Chapter 5

Lena stared at the message, her grip tightening around her phone.

Don't get too comfortable.

She wasn't the type to get shook easily, but this? It felt personal.

"You good?" Nae asked, licking barbecue sauce off her fingers.

Lena blinked, quickly locking her phone. "Yeah. Just some internet shit."

Ray peeped her expression. "Trolls?"

"Probably." Lena shrugged, forcing herself to relax. She got hate comments all the time—it came with the influencer life. But this ain't feel like no random TikTok hater.

Still, she wasn't about to trip over a text. Not right now.

"Anyway," Ray said, taking a sip of her drink. "We still slidin' to Cinco's later?"

Nae smirked. "I know Lena tryna see her lil' crush again."

Lena sucked her teeth, laughing. "Ain't nobody got a crush, girl."

"Uh huh," Ray said, grinning. "We'll see."

Lena wasn't about to argue with them. The truth was, she wasn't even sure how she felt about Von or Cinco yet. One was too much, the other was too little.

She just needed to feel them out a little more.

Later That Evening...

Ray pulled up outside a trap-looking townhouse, music already thumping from inside.

"This it?" Lena asked, stepping out the car.

"Yup," Ray confirmed, leading the way. "Don't let the outside fool you. They be chillin' in here, but it's more like a clubhouse than a crib."

Lena adjusted her cropped hoodie, making sure her high-waisted leggings were sitting right before following them inside.

The smell of weed and cologne hit her first, the vibe instantly more laid-back than last night. The lighting was dim, the TV playing a muted basketball game while the Bluetooth speaker blasted Young Nudy.

Cinco was the first to spot them, sitting on the couch, a Backwood in one hand, a bottle in the other. His chain glistened under the soft lighting, tattoos creeping up his neck.

"Damn, y'all showed up fiiiine as hell," he said, his eyes flicking over Lena's fit. "Aye Lena, lemme find out you tryna impress a nigga."

Lena smirked, flopping down into an empty chair. "Boy, please. This regular."

Cinco chuckled, licking his lips. "That's the crazy part."

Von was there too, leaning against the kitchen counter with a cup in his hand. He was watching the game—but Lena knew he saw her.

He always did.

But, like usual, he didn't say shit.

Ray and Nae disappeared into the kitchen, leaving Lena on the couch next to Cinco. He passed her the Backwood, and she took it, inhaling slow before passing it back.

"Aight, real shit," Cinco said, glancing at her. "You likin' BR so far?"

Lena exhaled a slow stream of smoke. "Yeah. It's different, but I like it."

Cinco nodded. "That's wussup. I ain't gon' lie, you stick out though. Ain't too many girls like you out here."

She raised a brow. "What that mean?"

Cinco smirked, leaning in a little. "Mean you bad, but you too clean. BR girls, they different. You still got that outta-town glow."

Lena tilted her head. "So what? I gotta be on edge all the time?"

"Nah," Cinco said, stretching. "Just... keep ya head on a swivel."

Something about the way he said it sent a chill up her spine.

Was this about the text?

Before she could ask, the front door opened again—and a new energy shifted into the room.

Von's posture changed slightly, his jaw tightening. Cinco leaned back, exhaling smoke.

Lena turned her head just in time to see a girl walk in.

She was bad. Short, thick, skin glowing. She had long, jet-black hair, perfectly laid lashes, and a designer bag on her arm. Her whole attitude screamed spoiled and hard to handle.

She walked in like she belonged there.

And when her eyes locked onto Von's?

Lena knew exactly who she was.

Von's ex.

The second that girl walked in, the energy shifted. Lena felt it before she even fully processed what was going on.

Von ain't move—not a muscle—but his whole demeanor changed. He was too still. Too locked in on whatever was going through his head.

Meanwhile, the girl?

She looked comfortable. Like she'd been here plenty of times before.

"Damn," Nae mumbled under her breath, peeping the tension.

Ray's face twisted. "What the fuck she doin' here?"

Lena ain't say shit, just glanced at Cinco. He was watching everything with a smirk, like he was waiting for the drama to unfold.

The girl finally spoke, her voice dripping with attitude.

"So, y'all just having lil' kickbacks without letting me know now?" She slid her bag onto the counter, ignoring everybody except Von.

He took a sip from his cup, finally acknowledging her. "Ain't really nun to let you know."

Lena caught that.

Ain't really nun to let you know.

So whatever they had? That shit was over.

The girl scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Aight, bet. Duly noted."

Cinco chuckled low, shaking his head. "Here we go."

Lena still hadn't said anything. She wasn't pressed—not really. She ain't know Von like that. But something about this girl's energy was off.

Like she had something to prove.

Like she wanted a reaction.

And Lena wasn't about to give it to her.

So she leaned back, crossing her legs, acting like she wasn't even paying attention.

"Damn, y'all be stressin' too much," Cinco broke the silence. "Niggas just tryna chill."

The girl side-eyed him. "Ain't nobody talkin' to you, Cinco."

"Ain't nobody talkin' to you either, but look at us—talkin'." He grinned, passing the Backwood back to Lena.

Lena took it, inhaled, and exhaled slow. "Whole lotta tension in the air," she muttered, not directing it at nobody in particular.

Von finally pushed off the counter, moving past the girl like she wasn't even there. He walked toward the couch, his eyes flicking to Lena for the first time that night.

It was quick—too quick—but she caught it.

Like he was checking her reaction.

Like he wanted to see if she was moved.

She wasn't. Not yet.

Von sat down in the chair across from her, legs spread, diamond-studded hand gripping his cup. His grill flashed when he licked his lips, eyes still unreadable.

"So where you from?" he asked.

Direct. Out of nowhere.

Lena's brows lifted slightly. So now he wanted to talk?

"Texas."

Von nodded. "That's what's up."

And just like that, he went quiet again.

Lena smirked to herself. This nigga here.

Meanwhile, the girl was still standing there, clearly not expecting Von to move like that.

Ray leaned in, whispering, "She mad as fuck right now."

Lena just flicked her nails, still unbothered.

But deep down?

She was peeping everything.