“Boss?” Isadora’s eyes moved from Valen to the man standing in front of her.
Then back to Valen.
“Did he just call you boss?” Valen didn’t answer.
His right-hand man stepped inside and quietly closed the door behind him.
His eyes immediately scanned the apartment.
Small.
Modest.
Nothing like the places Valen was accustomed to.
Then his eyes returned to his boss.
“Are you able to move?” “Yes.” “Your wound?” “Healing.” The man nodded.
He didn’t question him further.
Valen glanced toward Isadora, who was standing a short distance away, listening silently.
Then he lowered his voice.
“We need to talk.” His right-hand man immediately understood.
He followed Valen toward the other side of the apartment.
Isadora hesitated.
She could still hear them, but she decided not to interfere.
Valen glanced back once to make sure she wasn’t following.
Then he spoke quietly.
“I think we were followed.” His right-hand man’s expression changed slightly.
“Are you sure?” “No.” Valen’s eyes hardened.
“But I’m not willing to take the risk.” A brief silence followed.
He glanced toward Isadora.
“She found me that night.” His right-hand man followed his gaze.
“The girl?” “Yes.” “She treated your wound?” “For an entire week.” The man’s expression remained serious.
“And she knows who you are?” “Only my name.” “Does she know about Black Rose?” “No.” Valen’s jaw tightened.
“And I intend to keep it that way.” His right-hand man remained silent for a moment.
Then he asked, “Do you think she could be in danger?” Valen’s gaze returned to Isadora.
“If they followed me…” He paused.
“Then they may know she was the one who found me.” The man’s expression became colder.
“That would make her a potential witness.” “Exactly.” Valen’s voice was low.
“I don’t want her involved in this.” His right-hand man looked at him.
“What do you intend to do?” Valen didn’t answer immediately.
His eyes remained on Isadora.
She was completely unaware of the conversation taking place only a few meters away.
Unaware that the man she’d brought into her home might have just brought danger to her doorstep.
Valen finally spoke.
“I’ll figure something out.” His right-hand man nodded.
“Then we’d better do it quickly.” Ruel remained silent for a moment.
His gaze moved toward the apartment door before returning to Valen.
“Who would dare attempt something like this against you, Boss?” he asked.
“The other gangs wouldn’t even consider it.
They fear you too much.” Valen’s expression remained unreadable.
“Maybe Red Crown.” Ruel’s eyes narrowed.
“Cassian?” “I don’t know, Ruel.” Valen paused.
“But they’re the only mafia organization powerful enough to dare something like this.” He fell silent.
Something about the attack still didn’t sit right with him.
The location…The timing…The precision.
It had been too clean.
Valen’s fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the table.
“And…” Ruel waited.
“And I suspect the attack was internal.” Ruel’s expression hardened.
“Internal?” Valen nodded.
“Someone from Black Rose.” “Are you sure?” “No.” Valen looked directly at him.
“That’s what bothers me.” Ruel remained silent.
“Who could dare do this inside Black Rose?” he finally asked.
“Everyone knows what we do to traitors, Boss.” “I know.” Valen’s voice was cold.
“That’s why I’m not accusing anyone yet.” Ruel understood immediately.
If there really was a traitor inside Black Rose, revealing that Valen had survived would only give them another opportunity to finish what they started.
“Then what do you want me to do?” Valen glanced toward the hallway.
“Tell everyone I’ve travelled.” Ruel nodded slowly.
“No one is supposed to know where you are?” “No one.” “And your affairs?” “Bring some of them here.” Ruel looked around the small apartment.
“Here?” “Yes.” Valen didn’t seem bothered by the idea.
“I’ll stay here one more day.” Ruel’s eyes briefly shifted toward Isadora.
Then back to his boss.
He didn’t ask questions.
“Understood, Boss.” “Keep the men away from this place.
I don’t want unnecessary attention.” “Yes.” “And Ruel…” His right-hand man stopped at the door.
“Find out who knew about my movements before the attack.” Ruel’s expression turned serious.
“I’ll find them.” Valen nodded.
Ruel left without another word.
The door closed behind him.
Valen remained still for several seconds.
His eyes drifted toward the window.
Someone had tried to kill him.
And if his suspicion was correct, the enemy wasn’t standing outside.
They were already inside.
.
.
Later That Evening Isadora checked the time on her phone.
Her night shift as a final year student she was already use to it She grabbed her bag and slipped her phone into her pocket before leaving the apartment.
“Midnight, behave yourself.” The cat stared at her from the couch.
She pointed at him.
“I’m serious.” Midnight blinked.
“Don’t destroy anything while I’m gone.” She closed the door behind her.
The hallway was quiet, Too quiet.
Isadora didn’t think much of it.
She headed toward the street, pulling her jacket closer as the evening air brushed against her skin.
Her phone rang.
“Mom!” Her mother’s voice immediately filled her ears.
“Finally!
We were wondering when you’d call.” Isadora smiled.
“I told you I started my night shift today.” “I know, but you’re always busy.” Her father joined the conversation.
“Are you eating properly?” “Dad…” “What?” “I am a medical student, not a child.” Her parents laughed.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
The familiar voices.
The teasing.
The little questions about her day.
It almost made her forget that she was thousands of miles away from them.
Then—Isadora slowed down.
Her smile faded.
She had heard something…Footsteps Behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Nothing, Just the quiet sidewalk behind her.
She frowned.
“Isadora?” her mother called through the phone.
“I’m here.” She started walking again.
A few seconds later—Footsteps.
She stopped.
The sound stopped too.
Her heart skipped.
She looked back again.
Still nothing.
A streetlight flickered above her.
The road wasn’t completely empty, but there was no one close enough to explain the sound.
She swallowed.
“Isa?
What’s wrong?” her father asked.
“Nothing.” She forced a small laugh.
“I just thought someone was following me.” Her parents immediately became concerned.
“Following you?” “No, no.
It’s probably nothing.” She looked around one more time.
Nothing, No suspicious car , No stranger, Nothing.
She shook her head.
I’m just tired.
Her night shift was probably getting to her.
She continued toward the hospital.