16. Loose Ends

The Baltimore night was restless, filled with the sounds of sirens and the low hum of the city that never really slept. Zee slipped through the shadows, her senses heightened, her nerves wound tight. The Broker had promised a distraction—something big enough to keep Breezy and K-Boss off her back, to buy her the time she needed to solidify her new operation. But tonight, the weight of what she'd set in motion felt heavier than ever. She was juggling lives and livelihoods now, balancing power plays and alliances. And one misstep could bring it all crashing down.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen and felt her pulse quicken. It was The Broker.

The Broker: "It's done. You'll know when you see it."

Zee stared at the message, her mind racing. She knew The Broker was resourceful, but his confidence, his calm detachment—it reminded her just how dangerous he was. And now, whatever "it" was, it was in motion.

Her steps carried her to the edge of K-Boss's territory, a small strip of turf near the train station that served as one of his main distribution hubs. Tonight, there was a sense of unease hanging in the air, an unspoken tension that set her on edge. She slipped into a dark alley, blending into the shadows as she scanned the area.

A few of K-Boss's men were lingering near the loading dock, smoking and chatting in low voices. She could see the boredom on their faces, the casual way they leaned against the wall, their postures relaxed. They had no idea what was coming.

And then it happened.

A car screeched to a stop on the street, its headlights cutting through the darkness. Before anyone could react, the car doors flew open, and a group of masked men poured out, guns drawn. The silence shattered as gunfire erupted, sharp and relentless, echoing through the narrow streets.

Zee pressed herself against the wall, her heart pounding as she watched the scene unfold. The Broker's distraction was bigger, bolder than she'd expected. The masked men moved with precision, taking out K-Boss's men one by one, leaving no room for escape. This wasn't a warning. This was a statement.

As the last of K-Boss's crew hit the ground, the masked men jumped back into the car, peeling off into the night, leaving nothing but the carnage in their wake. Zee's mind raced as she took in the scene, the bodies scattered across the loading dock, the blood pooling on the pavement. This was The Broker's work—clean, efficient, brutal.

But as she watched the aftermath, a new fear settled over her. This wasn't just a distraction. This was an escalation. K-Boss wouldn't ignore this. He'd see it as a direct attack, a threat to his control. And when he found out who was behind it…

Zee took a shaky breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She needed to think, to plan her next move. The Broker had delivered, but he'd also raised the stakes. Now, K-Boss and Breezy would be on high alert, ready to take out anyone they suspected of crossing them. And if she wasn't careful, she'd be the first one they turned on.

Her phone buzzed again, and she pulled it out, her stomach tightening as she saw the name.

K-Boss: "We need to talk. Now."

Zee swallowed hard, her mind racing. She didn't have a choice. She had to face him, to play the part, to keep her cover. But as she typed out a quick reply, confirming she'd be there, a sense of dread settled over her. This meeting wouldn't be like the others. K-Boss would be looking for answers, for someone to blame. And if she didn't play this perfectly, he'd see right through her.

She tucked the phone back into her pocket, her mind shifting into survival mode. She needed a story, something that would keep K-Boss from suspecting her involvement. She couldn't afford to give him any reason to doubt her loyalty.

The walk to K-Boss's hideout felt longer than usual, every step heavy with the weight of what she was about to face. The warehouse was quiet when she arrived, the kind of silence that felt unnatural, as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. She pushed open the door and stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the dim light.

K-Boss was waiting for her, seated in his usual spot at the end of a long, battered table. Breezy stood beside him, his gaze sharp, suspicious. Zee felt a chill as she looked at him, the intensity in his eyes more menacing than ever. He was on edge, and she knew that if he had any inkling of her involvement, he'd waste no time in taking her out.

"Zee," K-Boss said, his voice calm but with an edge that made her skin prickle. "Sit."

She slid into the chair across from him, her expression neutral, her mind racing as she prepared herself for whatever was coming.

"Rough night?" she asked, keeping her tone casual.

K-Boss's gaze narrowed, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. "You could say that. Had a little… disruption at the train station. Lost a few good men."

Zee nodded, her face carefully blank. "You know who's behind it?"

K-Boss leaned back, his eyes never leaving hers. "That's what I'm trying to figure out. Someone's making a move, trying to take what's mine. And I don't like it."

Zee forced herself to hold his gaze, to keep her expression steady. "Whoever it is, they got guts. Or a death wish."

Breezy's smirk was barely visible, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes as he watched her. "Yeah, takes a lot of guts to go up against K-Boss. Or maybe… someone on the inside gave 'em a little push."

The accusation hung in the air, unspoken but clear. Zee felt her pulse quicken, her hand drifting to the edge of the table as she steadied herself. Breezy was testing her, pushing her, trying to get her to slip. But she couldn't afford to give him anything.

"You think I had something to do with this?" she asked, her voice cold, challenging.

Breezy shrugged, his smirk widening. "Just saying. Been a lot of surprises lately. And you? You got a knack for staying out of sight when things go sideways."

Zee's jaw tightened, but she forced herself to stay calm. "I'm loyal. You know that."

K-Boss held up a hand, silencing Breezy. His gaze shifted back to Zee, a mix of doubt and curiosity in his eyes. "I trust you, Zee. But I also know you're ambitious. And ambition… it can be dangerous."

Zee met his gaze, her expression hard. "I'm here to do my job, K. That's all."

K-Boss studied her for a long moment, his gaze piercing.

As Zee stepped out of the warehouse and into the cold Baltimore night, the reality of her situation settled over her like a storm cloud. K-Boss's words echoed in her mind, the unspoken threat hanging in the air: there won't be anywhere for you to hide. She'd been in this game long enough to know that K-Boss never made empty threats. If he even suspected she was behind the ambush at the train station, she'd be a target.

The cool air hit her like a slap as she moved down the block, her thoughts racing. Breezy's smirk, his suspicion—it was all too real. He was like a shadow, constantly hovering just out of sight, waiting for her to slip. He'd been pushing her for weeks, questioning her every move, trying to find a crack. She could feel his eyes on her even now, like he was there in the dark, watching, waiting.

I need a plan. The thought circled in her mind as she turned down an alleyway, heading toward her cousin's garage. The Broker's ambush had done its job, sure, but it had come at a price. It was too aggressive, too loud. She needed moves that were subtle, moves that didn't draw attention. K-Boss might buy her story for now, but Breezy wouldn't stop until he had proof—proof she couldn't afford to leave lying around.

As she reached the garage, she took a deep breath, steadying herself before unlocking the door. The familiar hum of the 3D printer greeted her, a constant reminder of the operation she'd built, the one thing that kept her in control. She looked around at the stacks of switches, the boxes of supplies, the stash of cash tucked into the corner. This was her empire, the one piece of the game that was truly hers.

She moved to the workbench, her fingers brushing over the cold metal of the Glock as she thought through her options. She couldn't afford to stay hidden anymore. Not with Breezy on her trail. She needed a bigger play, something that would shift the power in her favor, make her more than just another pawn in K-Boss's empire. She needed to show them she wasn't someone to be underestimated.

Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, her heart pounding as she saw The Broker's name.

The Broker: "Time to take control. Call me when you're ready."

Zee stared at the message, her mind racing. The Broker was giving her an opening, a chance to make her move. But she knew that once she crossed this line, there would be no turning back. She'd be choosing a side, taking a stand. And if she failed, K-Boss and Breezy would come for her with everything they had.

She took a deep breath, her fingers hovering over the screen as she considered her options. She could walk away, disappear, leave the game before it swallowed her whole. But as she looked around the garage, at everything she'd built, she knew that wasn't an option. This was her life, her hustle. And she wasn't about to let anyone take it from her.

With a steady hand, she dialed The Broker's number, her heart pounding as she waited for him to pick up. After a few rings, his voice came through, calm and steady.

"You're ready, then?" he asked, his tone smooth, confident.

Zee took a deep breath, her mind sharp, focused. "Yes. I'm ready."

The Broker's voice softened, a hint of approval in his tone. "Good. Then let's get to work."

As she ended the call, a surge of determination flooded through her. She wasn't just another player in this game anymore. She was a force to be reckoned with, someone who could take control, someone who could rise above K-Boss's grip.

And as she stood in the dim light of the garage, the weight of her decisions settling over her, she knew one thing for sure.

This was only the beginning.