Blair Whales: The Price Of Vengeance

The cold steel of the gun against Blair's neck sent a shiver down her spine, but she refused to let fear control her. Slowly, she raised her hands in surrender, her mind racing for a way out.

"Leo," she said calmly, not daring to turn around. "This isn't what it looks like."

Leo's voice was low, laced with disappointment. "You're going to have to do better than that."

Blair forced a small laugh. "Okay, maybe it's exactly what it looks like. But I can explain."

Leo shifted the gun, nudging her forward. "Walk. Slowly. We're going to have this little chat somewhere more private."

She complied, stepping carefully through the shadows as Leo guided her out of the mansion. Her pulse was pounding, but she kept her expression neutral, her mind working overtime.

Leo led her to a secluded spot behind the mansion, away from the guards and the noise of the meeting. The moonlight cast sharp shadows across his face, highlighting the tension in his jaw.

"Talk," he demanded, lowering the gun just slightly. "What are you doing here?"

Blair took a deep breath, carefully crafting her words. "I'm not who you think I am, Leo. But I'm not your enemy."

Leo scoffed, his grip tightening on the weapon. "That's not an answer."

Blair met his gaze, her voice steady. "I'm here because your father is a murderer. And I'm going to make sure he pays for what he's done."

For a moment, Leo just stared at her, his expression unreadable. Then he laughed, the sound sharp and bitter.

"You're insane," he said, shaking his head.

"Am I?" Blair challenged. "You know what your father is, Leo. You've seen it. You've heard the whispers, the rumors. Don't tell me you believe he's innocent."

Leo hesitated, and Blair saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"That's not the point," he said finally, his voice quieter. "Whatever he's done, he's still my father."

"And that's why you haven't turned me in," Blair said, stepping closer. "Because deep down, you know I'm right. And you don't want to be like him."

Leo's jaw clenched, his internal conflict written all over his face.

"You don't understand," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "This isn't just about him. It's about the Syndicate. It's about power, control—things you can't even begin to comprehend."

Blair softened her tone, sensing an opportunity. "Then help me, Leo. Help me bring him down. You don't have to be a part of this."

Leo stared at her, his expression torn. For a moment, Blair thought she'd gotten through to him.

But then he shook his head.

"I can't," he said simply, stepping back. "And neither can you. If you keep this up, you'll get yourself killed."

Blair's heart sank as she realized she wasn't going to convince him—not yet, anyway.

Leo gestured toward the edge of the property. "Go. Before someone else finds you."

Blair hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to stay and push harder. But she knew better than to ignore a lifeline when it was offered.

"Thanks," she said quietly, turning to leave.

"Don't thank me," Leo muttered. "Next time, I won't be so generous."

Back at the safehouse, Blair relayed everything to Jax.

"He let you go?" Jax asked, incredulous.

Blair nodded, sinking into a chair. "He's conflicted. He knows what his father is, but he's not ready to act on it. I don't think he ever will be."

Jax frowned. "That's a problem. If he keeps sniffing around, he's going to figure out more than we want him to."

"I know," Blair said. "But right now, he's our best shot at staying ahead of Vincent. If I can keep him guessing, keep him torn…"

Jax shook his head. "You're playing a dangerous game, Blair. And the more you push, the more likely it is that someone's going to get hurt."

Blair leaned forward, her eyes blazing. "We don't have a choice, Jax. Vincent's meeting tonight confirmed it—they're onto us. We're running out of time."

Jax sighed, running a hand through his hair. "So what's the plan?"

Blair hesitated, her mind racing. "We need leverage. Something big enough to force Vincent's hand. And I think I know where to find it."

The next day, Blair and Jax dug into Vincent's past, searching for anything they could use against him.

Their research led them to an old associate of Vincent's—a man named Dominic Reyes, who had mysteriously disappeared years ago. According to their sources, Dominic had been Vincent's right-hand man until a falling-out turned them into bitter enemies.

"If anyone has dirt on Vincent, it's this guy," Jax said, pulling up an address for a remote cabin in the mountains.

Blair nodded. "Then we find him. And we make him talk."

The journey to the cabin was long and tense, the weight of their mission hanging heavy in the air. When they finally arrived, the place looked abandoned, the windows boarded up and the yard overgrown.

Blair and Jax approached cautiously, their weapons drawn.

"Dominic Reyes?" Blair called out, her voice echoing in the stillness.

For a moment, there was no response. Then, the door creaked open, revealing a gaunt, weathered man with sharp eyes and a wary expression.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice rough.

Blair stepped forward, her gaze steady. "We're here to talk about Vincent Moretti."

Dominic's eyes narrowed, and Blair saw a flicker of fear cross his face.

"You shouldn't have come here," he said, his voice low. "If Vincent finds out…"

"He won't," Blair said firmly. "Not if you help us. We're not here to hurt you, Dominic. We just want the truth."

Dominic hesitated, glancing between Blair and Jax. Then he sighed, stepping aside to let them in.

But as they crossed the threshold, Blair couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't the only ones hunting for answers.

Unbeknownst to them, a black SUV had pulled up a mile down the road, its occupants watching the cabin through binoculars.

One of them picked up a phone, speaking in a low, urgent tone.

"They've found Reyes. What are your orders?"

The voice on the other end was calm, cold, and unmistakably Vincent's.

"Kill them all."