Bab 12: 12.
The familiar scent of cigarette smoke hit Zee as she approached the spot, a small, hidden corner near an old auto repair shop where she'd met Breezy more times than she could count. The place was tucked away, quiet enough that you could talk without worrying about prying ears. But tonight, the silence felt different. Heavy. Like the walls themselves were holding secrets.
Breezy was already there, leaning against the faded brick wall, his cigarette glowing in the dim light of the alley. He looked up as she approached, his eyes cold, calculating. Breezy was always watching, always one step ahead, and that was what made him dangerous.
"You wanted to talk?" Zee said, her voice steady as she stopped a few feet away from him, her hands tucked into her pockets. The Glock was hidden beneath her jacket, her fingers brushing the cool metal as she kept her guard up.
Breezy smirked, flicking his cigarette to the ground and crushing it under his boot. "Yeah. Figured it was about time we had a little… chat."
Zee clenched her jaw, her mind racing. Breezy didn't just want to chat. He wanted information, leverage, a way to keep her under his thumb. She knew how he operated—like a predator circling its prey, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"What's on your mind?" she asked, keeping her tone casual, as if this was just another one of their usual meetings.
Breezy studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "Heard you been making moves. Big ones."
Zee's pulse quickened, but she kept her expression blank. "I'm just doing what K-Boss asked. You know that."
Breezy chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Oh, I know. But see, K-Boss… he's been wondering. Wondering if maybe you're getting too big for your spot."
The words hit her like a punch to the gut, but she didn't flinch. Breezy was testing her, pushing her to see how she'd react. She couldn't show weakness, couldn't let him see the fear that was creeping up her spine.
"I'm loyal," Zee said, her voice firm. "Always have been."
Breezy raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Loyalty, huh? Funny thing about loyalty, Zee—it's only as good as the person you're loyal to. And you? You got a lot of ambition. Makes people wonder if that loyalty is gonna hold up when things get… complicated."
Zee felt the weight of his words settle over her, heavy and suffocating. This was more than a warning. This was a threat. Breezy was making it clear that he saw her as a threat, someone who could disrupt the carefully balanced power structure K-Boss had built. And he wouldn't hesitate to take her out if he thought she was a danger to that structure.
"I don't want K-Boss's spot," Zee said, keeping her tone calm, steady. "I'm just trying to survive."
Breezy took a step closer, his gaze piercing. "And that's the thing, Zee. Survival? It ain't enough in this game. You're either all in, or you're nothing."
Zee held his gaze, refusing to back down. "I know the rules, Breezy."
He smiled, a cold, calculating smile that sent a chill down her spine. "Good. Because K-Boss don't like surprises. And if he finds out you been playing him… let's just say, there won't be any second chances."
The threat hung in the air between them, thick and oppressive. Zee felt her hand tighten around the Glock hidden in her jacket, the weight of it grounding her. Breezy was making it clear that he didn't trust her, that he was watching her every move. But she couldn't afford to back down now. Not when she was so close to breaking free from the grip K-Boss had on her.
"You don't have to worry about me," Zee said, her voice low, controlled. "I know where my loyalty lies."
Breezy nodded slowly, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He didn't believe her—not completely. And that doubt, that suspicion, could be enough to put her in danger.
"Good," Breezy said, taking a step back. "Just keep it that way."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone in the dimly lit alley, her mind racing. Breezy didn't trust her, and that made him a threat. She'd known it for a while now, but this conversation had made it clear: he was watching her, waiting for her to slip up.
Zee took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn't let Breezy see the fear that was gnawing at her, couldn't let him know that she was feeling the pressure. She had to stay focused, keep her head down, and find a way to make her next move before he made his.
As she walked away from the alley, her mind raced, formulating a plan. She needed leverage, something she could use to keep Breezy at bay, something that would make K-Boss hesitate before he turned on her. And she knew exactly where to get it.
When she reached her cousin's garage, the familiar hum of the 3D printer greeted her, a constant reminder of the secret she was hiding from everyone. The switches she'd been printing had been her ace in the hole, her way of making money outside of K-Boss's control. But now, as the walls closed in around her, they were more than just a source of income. They were her way out.
Zee moved to the back of the garage, where a small stack of printed switches lay hidden beneath a pile of rags. She picked one up, feeling the weight of it in her hand. This little piece of plastic and metal was her ticket to freedom—or her ticket to the grave, if K-Boss ever found out.
But Zee wasn't stupid. She knew she couldn't keep running this operation forever, not with Breezy watching her every move. She needed to get out, and fast. And she knew just who to go to.
As she packed up the switches, slipping them into her bag, a plan began to form in her mind. She'd been hearing rumors about a new player in town, someone who wasn't afraid to challenge K-Boss's territory, someone who was looking to expand. It was risky, reaching out to an outsider, but Zee was out of options. She needed someone powerful, someone who could help her take K-Boss down before he took her out.
She pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen as she scrolled through her contacts. This new player was a mystery, someone who kept a low profile but whose influence was starting to ripple through the streets. But Zee knew people. She knew how to get information, how to make connections. All she needed was one introduction, one meeting, and she'd be on her way to freedom.
With a steady hand, she dialed a number, waiting as the phone rang on the other end. Her heart pounded, the weight of her plan settling over her. This was dangerous. Reckless. But it was the only way.
After a few rings, a voice answered, smooth and confident. "Yeah?"
"I heard you're looking to make moves," Zee said, her voice steady. "I got something you might be interested in."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then a low chuckle. "You got my attention. Who's this?"
"Someone who can help you get what you want," Zee replied, her tone cool, controlled. "Meet me at the docks. Midnight."
The line went silent for a moment, and then the voice spoke again, a hint of intrigue in his tone. "Alright. Midnight."
Zee ended the call, slipping her phone back into her pocket as she took a deep breath. This was it. Her chance to break free, to make her own path. But it was also her most dangerous move yet.
As she left the garage and headed toward the docks, her mind raced with possibilities, the thrill of the plan mingling with the fear of what might happen if it went wrong. But she pushed the fear down, focusing on the task at hand. She was in control. She had to be.
Because in this game, control was everything. And Zee wasn't about to let it slip through her fingers.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone