Blair Whales: The Price Of Vengeance

Blair sat at the edge of her chair in the safehouse, her mind racing. The USB drive confirmed what she had long suspected: Vincent Moretti was connected to her parents' murder. But it also made one thing painfully clear—this was bigger than her. If she wanted to take down the Syndicate, she'd need to play her cards carefully.

"You're too quiet," Jax said, spinning his chair around. "That's never a good sign."

Blair tapped her fingers against the armrest. "We need a new plan. The evidence ties Moretti to my parents, but it doesn't unravel the Syndicate. Not yet."

Jax nodded. "I agree. But let's be honest—you can't keep dancing with Moretti without drawing more attention. And Leo? He's already sniffing around you like a bloodhound."

Blair frowned at the mention of Leo. She couldn't get him out of her head—the way he had stepped in last night, the way his presence both unnerved and intrigued her.

"Leo's a complication," she admitted. "But he could also be a key. He's close to Moretti, but not fully involved. If I can keep him close, I might learn something."

Jax raised an eyebrow. "Keep him close how? By flirting your way into his heart?"

Blair smirked. "If that's what it takes."

The next morning, Blair received a call from an unknown number. Against her better judgment, she answered.

"Blair Whales," Leo's familiar voice drawled.

Blair's grip tightened on her phone. "Leo. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Pleasure, huh?" Leo chuckled. "I like the sound of that. But actually, I wanted to invite you to an event tonight. Something… exclusive."

Blair's instincts flared. "And why would you do that?"

"Let's just say I'm curious about you," Leo said. "You're not like the people my father usually associates with. And I think you'll find the crowd interesting."

Blair hesitated. She knew this could be a trap, but it could also be an opportunity. "Where and when?"

Leo gave her the details before hanging up.

Jax leaned against the doorway, having overheard the conversation. "You're seriously going?"

Blair shrugged. "If Leo's curious, let's give him something to be curious about."

The event was held in a sprawling mansion on the outskirts of the city. The guest list was as exclusive as the venue, filled with politicians, tech moguls, and people who thrived in the gray areas of morality.

Blair arrived in a sleek black gown that hugged her figure, her hair styled to perfection. She moved through the crowd with practiced ease, flashing polite smiles and engaging in meaningless small talk.

Leo found her near the bar, his green eyes lighting up as he approached. "You clean up well," he said, offering her a drink.

Blair accepted it with a smirk. "I could say the same about you."

Leo grinned, but his gaze was sharp, as if he were trying to read her. "So, tell me, Blair. What's a tech genius like you doing in a place like this?"

"Networking," she said smoothly. "What about you? Still investigating for your father?"

Leo laughed, though the edge in his tone wasn't lost on her. "You don't miss a thing, do you?"

Their banter was interrupted by the arrival of Vincent Moretti. He greeted Blair with a charming smile, but his eyes held a cold glint.

"Blair," he said, taking her hand. "I'm glad you could make it. I trust Leo's been a gracious host?"

"Very," Blair said, returning his smile.

Vincent glanced at his son. "Why don't you introduce Blair to some of our other guests? There are people here she should meet."

Leo hesitated, his jaw tightening, but he nodded. "Of course."

As Leo led her away, Blair felt the weight of Vincent's gaze lingering on her back.

The night wore on, and Blair quickly realized the gala wasn't just a social event—it was a chessboard. Conversations were laced with hidden meanings, alliances were being formed, and Vincent Moretti was at the center of it all, pulling strings like a puppet master.

But what struck Blair the most was the way Leo seemed to straddle the line between two worlds. He was charming and confident, but there were moments when his mask slipped—moments when she saw the uncertainty in his eyes.

"Your father's an impressive man," Blair said casually as they stepped onto the balcony for some fresh air.

Leo chuckled, though the sound was hollow. "Impressive, sure. But he's not invincible."

Blair tilted her head, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

Leo shrugged, his gaze fixed on the city lights. "Just that even the most powerful people have weaknesses. You just have to know where to look."

Blair's pulse quickened. Was Leo hinting at something? Or was he testing her?

Before she could press further, a man approached them, his expression serious. He whispered something to Leo, who nodded curtly.

"Sorry, Blair," Leo said, his tone suddenly distant. "I have to handle something. Stay and enjoy the party."

As he walked away, Blair felt a strange mix of relief and disappointment. Leo was a puzzle she couldn't afford to ignore, but she couldn't let herself get too close.

Blair used Leo's absence to her advantage, slipping away from the crowd and exploring the mansion. She found herself in a study filled with leather-bound books and expensive decor.

On the desk was a folder marked with the emblem of one of Moretti's shell companies. Blair hesitated for only a moment before opening it.

Inside were documents detailing shipments of illegal weapons, payments to offshore accounts, and a list of names—some of which she recognized as Syndicate members.

But what stopped her cold was the final page: a photograph of her parents, along with a note scrawled in Vincent's handwriting.

"Loose ends. Handle it."

Blair's blood ran cold. This wasn't just confirmation of Vincent's involvement—this was proof that he had ordered their deaths.

She barely had time to process the revelation before she heard footsteps approaching. Quickly, she snapped a photo of the documents with her phone and slipped back into the shadows.

As Blair made her way out of the study, her mind raced. She had the evidence she needed to bring Vincent down, but the danger was greater than ever.

And then, just as she stepped back into the crowded ballroom, she spotted Leo watching her from across the room.

His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something that made her wonder if he knew exactly what she had found.