Chapter 60 60
He reached into his pocket slowly.
Blair’s body went rigid.
When his hand came out, it wasn’t a gun.
It was a small knife—
He twirled it between his fingers like it weighed nothing.
“Option one,” he said casually, crouching in front of her again. “You flee.”
Her breath caught. “F-flee…?”
He nodded. “Tonight. Before sunrise. You take your kid and disappear.
Her head shook immediately. “No.”
“I’m not running,” she said. “I didn’t do anything wrong. My son doesn’t deserve a life where he’s always hiding.”
The smile on his face faded.
“Oh, little bird,” he sighed. “That wasn’t the correct response.”
He leaned in and pressed the flat of the knife gently under her chin, just enough for her to feel the cold kiss of metal.
Her entire body trembled.
“Don’t,” she whispered. “Please don’t—”
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said softly. “Yet.”
He tilted the blade, tracing it lightly along her jaw, stopping right over her pulse.
“But I need you to understand something.”
His voice hardened.
“You don’t get to negotiate.”
Tears streamed down her face. “If I run… he’ll ask me why. He’ll ask about his father.”
The knife paused.
“For once,” she cried, “I want to choose my own life.”
Everywhere went silent for a beat then he pulled the blade back and stood, irritation flashing across his scarred face.
“You’re braver than you look,” he muttered. “Stupid—but brave.”
He snapped the knife shut with a click that made her flinch.
“Fine,” he said. “Option two.”
Her chest heaved. “What… what is option two?”
He turned toward the shadows of the factory.
“You stay,” he said coldly. “And people start getting curious.”
He looked back at her one last time.
“About you.”
He paused for a bit then he continued.
“And about your son.”
Heavy boots echoed.
One by one, his men stepped out of the shadows—four of them. Rough faces. Cold eyes. The kind of men who didn’t ask questions, only followed orders.
Blair’s heart slammed against her ribs.
One of them whistled low. “She’s prettier than the picture.”
Another chuckled. “Boss, we could scare her real good. Dump her somewhere far—make sure she never comes back sniffing around.”
A third leaned against a rusted pillar, arms crossed. “Or we send a message. Not to her—” his eyes narrowed “—to whoever she’s hiding from.”
Blair shook her head violently. “Please… please don’t—”
The fourth man, quiet till now, spoke calmly. That was worse.
“Fear lasts longer when you let it grow. Let her go… but follow her. Make her feel watched. Every day. Every night.”
Her breath broke into sobs.
The scarred man raised his hand.
Silence fell instantly.
He walked slowly toward her again, crouching so they were eye level. “See?” he said softly. “So many creative minds.”
He tilted his head, studying her panic like a puzzle.
“One says dump you.”
He glanced back.
“One says threaten who you love.”
Another glance.
“And one says let paranoia do the work.”
He leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper meant only for her.
“Run, little bird,” he murmured.
“Run from this city. Run far.”
The knife traced the air near her cheek.
“You already know the consequences.”
Her chains hit the floor with a sharp clang.
For one frozen second, Blair didn’t move.
Then fear took over.
She ran.
Bare feet slapped against cold concrete as she bolted through the rusted doors, lungs burning, heart screaming Maverick—Maverick—Maverick with every breath.
The night swallowed her whole, alley lights blurring as tears streamed down her face.
Behind her, she heard laughter.
She stumbled, nearly falling, palms scraping raw, but she forced herself up. Don’t stop. Don’t look back.
Her mind spiraled.
Run from the city.
Run from him.
Run before they decide hope isn’t enough.
Somewhere behind her, the scarred man watched her disappear into the dark.
He lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly.
“She’ll run,” one of his men said.
He nodded once.
“She has a son.”
The cigarette ember flared.
“That makes fear faster than legs.”
\---
Blair didn’t stop until her chest felt like it would burst.
She ducked behind a trash-lined street, collapsing to her knees, hands pressed to her mouth to choke back a scream.
“Mave…” she sobbed. “I’m coming… Mommy’s coming…”
Her body shook violently.
Leave the city.
Tonight.
But one thought ripped through her panic like glass:
How do you run… when the man you’re running from is your child’s father?
Blair didn’t stop running until the familiar, cracked pavement of their street came into view.
But the moment she saw Eliana’s apartment lights still on, she knew—
Maverick is here.
She rushed up the stairs, knocking once, twice—then the door flew open.
Before Eliana could speak, Blair was already inside.
“Mave—”
He was there.
Small. Awake. Curled on the couch with his knees pulled to his chest, eyes red and swollen like he hadn’t slept at all.
The second he saw her—
“Mommy!”
Blair dropped to her knees and crushed him into her arms, holding him so tight it hurt, like if she loosened her grip even a little he’d disappear.
“I’m here,” she sobbed into his hair. “I’m here. I’m so sorry. Mommy’s here.”
Maverick clung to her, fingers digging into her jacket, shaking.
“I didn’t sleep,” he whispered. “I waited… I knew you’d come.”
That broke her.
Blair buried her face in his neck, crying silently, breathing him in like oxygen.
“I will never leave you again. Never. Do you hear me?”
Eliana stood frozen by the door, eyes wide, heart pounding.
“Blair… what happened?” she asked softly.
Blair shook her head, still holding Maverick like a shield.
“Later,” she whispered hoarsely. “Please… just let me hold him.”
Maverick pulled back slightly, cupping her face with his tiny hands the way she used to do to him.
“Mommy… were you scared?”
Blair swallowed hard, forcing a smile through tears.
“No, baby,” she lied. “Mommy just got lost.”
He nodded, trusting her compl
etely, then rested his head against her chest again.
“I didn’t let Aunt Eli sleep,” he murmured. “I told her you’d come back.”
Eliana turned away, wiping her eyes.
Blair closed her eyes, rocking him gently.