Ella’s phone buzzed loudly on the counter, cutting through the moment. She glanced at the screen, and her stomach dropped—James was calling. She hesitated, her fingers trembling slightly before she answered.
“Hello?” she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Hey, Ella. Just wanted to check on you, see how you're doing," James’ voice sounded casual, but there was an unsettling undertone that made her skin crawl.
Lucien’s grip on her waist tightened. She could feel the tension radiating from him, his jaw clenched as he listened to the conversation. His possessive, protective side was flaring up, and she knew that hearing James’ voice was setting off alarms in his head.
“I’m fine, James. Thanks for checking in,” she replied curtly, keeping the conversation short.
James hesitated on the other end. “Are you sure everything’s alright? I can stop by if you need anything…”
Lucien’s grip tightened even more, his eyes darkening with a dangerous intensity. He leaned in, his breath hot against her ear as he whispered, "Hang up, now."
Ella swallowed hard. "No, I’m good, James. Thanks, but I don’t need anything. I have company," she added, her voice firm as she ended the call.
She turned to face Lucien, feeling the weight of his gaze. His eyes were stormy, filled with a cold fury that he was barely keeping in check. "He’s watching you," Lucien muttered, his voice low and menacing. "He’s going to regret this."
As Ella ended the call, Lucien's phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, seeing Emilio’s name flash across the screen. Without hesitation, Lucien answered, his expression unreadable.
"Boss," Emilio's voice was steady but urgent. "We've got him."
Lucien’s eyes flicked toward Ella, a dangerous glint in his gaze. He held the phone up slightly, allowing Ella to hear Emilio’s next words.
"James is in our custody. The call you just had with Ella... we traced him during the conversation. He didn't even see it coming."
Ella’s heart raced. She hadn’t expected things to escalate so quickly. She could hear shuffling on the other end of the line—the unmistakable sound of someone being restrained. James was no longer a looming threat but a captured one.
Lucien’s lips curled into a dark smile as he watched the realization settle in Ella’s eyes. "Good work, Emilio," he said calmly, ending the call with the press of a button.
His gaze softened as he turned to Ella, but there was still that edge of protectiveness, the dangerous side of him that wouldn’t tolerate anyone threatening her.
"He won’t be bothering you again," Lucien assured her, cupping her face gently. "I’ll make sure of that."
“What are you going to do?” Ella asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she searched Lucien's intense gaze for answers. She knew her man was fiercely protective, but a part of her feared the darkness that could arise from James’s obsession.
Lucien’s jaw tightened as he contemplated her question. “What needs to be done,” he replied, his tone low and resolute. He moved closer, tightening his grip around her waist, pulling her against him. The heat between them was palpable, but the seriousness of the situation loomed over their intimacy like a storm cloud.
“Ella,” he continued, “I won’t allow James to threaten you or make you feel unsafe. He crossed a line, and there are consequences for that.” The raw intensity in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine, both thrilling and terrifying.
“But…” she hesitated, biting her lip, “can’t we just scare him? I don’t want you to hurt anyone, Lucien. I just want to be free of this.”
Lucien's gaze softened slightly at her concern, his fingers brushing tenderly against her cheek. “I wish it could be that simple. But someone like James? He won’t take a warning seriously. He’ll think he can get away with it, and then he’ll keep coming after you.”
Ella felt a knot form in her stomach at the thought. “So what, you’re going to kill him?” The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but she knew Lucien was capable of anything to protect her.
“I won’t let him jeopardize your safety. But what I do next is about more than just him. It’s about making sure he understands the consequences of his actions—so he never thinks of you again.” His voice was steady, but the underlying fury was unmistakable.
“Lucien, please…” she implored, her heart racing. “I just want this to end without more violence. I can’t bear the thought of you doing something you might regret.”
He sighed, frustration flickering in his eyes. “You’re right. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t let him think he can keep coming after you. You deserve to feel safe.”
Ella placed her hands on his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath her palms. “I just want you to be careful. I don’t want you to become the monster you’re trying to fight against.”
Lucien cupped her face, his expression softening. “I promise I’ll do everything to keep you safe, even if that means doing something I don’t want to do. But I’ll always come back to you, Ella.”
With that, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a kiss that was fierce and possessive, igniting a spark of passion amidst the chaos. As their mouths moved together, Ella felt the heat of his promise envelop her, knowing that whatever happened next, they would face it together.
“Maybe I’ll cut his legs or arms,” Ella chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. The dark humor was her way of coping, an attempt to lighten the heavy atmosphere that surrounded them.
Lucien raised an eyebrow, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips. “Oh, really? You think you can handle that?” He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. “I didn’t know you had such a sadistic side, love.”
Ella shrugged, trying to maintain her playful demeanor. “I just want to make sure he doesn’t come after me again. A little dismemberment never hurt anyone, right?”
He laughed, the sound deep and rich, easing some of the tension. “True, but I was hoping for a less messy solution. Maybe a stern warning would suffice.”
“But where’s the fun in that?” she teased, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “Besides, imagine the look on his face when he sees me wielding a knife. I might just scare him away for good!”
Lucien chuckled again, shaking his head in disbelief. “I should be worried, but I can’t help but admire your creativity. Still, I don’t want you involved in this. It’s dangerous, and I can’t risk anything happening to you.”
Ella’s laughter faded, replaced by a serious look. “I get that you want to protect me, but this is my life too, Lucien. I don’t want to feel powerless.”
His expression softened, and he cupped her face in his hands. “You’re anything but powerless. You’ve shown me how strong you are every single day. But this is a battle I need to fight for you. I can’t allow anything to hurt you again.”
“Okay, but just promise me something,” she said, her voice earnest. “Promise me you won’t let this change you. I love you for who you are, not the monster you might become to protect me.”
Lucien looked deeply into her eyes, his heart swelling at her words. “I promise, Ella. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe without losing myself in the process.”
“Good. Now, how about we go back to our baking? I can whip up some cookies to celebrate my newfound ‘combat skills,’” she suggested with a wink.
“Cookies, huh?” he replied, playfully rolling his eyes. “I don’t think that’s going to intimidate James, but I’ll gladly eat them.”
Ella laughed and pulled away from him, her heart lighter. As they returned to the kitchen, the gravity of their situation still loomed, but at least they could find joy in the small moments together. And for now, that was enough.
YOU ARE READING
Whispers in Secret
Romance*** A Steamy Romance *** Ella Montgomery is a fiercely determined law student at Oxford University, juggling her ambitious studies while harboring an undeniable secret crush on Lucien Storm, her father's charismatic best friend. From the moment she...
