Beneath The Surface

Blair couldn't shake the feeling of Leo's gaze on her as she left the restaurant that night. The smirk he'd given her was seared into her memory, equal parts warning and invitation. She knew she was playing a dangerous game, but she wasn't about to back down.

Back at the safehouse, Jax was waiting, his laptop open and a cup of coffee in hand.

"Let me guess," he said as she walked in, pulling off her heels. "Dinner with Leo got complicated?"

Blair dropped into a chair with a sigh. "He's onto me, Jax. I don't think he knows exactly what I'm doing, but he's definitely suspicious."

Jax leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Suspicious is one thing. Dangerous is another. How far are you willing to let this go before he becomes a liability?"

Blair frowned. "I don't know yet. He's tied to Moretti, but he's not fully in the Syndicate. I need to figure out where his loyalties lie."

Jax raised an eyebrow. "And if his loyalties lie with his father?"

Blair didn't answer.

The next day, Blair was working at a co-working space downtown—one of her cover locations where she pretended to be a freelance tech consultant—when she received an encrypted message on her burner phone.

"Shipment 409 intercepted. Moretti scrambling. Next move imminent. Stay sharp."

The message was from one of her informants inside the Syndicate, a low-level operative who didn't know her identity but had been feeding her information in exchange for payment.

Blair's pulse quickened. The intercepted shipment was the one she'd leaked to the authorities, and now it was clear Moretti was planning a response.

She quickly packed up her laptop and left, her mind racing. If Moretti was preparing to retaliate, she needed to know what he was planning.

That evening, Blair decided to take a calculated risk. She showed up unannounced at Vincent Moretti's estate, her confidence masking the unease she felt.

The guards at the gate looked surprised to see her but let her through after a brief call to the house.

When she walked into the opulent living room, Vincent was waiting, a glass of scotch in his hand.

"Blair," he said, his tone smooth. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

Blair smiled, her expression calm. "I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by. I hear things have been… eventful lately."

Vincent's eyes narrowed slightly, but his smile didn't falter. "News travels fast, doesn't it? You're becoming quite the fixture in our little world."

Blair took a seat across from him, crossing her legs gracefully. "I like to keep my finger on the pulse. And I thought you might appreciate some… friendly advice."

Vincent chuckled, though the sound was devoid of humor. "Advice? From you?"

Blair leaned forward, her gaze steady. "You're dealing with someone who's trying to destabilize your operations. If you're not careful, it could spiral out of control."

Vincent studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "And what makes you think I'm not careful?"

Blair shrugged. "Call it a hunch. But whoever's targeting you—they're smart. They know how to hit you where it hurts."

Vincent's smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. "And what do you suggest I do about it?"

Blair hesitated for only a moment before replying. "You need to find the leak. Someone on the inside is feeding information to your enemies. If you don't handle it quickly, it'll only get worse."

Vincent didn't respond right away, but Blair could see the wheels turning in his mind.

"You're full of surprises, Blair," he said finally. "I'll keep your advice in mind."

As Blair left the estate, she found herself face-to-face with Leo in the driveway. He was leaning against his car, his arms crossed and a curious look on his face.

"You've been spending a lot of time around my father lately," he said, his tone light but probing.

Blair smiled. "Your father's an interesting man. He knows how to keep things… exciting."

Leo's eyes narrowed slightly. "You've got a knack for getting under people's skin, you know that?"

"Is that a compliment?" she asked, tilting her head.

Leo shrugged. "Maybe. But I'm starting to think there's more to you than meets the eye."

Blair's smile didn't waver, but inside, her nerves were on edge. "Isn't there always?"

Leo stepped closer, his gaze searching hers. "I'm not sure whether to be impressed or worried."

Blair's heart raced, but she kept her tone casual. "Why not both?"

Leo laughed softly, but the sound was tinged with something darker. "You're playing a dangerous game, Blair. Just make sure you know the rules."

As he walked away, Blair exhaled slowly, the weight of his words sinking in.

That night, Blair met with Jax to review their next move.

"We need to accelerate the plan," she said, pacing the room. "Moretti's onto us, and Leo's getting too close for comfort."

Jax frowned. "What do you mean 'too close'? Did he say something?"

Blair shook her head. "Not directly, but he's watching me. If I slip up, it's over."

Jax nodded. "Okay, so what's the next step?"

Blair pulled up a map on her laptop, pointing to a warehouse on the outskirts of the city. "This is where the Syndicate's next shipment is coming through. We need to intercept it before they do."

Jax hesitated. "You sure about this? If we get caught—"

"We won't get caught," Blair said firmly. "We can't afford to wait. The longer we delay, the more time Moretti has to regroup."

Jax sighed but nodded. "Alright. Let's do it."

As Blair and Jax finalized their plans, Blair's burner phone buzzed with a new message.

"You're in over your head. Walk away before it's too late."

The message was unsigned, but Blair's blood ran cold.

Was it a warning? Or a threat?

And, more importantly, who had sent it?