Master of his heart

Chapter 289

Max snatched Brielle’s phone and returned to the living room, only to find the door locked from the outside. Flames licked their way through the cracks, signaling danger. Within two minutes, the living room was a choking haze of thick, black smoke.

Max was coughing and stumbled backward. He fumbled with the phone, dialing 911 as he searched for another way out.

The apartment was in an old part of town, perched on a high floor. The balcony wasn’t an option for escape; the only way out was through another exit. He soaked a cloth in water and pressed it over his nose and mouth.

The room was a blur. The smoke was so dense he could barely open his eyes, let alone determine which way was which. His nose was assaulted by the acrid stench of smoke and his lungs were screaming for air.

The fire in the hallway was now a monstrous sheet of flame. The entire floor was aflame. The situation was dire.

Blind to his surroundings, Max groped his way to the opposite side of the bedroom. He could see a glimmer of light through the window, and the outline of the neighboring building’s. rooftop. He grabbed a chair and hurled it at the window.

The glass, weakened by the intense heat, shattered instantly. He took a step back and leaped out without hesitation. The inferno chased him, its crimson tongues reaching out like they were trying to consume him whole.

Outside the window was a slightly lower rooftop. It was the only chance he had, and any other window would have meant certain death.

Max landed on the rooftop, and above him, there was the sound of an explosion. The sound of gas canisters detonated one after another. These canisters were as deadly as bombs.

Debris flew through the air, and Max instinctively ducked for cover. None of the falling pieces hit him, but he felt dizzy from the smoke inhalation and struggled to keep his footing.

used her to set him up. He’d fallen for it. In the past, he

Years of honing his danger instincts

the ground. As she scrambled to her feet to take a second swing, Max caught the bat in his hand. His sharp eyes tried to pierce through the disguise to see the true identity beneath.

had scoped out the area earlier, knowing that if Max managed to escape from the fire, this was his only exit. If he perished,

Chapter 289

Chapter 289

Flames licked their way through the cracks, signaling danger.

the phone, dialing 911 as he searched for another

an old part of town, perched on a high floor. The balcony wasn’t an option for escape: the only way out was

barely open his eyes, let alone determine which way was which. His nose was assaulted by the

was now a monstrous sheet of

to the opposite side of the bedroom. He could see a glimmer of light through the window, and

without hesitation. The inferno chased him, its

was a slightly lower rooftop. It was the only chance he had, and any other window would have

the rooftop, and above him, there was the sound of an explosion. The sound of gas canisters detonated one after another. These

None of the falling pieces hit him, but he felt dizzy from the smoke inhalation and struggled to keep his footing,