Chapter 47: The Black Rose
Ivy
The adrenaline still pumped through my veins as I watched the family representatives exchange nervous glances, their relief palpable yet tinged with unease. They weren’t used to this kind of warfare—the sharp-edged dance of power and intimidation that came with dealing with men like George Albert. I had been forged in it, tempered by the heat of betrayal and the cold steel of resolve.
“Thank you, Ms. Blackwood,” the elder representative, Mr. Whitman, finally said, his voice shaky but sincere. His hands trembled as he adjusted his glasses, and I could see the weight of their decision etched into his tired eyes. “We don’t know what we would have done without you.”
I offered a curt nod, keeping my expression composed, even though my mind was already racing through the next steps. “This deal is secure now, but you need to prepare for what’s coming. George doesn’t take kindly to losing, and he’ll find a way to retaliate. Be ready.”
The younger man, Aaron Whitman, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. His youthful confidence, so evident when we’d first met, had been rattled to its core. “Are you sure we should’ve gone through with this? What if he comes after us?” His voice was uncertain, his bravado fading under the weight of the reality I had painted for them.
“He will try,” I replied bluntly, locking eyes with him. My voice was steady, unwavering. “But that’s why you came to me. You wanted someone who could stand up to him, someone who wouldn’t buckle under his pressure. Trust me to handle it.”
Aaron swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he nodded reluctantly. The elder Whitman placed a hand on his son’s shoulder, offering him a reassuring squeeze, though I could see the doubt lingering in both their eyes.
As the meeting wrapped up and they left the boardroom, I leaned back in my chair, allowing myself a moment to breathe. My mind raced with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last. George’s threat wasn’t idle. It never was.
I pulled out my phone, my fingers hesitating over the screen for a fraction of a second before I dialed a number I hadn’t used in years. It rang twice before a familiar voice answered.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Ivy Blackwood. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Save the pleasantries, Carter,” I said, my tone sharper than intended. “I need information. George Albert is back, and he’s already trying to map his territory close to mine.”
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a low whistle. “Albert, huh? That man’s like a cockroach. You think you’ve crushed him, but he just keeps crawling back. What do you need?”
“Everything you can find. Who he’s working with, his recent moves, any leverage I can use against him. I want it all, and I want it fast.”
“Consider it done,” Carter replied, his voice taking on a more serious tone. “But be careful, Ivy. George isn’t just playing for power anymore. Word on the street is that he’s out for blood.”
I clenched my jaw, refusing to let the weight of Carter’s warning sink in. “He won’t get mine,” I said firmly. “Keep me updated.”
Hanging up, I stared at the sleek surface of the conference table, my reflection staring back at me. For years, I had fought tooth and nail to rise above the chaos George had tried to bury me in. Every battle, every sleepless night had led me to this moment. But this time felt different.
This wasn’t just about business anymore. This was personal.
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I didn’t want to sleep at Leo’s house tonight. There was a part of me that was afraid he’d see right through the façade, that he’d sense something was off. I didn’t want him to worry about me more than he already did. And to be honest, I missed my own space—the sanctuary of my home, the walls that had witnessed so many of my darkest moments. It was where I could let the weight of the world fall away, even if just for a little while.
When I arrived, the scent of the house washed over me like a comforting embrace, familiar and warm. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it until that very moment. Leo hadn’t taken the decision well when I told him I was leaving for the night.
He tried to convince me a hundred times over to stay at his place, arguing that it wasn’t safe here, that he could protect me. But I couldn’t bear the thought of him seeing me fragile, vulnerable. I needed to be alone, at least for a while.
He’d pushed back, trying to make me promise to call him if anything went wrong, but I assured him that I’d be fine. There was no need to burden him with my concerns about George—not yet, anyway. There were things I needed to sort out on my own before I dragged Leo into it.
Still, Leo had made sure I was well-protected. There were security cameras at every corner of the house, private guards stationed at all the critical points, and encrypted communications that kept me connected to him even from a distance. I knew he meant well, but the suffocating presence of it all felt a little too much at times.
I’m staying here just for a night, and he’s making it seem like I'll be here for a year!
I shrugged it off as I moved through the house, the familiar echoes of my footsteps filling the empty hallways. I headed straight to my father’s room, the one place I could always find a shred of comfort. I hadn’t realized how much I needed it until I stepped through the door.
The room was just as I remembered—draped in muted colors, soft and serene. I stood there for a moment, taking it all in, before stepping inside. I closed my eyes for a second, the memories flooding back like a tidal wave.
This room had been my refuge during the time I was adjusting to life after the abuse I faced in my old pack. Whenever the nightmares had come, my father would scoop me up and tuck me under the softest blankets, his gentle voice weaving tales to lull me into a peaceful sleep. It was his way of protecting me, even when he didn’t know what my nightmares were.
I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, allowing myself to get lost in those memories for just a moment, feeling safe again.
But the moment didn’t last.
A sharp alert buzzed through the air, jolting me from my thoughts. The security system’s soft beep echoed through the room, an immediate sign of something wrong. My heart skipped a beat, and I turned toward the door, my instincts kicking in. Had I made a mistake? Should I have stayed with Leo after all?
The blood rushed to my head as I crossed the room quickly, the weight of uncertainty settling over me as I remembered the night I saw the keeper.
I hesitated for a split second, my mind racing, before I pressed the button to bring up the security monitor linked to the main entrance.
The screen flickered to life, and my breath caught in my throat when I saw it.
A bouquet of black roses lay delicately placed at the foot of the gate. The dark petals seemed to almost shimmer under the cold, artificial light. Attached to the stems was a sleek black envelope, its edges catching the light like a warning, like a promise. The sight of it sent a cold chill down my spine, and I instinctively took a step back.
Who would leave this here? The black roses were an unsettling touch, something far too specific to be a coincidence. And the envelope—it wasn’t just an ordinary note. It was a message, a deliberate one.