Queenpins of the Underworld

Shadows of the Underworld

The low hum of the city draped itself over the night like a veil, concealing the sins of those who lurked in its shadowy corners. Washington, D.C., at midnight was a beast of its own, its pulse a steady thrum beneath the glittering skyline. But in the heart of the city, far from the marble monuments and the sterile halls of power, another kind of empire ruled—a darker, more primal kingdom where fear was the currency and loyalty was paid in blood.

In the dimly lit room of a converted warehouse, the smell of cigarette smoke clung to the air like an unwelcome guest. The warehouse was a fortress—a place where whispers of betrayal met swift retribution, where deals were made and unmade with the pull of a trigger. It was here that two women stood at the center of it all, queens of a throne forged in violence and secrecy.

Vivian "Vee" Carter leaned back against the edge of the massive oak desk that dominated the room, her dark eyes cold and calculating. She was tall, with a lean, athletic build that belied her strength. Her skin was the color of rich mahogany, smooth and flawless except for a thin scar that cut across her right eyebrow—a souvenir from a life spent fighting for every inch of ground she claimed. Her short, coiled hair was slicked back, giving her an almost regal appearance, a warrior queen in modern times.

Across from her, pacing back and forth with the restless energy of a caged predator, was her best friend and business partner, Danielle "Dani" King. Where Vee was the calm center of the storm, Dani was the tempest itself. Her skin was a warm shade of brown, her features sharp and striking—a beauty that had once been her weapon, but was now merely another facet of her carefully cultivated armor. Her locs hung down to her shoulders, swaying with each measured step she took. Her eyes, a deep amber, were filled with the fire of a woman who had seen too much, who had done too much, to ever turn back.

"They're late," Dani muttered, her voice low and edged with irritation. She shot a glance at Vee, who remained infuriatingly composed.

"They'll be here," Vee replied, her tone betraying nothing. She reached for the glass of whiskey on the desk, taking a slow sip as if they weren't waiting for a rival gang to show up for a parley that could end in bloodshed. But that was Vee—always in control, always the strategist.

Dani stopped pacing and turned to face Vee fully, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "And if they're not? What then, Vee? We've got territory at stake here. The Colombians aren't going to just roll over because we ask nicely."

Vee set her glass down with a quiet clink and locked eyes with Dani. "We're not asking, Dani. We're taking. And they know that."

There it was again—that quiet confidence that made Dani both admire and hate Vee in equal measure. They had built this empire together, side by side, through betrayal, through violence, through sheer willpower. But there were times when Dani wondered if Vee understood the stakes the way she did—if she felt the same gnawing fear that their fragile world could come crashing down around them at any moment.

Of course, Vee would never show it if she did. That was the difference between them, the thing that both drew Dani to her and kept her at a distance. Dani wore her emotions like armor, but Vee? Vee was a fortress, impenetrable and unyielding.

"You're too calm," Dani said, narrowing her eyes. "It's like you don't even care if this goes sideways."

Vee's lips curled into a half-smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. "I care, Dani. But I don't let it rule me. That's the difference."

Dani wanted to argue, to push back against that maddening composure, but the sound of heavy footsteps outside the door cut her off. The door swung open, and two men entered, flanking a third who was clearly the leader.

Raul Alvarez, head of the Colombian cartel's East Coast operations, strode into the room with the swagger of a man who believed he was untouchable. His dark eyes flicked between the two women, assessing, calculating. He was handsome, in a way that made Dani's skin crawl—there was too much cruelty in his gaze, too much arrogance in the way he looked at them like they were lesser.

"Ladies," Raul said, his voice a low purr as he spread his arms wide. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

Vee didn't rise from her position on the desk, her expression unreadable. "Not at all, Raul. We were just discussing how best to accommodate our new arrangement."

Raul's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Is that so? And here I thought you'd be more...resistant."

Dani clenched her fists, the urge to wipe that smug look off Raul's face almost overwhelming. But she held back, barely, knowing that Vee had a plan—she always did.

"Resistance is only useful when it serves a purpose," Vee said smoothly. "We both know there's no profit in fighting each other. We want the same thing—to expand, to control. The only question is how we get there."

Raul tilted his head, intrigued. "And what exactly are you proposing, Vee?"

Vee pushed off the desk, finally moving to stand. She was a few inches shorter than Raul, but the way she carried herself made her seem taller, more imposing. "A partnership. We split the territory—equal shares. We pool our resources, our networks. No more stepping on each other's toes. We work together, we both win."

Raul's eyes narrowed slightly, the gears in his mind turning. Dani could almost see him weighing the options, calculating the risks. She knew he wouldn't trust them—why would he? In their world, trust was a liability, a weakness to be exploited.

But Vee knew how to play this game, knew how to make him see the logic in her offer. And Dani had to admit, as much as it grated on her, Vee was right. They couldn't afford an all-out war, not when they were both surrounded by enemies waiting to pick at the carcass.

Raul finally nodded, a slow, deliberate movement. "Alright, Vee. You've got yourself a deal. But if you cross me..."

Vee's smile was as sharp as a blade. "You won't live long enough to regret it."

Dani watched as they shook hands, sealing the deal. But as she looked at Vee, standing there with that cool, detached expression, something twisted in her gut. It wasn't the danger, the violence, or even the lies that bothered her—it was the way Vee could so easily detach herself from everything, including Dani.

It was a dangerous game they were playing, but for Dani, the real danger was something much deeper, something she couldn't even admit to herself.

Because as much as she wanted to hate Vee in moments like this, she couldn't. And that, more than anything, terrified her.