Chapter 26

Nate's POV

Nate drove through the city streets, his heart racing as he neared the warehouse. The message he had received gnawed at his mind, filling him with a sense of foreboding. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into a trap, but his need for answers was stronger than his fear.

As he approached the warehouse, the eerie silence around it sent chills down his spine. The place was just as he remembered it—cold, dark, and filled with the echoes of the night Allyson had been shot. He parked his car a short distance away and cautiously made his way to the entrance.

Inside, the dim lighting cast long shadows, making the already ominous atmosphere even more unsettling. Nate's senses were on high alert as he walked deeper into the warehouse, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of movement.

"Who's there?" Nate called out, his voice echoing off the walls. "Show yourself!"

A figure stepped out from the shadows, and Nate's heart skipped a beat when he recognized the man. It was the private investigator who had tried to blackmail him—the same man who had shot Allyson.

"You again," Nate growled, his anger flaring up. "What the hell do you want?"

The investigator smirked, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Relax, Mr. Grayson. I'm not here to shoot you this time. I have information that you might find… valuable."

Nate clenched his fists, resisting the urge to punch the man in the face. "What kind of information?"

The investigator chuckled, clearly enjoying the power he held in this moment. "You want to know the truth about Allyson, don't you? About who she really is and what she's been hiding from you?"

Nate's heart pounded in his chest. "I already know who she is. She's the heir to Spark Empire, Richard's niece. What else is there to know?"

The investigator shook his head, his expression mocking. "You think that's the whole story? There's a lot more going on behind the scenes than you realize, Mr. Grayson. Allyson's not just some innocent heiress. She's been involved in things that you wouldn't believe—things that could ruin her and everyone around her."

Nate's mind raced as he tried to make sense of the man's words. "What are you talking about?"

Before the investigator could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed through the warehouse. Nate turned sharply, his eyes narrowing as he saw another figure emerge from the shadows. This time, it was someone he recognized—Kelvin, Allyson's uncle's trusted assistant.

Kelvin's expression was grave as he approached. "Nate, don't listen to him. He's trying to manipulate you."

The investigator sneered. "Ah, the loyal servant arrives. Always ready to clean up the mess, aren't you, Kelvin?"

Kelvin ignored the taunt, focusing on Nate. "You have to leave, Nate. This man is dangerous. He's trying to exploit your emotions to get what he wants."

Nate looked between the two men, his confusion deepening. "What the hell is going on here? Why is everyone trying to hide things from me? I just want the truth!"

Kelvin stepped closer, his voice urgent. "The truth is complicated, Nate. But you need to trust Allyson. She's been trying to protect you from all of this. There are forces at play that you don't understand."

The investigator laughed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Protect him? Is that what you're calling it now? I think Nate deserves to know just how deep Allyson's involvement goes, don't you?"

Kelvin shot the man a warning glare. "Enough! You've caused enough damage already."

But the investigator wasn't done. He reached into his coat and pulled out a small flash drive, holding it up for Nate to see. "On this drive is everything you need to know about Allyson's connections, her business dealings, and the people she's been working with behind your back. All the proof you need that she's been playing you this whole time."

Nate stared at the flash drive, his heart torn between his desire for answers and the fear of what he might discover. "What do you want for it?"

The investigator smiled, his eyes gleaming with greed. "Fifty thousand, just like before. But this time, I guarantee you'll find it worth every penny."

Kelvin moved to block the exchange. "Don't do it, Nate. This man can't be trusted. He's already proven that."

Nate hesitated, his mind swirling with doubts and suspicions. Could he trust Kelvin? Could he trust anyone at this point? Every instinct told him that the investigator was dangerous, but the allure of uncovering the truth about Allyson was too strong to ignore.

Before he could make a decision, the sound of sirens filled the air, growing louder as they approached the warehouse. The investigator's eyes widened in panic, and he quickly pocketed the flash drive.

"Damn it! This isn't over, Grayson," the investigator spat before turning and fleeing into the shadows.

Kelvin sighed in relief as the sirens grew louder, signaling the arrival of the police. "Nate, we need to go. Now."

But Nate's mind was still reeling from the confrontation. "Kelvin, what was on that drive? What was he talking about?"

Kelvin hesitated, his expression conflicted. "It's complicated, Nate. But I promise you, Allyson isn't the person he's trying to make her out to be. She's been trying to protect you from the truth because she cares about you."

Nate's heart ached with the weight of everything he had learned. Could he believe Kelvin? Could he trust that Allyson was truly trying to protect him, or was there more to the story than he knew?

As the police cars arrived outside the warehouse, Nate knew that this was far from over. The truth was still out there, waiting to be uncovered—and he was determined to find it, no matter what it cost him.

As Nate and Kelvin exited the warehouse, the flash of blue and red lights illuminated the scene. The police were swarming the area, but Nate's mind was elsewhere, consumed by the questions that haunted him.

In the distance, a shadowy figure watched them from the safety of the darkness, a sinister smile playing on their lips. They had witnessed the entire exchange, and now, they held the key to a secret that would turn Nate's world upside down.

With a final glance at the warehouse, the figure disappeared into the night, leaving behind a trail of mystery and danger that would soon come crashing down on everyone involved.

**To be continued…**