Part I:THE SETUP Chapter 1: The Fragrance of Gunpowder

The rain in Manhattan didn't wash away sins; it only made the blood slicker on the pavement. Sloane Volkov—known to the underworld as the "Black Rose"—stood in the shadows of an alleyway across from L'Eclat, a club so exclusive its entrance didn't even have a sign. She adjusted the hem of her gown. It was a masterpiece of deep, bruised purple silk that clung to her curves like a second skin. To the casual observer, she was a socialite waiting for a car. To the man she was hunting, she was death incarnate. Hidden against her inner thigh, held by a lace garter that bit into her pale skin, was a suppressed Heckler & Koch. It was a cold, heavy weight—a familiar comfort. She checked her watch. 11:45 PM. The Syndicate’s orders had been absolute: Julian Vane is a liability. Erase him. Leave the flower. Sloane took a steadying breath, the damp city air filling her lungs. She hadn't seen Julian in ten years. Not since the night the orphanage burned down—the night he had pulled her through

Last Updated : 2026-01-23

Chapter 2: The Wedding of Shadows

The engine of Julian’s vintage black Mustang roared like a caged beast as they tore through the rain-slicked streets of Lower Manhattan. Inside the cabin, the air was thick with the copper tang of blood and the scent of burnt gunpowder.Sloane sat in the passenger seat, her ruined silk gown hiked up to her mid-thigh, revealing the dark bruise forming where her holster had pressed against her skin. She was reloading her magazine with mechanical precision, her fingers never trembling, though her heart was a different story."Where are we going?" she demanded, her voice a sharp blade. "The Syndicate has safe houses every six blocks. If I don't check in within the hour, a 'burn notice' goes out on my head.""You’re already burned, Sloane," Julian said, his eyes fixed on the rearview mirror. He took a hard corner, the tires screaming. "The men in that club? Those were the Don’s personal cleaners. He didn't want you to kill me; he wanted us to kill each other and have the Russians finish th

Last Updated : 2026-01-23

Chapter 3: A Dance of Thorns

The "sanctuary" of The Vault was not a place of rest; it was a gilded cage where every gilded bar was a sharpened blade. By 8:00 PM the following evening, the adrenaline of the shootout had been replaced by a cold, calculating dread.Sloane stood before the floor-to-ceiling mirror in the suite, staring at the woman looking back. The concierge had provided a "honeymoon wardrobe." The dress was a slip of midnight-black satin, held up by nothing but thin gold chains that crossed over her bare back. It was provocative, designed to draw every eye in the room—a perfect distraction.Julian appeared behind her. He had traded his tactical gear for a bespoke tuxedo. As he fastened his cufflinks, his eyes met hers in the reflection."You look breathtaking," he murmured."I look like a target," Sloane snapped, though she couldn't ignore the way his gaze lingered on the curve of her spine."In this room, being a target is a position of power," Julian said, stepping closer. He reached into his pock

Last Updated : 2026-01-24

Chapter 4: The Blood Covenant

The heavy mahogany door of their suite hadn't even fully clicked shut before Sloane spun around, her palm connecting with Julian’s chest. She pushed him back against the door, her eyes burning with a mixture of grief and unadulterated fury. "Was that part of the act?" she hissed, her voice trembling. "The kiss? The way you looked at me? Or were you just enjoying the show?" Julian didn’t move. He stood pinned against the wood, his tuxedo jacket slightly rumpled, his breathing heavy. "Which part are you angry about, Sloane? That I did it, or that you liked it?" "Viktor is dying because of me!" she shouted, the sound muffled by the soundproof walls of the suite. She turned away, pacing the length of the Persian rug like a caged panther. "The Don knows exactly where my pressure points are. He knew I wouldn't let Viktor be butchered. This isn't a gift, Julian. It’s a lure. They’re pulling me back into the garden so they can prune me." Julian walked toward her, shedding his tuxedo vest.

Last Updated : 2026-01-24

Chapter 5: The Garden of Graves

The sky over the Hudson Valley didn't just break; it shattered. Lightning ripped across the horizon, illuminating the jagged iron spires of the Volkov Manor like the ribs of a prehistoric beast. In the distance, the silhouette of the house sat atop a jagged cliff, overlooking a "garden" that was more headstones than hydrangeas.Sloane leaned against the trunk of an ancient oak, five hundred yards from the perimeter. The rain was a relentless percussion against her tactical leather. She adjusted her earpiece, the static crackling in her ear."In position," she whispered. "Ghost One is at the North Gate.""Ghost Two is at the power grid," Julian’s voice came through, steady and low. "You look good in Kevlar, Rose. Much more dangerous than silk.""Focus, Julian. If we miss the window, the backup generators kick in within ten seconds. I need those ten seconds to clear the electrified fence.""Then let's give the Don a blackout he’ll never forget. On my mark. Three... two... one... Execute

Last Updated : 2026-01-24

All Chapters of Black Roses For A Killer Wife : Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

Part I:THE SETUP Chapter 1: The Fragrance of Gunpowder

Chapter 2: The Wedding of Shadows

Chapter 3: A Dance of Thorns

Chapter 4: The Blood Covenant

Chapter 5: The Garden of Graves