Blair sat in the dimly lit room, her fingers tapping restlessly on the desk. The phone in front of her buzzed, a constant reminder that time was running out. But the atmosphere in the safe house was different now. Tense, unsettled. The arrival of Vanessa—Vincent’s newest operative—had thrown everything into disarray. 
Vanessa was younger than Blair had anticipated. In fact, she was barely older than Lena, but her skill set was impressive. She had quickly made a name for herself by infiltrating high-security locations and evading capture, making her one of the most dangerous assets Vincent had. 
Blair didn’t trust her. 
She couldn’t. 
“Vanessa’s been too quiet,” Maya muttered as she sat across from Blair, eyes narrowed. “I don’t like it. She’s playing the long game.” 
Blair’s gaze sharpened. “I agree. But we’re not in a position to strike just yet. She’s too well-placed.” 
Lena, standing near the window, was less patient. “We need to do something. We can’t keep letting them get the upper hand. We’ve lost enough already.” 
Blair stood and paced the room. “It’s not about losing—it’s about staying ahead. And right now, Jax is the key to everything.” 
Jax had left earlier that morning without a word to anyone. He’d mentioned something about picking up new weapons from a dealer who was hard to find. The kind of people they needed to survive the increasingly dangerous game Vincent and his men were playing. 
But hours passed without a word from Jax. And as the sun dipped below the horizon, Blair could feel the uneasy pressure building in the air. 
Then the call came. 
“Jax has been captured,” Maya said, her voice trembling slightly as she listened to the source on the other end of the line. “It’s Leo. They’ve got him.” 
Blair’s heart dropped into her stomach. Jax wasn’t just a teammate—he was one of the few people she truly trusted. Losing him meant something more than just tactical loss. 
“Where?” Blair demanded, her voice cold and calculated. 
“Underground storage—on the edge of the city. It’s an old safe house. He’s being held there, and they’re trying to extract information.” 
Blair nodded to Lena. “Prepare for extraction. We need to move, now.” 
The team gathered quickly, gearing up for a rescue mission. But as they moved out, things began to spiral. What should have been a straightforward operation turned into a trap. 
They arrived at the old safe house, weapons drawn, the building dark and seemingly abandoned. But as soon as they breached the door, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. 
Maya’s sharp eyes picked up the glint of light reflecting off something metallic. She froze. “We’re not alone.” 
Before she could finish the sentence, gunfire erupted. 
“Ambush!” Blair shouted as she dove behind cover, returning fire. But it was too late—their position had been compromised. 
Blair’s worst fear came true. Jax wasn’t the only one captured. 
Maya was taken too.
The situation had turned desperate. Jax and Maya were now both in the hands of Leo and Vincent’s crew, and every second that ticked by made their situation worse. 
Blair and Lena pulled back, making a hasty retreat from the safe house. Their mission to rescue Jax had failed. They were out of options, and the enemies were closing in fast. 
As they ducked into the shadows, Blair’s mind raced. “We need to make an offer.” 
“What kind of offer?” Lena asked, breathless. 
Blair’s eyes hardened. “Calder.” 
Lena’s expression darkened. “You’re thinking of using Calder as leverage?” 
“It’s the only way we’ll get them to release Jax and Maya,” Blair replied, voice steely with resolve. “I’ll offer Calder’s release in exchange for their freedom. We can’t afford to waste time.” 
Lena hesitated but then nodded. “You’re right. We don’t have a choice.”
Blair paced back and forth in the safe house, her mind working through every possible outcome. Finally, she composed herself and dialed Leo’s number. 
He picked up almost immediately. “Blair.” The coldness in his voice made her stomach turn. “I didn’t expect to hear from you.” 
“You’ve got my team,” Blair said evenly. “I’ll give you Calder in exchange for their freedom. I’ll bring him to you myself.” 
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. 
“Why would I trust you?” Leo’s voice was laced with venom. “You’ve betrayed me too many times, Blair. Why would I let you walk away with your life after everything you’ve done?” 
“I’m not asking for my life, Leo,” Blair replied, the words slow and deliberate. “Just theirs.” 
He scoffed. “You think Calder’s worth more than your own team?” 
Blair’s eyes narrowed. “Calder is nothing compared to Jax and Maya. But I’m willing to give him to you in exchange. One life for theirs. Take it or leave it.” 
Leo’s silence was deafening. Then, finally, he spoke. “You have one hour. If you’re lying to me, I’ll make sure your team never sees the light of day again.” 
Blair hung up without responding. 
The tension in the safe house was unbearable as Blair, Lena, and the rest of the team prepared for the trade. Calder had been held for months, a pawn in the game between her and Vincent, but now he was her bargaining chip. 
Lena couldn’t hide her discomfort. “This feels wrong.” 
“It’s the only way,” Blair replied. “We don’t have any other choice.” 
Time ticked by slowly as Blair watched the clock. One hour. That was all she had left. 
Blair arrived at the designated location—a remote warehouse by the docks—an hour later. It was desolate, the only sounds the gentle sway of the water against the docks and the creaking of metal. 
Vincent and Leo stood waiting, flanked by armed men. 
Blair felt the weight of their eyes on her as she approached, Calder bound and gagged in her arms. “I’m here,” she called out. 
Leo stepped forward, his gaze hard and cold. “Let’s see if you kept your word.” 
Blair released Calder, watching as Leo’s men took him away. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was a temporary victory. 
Leo turned to her, eyes burning with quiet fury. “You may have won this round, Blair. But remember—no one ever gets to walk away from this game unscathed.” 
Blair didn’t respond. She just turned on her heel and walked away, knowing that this small victory was only a brief respite in a much larger war.