Blair stared at Calder, bound and gagged in a dimly lit basement room of the safe house. For hours, the team had interrogated him with no success. His loyalty to Vincent was maddeningly strong, but Blair had something stronger: desperation and rage.
“You’re going to talk, Calder,” Blair said, her voice cold as steel. She crouched to his eye level, her piercing gaze locking onto his. “You don’t fear me now, but trust me, I’ll make you wish you had.”
Calder glared at her, his jaw clenched.
Jax stepped forward, tossing a knife onto the table. “He’s not going to break with words, Blair. Let me handle him.”
“No,” Blair snapped. She placed a hand on Jax’s chest, stopping him. “We’re better than that. And Calder here knows his life is the only thing keeping him from burning like the rest of his men.”
Calder finally spoke, his voice dripping with disdain. “You think killing me or sparing me makes a difference? Vincent’s always ten steps ahead.”
Blair smirked. “Good. That means you know where he is.”
Calder hesitated, and in that fleeting moment of uncertainty, Blair knew she had him.
Hours later, after relentless pressure, Calder finally broke. His voice was hoarse, but his words were clear.
“Kai’s murder was ordered by Vincent,” Calder admitted, his tone bitter. “The gang that abducted him was a proxy. They were just pawns in Vincent’s game to draw you out.”
Blair froze, her breath catching. Vincent had been the architect of Kai’s death, the man pulling the strings all along.
Maya’s fists clenched at her sides. “And the gang? Where are they now?”
Calder hesitated. “Scattered. After Vincent’s sniper took Kai out, they got spooked. But some of their leaders are still active in the southern district. If you go looking, you’ll find them.”
Blair’s eyes burned with unshed tears. The weight of Kai’s death pressed down on her, and now she had the name of the man responsible.
Maya leaned closer to Calder. “And Vincent? Where is he hiding?”
Calder chuckled darkly. “Even I don’t know that. But you won’t get to him—not with Leo guarding him like a rabid dog.”
In the hours that followed, the team poured over Calder’s intel. Maps were spread out on the table, and Maya cross-referenced locations with known activity from the gang that had abducted Kai.
“This is it,” Jax said, pointing to a warehouse on the outskirts of the city. “It’s one of their strongholds.”
Blair’s resolve hardened. “We strike tonight. No hesitation. If there’s any chance of getting to Vincent, we’re taking it.”
“Are you sure about this?” Maya asked, her voice tinged with concern. “Leo won’t let you get close to his father. And if he intercepts again…”
Blair’s jaw tightened. “Then I’ll deal with Leo. I don’t care what it takes.”
The team moved under the cover of darkness, their steps silent as they approached the warehouse. Maya and Jax took point, disabling security cameras and clearing the way. Blair followed closely, her mind focused on one thing: justice for Kai.
Inside, the air was thick with tension. Armed men patrolled the area, their movements mechanical and rehearsed. The team split up, taking out guards silently one by one.
Blair’s heart pounded as they moved deeper into the warehouse. Every step brought them closer to the truth—and to Vincent.
In the center of the building, they found a makeshift command post. Maps, documents, and weapons were scattered across the tables. But there was no sign of Vincent.
Maya sifted through the papers, her expression grim. “It’s a setup. Vincent knew we were coming.”
Before they could react, the sound of boots echoed through the warehouse.
Leo appeared at the head of a squad of heavily armed men. His rifle was raised, and his face was a mask of cold fury.
“Drop your weapons,” Leo commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Blair stepped forward, her hands raised in a placating gesture. “Leo, listen to me. You don’t have to do this.”
Leo’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t try to manipulate me, Blair. I know what you are—a liar and a killer. You killed Kai. You’ll kill anyone who stands in your way.”
Blair’s voice rose with desperation. “That’s not true! Vincent is lying to you. He ordered the hit on Kai. He’s the one who’s been pulling the strings all along.”
Leo’s grip on his rifle tightened, doubt flickering in his eyes for the briefest moment.
“Enough!” he shouted, his voice cracking. “You’re just trying to save yourself. But I won’t let you get away with this.”
Blair took a step closer, her voice soft but firm. “I cared about Kai, Leo. He was my friend. And I would never hurt you. Vincent’s the real enemy, not me.”
Leo’s men shifted uncomfortably, their loyalty to him unshaken but their resolve faltering.
Before the standoff could escalate further, Maya triggered a diversion. Smoke grenades filled the air, and the team sprang into action.
Blair grabbed Leo’s arm as the chaos erupted around them. “Please, Leo. Think about what I’m saying.”
He wrenched his arm free, his face contorted with anger and pain. “Don’t come near me again, Blair. Next time, I won’t hesitate.”
As the smoke thickened, the team retreated, their hearts heavy with the weight of another failed mission.
Back at the safe house, the team regrouped, their frustration palpable.
“We were so close,” Maya muttered, slamming her fist onto the table. “Vincent’s always one step ahead.”
Blair sat in silence, her mind replaying the confrontation with Leo. His words had cut deeper than she cared to admit.
“We’ll get him,” Jax said firmly. “This isn’t over.”
Blair nodded, her resolve unshaken. “You’re right. It’s not over. Vincent thinks he’s untouchable, but he’s wrong. We’ll find him. And when we do, he’ll pay for everything he’s done.”
The team’s determination burned brighter than ever, even as the shadows around them deepened.