Chapter 13 - BLACKWOOD TOWER
At 11:58 p.m., Ivy entered Blackwood Tower alone.
At least, Victor thought she did.
She carried Daniel’s documents in a leather case.
No gun.
No wire.
No visible protection.
Victor waited on the fiftieth floor.
Father Patrick sat tied to a chair.
Vivienne stood beside the window.
Ivy stopped.
“You.”
Vivienne looked away.
Victor smiled.
“She returned to me.”
Vivienne said nothing.
Ivy stared at her.
“You escaped the police.”
Victor laughed.
“She was never under arrest.”
“Not yet.”
“Still confident.”
“No. Angry.”
Victor seemed amused.
“Good. Anger makes people careless.”
Ivy placed the case on the table.
“Let him go.”
Victor opened it.
His smile faded.
“These aren’t the originals.”
“No.”
His eyes lifted.
“Where are they?”
“Safe.”
Victor pulled a gun.
“I’m tired of games.”
“So am I.”
He aimed at Father Patrick.
Vivienne flinched.
“Victor.”
“Quiet.”
Something changed in Vivienne’s face.
Fear.
Real fear.
Ivy saw it.
“You finally understand, don’t you?”
Vivienne whispered, “Understand what?”
“He was never helping you.”
Victor turned toward her.
“Enough.”
Ivy continued.
“You were useful. That’s all.”
Vivienne looked at Victor.
“Is that true?”
He did not answer.
That was answer enough.
The elevator dinged.
Victor spun.
Empty.
Then the lights shut off.
Marcus had cut power.
Ronan’s voice came from the darkness.
“Victor.”
Gunfire.
Glass shattered.
Men shouted.
Ivy threw herself toward Father Patrick.
Vivienne screamed.
Emergency lights turned red.
Ronan came through the side entrance with Marcus and three loyal guards.
Victor fired.
Ronan returned fire.
Victor disappeared behind a marble column.
Ivy cut Father Patrick’s hands free.
“Can you walk?”
“I’m seventy-four.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“Yes.”
“Then move.”
Vivienne stood frozen.
Ivy grabbed her.
“Come on.”
Vivienne stared at her.
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because I’m not you.”
Vivienne flinched harder than if Ivy had slapped her.
They reached the elevator.
Then Victor stepped from the darkness.
Gun aimed straight at Ivy.
“Drop the case.”
Ivy did.
Ronan appeared twenty feet away.
Victor smiled.
“One more step and she dies.”
Ronan stopped.
Victor looked at him.
“This is what makes you weak.”
Ronan’s eyes never left Ivy.
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“You care.”
Ronan’s voice was calm.
“That’s what makes me dangerous.”
Victor pulled the trigger.
The gun clicked.
Empty.
Victor looked confused.
Vivienne slowly held up a magazine.
“I took it out.”
Victor’s face twisted.
“You stupid—”
Ivy punched him.
Hard.
Right in the mouth.
Victor stumbled backward.
Ronan hit him next.
Victor crashed through the glass door leading to the rooftop terrace.
He scrambled to his feet near the edge.
Sirens screamed below.
Victor laughed wildly.
“You think this ends me?”
Ronan stepped closer.
“It already did.”
Victor raised a hidden second gun.
A shot cracked.
Ronan froze.
May you like
Ivy screamed.
And Victor Blackwood fell backward into the darkness.
