Love Denied Ch 22

Chapter 22
The Trap Tightens
The man at the door wasn’t who Elena and Daniel had
expected. His appearance was unsettling, the way he carried
himself too calm, too controlled. The gun in his hand wasn’t
aimed directly at them, but the glint in his eyes told them
everything they needed to know—this wasn’t just a friendly
face coming to their rescue. There was more to his story than
he let on.
Elena felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
Every instinct she had screamed to be cautious. They
couldn’t afford to trust anyone blindly—not now, not after
everything that had happened.
“Who are you?” Elena asked, her voice steady but laced with
suspicion.
The man’s lips curled into a tight smile. “I’m just the guy
who’s been sent to get you out of here, that’s all. Lena sent
me.”
Daniel’s eyes never left the man, his hand still hovering near
his gun. “How do we know we can trust you?” he asked
bluntly.
The man raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by their
questioning. “You don’t. But if you want to stay alive, I
suggest you follow me. Lena’s not the only one who wants
to see Ryan Lancaster gone.”
Elena exchanged a look with Daniel, her mind racing. This
could be another trap. It could be exactly what Ryan
wanted—eliminate them without raising any suspicion. But
Lena had told them to wait. Why would she send someone
else now? Something didn’t sit right, and Elena wasn’t about
to take any chances.
“We’re not going anywhere without more answers,” Elena
said firmly, stepping slightly in front of Daniel. She didn’t
trust this man, and she wasn’t about to let him pull them into
another dangerous situation.
The man sighed, his patience clearly thinning. “You’re
running out of time,” he said, his voice hardening. “Ryan’s
men are closing in, and if you’re still here when they arrive,
you’ll be dead before you can even think about taking him
down. Your choice. You can either follow me, or you can
wait around and play hero while Ryan’s guys turn this place
into a bloodbath.”
Elena’s eyes narrowed. He was right. They didn’t have much
time. But that didn’t mean they should blindly trust him.
Still, if they stayed here, they risked being cornered.
“How do we know you’re not working for Ryan?” Daniel
asked, his voice low, his fingers grazing the grip of his gun.
The man’s expression hardened. “I’m not working for
anyone. I’m here because I want Ryan out of the picture. We
don’t have the luxury of questioning everyone we meet right
now. Either you follow me, or you’ll regret it. Your call.”
Elena stood there, her mind spinning. She didn’t want to
make a mistake, not now. But there was something in the
man’s eyes—something that seemed genuine, even if
everything in her screamed to be cautious. She looked at
Daniel, who gave her a subtle nod, agreeing with the need to
act swiftly.
“Fine,” Elena said, her voice steady. “We’ll follow you. But
if this turns out to be a setup, I won’t hesitate to make you
regret it.”
The man gave a small, satisfied smirk. “Good. We don’t
have time to waste.”
The Escape Plan
The man turned without another word and led them down
the narrow hallway, his steps quick and purposeful. Elena
and Daniel followed, each of them constantly scanning the
surroundings, their instincts on high alert. They had no idea
where they were going, but the man had promised a way
out—a chance to stop Ryan and survive. It was their only
option.
They reached a back door that led to a small alleyway, and
as the man opened it, a car pulled up from the shadows. The
engine hummed quietly, but the figure inside didn’t move
until the man gestured for Elena and Daniel to climb in.
Without a word, they slid into the back seat, the car’s tinted
windows making it impossible to see what was ahead. Elena
felt a brief flicker of hope—perhaps this was their chance to
finally get the evidence where it needed to go. But the feeling
was fleeting, replaced with the gnawing sense that danger
was still lurking, just out of sight.
The man took the driver’s seat and started the car. “We’re
heading to a safe location,” he said, his voice betraying no
emotion. “But we need to get there quickly.”
Elena glanced at Daniel, who seemed just as on edge as she
felt. “Where are we going?” she asked, trying to mask the
unease in her voice.
“To someone who can help you,” the man replied, his eyes
scanning the rearview mirror. “But I can’t tell you
everything yet. It’s not safe. You’ll just have to trust me.”
The words stung, but Elena knew better than to argue. They
didn’t have time for explanations. They had to focus on
surviving and getting the evidence into the right hands. If
they failed, Ryan would win, and they would be erased
without a trace.
An Unexpected Stop
The car traveled through the winding streets, the city fading
into the distance as they reached the outskirts. Elena’s
stomach twisted with anxiety, the unfamiliar territory
amplifying her unease. She couldn’t help but wonder if they
were walking right into another trap. They had already been
betrayed once by someone they thought they could trust, and
the thought of it happening again was almost unbearable.
Suddenly, the man swerved off the main road, driving down
a long, dark lane lined with trees on either side. Elena could
feel her heart pounding in her chest. This wasn’t the way to
any safehouse she knew.
“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice tight.
“We’re almost there,” the man replied, his tone unyielding.
“Just keep calm. You’ll understand once we get there.”
Elena exchanged another look with Daniel. Neither of them
was convinced that this was a good idea. The road seemed
to stretch endlessly ahead of them, and each passing minute
felt like an eternity. Elena’s fingers gripped the edge of the
seat, her breath shallow as they neared the unfamiliar
location.
Then, without warning, the man slammed on the brakes,
bringing the car to a screeching halt in front of a large,
imposing building. The windows were dark, and the place
looked abandoned. But the man’s demeanor didn’t change.
He got out of the car without a word, walking toward the
door.
The Revelation
Elena and Daniel hesitated but followed him. Something
about this place felt wrong. As they reached the entrance, the
man unlocked the door and ushered them inside. The cold,
damp air in the building was heavy with the scent of mildew,
and the flickering overhead lights barely illuminated the dark
space.
“This is where you’re supposed to be,” the man said, his
voice carrying an edge of finality. “Now, we wait.”
Before Elena could respond, the door slammed shut behind…