The warehouse was quiet that night.
Not the same warehouse where Reed had humiliated them months ago. This one was smaller, hidden behind an abandoned auto shop on the edge of the city. Rain tapped softly against the metal roof, creating a steady rhythm that echoed through the empty space.
Malik stood near a wooden table, staring at a map spread across it.
Marcus leaned against a crate, arms folded. Darius sat on a chair nearby, his leg stretched out carefully. The scars from Reed's torture still hadn't completely healed, but he refused to stay home.
They had all been quiet for several minutes.
Finally Marcus spoke.
"You called us here like it was urgent," he said. "So talk."
Malik didn't immediately respond.
His eyes remained fixed on the map.
Then he exhaled slowly.
"There's something you two need to know."
Darius raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds serious."
"It is."
Malik finally turned toward them.
"I've been working with someone."
Marcus frowned instantly.
"What do you mean working with someone?"
Malik hesitated for a moment.
Then he said the words.
"The strategist."
The reaction was immediate.
Marcus pushed himself off the crate.
"You WHAT?"
Darius leaned forward in his chair, his expression hardening.
"You're joking, right?"
Malik shook his head.
"I'm not."
Marcus started pacing.
"That guy is an outsider. Nobody even knows who he really works for."
"I do," Malik replied calmly.
Marcus stopped walking.
The tension in the room thickened.
"Then explain," Marcus said.
Malik walked to the table and pointed at the map.
"You both want Reed gone."
Darius scoffed.
"That's not news."
"Then listen."
Malik looked at both of them.
"I've been meeting with the strategist for weeks."
Marcus rubbed his face in disbelief.
"And you didn't think to tell us?"
"I had to be sure first," Malik replied.
Darius narrowed his eyes.
"Be sure about what?"
Malik tapped the map.
"Reed's movements."
Both men leaned closer.
Malik pointed to several locations marked in red.
"Safe houses. Meeting points. Shipment routes."
Marcus studied the map carefully.
"You got all this from him?"
Malik nodded.
"Yes."
Darius frowned.
"And why exactly is he helping us?"
Malik didn't answer right away.
Marcus noticed.
"That pause tells me there's a catch."
Malik finally spoke.
"There is."
Marcus folded his arms.
"Let's hear it."
Malik looked them directly in the eyes.
"He wants Reed's territory."
The room went silent again.
Darius leaned back slowly.
"Of course he does."
Marcus shook his head.
"So we kill Reed… and hand everything over to some outsider?"
Malik raised a hand.
"Not everything."
Marcus laughed dryly.
"That's supposed to make it better?"
Malik's voice stayed calm.
"You both know we don't want the empire Reed built."
That was true.
They had walked away from that life already.
But Marcus still looked uneasy.
"You're trusting this guy way too much."
"I'm not trusting him," Malik said.
"I'm using him."
Darius studied Malik carefully.
"Just like he thinks he's using us."
Malik nodded slightly.
"Exactly."
Marcus walked to the table again.
"So who is he?"
Malik finally answered.
"His name is Victor Salazar."
Marcus and Darius exchanged glances.
They had heard that name before.
Victor Salazar.
A quiet but dangerous figure who operated in the shadows of the city's criminal networks. Not a loud boss like Reed.
More like a chess player.
Darius spoke slowly.
"That guy controls information."
Malik nodded.
"And people underestimate him."
Marcus sighed.
"And you're working with him."
"For now."
Marcus shook his head again.
"You better be right about this."
Malik looked down at the map again.
"He gave me Reed's current pattern."
He pointed to a highway route marked with a black line.
"Reed moves between two locations every few days."
Darius leaned forward.
"What locations?"
Malik pointed again.
"A private club downtown… and a compound outside the city."
Marcus studied the map.
"That's a lot of security."
"Yes."
Darius looked thoughtful.
"But patterns mean weaknesses."
Malik nodded.
"Exactly."
Marcus finally understood.
"So Salazar wants us to take Reed out because he can't do it himself."
"Correct."
"And once Reed is gone, he steps in."
"Yes."
Marcus looked at Malik carefully.
"And what do we get?"
Malik didn't hesitate.
"Freedom."
The word hung in the air.
Marcus leaned back against the table.
"You really think this ends after Reed?"
Malik's voice became quiet.
"Yes."
Darius raised an eyebrow.
"You sound very sure."
Malik looked at them both.
"This is the last job."
Marcus frowned.
"You said that before."
Malik shook his head.
"This time I mean it."
Darius studied him carefully.
"What happens after?"
Malik hesitated.
Then he finally said it.
"I'm leaving."
Marcus blinked.
"Leaving where?"
Malik answered.
"Chicago."
Darius tilted his head.
"Chicago?"
Malik nodded.
"South side."
Marcus stared at him.
"Why Chicago?"
Malik smiled slightly.
"O-Block."
Marcus raised both eyebrows.
"Seriously?"
"Yes."
Darius chuckled quietly.
"That's a bold move."
Malik shrugged.
"I have family there."
That wasn't entirely a lie.
"My son deserves something different," Malik continued.
"A life without all this."
Marcus looked at him for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
"I can't even argue with that."
Darius nodded slowly.
"But first… Reed."
Malik nodded.
"Yes."
Marcus pointed at the map.
"So what's the plan?"
Malik took a deep breath.
"Salazar says Reed will be at the downtown club in three nights."
Darius frowned.
"That place is crowded."
"Exactly."
Marcus understood immediately.
"Too many witnesses."
Malik nodded.
"So Reed will feel safe."
Marcus grinned slightly.
"And that's when he makes a mistake."
Malik looked at both of them.
"We hit him when he moves."
Darius leaned forward.
"On the road?"
"Yes."
Marcus cracked his knuckles.
"That I like."
Malik folded the map.
"This has to be clean."
Darius nodded.
"No chaos."
Marcus smirked.
"And no survivors."
Malik didn't respond to that.
Instead he said something else.
"Once Reed is gone… we're done."
Marcus studied him carefully.
"You really mean that?"
Malik nodded.
"Yes."
Darius slowly stood up.
"Well then."
He extended his hand.
"For the last job."
Marcus placed his hand on top.
Malik looked at both of them.
Then he placed his hand over theirs.
"For the last job."
Outside, the rain continued to fall.
And somewhere across the city…
Victor Salazar smiled as he watched the game unfold.
Because every chess match required sacrifice.
And Reed was about to become one.