Chapter 25: The Price of Loyalty

Sabrina was unsure what to anticipate as Nathaniel escorted her inside Knight Industries' underground lair. It was not like the fancy offices or magnificent penthouses she was used to. This environment was frigid and sterile, designed for efficiency rather than comfort.

The walls were lined with monitors, each showing a distinct set of data, surveillance footage, and transactions. Men and women dressed in dark suits strolled around, speaking quietly and spending long hours at their desks. Sabrina's heartbeat drove as she realized how deep Nathaniel's world was. This was not an average empire. This was a shadow empire—one that engaged in a game of power, danger, and deception on a level she hadn't yet understand.

"Welcome to the heart of Knight Industries," Nathaniel said, his voice echoing in the quiet room.

Sabrina swallowed, trying to steady herself as she took in the cold, impersonal surroundings. "You never told me this side of things."

His gaze met hers, his expression unreadable. "Because you didn't need to know. Until now."

She didn't say anything, but the question remained on her lips. Why now? Why had everything changed instantly? What was the real cost of her involvement in this world?

They reached a door at the far end of the room, which Nathaniel unlocked with a swipe of his keycard. Inside was a small conference room, darkened except for the dim light from a single lamp. In the center was a large wooden table, but it wasn't the room itself that caught Sabrina's attention. It was the man seated at the table—an older, imposing figure with graying hair and piercing eyes that never left her.

Nathaniel's hand rested on her shoulder as they entered, his touch a reminder of just how far she'd gone with him. "Sabrina, meet Victor Reid. He's the one who makes the decisions when it comes to matters of life and death in this world."

Victor didn't stand to meet her, but he cast a calculating look at Sabrina. He was the type of man who made her feel small in an instant, commanding the room without speaking.

"I've heard a lot about you, Miss Vance," Victor said, his voice smooth but with an underlying hardness that sent a chill down Sabrina's spine. "I have to admit, I'm curious to see how well you handle the truth."

Sabrina raised an eyebrow, her pulse quickening. "The truth?"

Victor's lips curled into a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You're in a dangerous game now, Sabrina. The question is: Are you willing to play by the rules?"

Nathaniel's hand tightened on her shoulder, and she could feel the weight of his gaze on her.

"Tell her," Victor said, leaning back in his chair, steepling his fingers as though he were waiting for something. "Tell her what this is really about, Knight."

Nathaniel's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away from Sabrina. "This is about loyalty. A loyalty that, once given, is never taken back." His voice was low, but there was a fierce intensity behind it that made her heart race. "And once you're in, Sabrina, there's no turning back. Not without consequences."

Sabrina's mind was spinning, trying to piece everything together. What did Nathaniel mean by that? What kind of loyalty was he talking about? Was she already too far in to back out now?

"Tell her about your past," Victor urged, leaning forward. "Tell her how you've built this empire on trust… and betrayal."

Nathaniel's eyes darkened at the mention of betrayal, but he didn't flinch. "My past is irrelevant now," he said, his voice almost clipped. "What matters is the present. And the present is that Sabrina's become a part of something bigger than either of us."

Sabrina's heart skipped a beat. She could feel the walls closing in as the truth slowly began to sink in. She wasn't just involved with Nathaniel. She was involved with this world—this ruthless, dangerous world.

Victor's eyes flicked between the two of them. "You see, Sabrina, in our world, loyalty isn't just about allegiance to a person. It's about allegiance to a cause. And the cost of that loyalty is often higher than you could ever imagine."

The air in the room seemed to grow thicker as his words lingered. Sabrina swallowed hard, trying to steady her racing heart. "What cost?"

Victor's lips curled into another cold smile. "The price of loyalty is blood. People die, people betray, and people are consumed by power. The question is, can you live with that?"

Sabrina turned to Nathaniel, searching his face for some kind of reassurance. But all she found was a man who had chosen this path long ago, and now she was standing at the crossroads with him. She could feel the weight of his choices pressing down on her, and she realized that the deeper she went into this world, the less likely it was that she would ever come out unscathed.

Nathaniel stepped forward, his hand reaching for hers. "I won't let anything happen to you," he said softly, but there was an edge to his voice that made her doubt the sincerity of his words. "But I can't promise you won't get hurt. This world doesn't work like that."

Sabrina's pulse quickened as his touch sent a shock through her. She didn't want to admit it, but there was something about him that drew her in—something dark, dangerous, and irresistible.

Victor was watching them both, his eyes gleaming with a knowing look. "Time will tell, Knight. Time will tell."

Sabrina swallowed, taking a deep breath. She had made her choice. She was already too far gone.

"I'll stay," she said, her voice steady but uncertain.

Nathaniel's eyes softened, and for the first time, she saw something resembling warmth in them. But there was still a dark undertone to his gaze.

Sabrina knew this wasn't just about them anymore. This was about power, loyalty, and a world where betrayal was inevitable. The question wasn't whether she would survive this game—it was whether she could live with the price of loyalty.