5.

Zee could feel the city breathing, alive in its own rhythm as she moved through the streets, the darkness closing in around her. Baltimore had a way of swallowing people whole, especially those like her—too deep in the game to see a way out. But she wasn't just surviving. She was hustling, making moves. She told herself that every night. The streets were rough, sure, but so was she.

The stash house was just ahead, tucked between two abandoned row homes. It was a spot only a few people knew about—mainly K-Boss's trusted soldiers, the ones he'd been running with for years. Zee was one of them now, though she didn't kid herself into thinking it was out of loyalty. K-Boss kept her close because she was useful. Smart. She could make money, and in this game, that was all that mattered.

She slid the key into the rusted door, hearing the creak as it gave way. The air inside was stale, thick with the scent of old brick and mildew, but she didn't flinch. She stepped inside, locking the door behind her, then made her way down the narrow hallway toward the back room. This was the heart of the operation—the safe place where the real business got done.

Stacks of cash lay on the table in neat piles, alongside scales, bags, and the product. It was a small-time spot, but it ran like a well-oiled machine. Zee had helped set it up, making sure everything was organized, no loose ends. That's how she operated: clean, precise, with no mistakes.

But tonight, something was off. The silence felt too heavy, like the air had thickened with tension she couldn't place.

She moved quietly, her eyes scanning the room, instinctively reaching for the Glock tucked in her waistband. The safety of the spot felt like a lie tonight, like she was stepping into something she hadn't prepared for. And that's when she saw him.

Breezy.

He was leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. For a second, Zee's pulse kicked into overdrive, but she didn't let it show. Breezy wasn't supposed to be here. His presence sent alarms blaring in her mind, but she kept her face neutral. She couldn't afford to show fear.

"What's up, Breezy?" Zee asked, keeping her tone casual.

Breezy pushed off the wall, taking a slow step toward her. He had a way of moving that made people uneasy, like a predator stalking its prey. Zee had seen him work before. She knew what he was capable of—knew what happened when you crossed him.

"K-Boss sent me," Breezy said, his voice low, almost too calm. "Said we needed to have a talk."

Zee raised an eyebrow, though her mind was already working a mile a minute. K-Boss never sent Breezy just to talk. If Breezy was here, it meant things were about to get serious.

"About what?" she asked, though she had a feeling she already knew.

Breezy's eyes locked onto hers, cold and unblinking. "He's been hearing things. Things about you, Zee."

Zee felt the weight of his words settle over her like a shroud. The rumors had reached K-Boss. The switches. The side hustle. She had been careful, so careful, but the streets had a way of knowing things you thought you'd buried. It was inevitable. Nothing stayed hidden forever.

"People talk," Zee said, keeping her voice steady. "Doesn't mean it's true."

Breezy stepped closer, closing the distance between them. His presence was overwhelming, but Zee didn't back down. She couldn't. Not now.

"K-Boss doesn't care about rumors," Breezy said. "He cares about loyalty. And if there's even a chance you're running something behind his back…" He let the sentence hang in the air, the threat clear.

Zee met his gaze head-on, her heart pounding, but she didn't blink. "I ain't running nothing he doesn't know about."

Breezy's lips twitched into a small, dangerous smile. "You better hope that's true. 'Cause if it ain't, Zee, you know how this ends."

Zee's grip on the Glock tightened, but she kept it hidden beneath her hoodie. Breezy wasn't someone you wanted to make a move against unless you were ready to go all the way. He didn't leave witnesses, didn't leave messes. And she wasn't about to become one of his cleanups.

"Tell K-Boss he ain't got nothing to worry about," Zee said, her voice steady. "I'm loyal. Always have been."

Breezy studied her for a long moment, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Then, finally, he nodded, though the threat in his eyes didn't fade.

"Alright, Zee. But remember, K-Boss don't like secrets. He finds out you're holding something back, it won't be me you're answering to. It'll be him."

With that, Breezy turned and walked out of the room, leaving Zee standing there, the weight of his words hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

Zee let out a slow breath, her mind racing. This was bad. Real bad. K-Boss was getting suspicious, and when he started to doubt someone's loyalty, it never ended well. She'd seen him cut down soldiers for less. Breezy had been the one to do it, clean and efficient, with no hesitation.

She couldn't let this happen. She couldn't let K-Boss find out about the switches. Not now. Not ever.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that her time was running out.

Zee sat down at the table, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for one of the bundles of cash. She needed to stay focused, keep her head in the game. There were still moves to make, still ways to play this. She just had to be smart. Smarter than K-Boss. Smarter than Breezy. Smarter than Hale.

She glanced at her phone, half-expecting another message, another threat, but the screen stayed dark. For now.

Taking a deep breath, she stuffed the cash into her bag, making sure everything was in order. She couldn't afford to slip up. Not tonight. Not ever.

The city outside was quiet, but Zee knew it wouldn't stay that way for long. The streets were heating up, and everyone was watching her, waiting for her to make a mistake.

But Zee didn't make mistakes. She made moves.

And right now, the only move that mattered was survival.

As she stepped out of the stash house and into the night, the weight of the Glock at her waist felt heavier than ever. The switch game was a risk, but it was also her way out. If she could keep everything under control—keep K-Boss in the dark, keep Breezy at bay, keep Hale off her back—she could make it. She could get out.

But the streets were unforgiving, and Zee knew the rules. You didn't get out without blood.

She just hoped it wouldn't be hers.