#Chapter 230: A Price to Pay

Olivia The car’s tires crunched over the gravel road, a subtle reminder of how isolated this meeting point really was. Tall, gnarled trees stretched up to the sky, their branches casting eerie shadows in the evening light. Nathan and I had arrived at the clearing just outside the abandoned warehouse, the sky overhead darkening and shifting from a pale blue to a muted gray as storm clouds began to blot out the sun. I could feel my heart drumming loudly in my ears as we sat for a moment, wrapped in the uncomfortable embrace of the impending confrontation. I glanced over at Nathan. There was an unreadable expression on his face; a mix of determination and concern. “This is it,” I said quietly as we both watched Ryan, who was seemingly alone, up ahead. “Elliot, or… war.” Nathan pulled his shoulders back, but said nothing. When I glanced over at him again, I could see his blue-green eyes darting around, but not nervously. He was checking our surroundings. “Stay in t