The clock on Raven's office wall struck nine.
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, Blackwood Heights was beginning to settle into the night. The streets were still bright with expensive cars, restaurant lights, and the quiet movement of people who had more money than they knew what to do with.
Raven sat behind her desk, reading through the documents Jane had placed in front of her.
She had been back in Blackwood Heights for less than twenty-four hours, yet already there were problems waiting for her.
Raven turned another page.
"Anything else?"
Jane stood across from her with her tablet held against her chest.
"There is one more thing."
Raven didn't look up.
"Andrea is here."
Her fingers stopped moving.
"Send her in."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jane walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she glanced back at Raven.
"Do you want coffee?"
"No."
"Tea?"
"No."
"Food?"
Raven finally looked up.
"Jane."
Jane smiled.
"Yes?"
"I said no."
"I know. I'm just making sure."
A faint smile almost appeared on Raven's lips.
Almost.
Jane left.
A few moments later, the door opened again.
Andrea walked inside.
She was tall, confident, and carried the unmistakable presence of a dominant Alpha.
Unlike most people, Andrea never became uncomfortable around Raven's aura.
Perhaps that was because she had known Raven long before the CEO everyone feared existed.
"Raven."
"Andrea."
Andrea walked toward the desk.
"You look terrible."
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"Careful."
Andrea laughed.
"There she is."
Raven closed the document in front of her.
"What happened?"
Andrea's expression became serious.
"We have a situation."
Raven leaned back.
"Explain."
Andrea pulled out a folder and placed it on the desk.
"There have been disagreements over several territories around Blackwood Heights."
Raven opened the folder.
"Whose territories?"
"Some of ours."
Raven looked up.
"And?"
"They claim we crossed into their territory."
"Did we?"
"No."
Raven continued reading.
Andrea pulled out another document.
"They've been approaching some of the people who work with us. Nothing serious yet, but they're making it clear that they want us to back away."
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"Who are they?"
"That is the problem."
Andrea sat across from her.
"They're masked."
Raven looked at her.
"Everyone in our organization is masked."
"I know."
Andrea leaned forward.
"But these people are different."
"How?"
"They don't use names. They don't give us anything. Not even their leader's identity."
Raven tapped her finger against the desk.
"Have they attacked anyone?"
"No."
"Destroyed anything?"
"No."
"Threatened anyone?"
"Not exactly."
Raven looked at her.
"Then why are you here?"
Andrea sighed.
"Because they are making a point."
Raven said nothing.
Andrea continued.
"They've been moving into areas that have always been under our influence. We move them out, they move back. We approach them, they leave. There's no violence."
"So?"
"So it's deliberate."
Raven closed the folder.
"They want our attention."
"Exactly."
Raven stood and walked toward the window.
She looked down at the streets below.
"I've been gone for five years."
"And?"
"And suddenly someone decides to test my patience."
Andrea smiled slightly.
"I knew you would say that."
Raven turned around.
"Did you expect me to ignore it?"
"No."
Andrea leaned back.
"I expected you to make it worse."
Raven's lips curved slightly.
"Then you know me well."
Andrea laughed.
For a moment, the tension disappeared.
Then she became serious again.
"There is something else."
Raven's expression changed.
"What?"
"One of their representatives approached one of our people yesterday."
"What did they say?"
"They asked for a meeting."
Raven was silent.
"A meeting?"
"Yes."
"With whom?"
"They didn't say."
Raven walked back to her desk.
"When?"
"Tomorrow night."
Raven looked at Andrea.
"Where?"
"An old private club on the edge of town."
Raven considered it.
"Do they know who I am?"
Andrea shook her head.
"Not as far as we know."
Raven glanced toward the black case sitting inside a locked drawer.
"Good."
Andrea followed her gaze.
"You're thinking about going."
"Yes."
"Personally?"
"Yes."
Andrea shook her head.
"You're the CEO of Apex Raven Global now. You don't need to personally handle every disagreement."
Raven's voice became colder.
"This isn't about the company."
Andrea knew that tone.
She stood.
"I'll come with you."
Raven nodded.
"I expected you to."
Andrea smiled.
"Good."
The office door opened slightly.
Jane appeared.
"Sorry to interrupt."
Raven looked at her.
"What is it?"
Jane stepped inside.
"The representatives from earlier left."
"Good."
Jane hesitated.
"They also left a message."
Raven's eyes narrowed.
"What message?"
Jane placed a small black envelope on the desk.
"They said it was for you."
Raven stared at it.
There was no name on the envelope.
No company logo.
Nothing.
She opened it slowly.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
Tomorrow. Eight o'clock. Come alone.
Andrea read it over Raven's shoulder.
"That's bold."
Raven folded the paper.
"They don't know me very well."
Jane looked between them.
"Should I increase security?"
"No."
Jane frowned.
"Are you sure?"
Raven nodded.
"Keep everything normal."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jane left.
Andrea looked at Raven.
"You're really going?"
Raven walked toward the black case.
"Yes."
She opened it.
Inside was her mask.
Black and elegant, with a silver raven insignia across one side.
Andrea stared at it.
"It's been a long time since you've worn that."
Raven picked it up.
"Five years."
"And now?"
Raven slowly placed the mask over her face.
"The Raven is coming home."
Andrea smiled.
"Then I suppose Blackwood Heights is about to remember who you are."
Raven looked toward the city.
"No."
Her voice was calm.
"They're about to learn who I became."
Neither woman knew who would be waiting for them the following night.
And neither knew that this simple disagreement over territory would eventually lead them toward something far more complicated than either side expected.
For now, however, it was only a disagreement.
A quiet one.
A dangerous one.
And Raven intended to find out exactly who was behind it.