10.

The hum of the 3D printer was almost soothing as Zee sat in the dim light of her cousin's garage, her mind replaying the events of the night like a broken record. She hadn't hesitated, hadn't flinched, not even once. The bodies on the floor, the look in Jace's eyes just before she'd pulled the trigger—it all flashed in her mind, vivid and haunting. She'd done it. She'd proven her loyalty to K-Boss. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something inside her had shifted, something she couldn't undo.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, her stomach tightening as she saw the name.

K-Boss: "Good work. We'll talk soon."

A chill ran down her spine. There was no congratulations, no pat on the back. Just a simple acknowledgment that she'd done her job. She'd sent a message, alright—a message written in blood. But instead of relief, all she felt was emptiness.

The door to the garage creaked open, and Zee's hand flew to the Glock at her side, her body tensing. But when she saw who it was, she relaxed, though only slightly.

Liana stood in the doorway, her face drawn and tired, her eyes wide with worry. Zee hadn't expected to see her tonight, not after their last conversation. She'd thought Liana would leave her alone, give her space. But here she was, standing in the doorway, looking at her like she was seeing a stranger.

"Zee," Liana said quietly, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "I need to know what's going on with you. For real."

Zee stared at her, feeling the weight of Liana's words pressing down on her. Liana had been with her through everything—from the early days of hustling to the nights spent counting stacks in the back of the bodega. But this? The blood, the violence? Liana hadn't signed up for that.

"It's just business, Li," Zee said, her voice tired. "You know that."

Liana shook her head, her face filled with frustration. "No, Zee. This ain't just business. You're talking about guns now. You're talking about killing people. That ain't what we signed up for."

Zee looked away, unable to meet her friend's gaze. She knew Liana was right. She'd crossed a line tonight, a line she couldn't uncross. But there was no turning back now. Not with K-Boss watching her every move, not with Breezy waiting for her to slip.

"I did what I had to do," Zee said, her voice barely above a whisper. "If I didn't, K-Boss would've come for me. You know how it is."

Liana's face softened, a mix of anger and sorrow. "I get it, Zee. I do. But this? This ain't you. You ain't a killer."

The words hit her hard, like a punch to the gut. Zee wasn't a killer. Or at least, she hadn't been. But tonight, she'd proven otherwise. She'd pulled the trigger without hesitation, without remorse. And now, she didn't know who she was anymore.

"Maybe I am," Zee said, her voice hollow. "Maybe that's just who I gotta be now."

Liana stared at her, her eyes filled with pain. "Zee… you don't have to do this. We could leave. Get out of Baltimore, start over somewhere else. Just you and me."

Zee wanted to believe her, wanted to imagine a life where they could just pack up and leave, escape the game, the blood, the hustle. But she knew it wasn't that simple. K-Boss wouldn't let her go. Not now, not ever.

"You know that ain't how it works, Li," Zee said quietly. "I'm in too deep. There's no leaving. Not for me."

Liana's shoulders slumped, defeat etched into her face. She reached out, placing a hand on Zee's shoulder. "Zee, please. Don't let this life change you. Don't let K-Boss turn you into something you're not."

Zee looked at her, feeling the weight of her words. She wanted to promise Liana that she'd find a way out, that she'd stop before she lost herself completely. But the truth was, she didn't know if she could. The game had its hooks in her, deep and unyielding, and every move she made only seemed to pull her deeper.

Before she could respond, her phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't K-Boss. It was Breezy.

Breezy: "Need to talk. Now."

Zee's jaw tightened. Breezy hadn't wasted any time. Whatever he had to say, it couldn't be good. He was K-Boss's enforcer, his eyes and ears on the street. If he was reaching out now, it meant he knew about the job she'd just done. And he probably wanted something in return.

"Who's that?" Liana asked, her voice tense.

"Nobody," Zee lied, slipping the phone back into her pocket. "Just another deal I gotta handle."

Liana's eyes narrowed, her face set in that familiar look of worry. "Zee… promise me you'll be careful."

Zee forced a smile, though it felt hollow. "Always am, Li. You know that."

But as she watched her friend leave, her heart heavy with the weight of her choices, she knew it was a lie. She wasn't careful. Not anymore. She was reckless, desperate, clawing her way through the game with nothing but her wits and a loaded Glock to keep her safe.

Once Liana was gone, Zee took a deep breath, pulling her phone out and typing a quick response to Breezy.

Zee: "Where?"

The reply came almost instantly.

Breezy: "The usual spot. Don't be late."

Zee slipped the phone back into her pocket, her mind racing. She had no idea what Breezy wanted, but she knew it wasn't good. He was the type to smell weakness, to pounce on any opportunity to climb higher in the ranks. If he sensed that she was slipping, that she was having second thoughts, he'd have no problem taking her out himself. That was just the kind of person he was.

She grabbed her bag, checking the Glock one last time before heading out. The streets were silent as she made her way to the meeting spot, a rundown building on the edge of town where deals went down and secrets were kept. She'd met Breezy here before, back when he was still just another hustler trying to make a name for himself. But now? Now, he was more than that. He was K-Boss's right-hand man, the one who cleaned up messes and made sure no one got out of line.

When she reached the building, Breezy was already there, leaning against the wall with a cigarette in his hand. He looked up as she approached, his expression unreadable.

"Took you long enough," he said, flicking the cigarette to the ground.

Zee crossed her arms, keeping her face blank. "What do you want, Breezy?"

Breezy smirked, pushing off the wall and stepping closer. "Just wanted to check in. Make sure everything went smooth with that job K-Boss gave you."

Zee's jaw tightened, but she kept her voice steady. "It's done."

Breezy's smirk widened. "Good. But I gotta ask… how you feelin' about it?"

Zee narrowed her eyes, sensing the trap. "Why you care?"

Breezy shrugged, his gaze cold. "Just making sure you ain't getting soft on us. K-Boss don't like weakness, you know that. And if I sense even a hint of it…" He let the threat hang in the air, his eyes boring into hers.

Zee held his gaze, refusing to back down. "I'm good, Breezy. You don't gotta worry about me."

Breezy stared at her for a moment, then nodded, satisfied. "Alright. Just remember, Zee—loyalty is everything in this game. You forget that, and you're done."

Zee clenched her fists, the weight of his words settling over her like a shroud. She knew he was right. In this game, loyalty was everything. And right now, hers was the only thing keeping her alive.

As she turned and walked away, her mind spinning, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking a tightrope, one wrong step away from falling into the abyss. But she couldn't stop now. Not when she was this close. Not when her life depended on it.

And so, with her heart pounding and her mind racing, Zee continued down the dark streets of Baltimore, knowing that every step she took brought her deeper into the shadows, closer to a destiny she wasn't sure she could escape.

But in this game, there was no room for doubt. Only survival.