Love Denied Ch 20

Chapter 20
The Mask Falls
The air inside the warehouse was thick with tension. Elena’s
heart hammered in her chest as she and Daniel exchanged a
look. The voice that had greeted them was one they hadn’t
expected. Betrayal stung in the silence that followed, and
every instinct screamed that they were walking into a trap.
“Who’s there?” Elena called out, trying to steady her breath
and keep her composure. She didn’t know if it was fear or
anger that twisted inside her, but one thing was clear—
whoever had turned on them was going to pay.
A figure stepped into the weak light spilling through the
cracked windows, their face partially obscured by the
shadows. The air felt colder as they moved forward, and
Elena’s eyes narrowed as the figure became clearer.
It was Officer James Carter—the very man they’d placed
their trust in. The same officer who had sworn to protect
them from Ryan’s reach. The betrayal was sudden, and yet,
it made a twisted kind of sense. He had been around too
often, asking too many questions, his loyalty wavering in a
way they hadn’t noticed before.
“James,” Daniel said through gritted teeth. “What the hell
are you doing here?”
James’s lips curled into a thin, mocking smile. “I should be
the one asking you that. How long did you think you could
run, Elena? How long could you keep up the charade?”
Elena stepped forward, her voice steady despite the rage
boiling inside her. “You were supposed to help us, James.
You were supposed to keep us safe.”
He shook his head, the smile turning into something darker.
“Safe? That’s the problem, Elena. You thought you were
safe, but you never were. Not when you decided to go after
Ryan Lancaster. You’ve made powerful enemies.”
Daniel’s fists clenched at his sides. “You’re working for him,
aren’t you? All this time, you’ve been playing both sides.”
James didn’t deny it. Instead, he let out a dry laugh. “I don’t
work for Ryan. I work for myself. I always have. You two
were useful for a while, but now? Now you’re a liability.”
Elena’s thoughts raced. “How much did he pay you? Was it
money? Power?”
“Both,” James replied with a smirk. “Ryan’s got more to
offer than you’ll ever know. I made my choice, and it’s a
choice I’m not going to regret.”
Daniel took a step forward, his voice firm. “You made a
mistake, James. You really think Ryan will let you live after
this? When this is over, you’ll be just another pawn in his
game.”
James’s expression flickered for a moment, but it quickly
returned to his usual smug demeanor. “I’m not the one who’s
going to be thrown away. You are.”
The Encounter Turns
Elena knew they couldn’t waste any more time. Every
second they spent in this warehouse with James could be the
moment Ryan’s men caught up with them. She had to act—
and fast.
“You’re a coward, James,” Elena said, her voice cutting
through the tension. “You think you’re safe with Ryan? He’s
never safe. You’ll be his puppet until he decides to cut your
strings.”
James’s smile faltered for just a moment, but it was enough
for Elena to see the crack in his facade. Before he could
respond, Elena turned to Daniel. “We have to go. We can’t
stay here.”
Daniel gave her a brief nod, and together they began to back
toward the door, but James stepped forward, blocking their
escape.
“You think you can just walk out of here?” James sneered.
“Ryan’s men are already on their way. You’ll never make it
to the authorities now.”
Elena’s mind raced. She couldn’t afford to let him control
this situation. If they were going to make it out alive, they
had to outsmart him.
“You’re wrong,” Elena said, her voice suddenly calm, a plan
forming in her mind. “You don’t know Ryan as well as you
think you do.”
James’s eyebrow arched in curiosity. “What are you talking
about?”
Elena stepped closer, her gaze unwavering. “You’ve been
following Ryan’s orders for years, but do you know what
he’s really after? Do you know what he’s hiding?”
James faltered, and Elena saw the doubt creeping into his
eyes. “Ryan… Ryan’s whole empire is built on lies. He’s
using you, James. He’s using everyone around him, and
when he’s done with you, he’ll toss you aside like everyone
else.”
For a moment, James seemed to waver, his grip on his
weapon loosening slightly. Elena could see the internal
struggle written all over his face. She knew this was their
chance. If she could plant the seed of doubt, if she could
make him question his loyalty to Ryan, maybe—just
maybe—they could turn the tables on him.
“You think I don’t know that?” James spat, his voice
suddenly harsh. “You think I care? You think I’ll just turn
on him because you said a few words?”
Elena didn’t flinch. “I don’t think you care now. But when
Ryan’s done with you, when he’s used you up, you’ll come
crawling back. You’ll be nothing but a footnote in his story.”
The Ticking Clock
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the
warehouse, interrupting the heated exchange. Elena and
Daniel exchanged a glance. Time was running out. They
didn’t have long before Ryan’s men would be here, and once
they were, they’d be out of options.
James’s eyes flicked to the door, and in that moment of
distraction, Elena made her move. She lunged toward him,
knocking his weapon from his hands. Daniel was right
behind her, swiftly disarming James and pinning him against
the wall.
“You’re making a mistake,” James hissed, his eyes burning
with anger. “You’re only delaying the inevitable.”
Elena’s heart raced, but her resolve was unshaken. “We’ll
see about that.”
She turned to Daniel, her voice urgent. “We need to get out
of here. Now.”
The Escape
With James momentarily incapacitated, Elena and Daniel
didn’t waste another second. They bolted for the back exit of
the warehouse, knowing they had no time to lose. Every
instinct told them to run, to stay hidden until they could
figure out their next move. But with the evidence they had
and the betrayal they’d just uncovered, Elena knew one thing
for sure: it wasn’t just Ryan they had to worry about
anymore—it was everyone in his orbit.
They raced down the alleyways, adrenaline fueling their
every step. They had the proof that would bring Ryan
Lancaster down for good, but now, with their betrayer
revealed and the clock ticking, Elena had no illusions left.
Their final confrontation with Ryan was near, and it would
be nothing short of a war.