Chapter 61 61
Blair suddenly pulled back from Maverick and turned to Eliana.
Before Eliana could even ask again, Blair wrapped her in a tight, desperate hug.
“Eliana…” her voice broke. “Thank you. For everything. For loving my son when I couldn’t be here.”
She released her just as fast, eyes wild, already moving, already planning.
“I need to leave the city. Now,” Blair said, her tone shaking but firm. “We’ll talk later. I promise. But my son’s life is in danger.”
Eliana grabbed her arm. “Blair, wait—slow down. What are you talking about? Who—”
“No,” Blair cut in sharply, shaking her head. “Don’t ask. Please. Not now.”
She knelt again, lifting Maverick into her arms. He wrapped himself around her neck without a word, trusting her completely.
“Eliana, listen to me,” Blair continued, lowering her voice. “If anyone asks… you haven’t seen me. You don’t know where I went.”
Eliana’s eyes filled with fear. “Blair, you’re scaring me.”
“I know,” Blair whispered. “I’m scared too.”
Eliana opened her mouth again, but Blair stepped back, already retreating toward the door, holding Maverick like he was the last thing anchoring her to this world.
“I love you,” Blair said quickly. “I’ll explain everything when we’re safe.”
“Blair—” Eliana tried one last time.
But Blair shook her head, eyes pleading.
“Please. Trust me. Just this once.”
Then she turned, pulling the door open, disappearing into the hallway with Maverick clinging to her—leaving Eliana standing there, heart racing.
Blair didn’t go home.
She went straight to the nearest all-night travel kiosk, Maverick asleep against her chest, his tiny breaths warm through her jacket.
Her hands were shaking as she pulled out her phone.
Flights. Anywhere. Now.
The screen loaded slowly—while her heart pounded like someone was already behind her.
She scrolled.
Cancelled.
Too late.
Too expensive.
Her throat tightened.
Then one option appeared.
Departure: 4:45 a.m.
Destination: far—far enough.
One way.
Her fingers hovered.
This is everything I have, she thought.
Rent savings. Emergency money. The future I was trying to build.
She glanced down at Maverick.
His brows were slightly furrowed even in sleep, like he was still waiting for her to come back.
That was all the answer she needed.
Blair pressed CONFIRM.
The total flashed on the screen.
Her balance dropped to almost nothing.
A sharp breath left her chest—not relief, not regret.
Finality.
She slumped back into the plastic chair, clutching the phone like it could vanish.
“We’re leaving,” she whispered to Maverick, brushing a kiss into his hair. “Just you and me.”
The boarding pass chimed onto her screen.
She deleted her browsing history.
Cleared her call logs.
Turned off her location.
The local airport was half-asleep.
Blair sat alone near Gate C17.
Maverick was curled into her chest, wrapped in her jacket, his small fingers clutching the fabric .
Just board the plane, she told herself.
Just get on and don’t look back.
Her phone buzzed.
She nearly screamed.
It was nothing—just the boarding reminder.
Blair exhaled shakily and kissed Maverick’s forehead.
“We’re almost free, baby,” she whispered.
Across the terminal, two men stood near a column.
One of them lifted his phone casually, pretending to scroll—until the camera lens aligned perfectly with Blair.
Click.
Another angle.
Click.
A close-up.
Maverick’s face.
Blair’s profile.
The way she kept scanning the room.
The second man leaned closer, murmuring into a hidden mic.
“Confirmed. It’s her.”
He snapped one last photo as Blair adjusted Maverick on her shoulder, completely unaware.
The first man typed quickly, attaching the images.
Sent.
He raised his eyes, sharp and cold.
“Boss…” he said quietly into the mic,
“Target located. Local airport. Gate C17.”
A pause.
Then his jaw tightened.
“Yes,” he added, watching Blair like prey.
“She’s trying to leave the city.”
Blair felt a chill crawl up her spine for no reason at all.
She hugged Maverick closer.
The departure board flickered.
FINAL CALL — C17
The boarding announcement was already playing.
“Final call for Flight 317 to—”
The airport lights flickered.
Just once.
Then again.
A sharp beep echoed, followed by confusion rippling through the terminal like a sudden storm.
The departure board froze.
Then—one by one—every flight status changed.
DELAYED
ON HOLD
CANCELLED
Murmurs rose instantly.
“What’s happening?”
“I was already boarding—”
“This has never happened before!”
Blair stood slowly, dread flooding her veins.
Her phone vibrated.
No caller ID.
She didn’t answer.
A cold, authoritative voice cut through the speakers
“Attention, ladies and gentlemen. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Due to an immediate change in ownership and security protocol, all departures are suspended until further notice.”
Ownership…?
Blair’s breath caught.
That wasn’t normal.
That wasn’t possible.
Across the terminal, the two men in black straightened.
One smiled faintly.
“Damn,” he muttered. “He didn’t waste time.”
The other lowered his phone slowly, eyes narrowing as he watched the chaos unfold—staff scrambling, passengers shouting, security tightening like a noose.
His phone buzzed again.
He answered instantly, straightening.
“Yes, Boss.”
The voice on the other end was calm.
“She cannot leave the city,” the man said.
Not a request. Not a suggestion.
“Yes, sir.”
There was a pause. Then the voice dropped lower—
“And if she finds another way—road, rail, private charter—cut it off. Every alternative. Every exit. I want this city sealed for her.”
The man swallowed.
“…Understood.”
“Good,” the Boss continued coolly. “You have authorization for all measures. No mistakes. No witnesses. And no mercy if anyone helps her.”
The call ended.
The man exhaled slowly, then turned to his partner.
“Activate Plan B,” he said. “Lock down the highways. Flag her face to transport control. Hotels, rentals, ports—everything.”
“What about the kid?” the other asked quietly.
The man’s jaw tightened.
“…Do not touch the child unless ordered.”
Blair stumbled toward the nearest airport staff member—a young woman in a navy uniform who looked just as shaken as everyone else.
“E-excuse me,” Blair said, forcing her voice to stay steady as she adjusted Maverick on her hip. “What’s going on? Why are all the flights cancelled?”
The staff member glanced around nervously before leaning in.
“I—I probably shouldn’t say this,” she whispered, “but the airport was just… auctioned.”
Blair blinked.
“Auctioned?”
The woman nodded quickly. “A private emergency auction. A billionaire consortium bought controlling rights an hour ago. New ownership. New security protocol.” She swallowed. “All flights are suspended until further notice.”
Blair’s blood ran cold.
An airport.
Auctioned.
Like it was nothing more than a watch or a painting.
“So you’re saying,” Blair said slowly, “one man can just… stop everyone from leaving?”
The woman gave a helpless shrug.
“When it’s someone that powerful? Yes.”
Blair turned away before her legs gave out.
Her fingers curled tightly around the strap of her bag, knuckles whiten
ing until it hurt.
Billionaires.
Her jaw clenched, fury burning through the fear.
“Of course,” she whispered bitterly, pressing her lips to Maverick’s hair.
“Of course it’s a billionaire.”
Her chest rose and fell fast.
I hate them.
I hate everything they are.