7.

Zee's steps felt heavier as she moved toward K-Boss's spot, the weight of everything pressing down on her like bricks in a backpack. The messages were clear—Liana warning her, Breezy's threats, and now K-Boss summoning her. Every hustler knows that when the boss calls you with no explanation, it's never good. Her mind raced, working through every angle, every possible reason why he wanted to see her. It could be anything. Or it could be everything.

She kept her hood low as she cut through the streets, passing familiar faces that barely registered in her mind. Usually, she clocked everyone—the hustlers leaning on the corner, the smokers hanging by the bodega, the eyes that followed her every move—but tonight, she was focused. Too focused on what was waiting for her up ahead. The streets of Baltimore felt colder tonight, like they knew something was coming for her.

When she reached K-Boss's spot, a nondescript townhouse tucked into a quiet part of the city, she paused for a second, taking a deep breath. This wasn't just another business meeting. She could feel it in her bones. She had to play it cool, keep her head down, and, above all, lie like her life depended on it. Because tonight? It probably did.

The front door opened before she could knock. Breezy stood there, his expression blank but his eyes calculating. He didn't say a word, just stepped aside, motioning for her to come in. Zee forced herself to move forward, even though every instinct in her body told her to run. The air inside the house was thick with tension, the kind that made you hyper-aware of every movement, every sound.

She stepped into the living room where K-Boss sat on a low leather couch, a bottle of Hennessy on the table in front of him. He was dressed in his usual—black hoodie, jeans, and boots. But his face? It was all business. Cold, calculating, like he'd already made decisions she wasn't a part of.

"Zee," he said, his voice smooth but with that underlying steel she'd come to expect. "Sit down."

Zee did as she was told, dropping onto the chair across from him, Zee did as she was told, dropping onto the chair across from him, her body tense but her face calm. She couldn't show any cracks. Not now. K-Boss's gaze was locked on her, studying every movement, every breath, like he was waiting for her to give something away. Breezy remained by the door, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, his silent presence a constant reminder of how dangerous this situation could turn.

K-Boss poured himself a glass of Henny, but didn't offer her any. That small gesture alone told Zee what kind of meeting this was. This wasn't friendly. This was business—the kind of business that could end with blood on the floor if she wasn't careful.

He took a sip, then leaned back, eyes still locked on her. "You've been busy," he said, his tone casual but his words laced with meaning.

Zee stayed silent for a moment, measuring her response. She couldn't give him anything more than he already had, but she couldn't play dumb either. "You know me, K. I stay busy."

He nodded slowly, like he was thinking through what she said, but his gaze never softened. "Word on the street is you've been making moves without me."

Zee's pulse quickened, but she kept her expression neutral. This is it, she thought. He knows. Or at least he thinks he knows.

"I don't know what you heard, but I've been sticking to the script," Zee replied, her voice even. "I ain't crossed no lines."

K-Boss leaned forward, setting his glass down on the table. The clink of the glass hitting wood echoed in the room, making the silence that followed even more oppressive. "Thing is, Zee, I got ears everywhere. And those ears? They been telling me about some side hustle you got goin' on. Something with switches."

Zee's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't blink. Damn. It was out. All of it. Breezy must've tipped him off, or maybe it was someone else on the street. Either way, K-Boss had her in a corner now, and there was no way out but through.

"I don't know where that came from, but you know I wouldn't pull no moves without checking with you first," Zee said, her voice steady but her mind racing. She had to sell this lie like her life depended on it—because it did.

K-Boss's expression didn't change. He just sat there, staring at her like he was waiting for the truth to slip out of her mouth. But Zee wasn't about to crack. Not yet. Not like this.

"See, that's the problem," K-Boss said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "I got people telling me one thing, and you telling me something else. And I don't like being lied to, Zee. You know that."

The tension in the room was suffocating now, pressing in on Zee from all sides. She could feel Breezy watching her, feel the weight of K-Boss's words like a noose tightening around her neck. She had to flip this. Fast.

"I'm telling you the truth," Zee said, her voice firmer now. "I've been running things clean. The weed game. Same as always. If people out there are talking, they don't know what they're talking about. You know how it is, K. People love to run their mouths, make shit up just to stir the pot."

K-Boss leaned back, his eyes narrowing. "You think I don't know what's going on in my own streets?"

Zee swallowed hard. This was it. The line she had to walk—tight and careful. One slip and she was done. "I think somebody's trying to play us, trying to put shit in your ear to make you doubt me. But I'm loyal, K. Always have been."

The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. K-Boss didn't say anything for what felt like forever. He just stared at her, his eyes dark and unreadable. Finally, he nodded, but it wasn't a nod of agreement—it was something else. Something more dangerous.

"I hear you, Zee," he said, his voice cold now. "But loyalty? That's something you gotta prove. Every day."

Zee felt her stomach twist. She knew where this was going. K-Boss wasn't about to let her walk away from this without some kind of test, some kind of way to prove she was still his, still loyal to the crew. But whatever it was, it wasn't going to be easy. It never was with him.

"What you need me to do?" Zee asked, cutting to the chase. There was no point in dancing around it. Whatever K-Boss had in mind, she was ready. She had to be.

K-Boss smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "There's a crew moving in on my territory. Small-time for now, but they got ambition. Too much ambition. I need you to send them a message."

Zee's heart sank. She knew what that meant. K-Boss wasn't just talking about scaring them off. He wanted blood. And he wanted her to spill it.

"You want me to handle it?" she asked, her voice steady even though her mind was spinning.

K-Boss nodded slowly. "I want them gone. All of them. No loose ends."

Zee clenched her jaw, the weight of the task settling on her shoulders like a boulder. This was more than just a test. This was K-Boss's way of reminding her who was in charge, of making sure she knew where her loyalty was supposed to lie.

"I'll take care of it," Zee said, her voice hard. She didn't have a choice. Not if she wanted to stay alive.

K-Boss leaned back, his smile widening just a fraction. "Good. I knew I could count on you."

Zee stood, her body tense, but her face calm. She couldn't show any weakness, not in front of K-Boss. Not in front of Breezy, who was still watching her like a hawk, waiting for any sign of fear.

As she turned to leave, K-Boss's voice stopped her in her tracks. "One more thing, Zee."

She froze, her hand on the doorknob, her heart pounding in her chest. "Yeah?"

K-Boss's voice was cold, deadly. "If I find out you've been lying to me… you won't be walking out of here again. You feel me?"

Zee nodded, her throat tight. "I feel you."

With that, she opened the door and stepped out into the night, the cool air hitting her like a slap to the face. Her mind raced as she walked away from the house, her heart pounding in her chest. She had just been handed a death sentence. Either she took out the rival crew, or she was next on K-Boss's list.

But there was something else she couldn't shake—Breezy. He hadn't said a word during the whole meeting, but Zee knew he was the one who'd put K-Boss onto her in the first place. He was gunning for her spot, waiting for her to slip up. And now, he was watching her every move.

Zee had to make a decision. Fast.

As she moved through the dark streets of Baltimore, her mind raced with possibilities. She could take out the rival crew, keep her place in K-Boss's organization, and hope Breezy didn't have more dirt on her. Or she could find a way out. A way to flip the game on them before they flipped it on her.

But one thing was for sure—whatever move she made next, it had to be perfect.

Because in this game, perfection was the only way to survive.