BORN TO BE A MAN,FORCED TO BE A GANGSTER

CHAPTER 8

THE COST OF LOYALTY

The room went quiet after Griffin spoke. His eyes held Selena like iron nails, daring her not to look away. The single light above cast long shadows on the walls, heavy with meaning.

“You carry this secret,” Griffin said slowly. “And you carry me with it. If you fail, Selena, the streets will kill you—I don’t have to.”

Selena met his gaze without blinking. Her lips pressed tight, but her silence said more than words.

Griffin leaned in, calm and steady. “People die for less. Betrayal is buried with fire. Understand?”

Selena finally spoke, steady and strong. “If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t be here. But if you want my silence, test me. Let me prove who I am, not what you think.”

Griffin’s eyes showed surprise. No one stood up to him like this. Most break or beg. Not her.

“Careful,” he said, fixing his jacket. “Your words might cost more than you know.”

Still, the challenge interested him. There was fire in her—real fire.

He stepped back and tapped the desk. “Fine. You want a test? Tomorrow night. No weapons, no backup. Just you and a message that must reach the city’s edge before dawn. Fail, and you’ll wish I left you in that dark room.”

Selena raised an eyebrow but stayed calm. “And if I succeed?”

Griffin smiled—more threat than joke. “Then maybe you’ll earn the right to stand beside me, not behind me.”

The light flickered, shadows deepened. Selena drummed her fingers, mind racing. She didn’t need to ask about the message. Survival was the real game.

Griffin’s footsteps echoed as he left, voice cold: “Let’s see if your loyalty is worth the cost.”

Selena leaned back, exhaled slow, a small smirk on her lips. She wasn’t scared. Not yet.

But the streets were waiting—and the night would decide if she belonged in Griffin’s world or got buried under it.

Selena stayed sitting long after Griffin’s footsteps faded. The quiet wasn’t scary—it made her think. She traced her finger on the desk, planning her next move and weighing the risks.

She’d been through enough storms to know this wasn’t just a task. Griffin was giving her a death sentence disguised as a test. No weapons, no friends, and a city full of gangs ready to strike. It wasn’t just about the message—it was about if she could carry Griffin’s name without breaking.

She whispered, “The cost of loyalty… Let’s see if you can afford mine, Griffin.”

The door creaked, and one of Griffin’s scarred men peeked in. He pushed a small sealed envelope on the table.

“Orders,” he said, eyes sharp. “Don’t lose it. Don’t open it. Don’t think you’re smart enough to look inside. He’ll know.”

Selena picked up the envelope, turned it once, then slipped it into her jacket pocket. She didn’t answer. No need.

After he left, she stood and stretched. Her body looked calm, but her mind was sharp, cutting through every possible danger. No room for mistakes—not with Griffin watching and rival gangs ready to bleed her dry.

She walked to the window, opened it, and let the cold night air touch her skin. The city lights blinked back—restless and hungry. Somewhere out there was the road she had to take, the shadows she’d move through, and the enemies she’d outsmart.

Her lips curled in a quiet, dangerous smile. “Alright, Griffin,” she whispered. “If this is the game you want, I’m in. But when I win, don’t pretend you didn’t see it coming.”

Behind her, the bulb flickered again, buzzing like a warning. She didn’t flinch. The moment she sat at Griffin’s table, she stepped into his world. Now, she had to survive his test—and prove her silence meant more than he realized.