Shattered Reality

Blair's world erupted into chaos. The explosion was like a thunderclap that shook every fiber of her being. The force of it sent her flying backwards, crashing into the cold concrete floor. Pain exploded across her chest, and she gasped for breath, trying to push through the ringing in her ears.

For a few long moments, there was nothing but darkness and silence—a suffocating void that seemed to swallow her whole. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the haze clouding her vision. Slowly, she began to make sense of the carnage around her. The vault room had been torn apart—walls cracked, debris scattered across the floor, and smoke curling up from the wreckage.

She scrambled to her feet, her body aching from the impact. Her gun had been knocked from her hand, and she cursed as she searched the debris for it. Her heart pounded in her chest. The explosion hadn't been an accident—it had been planned. And Vincent was nowhere to be seen.

"Jax!" she called out, her voice hoarse.

There was no answer.

Blair's pulse quickened. She scanned the room, her eyes frantically searching for any sign of movement.

"Jax!" she shouted again, her throat raw.

The silence was suffocating. The smoke in the air made it difficult to see, but Blair didn't care. She couldn't afford to waste time. Jax was her only ally in this hell, and if he was hurt—or worse—she couldn't let Vincent win.

She staggered to the door, her breath shallow. The vault room was completely obliterated. The hallway beyond was a maze of shattered glass and splintered wood, but there was no sign of Jax—or anyone else.

A groan from behind her made Blair freeze. She whirled around, her eyes locking on a figure stirring amid the rubble. It was Jax, his face bloodied, his clothes torn. He was struggling to sit up, but there was a look of determination in his eyes.

"Jax," Blair whispered, relief flooding her. She rushed over to him, helping him to his feet.

"Don't waste time on me," Jax grunted, his voice thick with pain. "Vincent's still out there."

Blair could see the blood trickling down his forehead, his shirt stained. But she couldn't afford to linger on his injuries. Vincent had made his move, and it was clear he wasn't done with them yet.

"We need to get out of here," Blair said, her voice steady, even though every instinct inside her screamed to fight.

Jax nodded, his movements slow but deliberate. "You're right. But the bank's crawling with Vincent's men. We won't make it through the front door."

Blair's mind raced as she searched for another exit. Her fingers grazed the wall, brushing over the remains of the vault's security system. A backup escape tunnel—a secret exit hidden beneath the building—flashed in her mind. She had seen it on the blueprints once, years ago.

"It's this way," Blair said, pulling Jax toward the back of the room.

They moved quickly, though Jax's injuries slowed him down. Every step felt like an eternity, the sound of distant footsteps and muffled voices growing louder as they neared the back of the vault. The passage they were heading for was narrow, its entry concealed behind a hidden door in the far corner. Blair knew this was their only chance.

She reached the wall, feeling around for the switch. Her fingers brushed the cool metal of a hidden lever, and with a soft click, the door creaked open, revealing a narrow tunnel beyond.

"After you," Blair said, nodding toward Jax.

Jax hesitated for a moment, but then stepped into the tunnel, his steps cautious but steady. Blair followed closely behind, the sounds of chaos outside the vault growing fainter with each step they took into the darkness.

The tunnel was old, its walls lined with dust and cobwebs. It stretched on for what felt like miles, twisting and turning, but Blair knew it would lead them to safety. They had no other choice.

"How much further?" Jax asked, his voice strained.

Blair didn't answer. She could hear the sound of footsteps approaching again, closer now. She could almost feel Vincent's presence, like a dark cloud following them through the tunnel.

"We need to move faster," Blair urged, her pulse racing.

But as they rounded the next corner, the tunnel abruptly opened into a small underground room. Blair's eyes scanned the area, and she quickly spotted an old metal door on the far side. Beyond it, she knew, lay an exit to the alley behind the bank.

But there was something else. The room wasn't empty.

A shadow moved in the corner.

Blair's heart skipped a beat.

A figure stepped out of the darkness, his hands raised in surrender.

"Blair," he said, his voice low, familiar.

Blair's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the man standing before her.

It was Dominic.

Blair's hand instinctively went for her gun, but Dominic raised his hands higher, showing he meant no harm.

"Easy, Blair," he said with a pained smile. "I'm not here to hurt you."

Blair didn't lower her weapon, her gaze sharp as she studied him. She couldn't trust him—not yet. Not after everything that had happened.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded.

"I was trying to help," Dominic said, his voice strained. "I know you're after the deposit box, but Vincent's men have the whole area locked down. You won't make it out alive if you don't take the back exit."

Blair's mind raced. "I don't need your help."

Dominic winced, his eyes darkening. "I'm not here to make your life harder, Blair. I'm here because I want revenge too."

Jax stepped forward, his tone blunt. "What's the catch, Dominic? You're not here out of the goodness of your heart."

Dominic's eyes flicked between them, then he lowered his hands. "I can help you take down Vincent. I know where he's hiding. I know his plans. But I want something in return."

Blair's grip tightened on her gun. "And what's that?"

Dominic took a step closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want you to kill him, Blair. I want you to make him pay for everything he's done."

Jax and Blair exchanged a look. The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Blair's jaw clenched. "You're asking me to be the murderer?"

"Do you want to live, or do you want to be free?" Dominic's voice was cold, his eyes hard. "You can't have both. Not with Vincent. You can't win without taking him down."

Blair felt the weight of his words. Her father's murder, her hunt for vengeance—it had led her to this very moment. But was she willing to pay the price Dominic was asking?

And more importantly—could she really trust him?

Suddenly, the loud clang of metal echoed from the hallway. Vincent's men were closing in, and Blair knew they didn't have much time.

"You have a choice, Blair," Dominic said urgently. "Make it now."

Blair looked between Jax and Dominic, her mind a whirlwind.

And then the door behind her slammed open.

"Time's up."