Run Before They Find You
1552 Words
Chapter 4 :
Elara
“We found her.”
The stranger's words seemed to freeze the air around me.
My fingers tightened around the necklace.
“It’s a tracking device?” I whispered.
Lucien didn't answer.
He was staring at the black stone hanging from my trembling fingers.
“Lucien.”
His eyes snapped toward mine.
“Put it away.”
“What?”
“Now.”
Something in his voice made me obey.
I shoved the necklace beneath my blouse.
“Who are they?”
“The wrong people.”
“That doesn't answer my question.”
“No.” His jaw tightened. “It doesn't.”
A heavy footstep sounded from downstairs.
Then another.
Someone was coming up.
Lucien immediately grabbed my hand.
“Run.”
He pulled me toward the bedroom's adjoining bathroom.
“Where are we going?”
“There's another exit.”
“You knew about this house?”
“I told you. I've been here before.”
“Why?”
“This isn't the time.”
He pushed open a narrow wooden panel behind an old cabinet.
A dark passage appeared.
I stared at it.
“You're joking.”
“Do I look like I'm joking?”
“No.”
“Then move.”
I followed him into the passage.
The moment he closed the panel behind us, I heard the bedroom door crash open.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“They're here,” I whispered.
Lucien placed a finger against his lips.
We stood in complete darkness.
I could hear footsteps moving around the room we'd just left.
A man's voice spoke.
“Search everywhere.”
Another voice answered.
“She has to be here.”
My breathing became uneven.
Lucien noticed.
His hand found mine.
He squeezed it gently.
I looked at him.
Even in the darkness, I could make out the hard lines of his face.
He leaned closer.
“Don't be afraid.”
I almost laughed.
“I'm hiding in a secret passage with a billionaire while armed strangers search for me.”
His lips twitched.
“Fair point.”
For the first time since we'd entered the house, I almost smiled.
Then something moved above us.
Lucien's expression changed.
“Stay here.”
He released my hand.
“Where are you going?”
“To make sure we get out alive.”
Before I could protest, he disappeared farther down the passage.
I stood alone.
The silence was unbearable.
Then I heard a noise behind me.
I turned.
A shadow moved.
“Lucien?”
No answer.
My heart stopped.
The shadow came closer.
I stepped backward.
“Who's there?”
A hand suddenly covered my mouth.
I screamed against it.
The person pulled me backward—
And then Lucien appeared.
He grabbed the man and slammed him against the wall.
The attacker groaned.
Lucien moved with terrifying speed.
Within seconds, the man was on the ground.
I stared at Lucien.
“You…”
He looked at me.
“Are you hurt?”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He came closer and examined my face.
His fingers gently brushed a strand of hair away from my cheek.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
His hand remained against my cheek for a second too long.
Something changed in his eyes.
Something dark.
Possessive.
Then he pulled away.
“We're leaving.”
We emerged behind the house.
Cold night air hit my face.
I looked back at the old building.
Everything about it suddenly felt different.
My childhood home wasn't just a house anymore.
It was a place filled with secrets.
And apparently, I was at the center of them.
Lucien opened the passenger door of his car.
I didn't move.
“Get in.”
“No.”
He sighed.
“Elara.”
“I want answers.”
“You'll get them.”
“When?”
“When we're somewhere safe.”
“I don't trust you.”
His eyes hardened.
“You shouldn't.”
I blinked.
That wasn't the answer I expected.
He stepped closer.
“You don't know me, Elara.”
“I know.”
“You don't know what I've done.”
“No.”
“You don't know what my family did to yours.”
My breath caught.
“You know what happened to my family?”
His expression became unreadable.
“I know enough.”
“Then tell me.”
“Not here.”
“Why?”
“Because we're being watched.”
I froze.
“What?”
Lucien looked past me.
“Don't turn around.”
My pulse raced.
“Someone is watching us?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
He opened the car door again.
“This time, don't argue.”
I got inside.
We drove for nearly thirty minutes.
I watched the city disappear behind us.
Eventually, Lucien turned onto a private road.
Huge iron gates opened automatically.
Beyond them stood an enormous mansion surrounded by security lights.
I stared.
“Where are we?”
“My home.”
I turned toward him.
“You're taking me to your house?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it's the safest place I have.”
The words made my stomach flutter.
I hated that they did.
Inside the mansion, everything was elegant and intimidating.
A woman in a black uniform approached us.
“Mr. Evander.”
“Prepare the east wing.”
She glanced at me.
“Of course.”
Lucien looked at me.
“You'll stay here tonight.”
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“I have work tomorrow.”
“You're not going.”
I frowned.
“You can't decide that for me.”
“Actually, I can.”
“Excuse me?”
His eyes narrowed.
“You're being hunted.”
“And you think locking me in your mansion will solve everything?”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“I think keeping you where I can protect you gives us time to figure out who's behind this.”
My heart skipped.
“Why do you care so much?”
Silence.
Lucien stared at me.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered,
“Because I promised someone I would protect you.”
“Who?”
He looked away.
“Your father.”
My breath caught.
“My father asked you to protect me?”
“Years ago.”
“Before he disappeared?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I failed him.”
His voice sounded different.
Not cold.
Not arrogant.
Broken.
I stepped closer.
“What happened to my father?”
Lucien's eyes met mine.
“He discovered something about my family.”
“What?”
“Something that could destroy the Evander empire.”
My mouth went dry.
“And that's why he disappeared?”
“I don't know.”
“You said you knew enough.”
“I said I knew what happened around his disappearance.”
He paused.
“But I never found him.”
I stared at him.
For the first time, I saw something beneath the billionaire's perfect exterior.
Guilt.
Regret.
And something that looked dangerously close to obsession.
“Why have you been looking for me all these years?”
His expression froze.
“How did you—”
“You said you've been searching for something.”
I stepped closer.
“Was it the necklace?”
“No.”
“The box?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
His eyes locked onto mine.
“You.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“You were what I was looking for.”
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
“You've been looking for me?”
“For seven years.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Why?”
Lucien stepped closer.
Close enough that I could feel the warmth of his body.
“Because the night your father disappeared…”
He stopped.
“What?”
“He left me one message.”
“What did it say?”
Lucien's gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.
“He said…”
His voice lowered.
“When she grows up, protect her—even if she hates you for it.”
My heart pounded.
I couldn't speak.
Lucien turned away.
“You should sleep.”
He began walking toward the door.
“Lucien.”
He stopped.
I swallowed.
“Did you know me before tonight?”
His shoulders stiffened.
“No.”
He paused.
“Not personally.”
Then he walked away.
I stood there, completely shaken.
Seven years.
He had been searching for me for seven years.
But why?
And what exactly had my father known about the Evander family?
I touched the necklace beneath my blouse.
The black stone was cold against my skin.
Then my phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
One message appeared.
You shouldn't trust Lucien Evander.
Another message arrived immediately.
He isn't protecting you, Elara.
My blood ran cold.
A final message appeared.
He's the reason your father disappeared.
I stared at the screen.
And for the first time since meeting Lucien…
I wondered if the man I had been running toward for protection was actually the man I needed to run from.
End of Chapter 4.
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