Zach The city looked like it was breathing again. For weeks it had been smoke and rubble and bodies—now there was movement, sound, life. It wasn’t peace, not yet, but it was close enough to pretend. The calm that comes before a storm big enough to wash the streets clean. From the balcony of my office, I watched the men unloading crates from the new shipments—liquor, weapons, medical supplies, all stamped with our insignia. The Core—what Alana liked to call our intelligence network—had mapped out new trade routes that cut our losses in half. Her mind worked like that now: not just in survival, but in systems, structure, control. It was efficient. It was terrifying. Behind me, Niko leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “You ever sleep anymore, boss?” I didn’t turn around. “You ever stop asking stupid questions?” He snorted, the sound sharp in the quiet. “Gia says Alana’s expanding The Core again. More lieutenants, more informants. You sure you’re comfortable with that?” I f
Last Updated : 2025-10-27 Read more