Page 103 of Teach Me How To Fly

“How do you know where my parents are? They died in a fire.”

His face softened as I spoke, and the pained look he gave me sent shivers down my spine. What the fuck was wrong with him? I felt like I was an abandoned child who just found out he was not actually alone in the world.

But he must’ve been lying to me. Lukyan told me that my parents died in a crushing fire when I was a baby and he took me under his roof. He helped me continue the legacy my parents had and he created the most beautiful life I could’ve ever had — at least, for now.

“They’re alive, Maksen,” he relented, breaking the eye contact we’ve created. “Lukyan lied to you to manipulate you all this time.”

“You’re crazy, Ender.”

I’ve had enough.

I stepped away from the desk and took out my gun. I headed towards the door and when I turned on my heels, I glanced at him and pointed the gun to his head.

“You’re crazy and fucking dead,” I added, biting my lower lip until I felt the taste of iron invading my mouth.

He raised the phone so I could see the screen and the moment he pushed the side button, Annalise’s screams were the only sounds I could hear. I narrowed my eyes and saw the man who slightly cut her neck skin, throwing her into an abyss of pain.

That’s when I lost it.

I fucking lost any crumble I had left of my sanity.

“I fucking agree! I’m going to kill Lukyan! Bring her to me right now!”

I wanted to shoot him, but before I pulled the trigger, I saw the man grab Annalise and leave the room. She was going to be in my arms soon. Safe. And loved.

I was going to kill them all.

Lukyan.

Ender.

And whoever fucking tried to play with me or Annalise. They were all going to pay for everything.

“Before you leave with her, sit down and let my people do something for you.”

The next moment, all I knew was how fast I was pushed to sit down on the armchair. I didn’t even notice when three men bursted into the room. He had some great people under his leadership considering how fast they moved.

One of them pulled my jacket to leave my biceps naked and when I turned my gaze to him, I felt how he pushed a syringe into my flesh. I looked at it confused.

“If you try to take it out, it’s going to explode and rip your arm. If you try to not keep your promise, then it will explode anyway. Your choice.”

Great.

Now I had to discover what the fuck I had in my arm and how I was going to take it out.

35

ANNALISE

When I saw him, I felt my entire being getting shattered because of the many feelings that engulfed me. He looked at me in a way he never did, and this time, I felt our hearts beating for each other.

I ran towards him, wrapping my arms around his body, and the moment he hugged me back with his warmth, I felt the tears falling down my face. They rolled down my cheeks and met at the middle of my chin.

He was here. He came for me. He saved me from this place.

“Oh, God,” he murmured between my hair strands.

His fingers found their way to my lower back and the next moment, he raised me from the ground and started spinning. I wrapped my hands around his neck and placed a kiss on his soft skin.

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