LOGINShare
In The Hands Of The Enemy
Last Updated:
2024-12-18 15:32:19Chapter 2: Garrett’s POV
Smoke curled around me, the acrid scent of burning wood and chemicals clinging to the night air. The distant roar of flames filled the silence, punctuated only by the crunch of boots over debris and barked orders as my men worked to cover our tracks. The warehouse was all but reduced to ashes, taking with it any evidence of tonight's deal. But I wasn't looking at the fire anymore. My focus was on the figure sprawled in the dirt a few feet away. "Boss," one of my men said, stepping cautiously toward me. "That's him. Thorne Langley. FBI. He's the one who's been after us. The guy building a case against the family." Thorne Langley. The name was familiar, whispered in meetings, muttered in warnings over the past few months. The relentless agent who had crippled two of our major operations. The one they said was smart, unshakable, and impossible to bribe. I took a step closer. The man lying before me didn’t look like the invincible force I’d heard about. He was broken, blood pooling beneath him, his chest rising and falling in uneven, shallow breaths. His face was pale, smeared with dirt and streaked with blood, but there was no mistaking the sharp lines of his jaw, the proud set of his features even in unconsciousness. This guy's a problem, boss," one of my other men said, his voice colder. "He's got evidence on us. You know what that means. If we leave him alive, he's a liability." "We should kill him now," another said. "Burn the body, make it look like he died with the rest. I dropped to my knees beside Thorne, disregarding them. The damage was worse close up. His uniform was in tatters, revealing skin that was mottled with bruises and cuts. A gash on his temple oozed blood, dark red staining his dark blond hair. Despite the battering he had taken, his right hand still clutched a gun, knuckles white around the handle. Even out cold, he looked ready to fight. "Boss?" One of the men pressed again, but I held up a hand to silence him. I leaned in further, brushing the hair back from Thorne's face; the cut across his cheekbone was starting to darken. My eyes ran lower, to his lips, cracked but still set tight, as though tucking in some final chip of resistance. Instinctively, I reached out, my fingers pressing against the pulse in his neck. It was faint, but it was there. He was alive. For reasons I couldn't explain, I felt something tighten in my chest. "Garrett." The voice of one of my more trusted lieutenants pulled me from my thoughts. "We don't have time for this. If he wakes up, he'll come after you again. We've already lost too much tonight. Let us handle it." I glanced back at him, my hand still lingering near Thorne's throat. The logic was sound. Killing him would be the smarter choice. Easier. Cleaner. But I couldn't do it. "Take him to the hospital," I said with an authoritative calmness in my tone. The room was caught up in a momentary astounded silence. "What?" "You heard me," I cut in sharply as I rose and turned to them. "I want him taken to our hospital. I want the best doctors treating him. And I want him alive." "Boss, this guy—" "I don't care what he is!" My voice cut through the night, sharper than any blade. My men flinched. "You do as I say. Now." They hesitated, exchanging uneasy glances, but no one dared to argue further. Two of them moved to pick Thorne up, carefully prying the gun from his hand before lifting his limp body between them. I watched as they carried him toward the waiting car. The blood on his face stood out starkly against his pale skin, and for a moment, I felt something foreign twist in my chest again. "Boss," another man said cautiously, lingering behind. "If he wakes up, he'll go right back to the Bureau. He'll bring everything he has down on us." I didn't look at him to say it. "Not if I get to him first." He hesitated, nodded once, and then backed up to rejoin the rest. I turned and followed, my steps deliberate. The fire at my back was getting louder, well on its way to consuming the remainder of the deal gone south. I should've killed him. Would have been the smart thing to do. But as I'd climbed into the car and peered at the unconscious man lying across the seat, I knew I couldn't. Not yet. Not when something about him made me want to keep him alive, something I couldn't name. For now, Thorne belonged to me.
Related chapters
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Fragments Of A Lost Memory
Chapter 3: Thorne's POVI woke to a dull throb in my head, the kind that made every small movement feel like a thousand needles piercing my skull. My eyelids fluttered open, and the world around me seemed blurry, like I was seeing through fogged glass. The smell of antiseptic hung in the air, and there was an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity.Where was I?I attempted to sit up, and that felt like weightlifting. Stiff, uncooperative muscles-the mere thought of movement registered protests in my body. Panic gripped me, but I forced it down, trying to focus. The bright lights overhead hurt my eyes. I squinted, trying to make out the sterile room.The pain in my head was razor-sharp-unbearable. Each time I tried to remember anything-my name, where I was, how I'd ended up here-my mind would shatter like glass, the pieces scattering beyond my grasp. It was as if there was just nothing there. No memory. No past. Just. emptiness.A voice pierced the fog, soft and calming. "Easy, take it ea
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Life I Can’t Recall
Chapter 4: Thorne's POVThe room felt smaller somehow after Garrett's words. The weight of them settled in my chest like an anchor, pulling me down. Mafia. Lovers. My mind struggled to make sense of it. How could I have been involved in something so dangerous and foreign? And yet, the more Garrett spoke, the more the strange sense of familiarity crept into my bones.I know this is a lot to take in," Garrett said, his voice low, even, as though attempting to break through the fog in my mind. "But let me explain everything."I looked at him, still reeling from a whirlwind of emotions with none making sense. A piece of me felt betrayed, as if everything I thought I knew had been ripped away. But then there was this other part, smaller, wanting to believe him. The way he spoke with me, the way he took care of me, it felt… real. My head spun, though. The truth just didn't fit into the small pieces of my memory I could cling to.Garrett seemed to sense my struggle. He leaned forward, his ga
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Under The Mask Of My Enemy Through The Lies
Chapter 5: Garrett's POVWork had always been a means to an end for me, a necessity, never something I was passionate about. But these days, it was barely even that. My focus had completely shifted to Thorne. His recovery was all I thought about, but not entirely for noble reasons.Each day, I brought him food, not only for health reasons but as a test, too. If Thorne really had no memory at all, it would have shown in the way he reacted to the things I did, the things I said. A slip of the tongue, a flicker of recognition, anything could give him away. Yet, day in and day out, he kept his story straight. No familiarity, no suspicion. Just politeness and gratitude, silence and distance.Yet, there was something in the way he carried himself that piqued my interest. He was trusting in a way I wasn't used to anymore, not after all that had happened. Despite the confusion, despite the inability to recall who I was or what kind of life he'd led, Thorne didn't question my presence. There w
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Under The Mask Of My Enemy The Price Of Protection
Chapter 6: Garrett's POVThe deal was supposed to be one of the biggest this quarter. The kind that would seal my standing in the underworld, where power wasn't given, but was seized by whomever had balls of steel. But while seated in that sleek conference room and surrounded by men in their tailored suits, words about profit and risks faded to white noise.My mind was elsewhere.Thorne.The thought of not making today's rehabilitation session really gnawed at me. Over the last couple of weeks, I have never made it a habit not to be there, supporting him, filling the gaps in the silences with all manner of forced jokes, just looking at him pushing the pain away. But not today.I shifted in my chair, uncomfortable in a way I wasn't used to. For someone like me, whose life was built on control and calculation, the pull to be with him-this strange need to make sure he was okay-felt foreign.A sudden buzz on the table jolted me, snatching my attention back to the present. My phone lit up
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Under The Mask Of My Enemy The Price Of A Lie
Chapter 7Garrett's POVAfter binge-reading several romance novels, I became convinced that I knew what love-or at least the appearance of it-was all about. The grand gestures, the flowery language, and the exaggerated display of affection finally led me to one conclusion: it wasn't about the feelings or emotions; it was about the actions. You didn't need to feel anything if you could make the other person believe you felt something. It was all a game of appearances, and I was playing it better than anyone.Thorne had been through so much in the past weeks, and with his discharge from the hospital just around the corner, I figured it was now or never. If I was going to keep this charade up and make him really believe I was his lover, I needed to notch it up a level. And what better way than taking the advice I'd garnered from those endless romance novels?I called for Oliver, my ever-efficient butler, and tasked him with ordering 999 red roses to be delivered to the penthouse. I'd rea
Last Updated : 2024-12-19Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Heart Of Bloom
Chapter 8: Thorne's POVThe minute I walked into Garrett's penthouse, I was taken aback. Oliver, his efficient but stoic butler, had chauffeured me from the hospital to what he described as Garrett's "home." Elegant, I had expected; perhaps cold and lifeless, much like its occupant had appeared at first perusal. What I had not anticipated was what struck my senses so brutally that for a second, I simply stopped breathing.Red roses everywhere.At first, I thought I was hallucinating. My body was still tired from the stay in the hospital, and my mind hadn't readjusted to being outside those sterile walls. But no-these were real roses, hundreds of them. They covered the floor in what appeared to be some kind of pattern, though it took me a moment to realize it was meant to form a shape. A heart? Maybe? It wasn't perfectly symmetrical, but the effort was there.Before I could process what I was looking at, Garrett appeared, stepping out from behind a doorway. His presence filled the room
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Under The Mask Of My Enemy The Hunt For Memory
Chapter 9: The Hunt for MemoryThorne's POVTwo weeks had passed since I had moved into Garrett's penthouse, and my memory was still a hazy blur. I could hardly remember my own name without needing to double-check with someone. The memories of my life before the accident had not returned, and every day was like a walk through fog, with no clear path to be seen or any anchor to hold onto. In many ways, the apartment was empty-beautifully furnished and rich in luxuries, but it wasn't mine. Every piece of furniture felt foreign; every wall was cold, unwelcoming. I didn't recognize the space. Even the air I breathed seemed unfamiliar, as if it belonged to someone else.Despite the care Garrett showed, despite his attempts to help me recover, I couldn't shake the feeling of being lost in my own skin. At times, the emptiness of my mind was worse than the physical pain I endured. I wanted to remember. I wanted to reclaim what was mine-who I had been, who I had become. But no matter how hard
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Under The Mask Of My Enemy A Shot In The Dark
Chapter 10Garrett’s PovBefore us stretched the Cullen family hunting grounds, reaching out to attest to my family's wealth and influence, cultivated over generations. It wasn't just land; it was a sanctuary, steeped in tradition and filled with memories of my childhood outings and, later, quiet moments of solitude. But today, it wasn't my past that held my focus; it was Thorne.We then trod on the hunting grounds, having checked our rifles and gear. This part of the land was shrubland, dotted with low bushes and darting rabbits. I had chosen this area on purpose because it was much safer, without any dangerous predators or treacherous landscapes.Thorne strode ahead of me, his pace brisk with excitement. It had been weeks since he'd stepped beyond the confines of the penthouse, and I could see how much he relished the open air. His eyes scanned the landscape, sharp and focused, as if this environment was second nature to him.As he moved, I couldn't help but notice the fitted huntin
Last Updated : 2024-12-20
Latest chapter
Under The Mask Of My Enemy We Do
Chapter One hundred and Nine : We DoThorne's POVThe hospital smelled of antiseptic and medication, something I'd gotten way too accustomed to in the last few days. But today didn't count. Today was special.Because today, I was taking Garrett home.I gripped the pen firmly in my hand as I signed the discharge papers. My hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from something deeper—something that had been building inside of me since Garrett woke up.Relief.Sense of finality.New beginning.The nurse checked the papers from me, looking up with a warm smile. "All set. He can go home."I nodded, barely able to get the words out.I turned to confront the room, my heart pounding as I yanked open the door. Garrett sat on the edge of the bed, dressed already, his dark eyes fixed on me uncertainly."Sure you're ready to do this?" he asked, still a little raspy.I laughed a half-breathless laugh. "I signed the stupid documents, didn't I?"Garrett smiled. "Guess I shouldn't complain about
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Hope
Chapter One hundred and eight : Hope Thorne's POVThe hospital room was quiet save for the constant beeping of the heart monitor. The dim light from the window gave a soft illumination to the bed, on Garrett's face—the face I had glared at for hours on end, full of anger, frustration, confusion. But now, I wasn't glaring at him with any of those emotions.Now, I was only full of hope.I had been sitting there for hours, my hands resting on the railing of the bed, my fingers occasionally brushing against his. He was warm, he was breathing, but he hadn't moved.Not yet.I breathed a shuddering breath and swept the hair out of my face, my muscles cramped from being in the same position for so long. I hadn't moved. Not even when the nurses told me I had to rest. Not even when my own exhaustion screamed at me to shut my eyes.Because what if I died, and he came around when I was gone?No. I wasn't going anywhere.My gaze wandered to his face—his hard face relaxed by sleep, his dark lashes
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Desperate For A Chance
Chapter 107 : Desperate For A Chance Thorne's POVThe corridor of the hospital felt chillier than usual. Or maybe it was me—my body heavy, my heart heavier.Gavin stood before me with his face expressionless. There was no anger, no disappointment, just a calm resignation, as if he had already heard my response even before he asked me the question.I should have talked—talked to soften the rejection, to dissipate the tension. I had nothing.Gavin released a gentle breath, rubbing the nape of his neck. "I see," he said. "You don't have to tell me any more."I opened my mouth, hesitated, then closed it.But just as he turned to leave, he hesitated. His fist curled loosely at his side before he spoke once more finally."There's something you should know, though."His tone was level, but there was something in his eyes—a glint of something black, something that twisted my stomach into a knot of anticipation."Which?" I hedged.Gavin's eyes met mine. "The night I saved you… Garrett called
Under The Mask Of My Enemy By His Side
Chapter 106: By His SideThorne's POVI didn't leave Garrett alone. Ever.The hospital room was cold, too white, too clean. The machines beeped softly in the quiet, a reminder he was still here, still breathing. But he wasn't awake. He hadn't moved since the operation, and that terrified me more than anything.I sat beside his bed, watching. His face was pale, lips dry. Bandages on his chest protruded from the hospital gown, harsh reminder that the bullet meant for me found home in him.I grasped his hand, hesitating before encircling it with my own. Cold to the touch, his skin seemed, and yet there was a warmth beneath, a testament that he clung on.You'd better wake up soon," I growled, my throat rough. "You can't just leave me like this."I pinned his hand down firmly, but he didn't react.The guilt was crushing.I had spent so much time hating him, blaming him, repelling him. And now that I should have protected myself, Garrett had stepped in front of that bullet.It ought to have
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Ready To Change
Chapter One hundred and five : Thorne's POVThe prison gates slam shut behind me with a ringing crash, the sound echoing in my head as a final warning. I shuffle down the dimly lit corridor, my steps leaden, my mind reeling. Donovan's words still replay in my head, each one cutting deeper than the last."It was me. My intentional goading. I made sure you remembered."I flexed my fingers as I stepped outside, the crisp night air slapping my face. I set my teeth and breathed in deeply, but it did not help. Nothing would.I had despised Garrett for so long. I blamed him for everything—for my stolen past, for my confusion, for my suffering. But now? Now I realized the truth. Garrett had never actually been my enemy. He had been there, on the periphery of the Cullen family's crimes, but he was not like Donovan. He was not a monster.And yet, I had treated him as if he were.Guilt weighed on me like a leaden collar around my neck as I went to my car. My hands shook as I opened the door and
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Secret Revealed
Chapter 104: Secret RevealedThorne's POVThe prison was cold. Not just from the thick concrete walls or the lack of sunlight coming in through the small, barred windows, but from what this place represented. It was where the damned resided, where the people who had crossed a boundary they could never return from. And now, Donovan was there.I trudged down the lengthy corridor, my boots clanging off the stone floor. Stagnant air, perspiration, and rusting metal greeted me as I passed cell after cell of inmates, ignoring the prisoners who yelled or slammed against their doors. I wasn't there for them. I was there for him.I halted when I reached his cell.Donovan sat on the metal bench, his hands resting casually on his lap. The moment he saw me, a smirk curled at his lips. He didn’t look like a man who had lost everything. If anything, he looked amused—like he had been expecting me.“Agent Thorne,” he greeted, his voice smooth, relaxed. “I was wondering when you’d come.”I didn't sit.
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Plan To Resign
Chapter 103: Plan To ResignThorne's POVBlood. Too much blood.It oozed on my hands, saturated the fabric of my clothing, and ran on the unforgiving earth below me. I pressed tightly against Garrett's wound, but the blood streamed on through my fingers, searing and uninterrupted. My respiration was small, gaspy.This couldn't be happening. It was happening."Get him into the car! Now!" Donovan shouted above the bedlam, stern and urgent.His usual cockiness was gone. His face was pale and his eyes wide with something I never would have thought I would ever witness: fear. Donovan, never before, looked lost, like he had no control over anything. That alone made my stomach twist. If Donovan was scared, things were more terrible than I could have ever thought.The guys rushed, scooping Garrett's slumped body into the back seat of the black SUV. I climbed in behind them, holding on tight. My hands were wrapped around his wound, holding as much pressure as I could. His breathing was sporadi
Under The Mask Of My Enemy Feelings
Chapter 102: Feelings Thorne's POVGarrett dropped in front of me, his form crashing onto the ground with a nauseating crunch. Time slowed down as I stood there rigid, observing the crimson pool of blood spreading on the ground, the dark red staining the pavement like a jesting reminder of all that had transpired to lead to this. My lungs froze as I breathed in, my body unable to move.I had waited years for this—to finally kill Garrett and to bring an end to the Cullen family.But now, standing over him, watching his blood seep into the ground, I felt no victory. No victory at all.Only a burning, intolerable pain.Garrett's breathing was shallow, his chest rising and falling in slow, irregular motion. His lips trembled as he tried to talk, and I found myself leaning forward, straining to hear what he would say."I'm sorry…"His voice was barely audible, little more than a whisper.I bristled.His eyes, cold and sharp as ever, were unfocused, filled with something indistinguishable.
Under The Mask Of My Enemy The Plan
Chapter 101 : The Plan Thorne's POV The plan was underway. All was set. I was standing in the shadows, watching as my guys got into place. The rundown warehouse before us was the perfect place for an illegal transaction—remote, dimly lit, and out of prying eyes. Garrett and his men thought they were safe here, that no one would ever bother them. But they were wrong. Tonight, I was going to take them down. I gripped my gun tight, my heart beating normally but my mind in the heightened state. Every breath that I took was like it was burdened with my past and the mission that was before us. It took me weeks to prepare for this, to gather information, observe movements, and wait. And now that we were here, the time had come. The Cullen regime had held the city for too long, in the shadows, pulling the strings. I used to reside in their world. I used to witness the extent of their corruption. But I was no longer the man that I once was. I could get things back to the place they
