weakness of queens - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

The city lights flickered like distant stars, casting a faint glow over the darkened streets. The tension in the air was almost suffocating, an unspoken anticipation lingering as the Mafia Queens prepared to make their next move. Tonight, everything could change.
Jennie's POV
I stood at the edge of the penthouse balcony, the cold night breeze brushing against my skin. My fingers tightened around the railing as I gazed out at the city below.
The message we had received had been clear-come alone. But alone was never an option. We weren't just partners in crime; we were family. And in this world, family meant everything.
I turned as the door behind me creaked open. Irene stepped onto the balcony, her arms crossed over her chest. "You're thinking too much again."
I let out a short laugh. "Hard not to when someone's trying to set us up."
She leaned against the railing beside me, her gaze sharp. "We've handled worse. We'll handle this too."
I met her eyes, seeing the unwavering determination in them. "You're right. We just have to make sure we're the ones in control."
She smirked. "When are we not?"
Down in the garage, Lisa, Jisoo, and Seulgi were prepping for the night ahead. Lisa leaned against the hood of the black sports car, arms crossed as she watched Jisoo check her weapons.
"You really think this is a setup?" Lisa asked.
Jisoo didn't look up as she replied, "Everything is a setup until proven otherwise."
Seulgi, sitting on the trunk of the car, let out a low whistle. "Then let's make sure we're the ones pulling the strings."
Lisa grinned, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "Now you're talking."
At Pier 7
The air smelled of salt and rust as we approached the docks. The place was almost eerily quiet, the usual hum of city life drowned out by the rhythmic lapping of waves against the wooden planks. A single figure stood under the dim glow of a flickering streetlight.
I stepped forward, my heels clicking against the ground. "You wanted to talk?"
The figure turned, revealing a man in a sleek black suit. His face was partially shadowed, but his voice was smooth, controlled. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't show."
I raised an eyebrow. "We don't take orders. We give them."
He chuckled. "I like that. But let's not waste time. I have information that could change everything for you."
I exchanged a quick glance with Irene and Rosé, signaling for them to stay alert. "I'm listening."
He reached into his coat, pulling out a folded piece of paper. "This is what they're after."
I took the paper, unfolding it to reveal an old photograph-one that made my blood run cold. It was a picture of us, taken years ago, back when we were first establishing our rule. But there was something different about it. In the background, barely visible, was a familiar figure.
"This... this isn't possible," Irene murmured, her voice unusually shaken.
The man smirked. "Oh, but it is. And if you don't find them before your enemies do, you won't be standing much longer."
A sharp sound cut through the air-gunfire.
"Ambush!" Lisa shouted, pulling out her gun.
Chaos erupted as figures emerged from the shadows, gunfire echoing through the docks. I ducked behind a crate, my heart pounding as I pulled out my own weapon.
Irene took cover beside me, firing a precise shot that took one of the attackers down. "We're getting out of here, now!"
Lisa and Jisoo fought side by side, their movements fluid and precise. Seulgi had climbed onto one of the containers, sniping targets from above.
Rosé grabbed my arm. "We need to move!"
I clenched my jaw, firing another shot before nodding. "Go!"
We sprinted towards the exit, dodging bullets as we moved. Just as we reached the car, a sudden explosion rocked the docks, sending shockwaves through the ground.
Lisa looked back, her eyes narrowing. "They were trying to trap us."
"They underestimated us," Irene said, sliding into the driver's seat.
As we sped away, the weight of what had just happened settled over us.
"That photo..." I said, still gripping it tightly. "We need to find out who's behind this."
Jisoo nodded. "Before they find us first."
I met their gazes, my determination burning brighter than ever. "Then it's time we remind them who they're dealing with."
Later that night
Back at the penthouse, we gathered in the war room, spreading out every piece of information we had. Irene traced a finger over the photograph, her expression unreadable.
"This person in the background... they look so familiar, but I can't place them," she muttered.
Rosé leaned forward, her brows furrowed. "There's something off about the way they're standing, like they knew they were being watched."
Lisa, who had been pacing, suddenly stopped. "Wait. What if this isn't just a random person? What if they were part of the setup from the beginning?"
Jisoo looked up, her mind working fast. "You're saying they were planted there?"
Lisa nodded. "Think about it. We built our empire from nothing, but we weren't the only ones trying. What if someone has been waiting for years to take us down?"
The room went silent as the weight of her words settled in.
"Then it's time we find them first," I said, standing up. "And when we do, we finish this once and for all."
Irene smirked, reaching for her gun. "Now that's the Jennie I know."
The Hunt Begins
The next day, we sent out our informants. The city was full of eyes and ears, and we made sure to use every single one of them. The streets belonged to us, and if there was a ghost from our past trying to haunt us, we'd dig them out.
Lisa and Jisoo interrogated one of our old contacts, a former ally who had turned neutral over the years. He paled as Lisa leaned in, her voice dangerously soft. "Tell me what you know, or I make sure you regret it."
He swallowed hard before whispering, "There's been whispers... someone powerful is backing a new player in town. They're looking for you."
Rosé tapped her nails against the table. "Who?"
The man hesitated, but one glare from Jisoo made him speak. "I don't know a name, but they're gathering allies. And they have resources. A lot of them."
I exchanged a glance with Irene. "Then we go hunting before they do."
With renewed fire, we left, ready to reclaim our throne. We weren't just the Mafia Queens-we were the law in this city. And no one took what was ours.