Safe In His Arms

Chapter 6: No Escape

Elara woke up in the morning with her thoughts still full of the events from the past few weeks. Rolling out of bed, she thought of Adrian—how he had protected her, how much he cared for her. She couldn’t understand why he was so concerned about her. A small sigh escaped her lips as she thought about how, by now, she would have been married… married to an almost complete stranger.

Meanwhile, in his chamber, Adrian was preparing to leave home. His mind drifted to Elara. She’s such a stubborn girl, he thought, though a smile crept onto his face. He admired her bravery—especially that bold moment when she had asked him to marry her. “This girl,” he murmured to himself, half amused, half troubled. Mr. Matthew would kill me for that.

As the sun rose higher, Elara walked to the small café where she worked. As soon as she arrived, she tied on her apron and began serving customers. All the while, she thought about how exciting the next week would be—she was finally starting university, and with her part-time job here, her future felt like it was opening up.

While she was busy carrying a tray to a table, she noticed a familiar silhouette sitting by the window. Her heart skipped.

“Good morning, Adrian,” she said, surprised to see him there.

“Morning, Elara,” he replied with the faintest smile.

She placed the tray on the next table and crossed her arms. “Didn’t think you were the type to sit around in cafés.”

“I’m not,” he said simply.

“Then why are you here?” Her tone was light, but her eyes searched his face, curious.

Adrian leaned back in his chair. “Can’t a man drink his coffee in peace?”

Elara narrowed her eyes, a small smile tugging her lips. “Maybe. But you don’t look like you came here for the coffee.”

For a second, his jaw tightened, as if he was holding something back. Then he spoke, his voice calm but edged with something firm. “Listen, Elara. If anything happens—if you ever find yourself in trouble—you call me. No questions, no hesitation.”

She frowned, caught off guard. “That’s… oddly specific. Do you think I’ll get into trouble again?”

His gaze held hers, unreadable. “Trouble has a way of finding you. Don’t argue.”

“I wasn’t going to argue,” she said softly, tilting her head. “It almost sounds like you’re worried.”

Adrian’s mouth curved in the faintest smirk. “Don’t flatter yourself.” He stood abruptly, tossing a few coins on the table for his untouched coffee. “Just remember what I said.”

Before she could reply, he was already walking toward the door.

Elara let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She tried to shake it off, but a smile crept onto her face. She didn’t know why his words mattered so much… only that they did.

As Adrian left the café, Elara turned back to her work, pretending nothing had just happened. But her friends at the counter had seen it all.

One of the girls leaned in with a grin. “He’s cute.”

Elara almost dropped the tray in her hands. “Cute? He’s older than me. He could be my uncle or my big brother,” she said quickly, shaking her head.

“Good thing he’s not,” her friend replied with a smirk.

Elara rolled her eyes, trying to hide the warmth rising to her cheeks. “Stop it. He’s just… someone I know.”

“Mm-hmm,” her friend teased. “Someone who shows up here just to see you, tells you to call him if you’re in trouble, and then walks out like some mysterious movie character? Yeah, sure, Elara. ‘Just someone you know.’”

Elara turned back to wipe the counter, but she couldn’t hide the little smile tugging at her lips. She hated to admit it—even to herself—but her friend wasn’t completely wrong.

It was almost night when Elara finally left the café. She had taken a double shift to cover for someone who couldn’t make it, so the streets were quiet, the sky painted in shades of deep blue as the first stars began to appear.

Walking home, she wrapped her arms around herself, tired but content. That was when she heard it—a faint voice echoing from a narrow corridor.

“Please… mercy…”

Her steps slowed. It was the voice of a child. Elara’s heart jumped, and before she could stop herself, she stepped closer to see what was happening.

Hidden in the shadows, she spotted two men. One of them she recognized instantly—he was the same man who had once followed her. The sight made her blood run cold. The men were towering over a boy who couldn’t be older than fourteen. They were pushing him against the wall, their voices sharp and cruel.

“You’ll do as we say,” one of them hissed. “Sell this to your little friends, or you’ll regret it.”

The boy shook his head, trembling. Elara’s stomach twisted. She couldn’t just stand there. Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone, dialing the police as quickly and quietly as she could.

The call connected. She whispered into the phone, giving the location, praying they would hurry.

Just as she turned to slip away, her foot caught on a piece of broken glass on the ground. The sharp crunch echoed through the alley.

Both men snapped their heads toward her. One of them pointed, his voice full of anger and recognition.

“You again!”

Panic shot through her veins. Before she could run, the man lunged forward. But at that same moment, red and blue lights flashed across the walls. Sirens pierced the air.

“Police! Freeze!”

The men froze, cursing under their breath. In the chaos, Elara slipped back into the shadows, her heart racing, her legs moving faster than she thought possible. By the time the officers rushed in, she had already disappeared into the night.