Shadows Deepen

Chapter 115

The air of the warehouse became electrified with tension. Elena's gun moved back and forth between James and Lily. Ave clutched at her mother's leg, whimpering softly. James stood in front of his family, protecting them as his mind raced for some way out of this nightmare.

"Elena," James said. His voice was surprisingly steady, despite his heart beating like a drum in his chest. "Think about what you are doing. Is this truly what you want?"

Elena's eyes flickered, a mixture of anger and something much more profound, more complex. "What Ido want? You have no idea what I want, James. This is so much more than just about your company."

Lily spoke up, her voice trembling. "Why are you doing this? You show up out of nowhere, claim to be my mother, and now you're threatening us? What do you really want?"

For a moment, something flickered in Elena's eyes—pain, maybe, or the shadow of regret. But it vanished as swiftly as it came, her gaze turning back to one of steely determinati