Whispers in Secret

27- Uncover

Lucien paced the warehouse floor, his fists clenched at his sides. Anger simmered beneath his skin, fueled by the unsettling thought of losing Ella to James. Each passing moment felt like an eternity, and the absence of any leads on James only intensified his frustration. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the mounting anxiety that threatened to consume him.

Suddenly, his phone rang, cutting through the tense atmosphere. He hesitated, glancing at the screen, and his heart raced as he saw Ella's name flash before him. Wariness gripped him, but he answered anyway. "Ella?"

"Lucien!" Her voice came through, a breathless mix of relief and fear.

He felt his shoulders relax slightly at the sound of her voice. "Where are you? Are you safe?"

"I'm okay," she hurriedly explained. "I escaped from James. A group of men helped me get away. But he's still out there."

Lucien's heart dropped at her mention of James, but relief flooded through him knowing she was no longer in danger. "What do you mean a group of men?"

"They found me at the bar and stayed with me until I could get a message to you," she explained, her voice shaking slightly. "But I don't know where James is now."

Behind Lucien, Blake and Emilio exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern. The tension in the room eased slightly as they absorbed the news.

"Ella, I'm glad you're okay," Blake said, stepping closer to Lucien. "You did great to get away from him."

"Yeah," Emilio added, his voice steady. "But we need to stay on high alert. James won't take this lightly."

Lucien nodded, his jaw tightening. "Ella, stay where you are. I'm coming to get you."

"No, Lucien," she protested, urgency creeping into her tone. "You can't. James is unpredictable, and I don't want to put you in danger."

"Too late for that," he replied, his voice low and filled with determination. "You're my priority. I'll make sure you're safe."

Ella sighed, her voice softening. "Okay, but please be careful."

"Always," he promised, feeling a surge of protectiveness wash over him. "Just stay with those men until I get there."

After they exchanged a few more reassuring words, Lucien ended the call and turned to Blake and Emilio. "We need to move now. Gather the men and get the SUVs ready. If James is still out there, I want to make sure Ella is safe and that we find him before he can make another move."

Blake nodded, already reaching for his phone to relay the orders. "Let's go. We'll make sure he pays for what he's done."

Emilio clenched his fists, the fury bubbling beneath his calm demeanor. "And if we find him first..."

Lucien's gaze hardened, a fire igniting in his chest. "We will."

As they headed out of the warehouse, Lucien couldn't shake the gnawing anxiety in his gut. Ella was safe for now, but he wouldn't rest until James was dealt with once and for all.

As Lucien and his team arrived at the bar, the air was thick with tension and urgency. The dimly lit establishment buzzed with late-night patrons, but the atmosphere shifted as Lucien strode inside, exuding an intimidating presence that commanded attention.

His sharp gaze scanned the room until he spotted Ella, surrounded by the group of men who had helped her. Relief flooded his senses at the sight of her, unharmed and looking grateful, but the weight of anger still loomed over him.

After a brief exchange of glances, Ella rushed toward him, and Lucien enveloped her in a tight embrace. "You're okay," he murmured, relief washing over him.