Chapter 24

𝙰𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜

The night didn’t feel wrong until it did. The crash outside? That shit wasn’t no accident. I knew it the second I heard it. Londyn’s ex had been too quiet lately, and people like him don’t just go silent. They build up to something. I just ain’t think he’d pull up like this. 

Not here. Not with Londyn inside.

I stepped out front, hoodie pulled over my head. My eyes scanned the entrance, landing on the gate hangin’ open like it got forced. The smell hit next—smoke from cheap ass weed, that smelled like dog shit on the side of the street.

My eyes found Jalen first as he laughed.

He leaned against the gate like he paid the bills here and I sighed, lookin’ at that same stupid grin, same posture, same energy like the last time I pressed him about tryna reach Londyn. As if I ain’t already made it clear.

A couple of his guys stood ’round him, hands tucked in their waistbands, real casual.

My jaw tightened as I walked toward them, my steps steady and controlled. “Cut left,” I said, calm.

He looked over at me and laughed. “Nah. You know I’m here for her.”

I kept movin’, rubbing my chin like I wasn’t already imaginin’ shootin’ his ass. “She don’t want your ass.”

He tilted his head, grin stretching wider. “Oh? But she wants you? Aight.” He laughed again, and his boys followed.

His eyes shifted past me, toward the house. “She inside though, right?” he asked, pushin’ off the gate.

That’s when something in me snapped.

“Go ‘head,” I said, voice low now. “I dare you.”

One of his guys stepped forward when Jalen gave him a look.

“You just the hired help,” he said.

The first punch came quick, sloppy, and predictable. I ducked it easy and drove my elbow into his ribs hard enough to fold him. He dropped with a cough, and before the second one could even think, he rushed me.

I caught him by the collar, slamming him straight into the gate as metal rattled loud enough to echo. My hand moved on instinct, pullin’ my gun and aimin’ it at the rest of them.

Everythin’ went still for a second, then Jalen reached, pullin’ something from his waistband.

I didn’t think nor hesitate. The shot popped off loudly, and the body I had pinned dropped instantly. Jalen froze, steppin’ back as I let go.

“Oh?” I let out a short laugh. “You thought I wasn’t finna shoot his ass?”

The rest of them lifted their guns, a heavy stillness settlin’ over everything, but they hesitated, watching one of their guys groan loudly in pain.

That was enough for me. I moved fast, grabbin’ Jalen and dragging him in, locking my arm around his neck, and pulling him into a chokehold.

He struggled immediately, cursing, tryna pry my arm off him. I tightened my hold just enough to remind him who he was dealing with, the barrel pressed firm against his temple.

His breath came out ragged, uneven, and for the first time since I stepped out that door, that cocky grin of his finally dropped.

“Aye,” I said, voice calm again, almost bored, even with three guns pointed at us. “Y’all don’t wanna shoot him, right?”

I yanked him upright, forcing him to stand straight, my arm squeezing tighter around his neck as his breath hitched again.

His boys looked at each other, guns still raised but their confidence was shaky now. 

One wrong move and they knew exactly how it’d end.

“Look,” one of them started, hands half-raised now. “We ain’t gotta do all this—”

“You right,” I cut in. “So start backin’ the fuck up.”

“Are y’all dumb!? Shoot the bitch!?” he shouted, voice cracking, and I pressed the gun harder into his temple. He flinched, a low groan slipping out.

“Try me,” I hummed, real quiet. “I’ll shoot yo’ ass right now.”

“You—”

“I said,” I repeated, slower now, “back. Up—”

Suddenly, he cut himself off, but not before somethin’ sharp sliced across my knuckles.

I jerked back with a wince, eyes dartin’ down to my hand as pain bloomed—then back up to him.

He held a knife, quickly lunging forward.

I didn’t give him the chance to follow through. I stepped in, closing the distance real fast, knocking his arm off course before driving my fist straight into his abdomen. The impact knocked the air out of him, and I grabbed his wrist, twistin’ it as I brought my knee up into his chest.

He folded with a choked gasp. Around us, his boys shifted, guns now back up, but still unsure. Waiting. Thinking.

“I’ll fuck you up!” I snapped, grippin’ his shirt tight enough to bunch the fabric in my fist.

He spit blood to the side, and smiled. “You care too much ’bout a bitch who only cares about—”

I hit him again. Harder this time.

The pain shot through my hand, my knuckles splittin’ open, but I didn’t even feel it fully. Not yet.

“You don’t get to come near her again,” I continued, voice low. “Not to talk, not to look, not to breathe in her direction. You understand me?”

He didn’t answer fast enough.

I tightened my grip on his wrist.

“Yeah—” he groaned. “Aight—”

“Good.”

Then sirens cut through in the distance and they scattered, cursing, scrambling back to their cars like roaches when the lights come on. I let go of Jalen just as he pushed away from me, stumblin’ before running for his car too.

Their tires screeched, and then they were gone.

I stood there for a second longer, chest rising and falling too fast, hands shaking slightly as the adrenaline burned through me. My knuckles throbbed, blood dripping on the gravel.

I waited just a bit longer, listening to make sure they weren’t doubling back. Then I turned and headed inside, steps heavier now.

The door barely closed behind me before Londyn was there, already halfway down the hallway.

Her eyes locked on me before they dropped down to my hand.

“Aries,” she breathed.

“I’m good,” I said automatically out of reflex.

Her hands were on me before I could say anything else. Warm and careful. Nothing like what I was used to growing up. She didn’t hesitate—just grabbed me and pulled me upstairs like she knew exactly what to do.

“You’re fuckin’ bleedin’ and you wanna tell me you’re good?”

“I’m barely bleedin’.”

“Sit. Now.”

I sat on the toilet lid without arguing, watching her move around the bathroom, grabbing a cloth, running water over it.

She stepped between my legs, close. Way too close. But I was gettin’ used to it, more than I’d like to admit…

Her fingers wrapped around my hand, gentle, careful like I might break under the wrong pressure.

And it wasn’t the pain that got me. It was her face. The way her brows were drawn together, lips pressed tight, eyes focused in that way that said she cared more than she was letting on.

“Did they threaten you..?” she asked quietly.

I looked away with a small huff, jaw tightening. “They won’t pull that shit again.”

Not while I’m here. Not while she’s mine to protect.

Her grip tightened just slightly around my wrist. The cloth in her other hand pressed gently against my knuckles and I huffed under my breath, my jaw clenching again.

“Relax,” she murmured, softer now, her tone switching up like she wasn’t just snapping at me two seconds ago. “You gon’ make it worse.”

“Aight..I will.” I huffed softly.

“Aries,” she said quietly, her brows pullin’ together just a little deeper. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?” I deflected, glancin’ away again.

She tipped my chin up, gentle yet firm, making me look at her. “You scared me..”

I didn’t answer to that. Not because I ain’t have nothin’ to say… but because I had too much. It sat heavy in my chest, tangled up with everything else I didn’t wanna unpack. 

I wasn’t scared of them.

I was scared of me.

Of how fast I moved, how easy it was, and how close I got to slippin’ right back into old habits I been tryna leave behind.

Her thumb brushed over my cheek, soft, grounding. “You didn’t have to leave, we could’ve just called the cops.”

“Yes, I did.”

It came out quick and certain, ’cause in my head, there wasn’t another option. Not when it came to her.

“They came here lookin’ for me,” she corrected, her voice dropping just a little.

I exhaled through my nose, leaning back slightly.

“And?” I said it quieter now, even if the sharpness underneath refused to soften. “They still not touchin’ you.”

“You can’t just—” she started, then stopped, shakin’ her head slightly like she was tryna find the right words. “You can’t keep puttin’ yourself in front of shit like that like it don’t matter.”

I let out a low breath, tilting my head. “It don’t.”

Her eyes snapped back up to mine so fast it almost made me smirk.

“Don’t say that,” she said, firmer now.

I shrugged lightly, even though her fingers were still wrapped around my hand, still cleaning me up like I wasn’t the one who just caused a whole scene outside. “I’m doin’ my job.”

“Don’t piss me off,” she shot back immediately. “This ain’t just ’bout your job no more and you know it, Aries!”

“You mean so much to me…please. Just—” She went still for a second, studying me like she was tryna understand something I wasn’t explaining. Then, without a word, she shifted—climbin’ onto my lap, straddling me carefully so she didn’t hit my hand.

Her forehead pressed against my shoulder for a second as if she needed a pause button on reality itself.

I leaned back slightly, my free hand coming up to tilt her chin just enough so she had to look at me fully. “You good?” I asked, flippin’ it back on her.

She blinked, clearly not expecting that.

“I’m fine,” she said, but it came out softer this time.

I hummed, studying her face for a second longer than I needed to. “Aight.”

She rolled her eyes lightly. “Your hand is not ‘aight,'” she muttered, going back to cleaning it.

“Stay, please,” she blurted, and I nodded before I could even think about it.

I shifted forward, my uninjured hand coming up to brush lightly against her cheek again, my thumb catching just under her eye like I was checkin’ for sumn that wasn’t there.

“I’m right here,” I said quietly.

Her breath hitched, then she huffed, swattin’ my hand away. “Yeah, I know. You almost killed somebody, Aries.”

I let out a small chuckle under my breath, leaning back again.

“There you go,” I muttered.

“Shut up,” she shot back, but there was a tiny smile tuggin’ at her lips now, even if she tried to hide it.

She finished wrappin’ my hand, tyin’ it off neatly before stepping back just a little, looking me over again like she wasn’t fully convinced I was fine.

“You need stitches?” she asked, skeptical.

“Nah,” I replied easily. “I’ll live.”

The ache in my hand didn’t fade, even after she cleaned it up.

It throbbed steady, a reminder of everything that just happened. But I followed her anyway when she tugged me toward the bed.

She kicked off her slippers, and climbed in, like she already knew I’d be right behind her.

We laid there facing each other at first, then she moved, curlin’ right into me like always.

Her arm wrapped around my waist, pullin’ herself in. “You okay?” she asked softly.

I swallowed, my throat tight. “Yeah..”

Her hand rested against my back, warm and steady. 

She was anchoring me without even realizing it. So I let myself give in.

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer, settling her into me. Her breathing slowed and evened out, her body going soft against mine as sleep took over.

But I stayed awake, staring up at the ceiling, listening to every quiet breath she took, my heart still racing—from the fight. From the fear I didn’t let show.

From the realization I couldn’t undo.

And whether I liked it or not…

I was just her bodyguard.