Blair’s pulse raced as she walked back to the car, the echo of her footsteps amplified by the silent tension in the air. Her mind was filled with the weight of her decision, but there was a sharp sting of relief mixed with a growing sense of dread. The mission to exchange Calder for Jax and Maya had been successful, but the price was steep. Leo’s words still echoed in her mind, a chilling warning that the game was far from over. 
The team was waiting for her back at the safe house, and as she entered, their faces were a mix of exhaustion and apprehension. 
“Did it work?” Maya’s voice, hoarse from the ordeal, broke the silence. 
Blair nodded, though the victory tasted bittersweet. “They’re free. But Leo... he’s not done. None of us are.”
Lena, still recovering from her wounds, stood by the window, her eyes scanning the streets below. “What happens now?”
Blair leaned against the wall, a grim expression on her face. “Now, we plan for the next move. Leo’s going to come after us harder than before. And Vincent... he’s playing a game we can’t afford to lose.”
Maya looked skeptical. “You don’t think Vincent will retaliate, do you? You just handed him Calder. That’s a massive hit to his operations.”
Blair’s gaze hardened. “He’s not the only one we need to worry about. Leo’s hatred for me is growing. If he’s brainwashed enough, he’ll come after us with everything he’s got. We have to be ready.”
Lena’s face paled at the thought. “But Leo’s still young. He doesn’t have the same... ruthlessness as his father, does he?”
Blair hesitated. “It’s not about ruthlessness. It’s about fear. Vincent has turned Leo into a weapon—one that’s more dangerous than any of us can handle. We can’t underestimate him.”
The team fell silent as the weight of Blair’s words settled in. 
Back in his isolated mansion, Leo paced back and forth in his private study, his mind churning with conflicting emotions. His father’s influence over him had been undeniable, but lately, something had been eating at him. The look in Blair’s eyes when they’d exchanged Calder had unsettled him. There was something in that moment, a flicker of vulnerability beneath her hardened exterior, that made him question everything.
He clenched his fists, trying to shake off the weakness he felt. His father was counting on him. The new path he had taken, filled with vengeance, was supposed to make him strong. But even as he steeled himself for what was to come, Leo knew that things weren’t as simple as they seemed
Hours after Blair’s return, the team was still huddled in their temporary safe house, trying to gather information on Vincent’s next move. They couldn’t afford to waste time. 
Suddenly, the security alarm blared—loud, insistent, and jarring. Everyone froze, their eyes darting to the monitors as an unfamiliar face appeared on the screen.
“Who is that?” Maya asked, her voice tense.
Blair’s heart skipped a beat. The face on the screen was one she hadn’t seen in a long time: Vanessa. The new operative Vincent had hired.
Before Blair could react, the building’s exterior shook with the force of a sudden explosion. It rocked the entire safe house, sending debris scattering across the room.
“They’ve found us,” Lena said, panic creeping into her voice.
Blair grabbed her comms device, speaking rapidly into the microphone. “Everyone, get to the exit points! Now!”
The team scrambled into action, but the building was already being breached. Outside, they could hear the sounds of vehicles pulling up—heavy, armored SUVs. This wasn’t just a raid; this was a full-scale assault.
Blair led the charge, her mind racing as she assessed their options. They needed to get out, and fast. 
“Lena, take the rear exit,” Blair ordered. “Maya, you’re with me. We need to create a distraction to get everyone clear.”
As they dashed through the safe house, Blair’s thoughts flashed back to the moment she’d made the deal with Leo. She couldn’t help but feel a gnawing regret. She’d given up Calder for the safety of her team, but what if it was all for nothing? What if Vincent was one step ahead?
But there was no time for regrets. Not now.
They reached the back of the building, where a narrow alley provided their only escape. Blair was the first to emerge into the darkness, followed closely by Maya. 
Gunfire erupted from behind them, but Blair kept moving. Her heart pounded in her chest as the sound of footsteps drew nearer.
“Maya, move!” Blair shouted, turning just in time to see Vanessa’s figure stepping out from behind a corner, aiming a rifle directly at Blair.
Blair’s reflexes kicked in. She dived to the side, narrowly avoiding the shot that rang out. Maya returned fire, but Vanessa was already gone, blending back into the shadows.
Blair and Maya continued to run, not daring to look back. They couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
Hours later, they reconvened in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The adrenaline had worn off, but Blair’s mind remained sharp, focused on the mission ahead.
Lena, now recovering from her injuries, leaned against a crate, her eyes weary. “We’re lucky to be alive.”
Blair didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she turned to her team, her voice low and steady. “Vincent knows we’re still in play. We have to assume they’ll keep hunting us. But there’s something else. Leo…”
She paused, meeting each of their eyes.
“I think he’s starting to question his father,” she admitted. “But he’s not ready to let go of the path Vincent’s put him on. And I... I think he’ll come for us again. Harder than before.”
Maya shook her head. “What do you want us to do?”
Blair looked out at the darkened horizon, the weight of the next step bearing down on her. “We play Leo’s game, but this time, we take control.”
Blair was preparing for the next phase of their plan when her phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number, but something told her it was important. She answered it quickly.
“Blair.” The voice on the other end was cold, calculated. 
“Leo,” she said, her heart skipping a beat. “What do you want?”
“You’ve got one chance,” Leo’s voice came through, icy and confident. “I want you to come to the old mansion by the cliffs. Alone. If you don’t, I’ll make sure your team never sees daylight again.”
Blair’s mind raced. The cliffside mansion was isolated, far from any help, but Leo had just given her an opening. A dangerous one, but an opening nonetheless.
“I’ll come,” Blair replied, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. “But you should know, Leo… this time, I’m not just playing your game.”