The Plug's Daughter

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The Plug's Daughter
Chapter 10: Late Night Moves
Houston,Texas
Later on that day...

Keisha's voice still rang in my head as I sat in Zori's living room, twirling my braid between my fingers.

"Kemo got a meet tonight, 'Zhà. Word is, he makin' some kind of play to level up. You might wanna check that out before it's too late."

She hadn't said much more, but it was enough. Kemo wasn't just talking about taking my daddy's spot—he was moving on it. And tonight might be the start of something big.

"You can't just pull up like you're in some Netflix show," Zori said, perched on the edge of the couch with her legs crossed. She'd been trying to talk me out of it for the last ten minutes.

"I'm not about to let this slide," I said, my voice sharper than I meant it to be. "If he's really trying to come for my dad, I need to know what's going on."

"Girl, you are not in the FBI," Zori said, throwing her hands up. "What you gon' do? Walk in there and be like, 'Excuse me, Mr. Kemo, can you confirm or deny this rumor?'"

I rolled my eyes. "Obviously not. I'm just gonna... watch. See what he's up to."

Zori sighed, shaking her head. "I'm telling you now, this is giving main character energy, and not in a good way. You better be careful, 'Zhà."

"I will," I said, grabbing my bag and keys.

Later That Night

The summer air was heavy, sticking to my skin as I parked a block away from the spot Keisha mentioned—a run-down warehouse on the edge of the city. My heart was pounding, but I kept my face neutral. If anyone saw me, I didn't want them knowing I wasn't supposed to be here.

I slipped out of the car, keeping low as I made my way toward the building. The faint sound of voices and the rumble of car engines reached my ears before I even got close.

I spotted Kemo's Charger right away, parked up front like it was the star of the show. The sight of it made my stomach twist.

"Alright, 'Zhà," I whispered to myself, "just keep it cool."

I stayed in the shadows, inching closer until I found a spot behind a stack of old crates near a side window. From there, I could see into the warehouse. Kemo was standing in the center of a small crowd, his voice calm but commanding as he talked to the group.

I couldn't make out every word, but I caught enough:

"...time to stop waiting around. If we move now, we can control it all. Ain't nobody gonna stop us unless we let 'em."

The group nodded, a few of them exchanging looks that sent chills down my spine. Whatever Kemo was planning, it wasn't small.

I pulled out my phone, snapping a quick picture of the scene. My hands were shaking, but I had to get something—proof that Keisha wasn't just running her mouth.

As I tucked my phone back into my pocket, the sound of footsteps made me freeze.

"You lost or somethin'?"

I turned slowly, my heart dropping as I came face to face with one of Kemo's guys. He was taller than me by a good foot, his eyes narrowing as he looked me up and down.

"I'm just waiting on somebody," I said, my voice steady even though I felt anything but.

"In the dark? Behind a stack of crates?" he asked, folding his arms.

I shrugged, trying to play it off. "I didn't wanna be in the way."

He didn't look convinced, but before he could say anything else, Kemo's voice rang out.

"Aye, what's goin' on over there?"

The guy stepped aside, and there he was—Kemo, walking toward me with that same cocky smirk I'd seen earlier today.

"Well, well," he said, stopping a few feet away. "Didn't think I'd see you here, Alazhá."

I crossed my arms, lifting my chin. "I could say the same thing."

His smirk widened, but his eyes stayed sharp, like he was trying to figure out my angle. "You lost?"

"Just curious," I said, keeping my tone light. "Looks like you've got a lot going on tonight."

Kemo's expression didn't change, but the air around him seemed to tighten. "Curiosity's dangerous, you know. Especially around here."

"Good thing I can handle myself," I shot back, refusing to look away.

For a moment, neither of us said anything. Then Kemo nodded, like he'd made up his mind about something.

"Alright," he said, his voice low. "You wanna know what's goin' on? Come find me when you're ready to hear the truth. But until then? Stay outta my way."

With that, he turned and walked back toward the group, leaving me standing there with my heart pounding and more questions than answers.

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