The streets were quiet, cloaked in early dusk. Rico trailed a few paces behind Ivie, moving like a shadow. She'd been acting strange all day — nervous, distracted, whispering into her phone when she thought no one was watching. He'd asked her what was going on, but she brushed him off.
Something wasn't right.
And Rico's gut told him it had something to do with Zino.
He kept his hoodie up, blending into the corners of the neighborhood as Ivie turned onto a quiet alley. She looked over her shoulder once — cautious, maybe even guilty. Rico ducked behind a parked Keke, heart thumping.
Then she reached an old compound wall.
A figure stepped out from behind it. Tall. Familiar. Zino.
Rico's jaw clenched.
He moved closer, careful to stay hidden. From the angle, he could see Zino step up to her — too close. Ivie leaned back slightly, her spine pressed against the wall. Zino said something, grinning. Then, slowly, he reached out and brushed her cheek.
Rico's blood boiled.
And then — Zino leaned in. His lips just inches from hers.
Rico turned away, fists balled, heart broken. He didn't wait to see more. Didn't wait for an explanation. He stormed off into the night, betrayal pounding in his ears.
Behind him, back in that alley, Ivie shoved Zino hard.
"Don't you ever do that again," she snapped.
Zino laughed, brushing imaginary dust off his chest. "Relax, Boss Bosh. I wasn't going to kiss you. Just wanted him to think so."
Ivie froze. "You knew he followed me?"
Zino winked. "I hoped he would. And now he has."
She stared at him, disgust flooding her face. "You're playing with fire."
He smirked, stepping back into the shadows. "So are you."
Meanwhile, Rico stumbled into an abandoned storehouse on the edge of their turf, breathing heavy, fists shaking. He needed to punch something. Needed to scream. Needed to forget the look in Ivie's eyes when she was with Zino.
He grabbed a bottle and hurled it against the wall. Glass shattered.
Another.
Then a sharp pain — a jagged piece slashed his arm as it flew back from impact.
"Shit," he muttered, grabbing at his bleeding forearm.
But the pain… was nothing compared to what he felt inside.
Back at the hideout, Mama Tee looked up from her tea. "Rico's bleeding again, I can feel it," she said softly.
Ivie stood by the window, silent.
Zino was nowhere in sight.
And the team would gather soon.
But for now…
Ivie was beginning to lose herself again.