Eastside smelled like gunpowder and burnt rubber.
Nyra's first steps out of the car hit her like a wall. Chaos had moved fast while she was away: shipments gone, merchandise stolen, streets louder than ever. Her crew scattered, tension high.
Shark was already there, surveying the scene like a predator marking territory. But even his calm eyes couldn't hide the strain.
"Nyra," he said softly, almost a growl. "This is worse than I thought."
She ran her fingers through her locs, taking in the destruction. The warehouse doors had been torn open. Crates smashed. Her stash gone.
"I know," she said tightly. Her chest ached, frustration already building. "I'll fix it."
Shark didn't flinch. He never did. But this time, he gave her a long look. "You think too small sometimes."
"I'm not small," she snapped. Then she shook it off, exhaling slowly. "I'm focused."
But she wasn't.
Back at ValeTech, it hit her first. In the middle of debugging a security protocol, her fingers hesitated. Her mind wandered to burned crates, lost shipments, and the crew whispering in the alleys.
Adrian noticed.
"Nyra?" he asked, stopping just short of concern.
She shook her head. "I'm fine."
He didn't push. Professionals didn't pry. But her usual precision faltered; minor errors appeared. Lines of code she would never normally miss.
Damn it, she thought. Not now.
By evening, she was on the phone with Shark, pacing the apartment like a predator.
"Tell me what you've got," she said sharply.
"Someone hit three of our supply chains," Shark replied. "Eastside's shifting. New players testing the waters. You were gone perfect timing for them."
Nyra's jaw clenched. "I know. I need to…" She hesitated, voice low. "…I need to fix it."
Shark's voice softened slightly. "I know you do. But don't burn yourself out. ValeTech isn't Eastside. You can't solve both at the same time."
"I can," she said, almost too loudly. "I have to."
That night, she stood on the balcony, city lights of ValeTech in one view, Eastside in her mind's eye. Smoke curling from her cigarette, mixing with thoughts that refused to settle.
She hated losing control. Hated the chaos. Hated that even here, at ValeTech, her mind couldn't escape the streets.
Shark appeared silently behind her.
"You'll handle it," he said simply.
She didn't look at him. "I will."
He didn't question. Never did. But she could feel his steady presence. Anchor. Warning. Reminder.
Her worlds were colliding. And she didn't get a say in which one hit harder first.