Rowan Blackwood POV:The morning sunshine filled the conference room, giving the place warm and cozy vibes.I casually reclined my chair, but my gaze was anything but relaxed.I watched Rowan sitting in his head seat, his expression cool and composed as he looked at me and Axel. But my gaze didn’t linger on him for long, as I turned my attention to Valerie, who was sitting on Rowan’s left. Her posture was straight, but I caught the uneasiness in her body that she was trying her best to mask. Though she had been working hard to keep her father’s business going, but she had struggled to get the same respect and things done that her father had.Axel was also seated to my left, and Valerie’s right chair remained silent. He looked rather relaxed and calm, but he was also the man who spoke less and acted more when it came to work.Right now, Valerie looked oblivious to the undercurrents passing through the room. She had been talking since the meeting began, her voice sounded like she was tr
“Just waiting for you,” he replied and followed after me. “You have been busy.”“Work!!” I dryly replied.Raven smiled like I had just said something sweet. “Smart girl.”I stopped walking and looked at him. “Why do you keep showing up?”He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “Curiosity or may be something else.”I crossed my arms on my chest. “I am not a puzzle you need to solve, Raven.”“No, you’re a storm.” His eyes were intense as he looked into my eyes. “And storms either pass… or destroy everything in their way.”I replied nothing, but let his words sink into my soul, just because he thought I was capable of destroying everything that came my way, including him.One night, I couldn’t sleep. I stepped out onto the balcony of my room. The city lights were stretching out below me. The wind felt cold against my skin, but it felt good. It reminded me I was still alive.Elvis came out a minute later, and he held two cups of tea in his hand. “You look like someone who is about to jump
Elvis got up and said as he looked at Raven and then at me. “I will be right outside.”I watched Elvis’s back as he left the room. I took a step to walk out as well, but then his strong hand held my arm and pulled me back to face him. His grip was tight around my skin, which made me wince in pain. “Let me go.” I shook my arm to release his grip.Raven inched closer to me, so close that I could feel his breath wash over my face.I met his gaze, refusing to let him tower over me, control me, or dominate me. “What the hell do you want, Raven?”“Don’t trust everyone blindly, Valerie,” He said.Raven spoke in a voice that almost made me believe he cared. But wasn’t he one of everyone? So, I calmly nodded my head. “Yes, I am not believing everyone.” My meaning clear, I would trust everyone or anyone but him.“Oh.” Raven raised his brows, and then two seconds later he laughed, like I said, a joke? Then he patted my head. “Good. You’re quick to learn!”I felt weird for some reason, feeling th
I looked at other leaders, ignoring Raven like he wasn’t present here. Some had neutral expressions, some looked like they were also looking forward to working with me, but one or two leaders looked like they didn’t like me here, but they didn’t say anything.The discussions began, covering various topics from territory disputes to financial agreements.“We’ve had some interference in our business, near the northern docks,” one of the local leaders said. “I believe some of Falcone’s men were spotted there.”Rowan leaned back slightly in his chair, and he looked coldly at the leader who spoke. “If they were mine, you wouldn’t be guessing.”The man’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond back.Harvey interjected smoothly, his tone neutral. “There might have been a miscommunication. We will have someone from our side review the patrol schedules. No one wants unnecessary conflict, especially not during transitions.”I nodded, keeping my voice calm. “Appreciated, Harvey. And yes, we’ll ensu
She laughed. “I told him to get lost. Just like I told you.”She tried to walk toward the stairs, but she stumbled again. I caught her before she fell and broke something inside her.“Why do you keep doing that?” she said angrily. “Let me just fall!”“Because I’m not going to let you destroy yourself.”“You can’t stop me!”“Maybe not, but I’ll still try.”She shoved me hard and walked past me. “Don’t act like you care.”“I do care.” I nodded.“Liar!” she screamed. “You care about the business, about the will. That’s all. You didn’t care when he died. You didn’t cry. You didn’t even look sad!”I stayed quiet.She hit my chest again. “Say something! Say I am wrong!”“You’re not wrong,” I said. “I didn’t cry. But I felt it. I still do.”She dropped her hands on her sides and stood there, breathing heavily. She stared at me for a long moment. Then, her face crumbled, and tears fell from her cheeks like a waterfall. She dropped to her knees right there in the hallway, started sobbing into
“Don’t,” she cut me off. She took a step away, creating distance between us. “Just… don’t.”She stood beside Elvis, who gave me a helpless glance. He didn’t believe I did that. But he also couldn’t control her grief.And I didn’t blame her. Grief was loud. Grief was cruel. And when love gets ripped out of someone, what gets left behind is fire.I turned away and stepped beside Eliot. His eyes met mine for a second, but he didn’t speak.The priest came forward to say the final blessing.Victor’s coffin was lowered. Valerie didn’t cry. She didn’t move from her place. She was trying her best to look fine.Rowan flicked his cigarette away, and Axel crossed his arms a little.We stood there until the last of the dirt was placed on his coffin, and the priest nodded his head to end the service.Everyone began to leave, one by one.But I stayed behind for a few seconds more. I looked down at the grave. My lips pressed into a thin line. I put one hand into my coat and pulled out the small silv