11. Game Changer

The morning light filtered through the cracked windows of Zee's small apartment, casting long shadows over the mess that covered her table—half-empty coffee cups, crumpled bills, and the bag she'd stuffed with cash from last night's job. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the Glock resting on the table, its cold steel catching the morning light. Normally, she kept her pieces tucked out of sight, hidden away. But after last night, it felt safer keeping it close. Like an extension of herself, a part of her armor she couldn't take off.

Last night had left her rattled, the blood on her hands more than she could wash off with just soap and water. She'd done what K-Boss wanted. Sent his message. But now that it was over, all she felt was empty. Her mind kept drifting back to the fear in Jace's eyes, the way his hands had trembled as he'd tried to talk his way out of it. Zee had taken him out without a second thought, without flinching. But the image lingered, haunting her.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of the memory. She reached for it, half expecting another message from Breezy, but it wasn't him. It was Liana.

Liana: "Need to see you. Something happened."

Zee's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't heard from Liana since she'd shown up at the garage last night, pleading with her to get out of the game. She'd barely been able to look her friend in the eye, knowing what she'd done, the darkness she was carrying. And now, something had happened? Zee couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear. She didn't want Liana caught up in any of this, but if K-Boss or Breezy even suspected…

Zee: "What happened? You good?"

The reply came almost instantly.

Liana: "Just meet me. Usual spot. Hurry."

Zee sighed, slipping the Glock into her waistband and grabbing her bag. She had to be careful now, more careful than ever. She could feel the noose tightening around her, every move she made pulling it a little tighter. But she couldn't ignore Liana, not after everything they'd been through. If something was wrong, she needed to be there for her.

The streets were already buzzing with life as Zee made her way to the old basketball courts on the edge of their neighborhood. It was their spot, the place they'd spent countless nights talking about their dreams, their plans to escape the grind of the streets. But now, as she approached, those dreams felt like a distant memory, something that belonged to a different person.

Liana was waiting for her, pacing nervously by the court, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She looked up as Zee approached, relief flashing across her face, but there was something else there too—fear.

"Zee," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know who else to call."

Zee's stomach dropped. "What happened?"

Liana took a deep breath, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "I got a visit last night. From one of K-Boss's guys."

Zee felt a chill run down her spine. K-Boss didn't just send people to talk. If he'd sent someone to Liana, it meant he was trying to send Zee a message, to remind her who was in control.

"What did he say?" Zee asked, her voice low and steady.

Liana hesitated, her eyes filled with worry. "He said… he said you were in trouble, Zee. Said that if I wanted to keep you safe, I should stay away from you."

Zee clenched her fists, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. She knew K-Boss was ruthless, knew he didn't care about anyone but himself. But going after Liana? Dragging her into this mess? That was a line she hadn't expected him to cross.

"It's just his way of keeping me in line," Zee said, forcing her voice to stay calm. "He knows you're important to me, and he's using that. Trying to make sure I don't step out of line."

Liana shook her head, her face filled with a mixture of fear and frustration. "Zee, this isn't right. You're his soldier, but he treats you like you're nothing. Like you're just another pawn in his game."

Zee looked away, her jaw tight. She knew Liana was right. She knew that to K-Boss, she was nothing more than a tool, a means to an end. But this was her life, the path she'd chosen. And as much as she hated it, there was no going back now.

"It's how it is, Li," she said quietly. "I do what he wants, and I get to keep my place in the game. It's just business."

Liana stepped closer, grabbing her by the shoulders, forcing her to meet her gaze. "Zee, this isn't just business. This is your life. You can't keep doing this. You can't keep letting him control you."

Zee felt a surge of frustration, the anger bubbling over. She wanted to scream, to tell Liana that she didn't have a choice, that this was the only way she knew how to survive. But she couldn't. Not with Liana looking at her like that, her eyes filled with fear and worry.

"I know what I'm doing," Zee said, her voice hard. "I've survived this long, haven't I?"

Liana let go of her, taking a step back, her face filled with disappointment. "Yeah. But at what cost?"

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and unspoken. Zee knew what Liana was saying, knew the truth in her words. But she couldn't afford to think about that now. Not with K-Boss watching her every move, not with Breezy waiting for her to slip.

"I gotta go," Zee said, turning away. "But I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

Liana reached out, grabbing her arm. "Zee, please. Just… be careful."

Zee forced a tight smile, nodding. "Always am."

But as she walked away, her mind racing, she knew it was a lie. She wasn't careful. She was playing a dangerous game, one where every move could be her last. And as much as she hated to admit it, she was scared.

The noose was tightening, and she didn't know how much longer she could keep slipping free.

As she turned the corner, she pulled out her phone, scrolling to Breezy's number. She knew she needed to confront him, needed to find out just how deep he was in K-Boss's game. He was too close, too watchful. She couldn't trust him, not with her secrets, not with her life.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, a plan forming in her mind. She'd meet with him, feel him out, figure out just how much he knew. And if he was a threat… she'd handle it. Just like she'd handled everything else.

Because in this game, trust was a liability. And Zee couldn't afford any more loose ends.

With her heart pounding and her mind racing, she hit "call."