The next morning, the sound of footsteps echoed through the living room, disrupting Axe's peaceful slumber. Slowly opening his eyes, he found Leia standing in front of him, her small feet clad in pink fluffy socks. A tray filled with toast, jam, and fresh fruit juice rested in her hands. "Good morning," she said as brightly as could be expected for seven o’clock in the morning. Her smile was radiant as she approached him. "A thank you gift," she said, placing the tray on the coffee table.With a yawn, he sat up and took hold of the plate, pulling it toward him. He took a bite of the bread before reaching to grab some jam and arched an eyebrow in curiosity. "For what?""Hmm... For letting me stay the night and not making a fuss about it." Leia plopped down beside him, leaning over to steal half of his toast. She then took several bites of it. She then proceeded to take another bite and give him the thumbs up. "Which means we're good, right?"Leia looked at him expectantly. The ques
As Axe drove Leia to the party, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. Finally, unable to contain it any longer, she turned to Axe, her voice tinged with frustration. “You know, if you’re going to play the part of my pretend boyfriend tonight, you should really act like it. There’s this guy who just won’t leave me alone, and it’s getting really annoying.”Axe glanced at her, a chuckle escaping his lips. “What’s so funny?” Leia asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.He shook his head, his expression turning serious. “Nothing, it’s just… Who’s this guy?” His tone was firm, his eyes searching hers for answers.Lowering her lids with a pout, Leia sighed, her frustration evident. “His name’s... Ah... He's so freaking cocky... He’s been pestering me since the entire business ordeal... asking me out on dates and just being… persistent.”Axe’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his jaw clenching. “I see,” he murmured.When his jaws clutc
Shutting his eyes for a second, Axe tried to control his breathing, taking deep breaths through his nose, before nodding slowly. He opened his eyes, looking straight ahead. “Yeah. Yeah. Right.” His grip on her waist tightened slightly as he led her away, his eyes focused firmly on the floor. The two security guards looked close behind them, and then one replied, “We should call the boss.”The second guard, who also had a long ponytail, nodded. “Yeah, good idea.” He fumbled in his pocket, bringing out a comlink, which he pressed to his ear. A few seconds later, he spoke. “Boss... she's here.”The silence between Leia and Axe lasted for several seconds before Leia cleared her throat nervously. “Uh, Axe? Are you ok? You look kinda pale. Maybe we should have just gone somewhere else. We can go back if you want—”“So... The Steele... That's new... Not shocking though... They are right up your parents alley... Rich, powerful. What a family, huh?” Axe mumbled distractedly, seeming to be l
A small smirk crossed Axe's lips at Sam's words, and then, ignoring Sam's pain, he said, “I'd like to see you try to mess with me.”The look in Axe's eye sent shivers running down Sam’s spine. With a loud, pained yell, “Are you challenging the Steele... You are just a watchdog for the Vincenzo, but I am the son of Steele. Do you get it!”Laughing with tears spilling from his eyes, Sam screamed, “I am-”“A jackass.” Axe finished for him. “I am well aware, asshole... I do respect the Steele family, so I will let you off with just a broken finger... The next time-”“You will do what?! What do you think you can do to me-”“I will break a promise I made to an old crock...”“What?!”The sound of someone clearing their throat made Axe, Sam, and Leia look to their right, and standing there was Don Vincenzo.“Father, what are you doing here?” Leia asked, rushing away from the two men to meet him.Suddenly, Axe let go of Sam's hand and locked eyes with Mr. Vincenzo, rage glowing from his entir
Axe stormed out of the hotel lobby, his frustration boiling beneath the surface. He yanked off his coat, tossed it onto the backseat of his sleek black car, and rolled up his sleeves, exposing the intricate tattoos adorning his skin.Sliding into the driver's seat, he slammed the door shut and started the engine with a growl. The car roared to life, mirroring Axe's turbulent emotions as he navigated the bustling streets towards the dimly lit district where the city's most notorious clubs thrived.The neon lights of the club district flickered like distant stars in the night sky, drawing Axe closer with their promise of temporary escape. He craved the pulsing beat of the music, the swirling haze of cigarette smoke, and the intoxicating burn of alcohol sliding down his throat.Parking his car in a shadowy alley, Axe stepped out onto the pavement, his boots echoing against the pavement as he made his way towards the nearest club. The rhythmic thumping of bass reverberated through his che
The thundering pulse of the music seemed to falter, the pounding beats muffled as the group of men rushed past Axe and Katriona, their heavy footfalls fading into the racket of the club. But still, Katriona clung to Axe like a lifeline, her slender frame trembling against his sturdy form.As the men disappeared into the shadowy depths of the club, a tense silence settled over the dance floor, broken only by the echo of their hurried steps. The air crackled with tension, a sense of foreboding hanging thick like a fog around them.Feeling her move against him, Axe's gaze flickered towards Katriona, his expression a mask of concern and tiredness. In the dim, pulsating lights of the club, her tear-streaked face was a portrait of fear and vulnerability, her eyes wide and glistening with unshed tears.“They are gone,” Axe murmured, his voice a low rumble. “You should let go.”Immediately, she stepped back, breaking free from him and running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to re
The room door slammed open, and the eyes of the three young boys inside trembled as Edana bashed in. With a stern face, she counted all three of them and then looked over at the fourth bed before screaming, "Where is Axe?!"Within a matter of seconds, the orphanage was engraved in a frustrating silence as the news of Axe’s escape spread like wildfire among the children and staff. By the minutes, the hallway was with a haunting silence, broken only by the soft shuffling of anxious feet and the occasional stifled whimper. Obediently, the children lined up in perfect rows, their tiny bodies trembling because they knew all too well the consequences of Axe's disobedience... Because for every time he attempted to escape, the burden fell upon them all.Their faces were etched with weariness, their eyes heavy with the weight of their shared fate. The dimly lit corridor, with its peeling wallpaper and flickering fluorescent lights, seemed to mirror the somber atmosphere that hung heavily in
Sixteen years laterThe doors to the mansion swung open with a creak, the heavy scent of cigar smoke and aged whiskey wafting through the air as Axe's footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway, making his way toward the grand living room.As he entered the room, the sight that greeted him was one of simmering anger. Don Vincenzo sat in his leather armchair, his piercing eyes ablaze with fury, and the room seemed to shrink under the weight of his gaze. When Don's glare fell upon Axe, a heavy sigh escaped his lips, carrying with it a mix of disappointment and frustration.Immediately, bowing deeply, Axe's voice remained studied as he addressed his boss, "Master, you sent for me?"Setting down his wine glass with a resounding thud, Don Vincenzo locked eyes with Axe and said, "Leia and Ember are gone," The mention of Leia's name made Axe's eyes darkened, and his jaws clutched as he tried to hold back his tongue from asking if she was okay."I forbade Ember from attending a frivolous party h