The tension in the safe house was palpable as the team debriefed from their latest mission. Calder remained locked away, guarded closely, but the confrontation with Leo hung heavily in the air. Blair couldn’t shake the image of his face—torn between hatred and confusion—out of her mind. 
As the sun rose, Maya worked tirelessly to piece together what little intel they had gathered. Maps and documents from the warehouse were laid out before her. Calder’s information about the gang that had abducted Kai had led them to Vincent, but now it seemed Vincent was always just out of reach. 
“This isn’t making sense,” Maya muttered, her fingers tapping against her laptop. “There has to be something we’re missing.” 
Jax leaned over her shoulder. “Maybe Calder’s still holding out on us. We need to press him harder.” 
Blair walked in, her face pale but her eyes determined. “No. We can’t afford to waste time. If Vincent ordered the hit on Kai, then he’ll have left breadcrumbs somewhere. We just need to follow the trail.” 
Maya hesitated before speaking. “There’s something… Calder mentioned a contact Vincent uses for high-stakes jobs. A woman named Elise. She handles his clean-ups, his assassins, and—” 
“—his sniper,” Blair finished, her voice cold. “She might know who pulled the trigger on Kai.” 
The team sprang into action, devising a plan to locate Elise. Maya worked her digital magic, hacking into Vincent’s network to track Elise’s movements. 
“She’s meticulous,” Maya said, her fingers flying across the keyboard. “But everyone leaves a trace eventually.” 
Within hours, they had a lead: Elise was scheduled to meet with a client at an upscale hotel downtown. 
Blair straightened. “This is it. We’ll corner her there. Jax, you and I will handle the extraction. Maya, you’ll run overwatch. Lena, I need you to stay back and keep an eye on Calder.” 
Lena, still recovering but fiercely loyal, nodded. “Be careful. Elise won’t go down easily.” 
Blair and Jax entered the hotel dressed as guests, blending seamlessly into the opulent surroundings. The lobby was a sea of polished marble and glittering chandeliers, but Blair’s focus was razor-sharp. 
Maya’s voice crackled in her earpiece. “She’s on the move, heading toward the private lounge on the second floor. Security’s light, but don’t let your guard down.” 
They followed Elise’s trail, their steps silent and deliberate. At the lounge’s entrance, Blair spotted her: a striking woman in her late thirties with a no-nonsense demeanor. Elise was seated at a table, speaking quietly with a man in a suit. 
Blair motioned to Jax. “We wait until she’s alone.” 
Minutes felt like hours as they watched Elise finish her meeting and head toward the elevators. Blair and Jax followed, their hearts pounding. 
They cornered Elise in a service hallway, away from prying eyes. Jax moved swiftly, blocking her escape while Blair stepped forward. 
“Elise,” Blair said, her voice calm but firm. “We need to talk.” 
Elise’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re making a mistake.” 
Blair took another step closer. “You worked for Vincent. You handled his assassins. I need to know who pulled the trigger on Kai.” 
Elise smirked, her confidence unshaken. “Even if I knew, why would I tell you?” 
Blair’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Because if you don’t, I’ll make sure you regret it.” 
Before Elise could respond, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, and her smirk faltered. 
“Looks like your friends couldn’t stay away,” Elise said, her tone mocking. 
Blair’s blood ran cold as Maya’s urgent voice came through her earpiece. “Blair, we’ve got company—Leo’s men are here!” 
Chaos erupted as armed men flooded the hotel. Blair and Jax pulled Elise into the stairwell, using her as leverage to avoid immediate gunfire. 
“Move!” Blair barked, leading the way down the stairs. 
Elise struggled, but Jax’s grip was ironclad. “You won’t make it out alive,” she sneered. 
Blair ignored her, focusing on the exit. They burst out onto the street, where Maya was waiting in a getaway car. 
“Get in!” Maya shouted. 
As they sped away, gunfire echoed behind them. Leo’s men pursued them, but Maya’s driving skills were unmatched. She weaved through traffic, losing their tail in the labyrinth of city streets. 
Back at the safe house, Elise was restrained and seated in the interrogation room. Blair paced in front of her, the weight of the mission pressing down on her shoulders. 
“Start talking,” Blair demanded. “Who killed Kai?” 
Elise hesitated, her defiance wavering under Blair’s intense gaze. 
“It was Vincent’s orders,” Elise finally admitted. “But the man who pulled the trigger was a freelancer. He’s untouchable—no name, no trail. You’ll never find him.” 
Blair’s heart sank, but Maya wasn’t convinced. “Everyone has a trail,” she said, her voice icy. “And we’ll find his.” 
Elise smirked. “You’re wasting your time. Vincent has already won. He’s ten steps ahead, as always.” 
Blair’s jaw tightened. “We’ll see about that.” 
Meanwhile, Leo stood in Vincent’s office, his father’s voice echoing in his ears. 
“Blair’s desperate,” Vincent said, his tone calculated. “And desperation makes people sloppy. Use it against her.” 
Leo nodded, his hatred for Blair burning brighter than ever. “She won’t get away next time.” 
Vincent placed a hand on Leo’s shoulder. “Good. Now, let’s finish this.”