The First Bullet
1181 Words
The gunshot echoed through the underground garage.
Glass exploded behind them.
Olivia screamed and instinctively ducked.
Before she could react further, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
"Move!"
Adrian's voice was sharp.
Commanding.
He pulled her behind a concrete pillar just as another shot rang out.
A second later, sparks burst from the wall where she had been standing.
Her heart nearly stopped.
"Oh my God..."
This wasn't a threat.
This wasn't a warning.
Someone was trying to kill them.
Or kill her.
Adrian crouched beside her, his body shielding hers.
His expression remained terrifyingly calm.
As if gunfire was a normal part of his day.
As if chaos didn't affect him at all.
Three black SUVs screeched to a stop across the garage.
The doors flew open.
Several men stepped out.
All dressed in black.
All carrying weapons.
Olivia's blood turned cold.
"Who are they?" she whispered.
Adrian's jaw tightened.
"The wrong people."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting right now."
Another gunshot cracked through the air.
A bullet slammed into the pillar inches above Olivia's head.
Concrete fragments rained down.
She flinched.
Adrian grabbed her wrist.
"Can you run?"
"What?"
"When I say run, don't stop."
The look in his eyes made her stomach twist.
He was serious.
Terrifyingly serious.
"What about you?"
Something unreadable flashed across his face.
"I'll be right behind you."
For some reason, she didn't believe him.
---
Across the garage, one of the armed men shouted.
"There!"
More footsteps.
More movement.
They were closing in.
Olivia's pulse thundered.
Everything was happening too fast.
Yesterday she had been a bride.
Today strangers were shooting at her.
Nothing made sense.
Nothing.
Adrian peeked around the pillar.
His eyes narrowed.
Calculating.
Assessing.
Then he looked back at her.
"Listen carefully."
For the first time, his voice softened.
Just slightly.
"If anything happens, get to the police."
Olivia stared at him.
The statement sounded dangerously close to a goodbye.
Fear tightened her chest.
"No."
His expression hardened.
"Olivia—"
"No."
The word escaped before she could stop it.
She didn't even know this man.
Didn't trust him.
Didn't understand him.
Yet the thought of leaving him behind made her uncomfortable.
Why?
Why did she care?
Adrian seemed just as surprised by her response.
For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Then another gunshot shattered the silence.
The moment vanished.
"Run!"
---
They sprinted.
Olivia's heels pounded against the concrete floor.
Her wedding ring felt strangely heavy on her finger.
Behind them, shouts erupted.
Footsteps followed.
The attackers were chasing them.
The parking garage suddenly felt endless.
Every exit seemed miles away.
Every shadow looked dangerous.
Adrian remained beside her.
Never ahead.
Never behind.
Always matching her pace.
Always watching.
Protecting.
The realization annoyed her.
She didn't need protection.
Especially not from the man who had stolen her wedding.
Yet every time she stumbled, his hand was there.
Every time she slowed, he steadied her.
Every time danger appeared, he moved closer.
As if shielding her had become instinct.
The thought unsettled her more than the gunfire.
---
They reached a steel security door.
Locked.
Olivia's heart sank.
"No."
Adrian stepped forward.
One swift kick.
The door burst open.
Olivia blinked.
Who exactly was this man?
He grabbed her hand.
Warm.
Firm.
Impossible to ignore.
"Come on."
For some reason, she let him lead her.
---
Several minutes later, they emerged onto a crowded city street.
Traffic roared around them.
Pedestrians hurried past.
Normal life continued.
Completely unaware.
Olivia bent over, struggling to catch her breath.
Adrian scanned the area.
Still alert.
Still searching.
Still expecting danger.
Finally, he seemed satisfied.
For the first time since the attack, he relaxed slightly.
Olivia straightened.
Anger returned.
Good.
Anger felt easier than fear.
"What is going on?"
Adrian remained silent.
She took a step closer.
"Who were those men?"
Silence.
"Why are they after us?"
Nothing.
"Where is Ethan?"
That got a reaction.
His eyes darkened.
Barely.
But enough.
Olivia noticed.
She always noticed.
"See?" she said.
"You know something."
"I know a lot of things."
The answer frustrated her.
"Then tell me."
"I can't."
"Can't or won't?"
His jaw clenched.
The silence that followed was answer enough.
Olivia laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
Adrian looked away.
For the first time, genuine frustration appeared on his face.
As if he hated the situation as much as she did.
As if he wanted to tell her everything.
But couldn't.
The possibility bothered her.
Because liars usually looked comfortable.
Adrian looked trapped.
---
His phone suddenly rang.
He answered immediately.
"Talk."
A pause.
His expression darkened.
"When?"
Another pause.
Then—
"I'm on my way."
The call ended.
"What now?" Olivia demanded.
Adrian hesitated.
Something was wrong.
She could see it.
Feel it.
Finally, he looked at her.
"Ethan's car was found."
Her heart stopped.
"What?"
"Abandoned near the harbor."
The city noise faded.
The traffic disappeared.
All Olivia could hear was the pounding of her own heart.
"Was he inside?"
"No."
Relief and dread collided inside her.
Alive.
Missing.
Somewhere.
"What does that mean?"
Adrian's eyes met hers.
"It means somebody wants him found."
A chill raced down her spine.
"What?"
"The car was left where investigators would easily discover it."
Olivia stared.
The implication was horrifying.
Someone was sending a message.
But to whom?
And why?
---
An hour later, Adrian drove them toward the harbor.
Olivia sat silently in the passenger seat.
Her mind raced.
Nothing added up.
Ethan disappeared.
A stranger took his place.
Armed men attacked them.
And somehow Adrian always seemed one step ahead.
Who was he?
Really?
She glanced sideways.
His hands gripped the steering wheel.
Strong.
Steady.
Controlled.
Everything about him seemed controlled.
Except his eyes.
There was exhaustion there.
Pain.
Old pain.
The kind people carried for years.
The kind that never truly healed.
The observation caught her off guard.
She quickly looked away.
This man had ruined her life.
She shouldn't care about his sadness.
Shouldn't notice it.
Shouldn't wonder about it.
Yet somehow she did.
The realization irritated her.
A lot.
---
As they approached the harbor, flashing police lights appeared ahead.
Dozens of officers surrounded the area.
Yellow tape blocked access.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Adrian slowed the car.
Both of them stared ahead.
Then Olivia saw it.
A black luxury sedan parked near the docks.
Ethan's car.
Her stomach twisted.
Several detectives stood nearby.
One of them was holding something.
A white envelope.
The lead detective opened it.
His expression immediately changed.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Fear.
Adrian cursed under his breath.
"What?"
He didn't answer.
The detective suddenly looked around.
As if searching for someone.
Then his gaze landed directly on Adrian's vehicle.
Their eyes met across the distance.
The detective froze.
For a second, nobody moved.
Then he held up the envelope.
Even from where she sat, Olivia could see three words written across the front in bold black ink.
FOR OLIVIA BENNETT.
Her blood ran cold.
Someone had left a message.
And somehow, she already knew she wasn't going to like what it said.
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