Chapter 29

Von woke up to the harsh blare of his alarm, the sunlight seeping through the blinds of his bedroom window. It was early, but he was used to it. His days in the streets didn't have a clock to punch; everything ran on instincts and hustle. He rubbed his eyes, stretching his long limbs as he sat up in bed, the weight of the world pressing down on him but also motivating him. His phone buzzed with notifications, but he didn't bother to check them just yet. He had his own routine.

The first thing he did was grab a blunt from the nightstand, lighting it up as he leaned back against the headboard. The smoke spiraled toward the ceiling, and he exhaled deeply, letting the familiar burn settle his mind. He liked mornings like this—quiet, before the noise of the world took over.

Von had always been a man of few words. He didn't trust easily, and he didn't waste time on frivolous things. The only thing that mattered was the streets, his people, and keeping his head above water. Every day was a calculated risk, and he was always a step ahead. But lately, something had been different.

Selena.

He couldn't lie—she'd been on his mind more than usual. Her boldness, the way she handled herself, the way she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty. He admired that about her, even though he would never admit it out loud. She wasn't like the other girls in his world, and that made him nervous. Nervous because he couldn't figure her out. Nervous because he had a feeling that she was more than just another girl who was going to come and go.

But he wasn't stupid. He knew that with every new person, there was always risk. He'd seen it too many times—people getting too close, getting caught up, and then getting burned. He wasn't about to let that happen with Selena.

Von finished his blunt and pulled on a plain black t-shirt, heading out of his bedroom. The house was quiet, but it was the kind of silence that made his skin crawl. Micah was probably out doing business, and Saint was still asleep. Von moved through the kitchen, making a cup of coffee before heading to the backyard to sit and think.

As he sipped his coffee, his thoughts wandered back to Selena. She'd been laying low since the whole Keelah situation, but he'd been hearing things. The streets didn't let anything slide unnoticed, especially not when it came to someone like her. He knew Selena wasn't just playing the part of a sweet influencer—she had a backbone. But what he didn't know was how far she was willing to go, especially with his world. That was the part that worried him.

A phone call interrupted his thoughts, the screen flashing with Ray's name. Von answered, leaning back in his chair.

"What's up?" he asked, his voice low and calm, but there was an edge to it. He was already anticipating what was coming next.

Ray's voice crackled through the speaker. "Yo, I need to talk to you. It's about Selena. Something don't feel right."

Von's eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Ray hesitated, then spoke again, his tone more serious this time. "I don't know how to say this, but I think there's someone in her circle who's got other plans. Nia, that girl Selena's been hanging with... I don't trust her, man."

Von's eyes narrowed. Nia? He'd heard of her before, but he didn't think much of it. "What are you talking about?"

Ray sighed. "I don't have the full picture yet, but there's been talk. Something's off. You need to watch out for Selena, bro. I don't know who's pulling her strings, but it's not good."

Von stood up, his cup of coffee forgotten in his hand. His gut twisted with an uneasy feeling he couldn't shake. "Keep your eyes open, Ray. If anything happens to her, you know what to do."

The call ended, and Von stood there for a moment, the weight of Ray's warning sinking in. He couldn't ignore it. If there was one thing Von had learned over the years, it was that nothing in his world came without a cost. He needed to figure out who Nia really was—and what she was planning before it was too late.

For now, though, Von couldn't focus on that. He had a business meeting to attend, and things in the streets were always in motion. But something told him the calm wasn't going to last long.

Selena sat on the edge of her bed, scrolling through her phone as the early afternoon sun streamed through the windows of her apartment. It had been a busy few days, catching up on content and making sure everything was in line for her brand deals. The trip to Cabo had given her the kind of exposure she needed, but now, back home, it was time to refocus.

She set her phone down for a moment, stretching out her arms. Her mind kept drifting back to Von. After their phone call the other night, she couldn't stop thinking about him. The way he spoke to her, the little moments when he showed concern—it made her feel like maybe, just maybe, there was something deeper there. Something more than just casual hookups. But she wasn't the type to rush into feelings. She didn't need to.

Still, she found herself smiling when she thought about their conversation, the way his voice dropped low when he'd called her "lil' badass."

Her phone buzzed again, breaking her from her thoughts. This time, it was Nia, asking her to meet up later for drinks. Selena frowned for a moment—she'd been spending a lot of time with Nia recently, but something about her didn't sit right. Maybe it was the way she seemed to always want to pull Selena into things that didn't feel... authentic. But for the moment, Selena decided to push that aside. She needed to get out of her head.

She quickly typed back, agreeing to meet later, and turned her attention back to her plans for the day. The apartment needed a little refresh—nothing too major, just some new pieces to brighten up the place. Selena stood up and started gathering her things for a shopping run.

As she slid into her car, the streets of Baton Rouge felt different today. There was a tension in the air she couldn't shake. People walked by her with hurried steps, their heads down, not making eye contact. It felt like something was about to happen. Her stomach churned with unease, but she couldn't place the reason why.

When she arrived at the furniture store, the familiar buzz of customers and salespeople didn't ease her nerves. She grabbed a cart and walked through the aisles, grabbing a few accent pieces she had been eyeing. The store was packed with people, but her mind was elsewhere. Something about Nia had been bugging her lately. She couldn't put her finger on it, but there was a quietness in her gut that told her something wasn't right.

While she was browsing the home decor, her phone vibrated again. This time, it was Ray.

"Yo, you good?" Ray's voice crackled through the speaker, urgency lacing her words.

Selena paused, looking around the store to make sure no one was listening in. "Yeah, I'm good. Why?"

"Listen, something's off. I don't trust Nia. You need to watch her. I don't know who's behind her, but I've got a bad feeling."

Selena's heart skipped. She wasn't sure if it was her gut instinct or the concern in Ray's voice, but she felt it—something was wrong. "What do you mean? Nia's just been showing me around, we've been hanging out a lot, you know?"

"I don't know her, Selena. And I don't think you should either," Ray said sharply. "There's more going on than you realize. You need to be careful. Watch your back."

Selena stood there in the aisle, a chill running down her spine. "Aight, I hear you. Thanks for the heads-up."

She ended the call, her mind racing. Was Ray overreacting? Nia was new, sure, but they had been hanging out, getting close. Selena had even started to think she might be someone worth trusting in her circle. But now? Now, doubts clouded her thoughts, and she couldn't ignore them.

She paid for her items quickly, her mind still swirling as she made her way back to her car. She needed to talk to Von, get his take on everything. Maybe it was time she learned more about Nia. She wouldn't let herself be blindsided again, not after everything that had happened with Keelah.

But when she reached her apartment, something felt different. A heaviness hung in the air, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking right into a trap. The tension was palpable. She glanced at her phone, then back at the door, wondering what the next few hours would bring. Would she walk into something unexpected? Or would this all just blow over?

One thing was for sure—Selena wasn't going to let anyone play her. Not again.