Blair Whales: The Price Of Vengeance

Blair stared at her phone, the call from Vincent still ringing in her ears. She could feel the weight of the moment settling over her, a feeling she knew too well: a mix of dread and inevitability. Vincent's warning wasn't just a threat; it was a promise. He had his eyes on her, and she couldn't outrun him forever.

"Jax!" Blair hissed, her voice urgent.

Jax, who had been sitting in the corner of the cabin, immediately stood up, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon. "What is it?"

Blair shoved her phone into his hands. "Vincent just called."

Jax took the phone, his eyes scanning the screen before narrowing. "What did he say?"

Blair swallowed hard. "He said he'd always find what belongs to him. That includes me."

Jax's jaw tightened. "Damn it. He's playing with you. This is bad."

"Tell me something I don't know," Blair muttered, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "I've been playing this game for years, but it feels like the walls are closing in. The key Dominic gave me—this safety deposit box—it's the only lead we have to take him down for good, but now we're a target."

Jax's eyes flicked toward the door, his instincts alert. "We need to move. And fast. We're not safe here anymore."

Blair nodded, already grabbing her bag. Her pulse quickened. Every step she took felt like a countdown. They were running out of time.

The morning sun was barely a shadow against the horizon when Blair and Jax left the cabin. They moved swiftly, avoiding the main roads and cutting through the dense woods like shadows themselves. They knew Vincent wouldn't let them get far. The closer they got to the safety deposit box, the more dangerous it became.

"Where are we going?" Jax asked as they navigated through the trees.

Blair glanced at the small map Dominic had provided them. "There's a bank in downtown Riverside. The safety deposit box is under my name, but it's hidden in a way that only I can access it. But I'll need a little time to figure out which one it is."

"Time? That's the one thing we don't have," Jax muttered, his eyes scanning their surroundings.

Blair's mind was already whirling with possibilities, but she didn't have the luxury of slowing down. If she could get the evidence inside the safety deposit box, they would have the leverage they needed to make Vincent's empire crumble. But the question remained: how long would they have before Vincent found them?

She pressed a hand to her earpiece. "Jax, do you have a secure line to the others?"

Jax gave her a curt nod. "Yeah, we've got a few people on standby. No one's ever really safe, but we'll have backup if we need it."

Blair smiled slightly. She had her own team, but for now, it was just her and Jax—just like it had always been.

The bank was an unassuming building in downtown Riverside, its exterior drab and covered in ivy. To any casual observer, it looked like any other old financial institution. But to Blair, it was a place filled with secrets.

They entered through the back alley, where the cameras were fewer, and slipped into the underground vault area. There was no one around, no one to ask questions. The bank, like most businesses in the area, was open only during working hours.

Blair knew where she needed to go—her footsteps echoing in the cold hallway as she led Jax toward the small room at the far end of the vault.

"Can you cover the door?" she whispered to him.

"Of course." Jax nodded, his body tensing as he positioned himself against the wall.

Blair approached the safe deposit area and pulled out the key that Dominic had given her. It gleamed cold and heavy in her hand. She inserted it into the lock, but when she turned it, the lock didn't budge. Blair's heart skipped a beat.

"What the hell?" she muttered under her breath, trying again, more forcefully this time.

But it still didn't work.

She looked up, feeling a sudden flash of panic rise in her chest. It was as though the walls were closing in, tightening around her. What if they had arrived too late? What if the box had already been compromised?

"Blair?" Jax's voice broke through her thoughts, a warning edge in his tone. "We've got company."

Blair glanced up at Jax's position, and his posture told her everything she needed to know—someone was here. Someone dangerous.

Before she could react, the door to the vault opened behind her with a soft click. A man stepped inside, tall and imposing. His features were sharp, cold—his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses.

Blair's breath hitched. It was one of Vincent's men.

"Can I help you with something?" the man asked, his voice smooth, confident.

Blair instantly reached for the gun at her side. "Move, or I'll put a hole in you."

The man smirked. "You're not getting away that easily."

Before Blair could make her next move, two more men entered the vault, surrounding them. Jax was already ready for a fight, but they were outnumbered, and Blair knew they needed a plan—fast.

"Blair!" Jax's voice was low, but full of urgency. "This isn't about the box. It's a trap. We need to go."

But before Blair could respond, a sharp voice cut through the tension.

"Enough, James."

A man appeared from the shadows, his voice like cold steel—calm, unbothered.

Blair's stomach churned as her eyes locked onto him. It was Vincent Moretti himself.

Vincent stepped forward with the smooth confidence of someone who believed he had already won. He smiled, but it wasn't a friendly smile.

"I'd hoped we could do this the easy way, Blair. But you've made it so difficult."

Blair's hand tightened around her gun, but she knew the moment she fired, the game would change—and not in her favor. She had to outsmart him, not just overpower him.

"Let's not pretend, Vincent," Blair said, her voice steady despite the fear gripping her chest. "You've been tracking me for weeks. You knew I'd come for this. It's over."

Vincent's smile didn't falter. "Is it? I think you're mistaken."

He gestured to the men behind him. "You're not the only one who plays a dangerous game. You see, I'm tired of you poking around. But don't worry, Blair. I'll make it quick."

The tension in the room was palpable as Vincent's men closed in. Blair's mind raced, searching for an opening, a way out. But there was no escape. Not yet.

And then, just as Vincent moved to give the order for them to be taken, the unexpected happened.

A loud crash sounded from the back of the vault, followed by a burst of gunfire.

Blair turned to see one of Jax's contacts, a former military operative named Val, barreling into the room, guns blazing. The chaos erupted instantly, but not before Blair could hear Vincent's cold, mocking voice, echoing one last time before the lights went out.

"You think you're clever, Blair? We'll see about that."

The sudden gunfire sent everyone scattering for cover, but Blair could only focus on Vincent's retreating form. She couldn't let him get away—she couldn't let him escape again.

But before she could make her move, the floor beneath her seemed to shift. A deafening explosion ripped through the room.

Everything went black.