CHAPTER 65
C HAPTER 65
ALLYN
Imagine my shock when I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was Mikael. He’s sitting on the floor across from the bed, hands resting on his lap, staring up at me. Instinctively, I clung to the bed frame, desperate to keep as much distance between us as possible. Only then did I notice the handcuffs around his wrists.
Where the hell was I?
As if to irritate me further, Mikael sat there staring at me with a tired smile, like he’s trying to etch my image into his memory.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“You really love him, don’t you?”
My head snapped toward Mikael so fast—I thought my neck might break. I glared daggers at him.
“You dare to ask me that?” I arched a brow. “After everything you’ve done, how can you even look me in the eye? You should be dead—not here with me, and definitely not breathing.”
He laughed—as if what I said was the most ordinary thing in the world, his body easing back against the wall.
“I’m going to die soon, you can count on that,” he said, nodding with a faint smile. “But I have one regret,” he muttered, his gaze softening.
“What?”
I don’t even know why I asked. I shouldn’t care.
But I waited for him to speak, following his gaze as it dropped to my stomach. My hands instinctively moved to my belly.
“I won’t get to see my grandchild.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, even though I knew he didn’t deserve my sympathy. Mikael is not a good man, and he doesn’t deserve mercy, but he’s still my father—a fact that can’t be undone.
“I did all of this because I love you so damn much, Allyn,” he said, his voice heavy with remorse.
“You sided with the very person you were supposed to protect me from, Mikael,” I spat, watching him clamp his mouth shut. “Maddox was the one who stood by me, always protecting me. He’s not the monster in this story.”
You are. I wanted to scream those words at him, but the look on his face told me he already knew.
“I’m sorry, Allyn. I truly am,” he said. “If I could go back in time and fix it, I would.”
“You’re only saying that because your life is on the line.”
“I’m saying it because I mean it,” he interrupted quickly. “I don’t care if I die—I deserve it.”
I fell silent. We both knew the truth—he deserved it. My father isn’t a good person or a good man. Just like Martin King.
“He really cares about you and I see it now,” he muttered, almost to himself. “I didn’t think it was possible for a King, but he was willing to sacrifice his life for you without a second thought.”
“He always put my life before his, Mikael. He always looked after me, protected me. You just couldn’t swallow the fact that I had feelings for him.”
“That’s right,” he nodded.
“Like it or not, I stand by my word,” I replied, my voice sharp and cold. “I hope he comes back alive and well— because if he doesn’t, I promise you, you will die by my hand.”
“I’d rather die by your hand than anyone else’s.”
I let the silence fill the room as we stared at each other from a distance. It’s hard to believe a single word coming out of his mouth after everything he’s done, but a small part of me wants to believe him so badly.
Minute after minute passed, and it felt like hours before the silence was broken by someone entering the room with a bang.
Mikael and I both turned to the door, where Angelo King stood in the doorway, in all his glory. My mouth hung open, shocked, to say the least. Mikael didn’t seem fazed at all.
I hadn’t seen Angelo since the last time he was in the house, beaten up by Maddox.
When we…
Just the memory of it made my cheeks flush as my eyes landed on him.
What the hell is he doing here?
But the answer followed inexorably. My heart hammered against my chest in relief when Maddox appeared behind Angelo.
Our eyes locked, and it felt as though a weight lifted from my chest, seeing him safe and sound, without a scratch on him. His dark eyes softened when he noticed me.
Tears began to fall down my face, and without thinking, I ran toward him, my legs trembling. Peace and comfort washed over me when he took me in his arms, welcoming my body to crash into his.
“Missed me, princess?” he murmured against my ear, and I laughed through my tears, inhaling his scent.
I felt his smile against my neck, and I’ve never been happier than I am right now. I pulled back just enough to bring our lips together in a long-awaited kiss, showing him just how much I missed him.
When he kissed me back, I knew that everything was going to be okay now. Maddox was here with me, and nothing will ever tear us apart again.
He shot a look at my father before he escorted me out of the room, and Angelo followed.
“You need to explain what’s going on. I’m confused.”
My voice echoed through the hallways as I walked beside Maddox, his hand holding mine, with Angelo walking next to us.
Maddox and Angelo side by side is something I never thought I’d live to see again.
We entered what I assumed was the living room, with Angelo closing the door behind us.
Maddox was still holding my hand, caressing it with his fingers. Angelo removed his jacket with a sigh before turning to look at us.
His eyes lingered on our intertwined hands for a brief moment before looking up. My cheeks flushed under his gaze.
It was so freaking awkward after everything that had happened. Not that Maddox seemed fazed in the slightest.
“So, does anyone want to tell me what’s going on here?” I glanced between the two brothers, searching for answers.
“We’re in a temporary alliance,” Maddox began, his voice deep, his gaze following Angelo as he leaned against the table in the middle of the room.
“Temporary?” Angelo raised an eyebrow, sneering as he rested his hands on the table behind him.
“Don’t push your luck, brother,” Maddox cut him off in a warning tone, and Angelo laughed, shaking his head in surrender.
“What happened in the building?” I asked.
Angelo’s face shifted, his smile faded instantly as Maddox stared ahead. His face darkened as well, but not with rage, as usual—this time, there was something resembling sadness, which wasn’t typical for him.
“It’s over,” Maddox said, his gaze wandering around the room as if avoiding my question.
“But if my father is here…” I began, trailing off and shifting my gaze from Maddox to Angelo. “Where are Lydia and Martin?”
Maddox looked at Angelo, seemingly waiting for him to speak first.
“They’re dead,” Angelo said flatly, his words slicing through me like a blade.
I shifted my gaze to Maddox, waiting to see some reaction from him, but whatever he was feeling, he concealed it perfectly behind an inscrutable mask.
Martin’s death feels like a reward—victory, even. I know I might sound like a bad person, standing in the same room with his sons and saying this, but I’m glad he’s dead. He ruined everything he touched in his life, and he deserves this fate.
But Lydia… I can’t help but feel bad about her death, even though she wanted to kill me herself.
Maddox squeezed my hand lightly before speaking, “I promised you that you’d get revenge for Lara’s death. I always keep my promises.”
He did. He always does, no matter the cost.
I cracked a smile, shifting my gaze to Angelo, who was already staring at us.
“So, you had no part in your father’s plan?”
Angelo shook his head. “No.”
I nodded. If Maddox believes him, then I do too.
“And how did Mikael end up here?”
“My men captured him,” Angelo replied. “He went after you as soon as the shooting started.”
They had answers to all my questions, but it didn’t make the chaos in my head any easier to handle.
They say it’s all over, but I don’t feel that way—not when my father is here, and his life hangs in the balance, depending on the mercy of a man like Maddox, who has none.
“Now all that’s left to decide is what we do with Mikael,” Angelo said, looking between us.
My body tensed, knowing we had to decide the fate of my father.
“Leave that to us,” Maddox hurried to say.
“As you wish, brother,” Angelo said, pushing himself off the table and heading toward us. “You can stay here until you’re done with him. Then, I’ll expect a call about the conversation you promised me.”
Maddox simply nodded, keeping the room still.
Angelo headed for the door but stopped in his tracks just before it, turning around. H is gaze fell on us, and a slight, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips.
“Oh, and congratulations,” he said. It took me a second to understand what he meant, but when his gaze dropped to my stomach, my face flushed. “I’m happy for you. Really.”
His face was sincere, with not a single trace of bad intentions behind his eyes. It gave me a glimpse of hope that maybe we could leave the past behind and move forward.
“Thank you, Angelo,” I said with a smile.
He nodded, his face softening, and that was the last thing I saw of him before he left the room.
Maddox barely waited for the door to close before attacking me with kisses. His lips crashed against mine in perfect sync, his tongue sliding into my mouth as he held me close by the waist.
His lips roamed every part of my face, as though he were trying to memorize its curves with his touch.
My face burned as his lips trailed down my neck, leaving hot, wet traces in their wake. My body responded to him instinctively, craving more with every touch.
I thought he’d stop at my neck with his kisses, but I was left stunned when Maddox knelt before me. Placing both hands on my stomach, he began showering my belly with gentle kisses through the fabric of my clothes. I clung to his broad shoulders for support, but I still felt dizzy.
He always made me feel that way.
“I’m sorry you had to find out this way,” I whispered, his eyes meeting mine, his dark hair falling over his striking face. I thought I’d never see you again. I thought—”
“Stop.” His voice, sharp yet gentle, made me swallow the words. Maddox placed one final kiss on my stomach before rising to his feet.
His muscular figure towered over mine as his hands found my cheeks, cupping them gently and stroking them with his thumbs.
His eyes scanned every detail of my face—as if committing it to memory.
“I would never give up on you, Allyn. Don’t you fucking get it? Every part of me is obsessed with you. I’d rather die than live a single day without you by my side. I’d turn the world upside down— kill anyone who dared stand in my way, but in the end, I’d always find you.”
My stomach tightened at his confession. Just the sound of his voice was enough to make my heart flutter— as if he spoke a language only my body could understand.
He looked at me as if I were the most precious thing in the world.
Like he couldn’t bear to look away.
“You’re the reason my fucking heart started beating again—something my father ripped away from me a long time ago. Call it obsession, selfishness, sickness— whatever you want. All I know is that you’re the only real thing in this messed-up world that is worth fighting for.’’
By the time he finished speaking, I was a crying mess in his arms, overwhelmed by happiness.
I pulled him down by the neck, sealing our lips in another kiss. The warmth of his mouth spilled over me like a promise for our future.
I was lost so deeply in Maddox that there was no way out—and I didn’t care.
“Just us,” I whispered breathlessly, resting my forehead against his.
I took his hand, guiding it to my stomach. He placed it gently there, a smile tugging at his lips.
“Just the three of us.”
“Just the three of us against the world, princess.”
I kissed him over and over until I could no longer feel my lips—only him.