Akamore Bay

It was dark. The warehouse lay in silence, the alley dimly lit by weak streetlights. Two men in silk shirts and brown coats stood at the entrance. Their dark shades gave them more flair than fear.

Inside, more men waited with knives and guns, standing rigid as statues. The silence broke when a sharp voice cut through the air.

Ivan loosened his tie. “The line between ambition and greed is a thin one. And you’ve stepped right over it.”

His eyes drifted over a table of tools before he picked up a silver knuckle ring. “Stealing from me was unwise.”

He gripped a handful of the victim’s hair. “You may have been my father’s friend, but I’m not my father. I don’t spare thieves.”

His fist rose slow, deliberate, then drove into the man’s eye. The chair rattled under the impact. Before the victim could recover, Ivan shoved his head back and delivered another punch to his throat. The man choked, strangled by pain and the loss of air.

Ivan stepped back as the mole fell to the ground, writhing under death’s shadow. No one survived long in the presence of this man.

“I’m bored. Bash, Ross- come with me. The rest of you, clean up.”

He dropped the bloody knuckle ring, the metal clinking against the floor. Taking a handkerchief from Bash, he wiped his hands clean before sliding into the car.

Bash drove while Ross in the passenger seat. The city rolled past, alive in its restless night. Ivan leaned against the door, staring out. He had grown up in a world where taking came easier than giving, and he still didn’t understand how ordinary people found peace in their simple lives.

“Ross. Bash. Any word on that woman?”

Ross frowned. “What woman, Boss?”

“Atali’s granddaughter.”

Ross shook his head. “Haven’t heard much. She’s starting a new foundation, I think.”

Bash spoke without turning. “Boss, I saw something on TV. Said she got shot outside one of her hotels.”

Ivan raised a brow. “Is she dead?”

“Don’t think so,” Bash said. “I checked- she’s in a coma or something.”

Ivan chuckled, low and amused. “What a pity. All that power, and Atali let her own granddaughter get shot.”

Ross risked a glance in the mirror. “Boss… why the interest? Thought you despised her.”

“Keep your eyes on the road,” Ivan said. He left it at that. The memory of her still stalked his nights. Sometimes it stirred his temper, other times it pulled him under. But to him, it was nothing- just a passing memory better left in the dark.

********

Rose woke up to beeping sounds and calm music. Her thoughts were faint, her gut unsettled. It took quite a while to move her eyes not to talk of her fingers. Slowly, she reached for her head and winced.

“Hey, you’re awake.” Olivia’s voice was soft. She caught Rose’s hand before she could accidentally tug at the cannula.

“What happened?”

Olivia hesitated. “You were shot. Just above the clavicle. You’ve been in a coma for four days.”

Rose stared at her, still numb. If she was awake, maybe the worst had passed. “And you? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” Olivia said gently.

“Good. Have you…found out who-?”

“The Chairwoman says she’ll handle it. But I think it was gang-related.”

Rose swallowed down the bitterness. “She never listens. And now I’m the one paying for it.”

This was why she dreamed of a safe place, away from gangs, away from the Sisterhood she refused to be a part of.

At least she was still breathing. She was alive and that was something. Rose let out a long breath, her voice throaty. “So, when can I leave?”

“The doctors will be here soon.” Olivia had already pressed the call button.

“They’d better hurry. I’ve got work to do.”

“Now’s the time to rest, Miss,” Olivia said.

A heavy silence filled the room. Rose noticed Olivia could barely look at her, twisting the edge of the bedsheet as if she had committed a grave sin against her boss.

“Something wrong?” Rose said.

Olivia didn’t answer right away.

“Has something happened at the hotel?” Rose tried to sit up, but Olivia held her down.

“It’s not the hotel you need to worry about. The doctors found something else when you came in.”

Rose’s heart eased a little. At least her hotel was fine. But Olivia’s face told her the news wasn’t simple.

“I told the doctors not to tell the Chairwoman until you were awake.”

“Olivia, stop dragging it out. Just tell me.”

Olivia finally lifted her chin, meeting her eyes. “They ran tests for internal injuries. Your hormone levels were high. They tested again and…” She took a breath. “You’re pregnant.”