Chapter 4 A Past That Won't Stay Buried

Maya's pulse hastened as she focused her gaze on the guard at the entryway.

Liam Brooks.

Her supposed long-lost brother.

Her heart raced, and she clutched Alexander's desk, driving her fingers softly into the sturdy surface to preserve her steady state.

She murmured, "Come again?" with a chilly tone. "I defy you."

The security officer shifted uneasily. "Liam Brooks is here. And he claims Maya isn't who we think she is."

And he insists "Maya is not who we believe she is."

Maya's breath seized in her throat, and each muscle in her body got tight. The words clung in the atmosphere like a blast and were difficult to overlook.

Alexander's entire body froze alongside her. His gray eyes contracted into slits, as if a storm was gathering behind his placid appearance.

"Where is he?" Alexander's tone was low and intimidating.

The guard waited, his attention moving between both of them. "In the foyer. "We have him under monitoring, but he's unarmed."

Maya's pulse raced. She took a calming breath, attempting to stay centered. "I want to see him."

Alexander's grip on her wrist grew stronger, stopping her from moving. "No, you don't."

"Actually, you don't."

She pulled her arm away from his grasps, her chest trembling with terror and rage. "Alexander, you can't prevent me from doing this. I need to find out whether he knows anything about me. Something I do not."

His stare softened for a brief second before resuming its hard edge. "He could be dangerous."

Maya pulled her wrist free and stepped away, her breath quickening. "Then let's check."

Alexander's jaw tensed, but following a long, drawn-out time, he gave a modest nod with an unreadable face. He said less as he led the route through the hallway with intentional, calculated steps. Maya ensued, her heart throbbing in her chest as she continued to walk down the clean marble floor. She was crossing into an unknown territory, and it was tricky to predict whether what she would uncover would set her free or trap her even further.

Her breathing froze as they reached the lobby.

Liam stood in the center of the chamber, his hands folded, and his dark brown eyes focused on her. A glance at him stole her breath away. He looked like somebody from a nightmare, an embodiment of all she wasn't aware she'd lost.

He was a reflection of her, with similar deep-set eyes and keen features. It was remarkable how similar they were. For a brief while, Maya forgot how to breathe, felt like the pressure of the moment was pushing heavily on her chest, making everything seem strange.

"You're Liam Brooks?" she asked, her tone slightly hoarse.

His lips formed a tiny, barely apparent smile. "And you're Maya."

Her gut wrenched, tension building within her. "Funny. "You seem like a specialist on my life."

Liam's gaze flickered towards Alexander before returning to her, steadfast. "Because I do."

Maya's chest cracked. "That's not possible."

Liam laughed, but it wasn't enjoyable. "Wow, All this time, and you still don't know who I am?"

Alexander stood in front of Maya, getting himself between her and Liam, his pose rigid. "Say what you've come here to tell me."

Liam took a quick glimpse at Alexander, but it was clear that he had no intention of pulling out. His eyes locked on Maya. "I am here for her, not you."

Alexander's expression remained intact. "She's my wife." "If you'd like to communicate with her, you're going to do so in my presence."

The pressure between them shone like an electrical current.

Liam nodded. "You were always possessive, Knight."

Maya was unable to control herself. The words flowed before she could stop them. "You're talking to me like we've crossed paths before."

Liam's jaw contracted and his gaze sharpened. "We have."

Maya's chest clenched, and she sensed the ground shake underneath her. "No. That is not possible. I grew up in a foster care. Alone."

Liam's eyes deepened, revealing a flare tied to something she couldn't name. "Because they made sure you did."

The stillness between them was oppressive. Maya's throat became dry as she tried to digest his remarks.

"Who?" she whispered.

Liam breathed sharply, his eyes never leaving hers. "The Knights."

Alexander's posture tensed, and when he spoke, it was low, warning. "Be mindful of your allegations."

But Liam ignored him, his focus solely on Maya. "Your mother didn't just run from them, Maya. She was trying to save you. To save us."

Maya's heartbeat quickened. "Us?"

Liam nodded, his tone softening. "We meant to vanish together."

Maya's legs seemed like they were about to stretch out underneath her. "No, I don't..." She nodded, attempting to catch her breath. "I don't recollect."

Liam's voice became lower, almost kind. "Because they erased it."

Maya sensed the room swirl as memories flared along the boundaries of her mind. Was it possible? Could this be true? The notion that her existence had been meticulously shaped into something else-that she had been erased, her past washed away-was too much to bear.

Liam reached under his jacket and took out a little, fading photograph. He handed it to her without uttering a thing.

Maya froze, her hands shaking as she held it. Everything in her life changed the instant she laid eyes on the photograph.

It was a faded snapshot of a little girl and kid seated on the staircase of a house. The girl was smiling. Liam, the boy next to her, wrapped his arm round her shoulders in a protective embrace.

A memory surfaced, dim yet undeniable.

A small hand gripping hers. A voice whispers, "Stay close, Maya."

Her breath got locked in her throat. Everything around her clouded as the memories flooded her head, too much to handle.

"I-" she muttered, straining to speak.

Liam's voice cut through the fog. "They took you away, Maya. They took you, and they made sure you forgot."

Maya sensed herself drowning. She could not breathe. She couldn't think. The truth, or whatever part of it was starting to surface, felt too monstrous to accept.

Alexander finally spoke, his tone controlled but hard. "Let's establish it on facts-do you possess any to share?"

Liam's jaw constricted, and he labored with exactly what to say. "The proof is in the Knights' past. And Victoria made damn sure to bury it."

Maya's head snapped toward Alexander, her heart pounding. "Did you know?"

Alexander's expression darkened. "Not all of it."

Maya's stomach rumbled, as the words sank in like lead. "But some?"

His quietness was a sufficient response.

Her hands tightened into knuckles, the feeling of treachery washing over her. "You still lied to me."

Alexander groaned, his frustration evident. "I was doing everything I could to protect you, Maya."

Her breath came out in a bitter laugh. "You repeat the same thing, but it doesn't change the fact that you've only used me."

Liam cut in, his voice hard. "He was not the only one. Victoria has been watching you for years. She let you live-until you got too close."

Maya's breath froze in her throat; "Too close to what?"

Liam's face grew grim. "The truth."

Before she could digest his comments, the distinct sound of a huge bang reverberated throughout the entire house. Maya recoiled, her heart in her throat.

"What was that?" she muttered, her anxiety growing.

Alexander's body became tense, and his expression hardened. "Gunfire."

Liam's eyes tightened as he moved rapidly, his hand sliding to the firearm tucked beneath his belt. "Sadly, time limitations restrict us from discussing further."

Maya's heart ceased. "Who-"

Before she could complete her question, quick footsteps resonated down the corridor.

One of Alexander's guards hurried into the room, his face pallid and his tone rigid. "Sir, Victoria's guards are here. They're after Maya."

Maya's blood turned frigid.

Alexander's hand flew out, grabbing hers fiercely. "We need to go."

Maya pushed in her heels as panic overflowed her veins. "Go where?"

Liam's voice was sharp, decisive. "Wherever but here."

Another burst of gunfire sounded out from within the home, this time a lot closer.

Maya's body shivered with terror.

Alexander turned to Liam. "We have a safe house. We'll go there."

Liam gave a sharp nod. "Then let's move before we all end up dead."

More shouting. More chaos.

Maya's heart hammered in her chest, the walls pulling in around her.

Alexander intensified his grasp on her, drawing her closer. His tone was low, but imposing. "Stay with me."

Maya gulped hard, her chest clenched from all that had happened. The reality was no longer a secret. It was a threat. And it was coming for her.