In The Line Of Fire

Chapter 1: Thorne's POV

The dock reeked of sea salt and decay, a smell that clung in the air like a warning. I hunched behind a rusted container, the earpiece clutched in my hand. "Everybody in place?" My voice was calm, but inside my heart went the rhythm of war drums.

"Ready, Lisa whispered, our sniper tucked away, somewhere high up above the chaos that would soon erupt.

"Locked in," Marcos repeated. His deep voice, composed and controlled.

Eric followed. "All clear."

We were ghosts in the night, invisible, unstoppable - or so I had told myself.

I spotted him through my binoculars-Garrett Cullen. He stood below, under the flickering lights, as if he was the king of the world. That arrogant smirk on his face was a brand that had been burned in my memory, mocking me each time I closed my eyes. He was the reason we were here tonight. Months of investigation, sleepless nights, and uncounted sacrifices had brought us to this moment.

This was our chance to bring him down, to damage the Cullen family's empire.

 

Garrett leaned casually against a crate, his sharp suit unruffled as his men surrounded him, much like loyal dogs. The exchange of a briefcase was exchanged, with a slight nod, and it was done.

 

"Target confirmed," I said low.

The plan was simple: trap him, take him alive, and expose the Cullen family for the criminals they were. My team had worked every angle to make this airtight.

"On my signal," I whispered.

Seconds ticked by, heavy and electric. Garrett's voice carried faintly through the night, smooth and unhurried. He wasn't worried. He had no idea we were here, watching his every move.

"Go.

We moved like a well-oiled machine. Lisa's shot shattered the air, hitting the lock on the gates and sending Garrett's men scrambling. Eric and Marcos advanced, cutting off escape routes, while I charged forward, my gun aimed at the center of it all-Garrett.

Chaos finally broke in our direction for a moment. His men had been caught off guard; their shouts joined the echoes of gunshots. I watched in a surge of triumph as Garrett's face reflected the surprise and he retreated a step, his usual cool deserting him.

"Hold up!" I yelled, sharp and clear. "Garrett Cullen, you are under arrest!"

That's where it should have stopped.

Then, the sound started.

Engines.

Noisy. Roaring. Coming closer.

I froze for a heartbeat as headlights cut through the darkness. Black SUVs barreled into the dockyard, tires screeching. The doors flew open, and armed men poured out.

Reinforcements.

"Shit," Lisa hissed into my earpiece.

The Cullen family didn't play fair. I should've expected this, but the sheer number of them—there were too many.

"Fall back!" I shouted, my voice cracking through the comms.

The tide turned in an instant. The dockyard became a battlefield. Bullets rained down from every direction, sparking off metal and shattering glass. My team scattered, ducking for cover as Garrett’s men closed in.

“Thorne, we’re pinned down!” Marcos shouted.

I fired blindly around the corner, trying to give them some relief. The air was thick with gunpowder and smoke, and every second stretched into an eternity.

"Stay low! Keep moving!" I yelled my throat raw.

But that wasn't enough.

Lisa's voice cut out first, a cry of pain echoing over the comms.

Then Marcos.

Then Eric.

"Nooo!" I shrieked, my chest seizing up.

I forced my legs to move, my side burning where a bullet had sliced across me. My vision swam, but I wouldn't stop. I refused to let them win.

The fire started then—someone had lit the docks ablaze. Flames roared to life, consuming everything in their path. The heat was suffocating, the smoke choking.

I stumbled through chaos, my legs heavy, my body screaming for rest. Blood dripped from my side, leaving a trail behind me. I didn't care. I had to survive.

Then I saw him.

Garrett Cullen.

He stood at the edge of the destruction, untouched by the carnage. Firelight danced off his suit, casting shadows across sharp features. His expression was calm, almost bored, as if he were watching a show put on just for him.

I froze.

My body screamed for me to run, but rage rooted me in place.

He was the reason my team was dead. The reason everything had gone to hell.

My hand was shaking as I raised my gun arm, heavy with exhaustion and rage.

Garrett turned then, his cold blue eyes meeting mine. For a second, he didn't move.

This was it. My chance.

I aimed for his chest, my finger curling over the trigger.

But my body betrayed me. The strength went out of me, my knees buckling as if the water slipped from my fingers.

No. Not now.

The world spun, the firelight blurring into streaks of orange and red. I collapsed to the ground, my gun slipping from my grasp.

The last thing I saw before the darkness claimed me was Garrett, his head tilting slightly as he watched me fall.

His expression wasn't one of fear

It was curiosity.