Baldwin's Mansion
"Do it, Ana. Pull the trigger."
The room gasped in disbelief. Blaze's own men stiffened, shocked that their boss -who had always claimed to love her was egging her on. Arthur's expression darkened, while Elijah felt his own heart stop. He wanted to act, to stop this, but he couldn't move.
Savannah's grip on the gun wavered.
"But if you pull that trigger, Ana," Blaze said, his voice unnervingly calm, "you will never know where your son is. Who must be waiting for you to save him. Possibly wouldn't want you to do this, what you're trying to do now."
Everything inside Savannah came to a standstill.
Her son. Theo.
As the weight of reality crashed down on her like a tidal wave, her fingers slipped from the gun. In that fleeting moment of vulnerability, Blaze snatched the weapon from her grasp and tossed it to Arthur.
Savannah crumpled, her knees buckling beneath her. But just before she hit the ground, Blaze caught her, pulling her into his embrace.
"Good girl," he whispered, gently stroking her back.
She sobbed, the sound raw and full of agony, echoing through the grand hall. Elijah clenched his fists. This wasn't over. If anything, this was only the beginning.
Study Room
Blaze sat in his dimly lit study, the rich aroma of tobacco and aged whiskey swirling around him. He stared blankly at a single spot on the mahogany desk, The earlier encounter with Savannah played on a relentless loop in his thoughts. The way she had looked at him—those fiery eyes brimming with betrayal and contempt—haunted him. She no longer regarded him with warmth or tenderness. That realization gnawed at him like a relentless parasite, burrowing deeper into his soul with every passing moment.
Hate. That was what terrified him the most. He could handle her anger, her accusations, her defiance—but her hate? No, he couldn't bear it. The thought of her despising him twisted something deep within, leaving a hollow ache that he couldn't shake off. He had to act. He wouldn't let it come to that. He couldn't afford to.
Yet, outwardly, he appeared just as he always did—calm, composed, and unreadable. The only hint of the storm brewing inside him was the slow, deliberate way he took a drag from his cigar, the ember glowing softly in the dim light before he released a swirl of smoke.
Arthur stood before him, his usual stoic expression intact, though the extended silence from his boss made his fingers twitch with impatience. He had been there for over fifteen minutes, watching Blaze lost in his thoughts, waiting for some direction.
"Boss, what's next with her?" Arthur finally broke the silence, his voice cutting through the stillness.
Blaze lifted his gaze, his black eyes shadowed with an unreadable emotion. He took another puff of his cigar before responding.
"She knows almost everything." His tone was flat, void of emotion, but the weight of his words was heavy.
Arthur tensed. "You mean... she's a threat now?"
Blaze exhaled a slow stream of smoke, shaking his head. "This means, she's not your concern."
Arthur held his tongue. He knew better than to challenge Blaze when it came to Savannah. There was a dangerous edge to his voice whenever he mentioned her, a warning against pushing too hard.
Instead, Arthur shifted his focus to the task at hand. "So, what do you want me to do?"
Blaze's eyes narrowed slightly as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.
"She wouldn't be doing this alone. Someone is backing her." His voice was sharp and calculated. His instincts told him that Savannah wasn't the only one orchestrating things. She was clever, but there was someone else pulling the strings, someone providing support. And he was determined to uncover who that was.
Arthur nodded slowly. "You think there's an informant?"
Blaze's gaze was steady, unwavering. "That's for you to figure out." His voice had a sharp edge, making it clear he wanted results—and he wanted them fast.
Arthur pressed his lips into a thin line. "On it." Without another word, he pivoted on his heel and left the room, already pulling out his phone to get things rolling.
Blaze leaned back in his chair, fingers tightening around the cigar as he stared up at the ceiling. Savannah had changed everything, forced his hand in ways he never anticipated. But one thing Blaze never did was lose control.
And he wasn't about to start now.
Outside the mansion, in the vast front yard, Elijah stood still, dressed head to toe in black. The chilly night air did nothing to calm the turmoil in his mind. His thoughts were consumed by Savannah—the reckless choice she had made without a second thought.
The moment she hung up on him, he felt it deep in his bones—something was off. And when he heard she was missing, that certainty solidified. If he had known she was planning this, he would have stopped her. This wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment decision—it was dangerous, more so than ever.
His gaze wandered to the empty patio, the spot where he had often seen her lost in her art. The weight of realizing those moments were gone, that everything was shifting, pressed heavily on him.
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice beside him.
"What a mess."
Elijah turned, his sharp eyes landing on Arthur, who took a deep breath as he stepped closer.
"How's he?" Elijah asked, referring to Blaze.
Arthur sighed. "Not great, but he's keeping it together."
"It was all so sudden." Arthur added.
Elijah nodded, his expression unreadable. "It had to happen sooner or later."
Arthur's gaze sharpened, studying Elijah with newfound intensity. "What are you implying?"
Elijah didn't look at him as he spoke, his eyes fixed once more on the patio. "Relationships can't be built on lies. You know that too. Stop acting indifferent."
Arthur's face darkened, a warning flickering in his eyes. "Be careful with that wisdom of yours—you might find yourself in hot water."
Elijah's jaw clenched. "She was let down by the one person she trusted the most. We can't even begin to imagine what she's going through."
There was something in Elijah's words that made Arthur uneasy, though he kept his composure.
Instead, he stepped closer, lowering his voice to a dangerous whisper.
"Get a grip. You're not the one who should be worried about her. You don't have that right."
Finally, Elijah turned to face Arthur, his expression a complete mystery. But before he could respond, Arthur cut in again. "Just don't let the boss catch wind of your words."
With that, Arthur walked away, leaving Elijah alone with his thoughts. His fingers curled into fists as Arthur's words echoed in his mind.
Did he really have no right?
Author's Note :
Thankyou for reading<3
Hope you're liking the story so far:)
Have a good day/night <3<3