A run usually cleared my head.
Or at least burned enough energy out of me so I could sleep.
Before heading downstairs, I stopped at the door across the hall and knocked once.
No answer.
I opened it anyway since I heard Emily somewhere in the house with Yuna.
Zay was half buried under the blankets, one arm thrown over his face.
“You running with me?” I asked.
He didn’t move.
“You know I ain’t doing no running, gang.”
I chuckled.
“You gon’ be an old out-of-shape nigga.”
Zay shifted slightly without even opening his eyes.
“That’s what my gun is for,” he muttered. “It stays in shape.”
I laughed under my breath.
“Lazy ass.”
He waved me off without lifting his head.
“Close my door when you leave.”
I shut the door behind me and headed downstairs.
Outside, the air was cold and heavy with fog rolling off the cliffs. Perfect running weather.
My bodyguard, Tommy, was already waiting near the driveway, stretching like he was preparing for a damn Olympic event.
He looked up when I walked out.
“Morning, boss.”
“You ready?” I asked, doing a light stretch.
“Always.”
We started jogging down the estate driveway, the gravel crunching lightly under our shoes before we hit the paved road that curved down toward the cliffs.
We kept a steady pace, moving down the narrow road while Monaco slowly woke up around us.
By the time we passed the second mile marker, the cold air had started burning my lungs in the best way.
I slowed near the overlook when I tripped over my shoelace.
“Hold up,” I muttered.
Tommy slowed beside me immediately, his eyes scanning the road the way I paid him to.
