weakness of queens - Chapter 13: Chapter 13

The air was thick with tension as we sat in the main lounge, the dim lighting casting long shadows along the walls. Irene stood at the center, the weight of our situation settling over her shoulders like a heavy cloak. The information we had gathered last night at the underground club painted a grim picture-someone powerful was lurking in the shadows, setting us up for a war we didn't start.
But if they thought we would sit back and wait, they didn't know who they were dealing with.
Lisa's POV
I sat back on the couch, stretching my arms behind my head as I listened to the discussion. Jennie had that calculating look in her eyes, the one that meant she was already ten steps ahead of everyone else. I smirked to myself. That's what made her so dangerous-she didn't just react; she predicted.
"We need to start hitting the streets tonight," Jennie said, her voice firm. "Someone knows something. We pressure the right people, and we'll get our answers."
Rosé leaned forward. "That means we split up. We can cover more ground that way."
Irene nodded in agreement. "Fine, but we move carefully. Whoever's doing this is smart. They'll be expecting us to make a move."
"Good," I said, grinning. "That means they'll be expecting the wrong move."
Jisoo rolled her eyes. "This isn't a game, Lisa."
I smirked. "Depends on how you look at it."
Jennie ignored our back-and-forth, standing up as she gave out instructions. "Lisa, you're with me. We'll check out the docks. Rosé and Jisoo, take the south side and talk to our contacts there. Irene and Seulgi, you handle the high-end clubs-if our enemy has money, they'll be leaving traces there."
Everyone nodded, understanding that tonight was critical.
The docks were quiet, the sound of waves lapping against the wooden piers the only thing breaking the silence. I walked beside Jennie, my hand resting on my holster just in case. The air smelled like salt and metal, a scent I had come to associate with bad memories.
A man waited near one of the storage containers, his cigarette glowing in the dark. As we approached, he straightened, recognition flashing across his face. "Didn't think I'd be seeing you two tonight."
Jennie didn't waste time. "Save the small talk, Kai. We need answers."
Kai exhaled a puff of smoke. "About what?"
I stepped forward, my tone dropping. "Don't play dumb. Two Blackwood men ended up dead, and someone's trying to pin it on us. You hear anything?"
Kai hesitated, shifting on his feet. "There's been... whispers. Someone's been moving in the dark, making calculated hits. They're careful, but not careful enough. They're looking for something-something big."
Jennie narrowed her eyes. "What are they after?"
Kai shook his head. "That, I don't know. But whoever they are, they have connections. Money. Power. And they're not afraid to make a statement."
I glanced at Jennie, seeing the way her jaw tensed. This was bigger than we thought.
"If you hear anything else, you tell us first," Jennie warned. "Understood?"
Kai nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Just don't shoot the messenger."
Jennie turned, motioning for me to follow. As we walked away, I could tell her mind was already racing.
"We need to get back to the others," she muttered. "Now."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Rosé and Jisoo were making their own moves. The south side wasn't a place for the faint of heart, but for them, it was familiar territory. They walked through the neon-lit streets, heading toward a club that served as a hub for underground dealings.
Inside, the bass of the music vibrated through the floor, and the scent of smoke and alcohol lingered in the air. Jisoo spotted their target first-a man sitting alone at the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey.
Rosé approached first, sliding into the seat beside him. "Long night, Minho?"
Minho barely glanced at her. "I don't talk to ghosts."
Jisoo smirked. "Good thing we're very much alive."
Minho sighed, swirling the liquid in his glass. "You're here for information, I assume?"
"You assume right," Rosé said. "Someone's making moves, and we need to know who."
Minho hesitated before speaking. "There's a new player in town. No one knows their face, but they're good. They've got money and connections. And they've been asking questions about you."
Jisoo's gaze darkened. "What kind of questions?"
"The kind that suggests they're looking for a weakness."
Rosé exchanged a look with Jisoo before standing up. "Then they'll be disappointed. We don't have any."
By the time we all regrouped at the penthouse, the air was heavy with urgency. Irene's face was unreadable, but the way she was gripping the edge of the table told me she was just as concerned as the rest of us.
"We got confirmation," Rosé said, crossing her arms. "Whoever's behind this isn't just trying to start a war. They're looking for something."
Jisoo exhaled. "But what? And why frame us in the process?"
Jennie sat down, rubbing her temple. "Because whatever they're after... it must be important enough to take down the Mafia Queens for."
A silence fell over the room as the weight of her words settled in.
"Then we find out what it is," Irene finally said. "Before they do."
Lisa smirked. "Now this just got interesting."
Just then, a phone buzzed on the table. Irene picked it up, her eyes narrowing as she read the message. Without a word, she handed the phone to Jennie, who frowned before reading it aloud:
"If you want to know the truth, come alone. Midnight. Pier 7. No backup. No tricks."
The message was unsigned, but we all knew it was from whoever had been moving in the shadows.
Lisa leaned forward. "Sounds like a trap."
Jennie smirked. "Good. I love a challenge."
Irene's voice was sharp. "We're not sending you in alone."
Jennie met her gaze. "We don't have a choice. If we don't show, we lose our only lead."
Rosé exhaled. "Then we make sure you're not really alone."
The room was silent for a moment before Jisoo finally spoke. "We do this our way."
Jennie nodded, a slow smile spreading across her lips. "Then let's end this game."