Bab 8: 8.
The cold night air bit at Zee's face as she moved through the quiet streets, her mind running over K-Boss's words again and again. No loose ends. She could hear the finality in his voice, the weight of what he expected her to do. This wasn't just about taking out some rival crew. It was about sending a message—to them, to the streets, and to everyone in K-Boss's circle who might be thinking about stepping out of line.
This was a test of loyalty. But it was more than that. It was a power play. K-Boss needed to know if Zee was still his, if she was still willing to do whatever it took to stay in the game. He was reminding her that, in his world, loyalty was proven in blood.
Zee turned down a side street, slipping into the shadows as she made her way toward the garage. The rival crew K-Boss was talking about had been moving product on the low, trying to build up their own operation without paying homage to the local kingpin. That kind of ambition got people killed around here. And now, K-Boss wanted Zee to handle it.
She didn't want to kill anyone. That wasn't her style. The weed game, the switches—those were about making money, about staying ahead. She wasn't trying to get caught up in body counts. But now, K-Boss had backed her into a corner, and the only way out seemed to involve spilling blood.
As she approached her cousin's garage, she pulled out her phone, scrolling through her contacts. She needed information on this rival crew, and fast. If she was going to take them out, she needed to know everything—where they were posted up, how many of them there were, who their leader was.
She dialed a number, her mind working quickly as the phone rang. After a couple of rings, a voice picked up on the other end.
"Yo, Zee, what's good?"
It was Bryson "Breezy" Williams, the enforcer she had run into earlier. He was sharp, ruthless, and one of the few people who could get his hands on the information she needed. Even though she didn't trust him—especially after the way he played her earlier—he was useful. And right now, she needed useful.
"I need some intel," Zee said, her voice low as she stepped into the shadows near the garage. "On the crew that's moving in on K-Boss's territory. The ones he's got me handling."
Breezy chuckled, and she could almost hear the grin on his face. "Ah, so K-Boss put you on cleanup duty. Ain't that something."
Zee's jaw clenched, but she kept her voice steady. "You gonna help me or not?"
Breezy's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Yeah, I got you. There's a small crew outta Dundalk that's been trying to push into the west side. They're young, reckless. Led by some cat named Rico. Dude's hungry, trying to make a name for himself, but he's been stepping on toes. K-Boss's toes."
Zee listened, filing the information away. Rico. Dundalk crew. Hungry and reckless.
"They got a stash house near Liberty Heights," Breezy continued. "Usually keep it low-key, but word is, they're making a big move soon. Might be worth catching them before they get too bold."
Zee's mind raced. A stash house meant there'd be cash, product, and people—people she might have to take out. She hated the thought of it, but she knew there was no way around it. K-Boss wanted a message sent, and the only way to send it was with force.
"You know who's posted there?" Zee asked.
"Few heads. Rico's right-hand man, Jace, runs things when Rico ain't around. Couple of shooters, nothing major. You can handle it."
Zee nodded to herself. This was it. If she was going to do this, she had to be smart about it. Get in, get it done, and get out. No loose ends, just like K-Boss said.
"Alright," Zee said, her voice firm. "I'll handle it."
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Breezy spoke again. "You better move quick, Zee. K-Boss don't like waiting. And if he thinks you slipping…" He let the sentence hang, leaving the unspoken threat in the air.
"I got this," Zee snapped, cutting him off. "Don't worry about me."
Breezy chuckled again, the sound grating on her nerves. "I'm always worried about you, Zee. Just make sure you handle business."
Zee ended the call, slipping the phone back into her pocket as she entered the garage. The familiar hum of the 3D printer greeted her, but tonight, it didn't bring her the same sense of control it usually did. Tonight, it felt like just another reminder of how deep she was in this game, how far she'd strayed from her original plans.
She moved to the back of the garage, where she kept her supplies—the Glock, the extra clips, the tools she used for printing the switches. Her hands were steady as she loaded the Glock, but her mind was spinning. She had to keep this tight. No mistakes. If she slipped up, K-Boss would know, and she'd be next.
As she loaded the final clip, she heard a knock at the door. Zee's hand flew to the Glock, her body tense as she moved toward the door. She wasn't expecting anyone.
"Who is it?" she called, her voice sharp.
"It's me, Liana."
Zee froze, her heart skipping a beat. She wasn't ready to face Liana—not now, not with everything that was going on. But she couldn't leave her standing out there, either.
She unlocked the door, opening it just enough to let Liana in. Her friend stepped inside, her face drawn with worry.
"Zee, we need to talk," Liana said, her voice urgent.
Zee closed the door behind her, her mind already racing. Not now, Li. Not tonight.
"What's up?" Zee asked, trying to keep her tone casual.
Liana glanced around the garage, her eyes landing on the loaded Glock sitting on the workbench. Her face tightened, and she looked back at Zee, her eyes searching.
"Zee… what the hell is going on with you?" Liana's voice was low, but the concern was clear.
Zee didn't respond right away. She couldn't. She was too deep in this now, and Liana was too close. There was no way to explain what she was about to do, no way to make her understand.
"Li, it's just business," Zee said, her voice steady. "You know that."
Liana shook her head, her frustration bubbling over. "This ain't business anymore, Zee. You're talking about guns now. You're talking about switches. This is bigger than we ever planned for. You could get killed."
Zee swallowed hard, the weight of her friend's words settling on her. She knew Liana was right. She knew this game was spiraling out of control. But it was too late to turn back now.
"I'm handling it, Li," Zee said, her voice firmer. "I'm in control."
Liana stared at her, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and fear. "You ain't in control, Zee. K-Boss is. And if you don't see that, you're blind."
The truth in Liana's words hit harder than Zee expected. K-Boss did control her, in more ways than she wanted to admit. But she couldn't let that show—not now.
"I gotta go," Zee said, moving toward the door. "I'll hit you up later."
Liana grabbed her arm, pulling her back. "Zee, don't do this. Whatever you're about to do, just… don't."
Zee paused, her eyes locking onto Liana's. She could see the worry, the fear, the love there. But she couldn't let it stop her. Not now. She was too far in.
"I don't have a choice," Zee said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liana's grip on her arm loosened, and she stepped back, her face falling in defeat. "There's always a choice, Zee."
Without another word, Zee turned and walked out of the garage, the door closing behind her with a quiet thud. The night stretched out in front of her, cold and unforgiving. And as she headed toward Liberty Heights, her mind focused on the task at hand, she couldn't shake the feeling that Liana was right.
But sometimes, the only way out was through.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone