A second later, reality hit him. The smile vanished like someone cut the power. The ice glazed over his eyes again, and he morphed back into the mute, unapproachable pilot, staring down at his coffee like it held the secrets of the universe.
“So…. still want that coffee?”Natalia’s voice broke the heavy silence.
“Yeah. Black. Thanks p>
I swallowed a mouthful of the bitter liquid, trying to push down the strange buzz humming under my skin. Anger? Sure. But that tingling in my fingertips wasn’t just rage.
My stagnant life had just been kicked awake. My blood was racing. That one moment of eye contact felt like dropping a lit match into a tank of gasoline.
Natalia wiped a mug and casually dropped a bomb. “Tessa, there’s a party at the Spruce on Saturday night. Roger’s sixtieth p>
I was still reeling from the adrenaline. “Oh. Sounds nice p>
“Everyone in town is going. You have to come, too p>
Everyone in town.
The words were like a bucket of ice water.
“Oh… um…”My brain scrambled, desperate for an escape route.
“Don’t even think about running,”Natalia smiled, cutting me off. “You’re new. Roger’s a friend. You’re coming p>
I squeezed my coffee mug until my knuckles turned white. I wasn’t afraid of socializing. I
30.54
My Alpha Neighbor! Now I’m His-No Escane
Chapter 5
could play the part of a normal human being in my sleep.
What I was afraid of was the feeling of being a rabbit tossed into a den of wolves. Hundreds of eyes watching me.
Especially those eyes. Cold, sharp, and judgmental.
For the next five days, the party hung over my head like an execution date. Every time I tried to distract myself, Declan’s fleeting smile from the diner would ghost across my mind, followed immediately by that cold, “are you crazy?” glare.
Friday night, the wind howled outside. I lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling
Fear churned in my stomach, but worse than that was a secret, dangerous anticipation.
B0
Mark Twain
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.