Chapter 30

Selena's pulse quickened as she stepped into her apartment, the familiar hum of her space feeling foreign today. She locked the door behind her, her gaze scanning the room. Nothing seemed out of place, yet she couldn't shake the feeling that something was lurking just beneath the surface.

Her phone buzzed again, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was Von.

"Yo," she answered, trying to sound casual even though her heart was pounding in her chest.

"What's good?" His voice was smooth, but she could hear the edge of concern in it.

Selena sighed, sinking into the couch. "Nothing much, just got back from shopping. But I—Ray just called me."

Von's voice tightened. "What happened?"

"She's saying some things about Nia. That I need to watch out for her. That she's not who she says she is."

Von was quiet for a beat. "Ray's got a sharp eye, Selena. I've told you before. You need to listen when she speaks."

"I don't know, Von. Nia's been cool with me. We've been hanging out and—" Selena cut herself off, realizing how flimsy her words sounded now that she was saying them out loud.

Von's voice came through the line, sharp and low. "Don't ignore your gut. I'm telling you, something's not right about her. Watch how she moves. Don't trust too easily."

She rubbed her temples, feeling the pressure mounting. "I know. I'm just... I don't know, Von. Everything feels off. And then Ray's telling me I need to watch my back... What the hell is going on?"

"I got your back, always. You don't need to worry about anything, but just stay aware. Stay on your toes. Don't let your guard down."

Selena nodded, even though he couldn't see her. The reassurance in his voice gave her some comfort, but the tension in the air didn't ease. She wasn't sure what to do next—if she could even trust her own instincts anymore.

"I'll be careful," she said, though a part of her didn't want to let go of the worry clawing at her. "I'll talk to you later, alright?"

"Yeah. Just keep your distance. Trust the process." Von's voice softened at the end, but there was an unmistakable finality to his words.

She hung up, staring at the screen for a long moment, her mind racing with questions she wasn't sure she wanted the answers to. Could she really trust Nia? What if Ray was right, and she was in over her head?

Her phone buzzed again. It was a message from Nia, asking if they were still on for drinks later. Selena's hand hesitated over the keys as she stared at the text. Something told her to cancel, to stay away and keep her distance, but she didn't want to appear paranoid.

She quickly typed back, trying to keep it casual: "Yeah, I'm down. Meet you in a bit."

As soon as she sent the message, she regretted it. The feeling in her stomach twisted uncomfortably, and she couldn't help but wonder if this was a mistake.

Hours later, Selena found herself getting dressed in a simple black dress, one she knew would turn heads but wasn't too over the top. She kept the vibe low-key—nothing flashy, just the kind of look that made people think you were effortlessly chic. She had learned that a confident stride could make anyone second-guess themselves, and she wasn't about to let anything or anyone shake that.

When she got to the bar, Nia was already sitting at a table, her back to the entrance. The place was busy, the low hum of conversation mixing with the clinking of glasses. Selena's instincts flared again as she walked toward Nia, who turned and flashed a wide smile.

"You look good," Nia said, her voice smooth and inviting, but there was something in her eyes that made Selena's skin prickle. "Come sit. Let's have a drink."

Selena slid into the seat across from her, trying to shake the uneasy feeling. "What's up? How's everything been?"

Nia leaned back in her chair, swirling the contents of her glass. "You know, just keeping busy. Got some things I'm working on." She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering to a more intimate tone. "You been okay? I heard you had some... drama with Keelah."

Selena's jaw clenched. She didn't like where this conversation was going. "Yeah, I'm good now. You know how that goes."

Nia laughed softly, but there was something too knowing in her expression. "I bet you are. You always seem like you're in control, even when things get crazy."

Selena narrowed her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Nia's smile didn't falter. "Nothing. I just admire it, you know? That confidence. You got a lot of people looking up to you, Lena."

Selena took a deep breath, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up. She couldn't ignore the warning bells ringing in her head anymore. This wasn't just a friendly hangout. There was something deeper going on. She didn't know what, but she knew she had to be careful.

Before she could respond, Nia's phone buzzed. She glanced at it briefly, then slid it back into her bag without saying a word. The sudden shift in her demeanor was subtle but unmistakable. Selena leaned forward, trying to meet her gaze.

"Nia, what's really going on?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Nia smiled, but this time, it didn't reach her eyes. "Nothing, girl. Just enjoying the night."

But Selena could see the lie in her eyes. Something was definitely off. And this time, she wasn't going to ignore it.

The air felt thick, almost suffocating, as Selena sat across from Nia. The unease that had been growing in her chest the moment she walked into the bar was now a heavy weight pressing down on her. Nia's smile, once inviting, now felt like a mask—a façade she was trying too hard to maintain.

Selena could tell something was up. She didn't know exactly what, but the change in Nia's energy was undeniable.

Nia shifted in her seat, glancing over Selena's shoulder as if she was scanning the room. That small motion was enough to alert Selena—something was about to go down. She wasn't sure what it was, but the tension in the air was palpable.

Suddenly, the door to the bar swung open, and Selena's eyes instinctively darted toward it. A group of guys walked in, their presence commanding the attention of everyone in the room. Selena's heart skipped a beat when one of them caught her eye.

It was an unfamiliar face, but the way he stared at her made her stomach flip. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had a look of cold calculation in his eyes. He wasn't just looking at her—he was studying her, like she was the target.

And that was when it clicked.

She wasn't here for drinks with Nia. This wasn't a friendly meet-up. She was being set up.

Before Selena could even process what was happening, the guy who had been watching her approached their table. He didn't say a word at first. He just stood there, his gaze never leaving Selena's face. The atmosphere seemed to freeze, everyone else in the bar oblivious to the tension brewing at that table.

Nia finally broke the silence, her voice laced with a sweetness that made Selena's skin crawl. "This is Trey. He's a friend. He wanted to meet you."

Selena forced herself to smile, her instincts screaming to get out, to leave, but she couldn't show weakness. Not now. Not with Von's warning echoing in her mind. She had to play this smart.

"Nice to meet you," Selena said, her voice steady, though her mind was racing.

Trey's gaze was cold, calculating. "The pleasure's all mine."

Selena studied him, trying to read his next move, but before she could do so, the bartender walked over, offering drinks. Nia took a moment to order something, leaving Selena and Trey in a heavy silence.

The moment the bartender walked away, Trey leaned forward, his voice dropping lower. "You've been causing a lot of noise lately, haven't you?"

Selena's stomach churned. She kept her face neutral, her hands gripping the edge of the table. She had to remain calm. This wasn't the time to show fear.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, her words sharp but controlled.

Trey chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about, Lena. You and Von. You think you're untouchable."

Selena's pulse picked up at the mention of Von. She felt a sickening knot form in her stomach. "I don't know what you and Nia are talking about, but whatever it is, it's none of your business."

Nia's expression shifted then, her fake sweetness slipping for just a second before she masked it again. "It's real simple, Lena. You and Von are messing with the wrong people."

Selena's chest tightened as she realized just how deep she was in. She had known that things with Von were messy, that his world wasn't one she could just step in and out of without consequences—but she hadn't fully understood the danger until now.

The guy Trey chuckled again, this time it was deeper, darker. "You think Von's got you safe. But the thing is, his hands are tied. He's not here, and you? You're a liability. You got a lot of people talking about you, and we don't like that kind of attention."

Selena swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew they were about to do something—they had her. They'd been waiting for the right moment, and now, they'd made their move.

"I don't care what you think you can do," Selena said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts. "Von's not gonna let anything happen to me."

Trey smiled, but it wasn't a kind smile. "You're gonna find out, sweetheart. People like Von can only protect you for so long."

And that's when it happened. Before Selena could react, the room seemed to close in on her. The unfamiliar man, Trey, stood up from the table, signaling to someone behind Selena.

She felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, a sudden darkness clouding her vision as the room spun. Everything went black.

When Selena came to, it wasn't in the bar anymore. She was disoriented, her head pounding, her hands tied to a chair. Panic surged through her chest as she struggled against the ropes, trying to make sense of her surroundings.

Her heart raced as she realized she was in some kind of warehouse or abandoned building. The sounds of distant voices and muffled footsteps echoed in the background.

"Nia?" she whispered hoarsely, her throat dry from the disorienting shock.

But no one answered.

She tried to shift again, testing the ropes on her wrists, but they were tied too tightly. And then she heard footsteps.

Trey appeared in her line of sight, his face still unreadable. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her closely.

"You're gonna learn a lesson today, Lena," he said, his voice cold and unfeeling. "A lesson you won't forget."

The fear that had been building in her stomach now settled into a cold, heavy dread. She knew Von was out there, somewhere. But how long would it take him to realize she was in danger? How much time did she have before things got worse?

One thing was for sure—this wasn't just about a fight anymore. This was about survival.