5.

─── ⋆⋅·𖥸·⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅·𖥸·⋅⋆ ─⋆⋅·𖥸·⋅⋆ ───

9AM

I ain't have to be at work 'til 2 since Mr. Hill was takin' Yanna to brunch, so I was chillin'. Sat on the edge of my bed, stretched my arms, then pulled out my phone and FaceTimed my homeboy, Jabari—Bari for short.

"Yurrrr," I said, getting him hype soon as he picked up.

"Ayyye, wassup wit' it?" He grinned, already rolling up. "How's that lil' rich-ass security gig?"

I sucked my teeth, shaking my head. "Man, shit boring as fuck," I said, leaning back on my elbows. "Ain't nothin' but walkin' around, standin' by doors, and makin' sure lil' princess don't do nothin' too reckless."

Bari laughed. "Easy ass money though."

"Hell yeah," I agreed, then smirked a little. "But the girl bad, thick ass and all—"

"Who got a thick ass?"

I turned my head, already knowing who the fuck that voice belonged to. Myah.

She was leaned up in the doorway, arms crossed, that same attitude all over her face like always. Tight lil' tank top and shorts like she was tryna make a point. My ex-fiancée.

I sucked my teeth again, locking my phone. "Man, chill out."

"Nah, you talkin' 'bout thick asses at 9 AM—who?" She stepped in like she had a right to be pressin' me, like we wasn't done.

Bari's stupid ass was in the phone cracking up. "Yeah, Ren, who got a thick ass?" he mimicked, making it worse.

I gave him the middle finger.

"Ain't got nothin' to do wit' you," I told her, sitting up. "And we not together no more, so why you even worried 'bout what I say?"

She rolled her eyes. "Ren, don't start. I'm only here 'cause my place flooded."

I scoffed. "And?"

"And?" she mocked, stepping closer. "You actin' like I wanna be here."

I laughed dryly. "You stay actin' like you hate being around me, but you the one always comin' back."

She sucked her teeth, but ain't say nothin'. Just sat on the bed, scrolling on her phone like she ain't just walk in here on bullshit.

Bari chuckled. "Y'all toxic as hell."

I sighed, shaking my head. Myah was really the last person I needed to be dealing with right now.

I shook my head and went right back to what I was saying like Myah wasn't just on my ass two seconds ago.

"Anyway, like I was sayin'," I continued, leaning back on my pillows, "that ass was sittin' right, bruh."

Bari cracked up, damn near choking on the smoke from his blunt. "Nahhh, Ren, you wildin'," he wheezed. "You tryna get yourself in trouble."

I smirked, completely unbothered. "Man, fuck all that. Myah don't own me." I shrugged. "She want me? Cool. But I'm ready to move the fuck on."

Bari shook his head, grinning. "She gon' kill you."

"Let her try," I scoffed. "What she gon' do? Cheat again?"

I was just about to say somethin' else when I heard her voice from the hall.

"I heard that, Ren! Don't piss me off."

I tilted my head back against the headboard and sighed. Damn.

Bari was dying laughing now. "Nigga, you talk too loud!"

I just rolled my eyes, shaking my head. "Man, whatever," I muttered, looking toward the door. "Don't you got somewhere to be?"

"Nah," Myah said, poking her head in the doorway with that same smug-ass smirk she always got when she think she winning. "Why? You tryna get rid of me?"

"Yup," I answered, blunt as hell, turning my attention back to my phone.

Bari was weak. "Yo, you cold-blooded," he said, wiping his eyes.

"Man, she know what it is," I said, waving it off.

Myah just sucked her teeth and disappeared down the hall. Finally.

I shook my head and focused back on my call, the smirk slowly creeping back onto my face.

"Anyway, like I was sayin'... that ass was sittin' right."

I leaned back against the headboard, rubbing my jaw as I told Bari what happened at the mall yesterday.

"Man, when that shit touched me, I almost dragged her ass to the bathroom," I admitted, shaking my head, still picturing it in my mind.

Bari hollered. He damn near dropped his blunt. "Ain't no way, Ren! You wanted to risk it all?"

I chuckled, licking my lips. "Bruh... you don't even understand."

He was crying at this point, and I was about to say more when my phone buzzed with another call. I glanced at the screen. Zuri.

"Hold on, lil nigga, my sister callin'," I told Bari, putting him on pause and answering.

"What's up, Z?" I greeted, already feeling like she was about to ask me for something.

The screen loaded, and there was my 15-year-old little sister, grinning into the camera. "Hey, Ren," she said sweetly.

I narrowed my eyes, noticing what the hell she was wearing— a tiny-ass bikini top and some shorts that barely counted as shorts.

"What the fuck you got on?" I asked, sitting up straighter.

She rolled her eyes. "It's hot outside, Ren," she said like I was annoying her.

I sighed, shaking my head. "Man, I should tell your little ass to go put some clothes on."

She sucked her teeth. "Anywayyyy," she dragged out, switching topics, "can you send the rent money? Mom's real mad."

I exhaled slowly, rubbing my temple. Here we go again.

"She wildin' again?" I muttered, already knowing the answer.

Zuri shrugged, like she was used to it. "She been going off since last night," she said, twirling a piece of her curly hair around her finger. "Talking 'bout she tired of everything. Same old shit."

That shit hurt to hear, but I kept my face blank. I hated that my little sister was growing numb to Mama's bullshit. I hated even more that I couldn't do nothing about it right now.

I sighed. "Aight, Z. I got you," I said, already opening my banking app. "Just... don't piss Mama off today, alright?"

She gave me a small, tired smile. "I won't."

And just like that, she hung up. No "thank you," no nothing. She was too used to this routine.

I just sat there for a minute, staring at my phone, feeling a tightness in my chest. Then, I unpaused Bari's call.

"Man..." I exhaled, shaking my head. "I gotta get my sister outta there."

Bari shook his head. "Ms. Allen trippin' again?"

I let out a deep breath and nodded. "She ain't never gon' get off that shit, man," I muttered, rubbing my hand over my face. "And I hate that I left Zuri with her in Louisiana, but I ain't got no choice. I'm barely home, and she only fifteen."

That shit ate at me every day.

I left home at seventeen, got the hell outta there and joined the military. At the time, I thought it was my way out. And for a while, it was. I was good at that shit too. Climbed the ranks, made a name for myself. But after three years, I was done. Got honorably discharged at twenty, and just like that, I had to figure out what the fuck to do next.

So, I moved to New York. Thought I'd give college a shot, see what the hype was about. But that shit was not for me. Sitting in classrooms all day, listening to people who'd never seen real struggle try to tell me how the world worked? Yeah, nah.

Ended up just getting me a small-ass apartment off the little military check I had left. That's when Myah popped up, moved to New York to be with me. At first, shit was cool. She had my back, we were building together. But then, money got tight.

And that's when she started cheating.

Said I couldn't afford her lifestyle.

That shit fucked me up. Not because she left— I didn't need her. But because it just proved what I already knew: love is conditional. Ain't no real loyalty out here.

I was dirt broke after that. No job, no backup plan, just vibes.

And that's when I met Mr. Hill.

At a damn coffee shop.

He had walked in, ordered his drink, went to pay, and realized he left his wallet. He patted down his pockets, looking real flustered, and I don't know what made me do it, but I stepped up and said, "I got you, big man."

Paid for his coffee.

And that one little moment? Changed my whole life.

We ended up talking. He asked me about myself, my background, what I did before this. When I mentioned I was ex-military, his whole demeanor shifted. He asked if I was working, I said nah, and just like that, he offered me a job.

Didn't even hesitate.

Shit, anything was better than struggling.

And now here I am, a personal bodyguard for his spoiled-ass daughter.

And the crazy part? She bad as fuck.

Bari sighed through the phone, shaking his head. "You ever thought about putting her in rehab again?"

I leaned forward, rubbing my hands together as I stared at the floor. I'd thought about it more times than I could count. Every time I sent Zuri money, every time she called me sounding tired of dealing with mama's shit, every time I heard her voice lose that little bit of light it still had left.

"I can't, bro." My voice was low, defeated. "You know how many times we tried that? It ain't gon' work. It never does."

I had sent mama to rehab three times. Each time, I scraped together every dollar I could, every resource I had, trying to believe that maybe—**just maybe—**this time would be different.

It never was.

She always came back the same. Sometimes worse. And the only one suffering for it now was Zuri.

"Even if I did send her again," I continued, sitting back against the headboard, "who the fuck gon' watch Zuri? Nanny? She damn near eighty. She ain't got the energy for all that. And I'm barely home as it is."

I let out a frustrated breath. "And I can't bring Zuri out here with me either, not right now. I ain't stable enough. I got a lil' apartment and a job watching over some rich girl. That's no life for her."

That part hurt the most. I wanted better for Zuri. I wanted to bring her out of that shit, away from mama's mess, give her the life I never had. But I couldn't.

Not yet.

Bari nodded, understanding. "Shit, I feel you, man. I just hate seeing you stress over this every time we talk."

"Me too." I exhaled. "But what else can I do?"

─── ⋆⋅·𖥸·⋅⋆ ─ ⋆⋅·𖥸·⋅⋆ ─⋆⋅·𖥸·⋅⋆ ───

A few hours later, I pulled up to the Hill estate, the usual feeling of stepping onto somebody else's world settling over me. The long-ass driveway, the pristine landscaping, the way the whole place looked like it came straight out of a damn movie—it still hadn't fully registered that I worked here now.

I parked and headed straight for Mr. Hill's office, knocking twice before stepping in. He was sitting behind his desk, scrolling through something on his phone, before looking up at me.

"Ren," he greeted, nodding. "Your assignment today is to watch over Yanna and Rina while they're outside at the pool."

I gave a single nod, standing at attention. "Understood."

"They can't swim," he added, leaning back in his chair. "So make sure nothing happens. They're already out there."

I acknowledged the order and left the office, heading toward the back patio. As soon as I stepped outside, the scent of chlorine, sunscreen, and some fruity-ass perfume hit me all at once. The sun was beating down heavy, reflecting off the pool water, and I spotted Doll and Rina stretched out by the edge, both of them lounging under the shade of a large umbrella.

I took my position a few feet away, posting up against one of the columns, arms crossed. I didn't say nothing. Just stood there, scanning the area like I was supposed to.

Didn't take long before Doll finally noticed me.

She looked over, her curly hair up in a messy bun, big shades covering her eyes, but I could still feel her staring. She sat up, adjusting the tiny-ass swimsuit she had on before making her way toward me.

"Hi, Ren."

Her voice was smooth, teasing, like she knew I was trying to act like I didn't see her coming. Like she knew exactly what she was doing in that little bikini.

I kept my posture straight, forcing my eyes to stay on her face and not the way her body moved when she walked.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Hill," I responded, my tone even, professional.

She pouted slightly at the formal tone, tilting her head. "Didn't I tell you to call me Doll?"

I kept my face blank. "I'm just doing my job, ma'am."

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. And damn, if I let myself look too long, I knew I'd be in trouble.

She stepped closer, real close, and I had to put every bit of my military training to work just to keep myself in check. Discipline, Serenity. Stay sharp.

Her perfume wrapped around me, sweet and warm, like vanilla and something floral, and I could feel the heat of her body even before she touched me. And then—boom—her soft little hand landed right on my chest, palm pressed lightly over my suit jacket.

I stiffened instantly. My jaw locked, my shoulders squared. Control, Serenity. Stay professional.

But she? She was playing dirty.

She tilted her head up at me, lips just slightly parted, eyes big and full of something dangerous. She was testing me, and I knew it.

"You look hot," she murmured, voice soft and slow, like she knew exactly what she was doing.

I felt my stomach tighten, my pulse pick up just a little. Lord help me.

My body wanted to react. It wanted to shift forward, to close the space, to let my hands land on those curves she was showing off. But my mind? My training? That's what kept me standing straight.

I inhaled slow through my nose, exhaled even slower. Kept my damn composure.

"I'm fine," I said, keeping my voice flat, steady. Like I wasn't affected. Like my heart wasn't doing some bullshit in my chest.

Her fingers flexed just a little against my chest, like she was waiting for me to give in.

But I didn't.

I wouldn't.

Because if I folded now, I knew I wouldn't stop.

Just when I thought I had her figured out, Rina's voice cut through the air like a damn lifeline.

"Girl, bring your ass! I ain't tryna drown 'cause you flirting with security!"

Doll rolled her eyes but pulled her hand back, slowly, dragging her fingers down my chest like she wanted me to feel every second of it. And I did.

I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding.

She turned to go, but before she walked away, she gave me one last look over her shoulder, smirking. Like she knew she had me on edge. Like she knew I was fighting myself.

Damn menace.

I stood there, hands locked behind my back, my stance firm like I wasn't just two seconds from losing my professionalism over a pretty girl in a tiny-ass swimsuit.

She strutted back toward the pool, hips swaying like she was doing it on purpose, and I watched—strictly for security purposes, of course.

Rina was already in the water, her arms stretched out along the edge of the pool like she was living her best life. When Doll sat down at the edge, dipping her feet in, Rina leaned closer and whispered something in her ear, making her giggle before side-eyeing me.

Oh, I knew they were talking about me.

I wasn't stupid.

Doll kicked her feet in the water, pretending to be so innocent, but Rina? Rina was a menace too. She wasn't even trying to hide her little smirk as she peeked over at me, whispering something else that made Doll laugh.

I shook my head and turned my focus back on the perimeter. My job was to keep them safe, not get caught up in whatever game Doll was playing.

Still, I could feel her eyes drifting back to me, even while she was talking to Rina, like she was still testing me, still trying to see if she could make me crack.

I wasn't gonna crack. Not today.

But Lord knew, if she kept pulling stunts like that, I wasn't sure how long I could hold out.

I was focused on the perimeter, keeping my eyes on the fences, scanning for any threats like I was trained to do. My job was to protect. I wasn't here to be distracted—not by Doll, not by her games, not by anything.

Then, out of nowhere, Rina came sprinting toward me, her wet feet slapping against the pavement.

"Ren! Yanna fell in the pool!" she yelled, eyes wide like she was actually panicking.

Shit.

My stomach dropped. I ain't even think—I just moved.

I kicked off my shoes and bolted toward the water, my body reacting on pure instinct. My blazer came off mid-run, hitting the ground behind me as I leaped into the pool, the cold water slamming against my skin.

I swam deep, eyes darting in every direction, trying to spot her, but I couldn't see a damn thing. My heart pounded. Where the hell was she?!

I came up for air, frantic, and that's when I saw her.

Sitting. Dry. At the edge of the pool. Watching me.

Oh, hell no.

I blinked the water from my eyes, my chest rising and falling hard as I processed the bullshit.

Rina? Dying laughing.

Doll? Sitting there all cute, biting her lip like she was trying not to smirk.

I was about to lose my shit.

With my jaw clenched, I climbed out the pool, my wet dress shirt clinging to my arms, water dripping from my dreads, making them feel heavy as hell. I yanked off the soaked button-up, throwing it down with my blazer, leaving me in just the white tank underneath. My skin was glistening, my tattoos on full display, but I didn't even care.

I stormed toward her, my steps heavy, aggressive, deliberate.

She looked up at me, eyes wide but playful, like she liked this shit. Like she liked me mad.

I leaned down, placing my hands on either side of her on the pool ledge, trapping her in place.

"You think that shit was funny?" I asked, my voice low, gritted.

Her breath hitched, but she still had the nerve to bat her lashes at me.

"I dunno..." she hummed, swinging her legs in the water like she wasn't fully shaking on the inside. "Maybe just a little."

This girl was a problem.

Rina was still cackling, unbothered, but Doll? She was looking up at me like she wanted me to do something about it. Like she liked that she got a reaction out of me.

I wasn't gonna give her the satisfaction. Not yet.

With one last hard look, I pushed myself off the ledge, shaking the water from my hair, before grabbing my blazer off the ground and wringing it out.

"Since y'all like playing games so much," I muttered, voice dripping with irritation, "don't be surprised when I play back."

Doll swallowed, her smirk faltering just a little.

Yeah. Keep playing, ma. See who wins.