Chapter Forty-Seven: Escaping the CageThorne's POVThe air in the hospital room felt unbearably stifling; the walls just seemed to close in on me with every passing second. Garrett's constant presence was comforting and oppressive all at once. His gaze followed me wherever he was, full of unspoken concern. Still, it wasn't enough to soothe the storm brewing inside me. The fragments of my past haunted me, and the questions that came with them had grown too loud to ignore.I couldn't dwell on anything else. I couldn't fully believe in Garrett, not with parts of my memory missing and this nagging feeling there was more to my past than he was letting on. And I couldn't afford complacency, not now that for the first time, I felt like I was getting closer to the truth. But Garrett's men were always outside my room, guarding and watching me like a hawk. It would virtually be impossible to do anything.Today was different, though.Garrett had left early that morning, muttering something abou
Chapter 48Thorne's POVThe warehouse loomed ahead, a dark monolith cast long and wide by the faint streetlights. The air was thick with the metallic tang of rust, oil, and decay. Every step I took closer seemed amplified out loud in the stillness, the sound of my feet meeting the earth overloaded only by the pounding of my heart.I'd been on a trail, piecing together really the fragments of information I could dig up, and this was going to be-it felt like the turning point. This warehouse was big, something big was going down, and with the right move, it might unravel whatever secret dealings the Cullen family was hiding in the dark.As I came closer, I saw a group of men stood at the entrance, loose in stance, but their alertness was easy to realize. Their gaze cut in neat, exact cuts around them; their hands barely left the daggers each of them held.Among them, my eyes caught a figure that seemed so familiar. There was no mistaking him in the dim light-Dexter Cullen. He was the se
Chapter 49Thorne's POVThe knife was suspended above my mark, poised to fall, when I heard that voice."Thorne, it's me."My body froze, blade inches from its mark, as I turned to him. His features were indistinct, shrouded by the darkness, but there was no mistaking the desperation in his eyes. Without saying another word, he released me and gestured for silence.Follow me," he whispered, his voice commanding yet calm.A million thoughts flooded my mind. What was Gavin doing here? Was he working for Donovan? Was this some kind of trap? My instincts yelled at me to keep my guard up, but something in the way he sounded made me pause. I lowered the knife and nodded reluctantly.Gavin led me through the maze of crates and shadows, his movements definite and calculated to avoid the main pathways so that we were out of sight. My heart thudded in my chest as every step shook the faintly echoing voices and footsteps around us-the reminder of our danger.Finally, he stopped before a car tuck
Chapter 50: Garrett's POVGlowing monitors cast an as cold, sterile light across the room; the soft hum of the equipment was the only sound that relieved the silence. My office felt suffocating, the weight of the situation weighing upon me. My mind refused to stay put on the arms theft investigation. It kept going right back to Thorne.He was no longer in the hospital, that much was for sure. I had located him, watched his position veer off from safety and toward part of the city I would never have approved. Even now, when I knew I could pinpoint where he was at any given time, a niggle gnawed at me. My chest felt tight, my instincts screaming that something wasn't right.I told myself to trust him, that Thorne wasn't someone to be careless or naively walk into a trap or put himself in harm's way. But unpredictable, his curiosity often got him into situations he was ill-prepared for.I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples as I tried to push away the frustration that had been bu
Chapter 51: Thorne's POVThere was a silence in the villa, an almost palpable stillness due to what wasn't said between Garrett and me. The moment we stepped inside, neither of us said a word. The door shut softly behind us, and it had all the effect of a thunderclap in the oppressive stillness.I didn't know what to say, how to breach the wall that had risen between us. My mind was a jumble of thoughts, emotions swirling in a storm I couldn't name. Garrett's protectiveness felt like a double-edged sword: comforting one moment, suffocating the next. I couldn't tell if his desperate attempts to keep me close came from a place of love or something far darker.Was I the one he was afraid of losing? The idea of me? Was he afraid that if I finally remembered, I would leave him behind and go back to the FBI?The thought stung my chest, the ache one I couldn't quite shake.I turned to him now, his face a mask of conflict, a reflection of my turmoil. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders taut,
Chapter 52: Garrett's POVThe low hum of the motor was the only sound as we ventured into the heart of the city. I shot a sideways glance to Thorne riding beside me in silent introspection, staring out of the window, his gaze unreadable. His hand lay against his thigh; the ring that I had popped onto his finger that night gleamed bright in the reflected light of morning sun.The view before me swelled up a tide of emotion I hadn't known in years, a mix of pride and love, the kind of joy that pained my chest. He had said yes. Thorne was mine in a way no one else could ever be, and I was determined to make our wedding everything he deserved, even if he didn't realize how much it meant to me yet.Are you sure you do not want to chime in on at least the venue?" I tried to lighten the tone with a slight chuckle as I glanced at him. "It is your wedding, after all."He arched an eyebrow before his lips set into a small smile that barely reached his eyes. "I think I can trust you to do the ri
Chapter 53: Garrett's POVThe days leading up to the wedding had been a flurry of activity and happiness. My mind was consumed with planning: confirming the flowers, finalizing the guest list, and making sure that everything was just right for Thorne. For the first time in my life, I allowed myself to dream of a future beyond power and control, of a future with him at its center.Yet in quieter moments-when I found Thorne gazing out a window or fleeing into his thoughts-I sensed there was something hovering just beyond my grasp. His smiles didn't always meet his eyes, and when laughter did come, it sounded hollow. But I overlooked it. He had said yes, hadn't he? That was all that mattered.I buried any doubts beneath the weight of my happiness.I hadn't expected Donovan to show up at my office that afternoon. He came in, his usual placid exterior sharpened, tightened. I put aside the pile of documents I was working my way through and waved him on."What's so urgent it couldn't wait?"
Chapter 54: Thorne's POVIt was less than perfect-the wedding engagement party that Garrett had turned into an over-the-top festivity that would shame royalty, down to every single last obsessive attention to detail: a grand hall chandeliers glimmered; roses, champagne-the lot. The whole evening surrounded me with congratulating people: huge, honest-to-goodness, real, teeth- showing grins on the Cullens.The world seemed to hold its breath as Garrett slipped the diamond onto my finger. Pure happiness danced unguarded in his eyes, as the force of applause burst loudly around us. He hauled me in, his mouth coming down against mine in a sure declaration of love to everyone present.For a moment-a so-tiny fraction of time-I almost managed to get myself to really believe this could be it. I could contemplate really staying in this world he'd carved out for me.But reality was relentless, and so was my mission.As the hours passed, the guests trickled out, their farewells growing softer unt
Chapter Title: Shadows WithinDamian’s POVThe room was silent except for the staccato beat of my fingers tapping on the rim of my desk. Outside, the city stretched into the darkness, its lights shimmering like stars stuck in the ground. But I couldn't spare time to enjoy the sight.Carlos was dead. One of our issues had been taken care of. But Bianca? She was still out there. And she had known our every move before we made it. That could be only one thing—someone within my own command had been giving her information.My men were loyal. At least, they were supposed to be. They had all fought, bled, and nearly died on my command. They had suffered betrayals, ambushes, and the struggle for power with me. So, who was the traitor?I scanned the reports covering my desk—transaction records, intercepted communications from Bianca's organization, irregularities in recent orders. The puzzle wasn't coming together yet, but I was close.A knock on the door made me lift my head. "Come in."Loren
Chapter 88: Garrett's DesperationGarrett's POVThorne's words lingered in my mind, over and over again, like a horrible joke I couldn't shake off."I can’t fall in love with a person who deceived him like this. Why do you think I won't fall in love with Gavin anymore?"I had thought that nothing else could ever pain me more than the day he left, but this—this was worse.I. My head yelled at me to leave, to stop torturing myself, but my body refused. My eyes locked onto them—on Thorne and Gavin, sitting side by side at their table, laughing, talking, smiling.That smile.It wasn't tense.It wasn't false.He looked. happy.And that understanding sent a searing, anguished pain through my chest.I had seen Thorne smile before, but never like this. Not at me.My hands trembled as I grasped my glass, clenching it so tightly I was afraid it would shatter."He's only doing this to drive me away," I told myself. "He's trying to make me quit."But was he?The more I watched, the more I was co
Chapter 87: Severing BondsThorne's POVI knew Garrett was still watching me.Even though I had warned him to stay away, I could feel it. His presence lingered like a shadow Garrett wasn't the type to back down easily.And if he was still watching me, that meant he still had hope.I needed to crush that hope once and for all.So I did the only thing I could think of. I asked Gavin out.It wasn't serious. I knew that. I wasn't doing it because I was interested in him romantically. I was doing it to end things with Garrett once and for all. If he saw me with Gavin—if he thought I had really moved on—maybe he would finally leave me alone.That was the only reason.At least, that's what I kept repeating to myself.Dinner with GavinWe met at a quaint little restaurant in the city. It was not upscale, but the low lights and soft music gave it a private feel. Safe.Gavin arrived exactly on time, looking casual and upbeat. He wore a fitted white shirt with the top button undone, his sleeves
Chapter 86: The Past Won't Let GoThorne's POVThe moment I walked into the FBI office that morning, I knew that it was going to be a long day.I had set myself to work, making use of all I had discovered about the Cullens, in starting the amassing of evidence against them. I had learned too much—too many secrets kept beneath the rug. And now I was going to put everything into practice and destroy them.Each document, each encoded email, each loose thread—I was going to tug at them until the whole empire tumbled.But I knew one thing for sure.Garrett would never allow that to happen without a struggle.I pushed the vision of him from my head and back to my screen. Hours flew by in a blur of documents and numbers, and before I could even consider it, the sun had dipped below the horizon.By the time I started to pack up my belongings, exhaustion weighed heavily in my limbs.As I walked out into the building, a voice called out behind me."Thorne, I'll take you home."I was confronted
Chapter 85: The One I LostGarrett's POVI sat in the darkness, the city lights casting faint glows against the windows. My whiskey glass was half-full on the table, the ice having dissolved long ago. I wasn't drinking it for the taste anymore—I just needed something to fill my hands, something to distract me from completely losing it.But it wasn't working.My screen glowed in the dark, the only light coming from the city outside my window. I stared at the photos on my screen, swiping through them one by one.They were all of him.Thorne.Every move, every glance, every damn thing he did—I had it on camera in these photos, being sent to me by the men I had posted around him. It was pathetic, but I couldn't resist.The first photo caught him entering the FBI building, dressed in working attire. He was the same but different all of a sudden. Stronger. Focused. Like he'd finally left the past behind him.Unlike me.The second photograph was of him at the gym, his body tense as he sparr
Chapter 84: Thorne's ReturnThorne's POVReturning to the FBI was going back to a world I had known all my life, yet now it was somewhat different. The same crowded hallways, the same constant hum of voices, and the same rigid schedule of daily tasks were all the same. But after everything that had occurred to me, I simply did not feel like the same man who had once walked these halls with assurance.I hadn't been assigned any cases yet. My bosses wished for me to have time to get settled, to acclimate to the environment again. I didn't object—I wasn't sure I was prepared to jump into anything heavy right away. So I spent my time reading case files, re-familiarizing myself with procedure, and doing physical training. The days were long, but they restored a feeling of purpose to me.At the end of the day, exhaustion set in, but it wasn't unwanted. It was a feeling of accomplishment. While I was preparing to depart, a group of my fellow agents inexplicably gathered around me, their eyes
Chapter 83: A Sense Of FreedomThorne's POVI healed faster than expected. Maybe it was because I had survived worse before. Maybe it was because I did not let myself be weak for too long. Whatever the reason, within weeks, I was healthy enough to be released from the hospital.So, the release form was signed and I was gone.On the morning of my release, a nurse came into my room with a large bouquet of lily of the valley flowers in her arms."There's no name on the card," she said, setting them down on the bedside table. "But whoever sent them clearly loves you very much."I didn't need to know a name. I knew already.Garrett.I glared at the tiny white flowers, my jaw tight. Lily of the valley. But to me, it represented one thing and one thing only—Garrett's way of reminding me that he was still present. That he still had control over me, even now.I grabbed the bouquet and tossed it into the trash can without hesitation. I did not want anything from him. Not his flowers. Not his at
Chapter 82: Thorne’s PovI woke up to the presence of Gavin sitting beside my hospital bed. His usually calm and composed face was furrowed with worry. The moment he noticed my eyes open, he leaned in, his voice in a hushed urgency."How do you feel?"I blinked repeatedly, acclimating to the bright hospital lighting. I ached everywhere, but nothing was unbearable. "I'm okay," I answered, my voice scratchy from disuse.Gavin released a breath, then hesitated before speaking. "Thorne, I should tell you something." His tone had changed, becoming grave. "We found a micro tracker on you. It's been removed now."At first, his words didn't surprise me. I had always known that Garrett had a tracker on me—I had long suspected it. He was too controlling, too obsessed. But as Gavin continued, my breath caught in my throat."It was implanted in your body," he said, watching me closely.I braced myself.Implanted?I had expected something like a hidden GPS in my belongings, or maybe even some dev
Chapter 81: Love and RegretGarrett’s POVI stood frozen in place, my body tense as Gavin stepped forward and shoved me aside. I barely stumbled, but I didn’t resist. My hands curled into fists at my sides, and my heart pounded against my ribs, but I remained silent.Gavin positioned himself protectively in front of Thorne’s bed, blocking my view of the man I had fought so hard to find. His expression was a mix of anger and disdain as he looked at me, and when he finally spoke, his voice was filled with cold certainty.“You don’t know how to love, Garrett. You don’t understand what it means to love someone.” His words struck like a blade to my chest. “You were never worthy of Thorne. To him, you’re nothing but an enemy. If it weren’t for you, his life wouldn’t have turned out like this.”I stiffened. “That’s not true,” I said, my voice hoarse, barely above a whisper. “I love him. And he loves me.”But even as I said the words, my conviction wavered. Gavin’s expression didn’t change. H