CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN - The Unexpected Party

As the weight of the decision settled over them, Ella realized they were at a crossroads. Continue to live in fear, always looking over their shoulders, or take a stand and fight for the life they wanted. She thought of Sophie, growing up in a world of secrets and fear. She thought of the life they'd left behind – the friends, the family, the sense of purpose. And she thought of Lucas, the man she'd fallen in love with, who had been as much a stranger to her these past months as she had been to herself. Taking a deep breath, Ella met Lucas's gaze. In his eyes, she saw the same determination, the same longing for a better life that she felt. For the first time in months, she felt truly connected to him. "Okay," she said softly. "Let's do it. Let's fight back."   ____________________________________________________________________________________     Lucas sat in his car, parked a block away from the nondescript office building that housed his latest clandestine meeting. His hand