Chapter 14 - WHAT POWER COSTS
Victor survived the fall.
Barely.
He landed on a maintenance platform six floors below.
Broken spine.
Broken ribs.
Alive.
Ronan called that unfortunate.
Ivy called it appropriate.
“He gets to stand trial.”
Ronan looked at her.
“You really believe the system works?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because people like him think death makes them legends.”
She looked through the hospital window at Victor surrounded by police.
“I’d rather he spend the rest of his life watching everyone learn what he actually was.”
Ronan smiled faintly.
“Remind me not to make you angry.”
“You watched me hit him.”
“I did.”
“You should already know.”
The Crown List became evidence.
Not just against Victor.
Against half the city.
Judges resigned.
Police chiefs were suspended.
Three businessmen fled the country.
Two senators suddenly developed “family emergencies.”
Reporters camped outside Blackwood House for weeks.
Then Ronan did something nobody expected.
He turned over the rest.
Everything.
Accounts.
Names.
Records.
Deals his father had made.
Deals he himself had inherited.
Marcus thought he had lost his mind.
“You understand what this means?”
“Yes.”
“We lose protection.”
“Yes.”
“Money.”
“Yes.”
“Influence.”
“Yes.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You’re serious.”
Ronan looked toward Ivy.
She stood in the garden with Emily and Eleanor, laughing about something.
“Yes.”
He was done building on blood.
Vivienne was charged with assault, kidnapping conspiracy, obstruction, and a list of financial crimes connected to Victor.
She took a deal.
On the morning before sentencing, she asked to see Ivy.
Ivy almost refused.
Then she went.
Vivienne looked smaller without silk and diamonds.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Ivy said nothing.
Vivienne’s eyes filled.
“I was cruel to you.”
“Yes.”
“I was jealous.”
“That doesn’t excuse it.”
“I know.”
“No. You know now.”
Vivienne lowered her eyes.
Ivy leaned forward.
“You hit me because you thought nobody important would care.”
Vivienne whispered, “Yes.”
“That was your real mistake.”
Vivienne looked up.
Ivy shook her head.
“Not because Ronan cared.”
She pointed toward herself.
“Because I mattered before he walked into that room.”
Vivienne began to cry.
Ivy stood.
There was nothing else to say.
Outside the courthouse, Ronan waited beside a black car.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You forgive her?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Good.”
Ivy raised an eyebrow.
“You were supposed to say something wise.”
“I’m a recovering crime boss, not a therapist.”
She laughed.
Then his expression changed.
“I have something to tell you.”
“What?”
“I’m leaving Chicago.”
Her smile disappeared.
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
She stared at him.
Ronan looked away.
“There are things I need to answer for.”
Ivy felt something sharp twist inside her chest.
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
She nodded slowly.
Then walked past him.
“Ivy.”
She stopped.
Ronan’s voice was softer now.
“I didn’t want you to hear it from someone else.”
She turned.
May you like
“Then you should’ve told me sooner.”
And for the first time since the night of the party, Ronan had no idea how to stop her from walking away.
