AXEL’S POV: No name. No number. Just an address scribbled on a card—my only clue to my destination. And yet, I was placing not only my fate but also that of the pilot in its hands as we flew through endless sky. This was our second day in the air, and I couldn’t help but wonder—just where the hell were we heading? It felt like the edge of the world. After the incident, there was no more room for hesitation. I had made up my mind. Sea wanted this, and I had to give it to her. Refusing her any longer wasn’t an option. She had already lost too much. Ryan, the one person she was comfortable with, had been sent away to handle business. That left Avery. The only other person Sea clung to like a lifeline. I had given strict instructions—let Avery settle in naturally, with Baron as the only security presence checking in from time to time. But I didn’t need constant reports to know what was happening. I had eyes everywhere. I saw everything. And what I saw… It was almost unnatural,
AXEL’S POV:I stepped out of the helicopter, my boots hitting the ground with a dull thud. The moment I did, an unsettling silence pressed in around me. The wind barely stirred the brittle grass, and the only sound was the distant hum of the helicopter blades slowing to a stop. The GPS had led us here, but this couldn’t be the right place. It didn’t make sense. The coordinates pointed to an active location, yet everything around me was abandoned—rundown houses with shattered windows, rusted fences barely standing, and trees stripped bare like skeletons. No movement. No sound. No sign of life. My jaw tightened. Was this a mistake? Should I turn back? The thought lingered, but I shoved it aside. I wasn’t the kind of man who retreated. If this was a setup, then so be it—I would deal with it the way I always did. I turned to the pilot. “Stay with the chopper. Keep it ready.” He nodded, and I moved. I slid a knife into the holster at my ankle, checked my gun before tucking it away
AXEL’S POV:I staggered to my feet, my knees bracing for whatever the hell this was. Her eyes rolled back, turning pure, blinding white. Her hair was now all black falling around her shoulders as the candlelight extinguished all at once, plunging the room into flickering darkness. "The problem you face," she began, her voice echoing in ways it shouldn’t, "would have been easy to solve. Forgivable, even. But because you do not know forgiveness—" She smiled, and it was vicious. "Your redemption is nearly impossible." The air pulsed. The room shook. She sounded possessed. No, she was possessed. "You have killed the innocent. A soul without sin. And so, you are cursed." My blood turned to ice. I squared my shoulders. "Cursed?" I scoffed. "By who?" She didn’t answer. Instead, her voice deepened, layered with something ancient. "The circle around your heart will never break—unless you find a virgin, one pure in heart, to love you earnestly, and then pray to the God you do
AVERY’S POV:Routine had become my safe space—predictable, comfortable, and yet, in the quiet moments, I felt something creeping in. Restlessness. A hollow kind of boredom. I told myself I liked this life, this peace, but deep down, I knew what was missing. Axel. It wasn’t just his presence—it was the way he made the world feel more alive. The way everything around him burned with danger and excitement. And yet, it had been over a week with no sign of him or Ryan. Nothing. I told myself not to care. I wasn’t his wife, wasn’t obligated to worry. But the silence stretched too long, pressing against my chest like a weight I refused to acknowledge. Instead, I poured myself into the people still here—Sea, Baron, even Katie and her mute entourage who communicated mostly through stiff nods. Sea, especially, had become my shadow. My best friend. We spent hours in the kitchen, making a mess of Axel’s pristine counters, flour coating our faces as we experimented with recipes she found
AVERY’S POV:Her words touched a nerve, and my chest grew tight as she repeated calling me mom—so naturally, as if the words had been waiting inside her all along, just waiting for the right moment to be spoken. I knelt beside her, helping distribute the small gifts I had picked out. Baron had taken me shopping without a single question, letting me pick whatever I thought Sea might need. He didn’t make me feel like a prisoner, didn’t hover over my every move like the others. With him, I had a sliver of freedom, something I hadn’t had in years. It was strange—liberating, yet unsettling, like I had forgotten how to exist outside of someone else’s control. As we handed out the last of the gifts, Sea beamed up at me. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For what?” “For coming.” I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Always.” Time slipped away as I observed Sea effortlessly connecting with the other children. Several parents approached me, beaming with admiration, and complimented m
AXEL’S POV:I had eyes and ears everywhere, so the moment I left that godforsaken pit of horror, I tracked Ryan down. We flew out immediately, landing on the outskirts of his location, though I knew full well that his attackers would’ve already been alerted to our arrival. They’d be watching, waiting. The sky was burning red from the fires, thick columns of smoke rolling toward the heavens like the battlefield itself was screaming. The stench of gunpowder clogged my throat, mixing with the iron tang of blood that had long since stopped fazing me. Bullets tore through the air, whizzing past with deadly precision, chipping the concrete walls of the fortified mansion ahead. Ryan crouched behind a wrecked car, his knuckles white around his rifle. His men—what was left of them—were taking cover behind whatever they could find: bodies, debris, smoldering remains of vehicles. The battlefield looked like a goddamn war zone. I stormed over, firing off a few rounds before ducking beside h
AXEL’S POV:The battle was supposed to be over. For seven days, we had fought through hell, clearing every one of Bruno’s strongholds, cutting through his defenses like a relentless storm. We were exhausted—our clothes tattered, covered in soot, sweat, and the blood of men who hadn’t been fast enough to survive. Our bodies ached from sleepless nights and countless injuries, but there was relief in knowing it was done. Bruno was dead. His empire was dust. Or so we thought. Our sole means of escape, our ticket home, was now nothing more than twisted wreckage.I had no time for arguments. The ambush was perfectly timed. Whoever was left in Bruno’s command wasn’t just throwing bodies at us; they were executing a planned counterattack, waiting for the moment we dropped our guard. We were only four now—me, Ryan, Devon, and one other. Our clothes were shredded, burned in some places from close encounters with grenades. Blood had dried in patches on our skin, most of it not even ours.
AXEL’S POV:I felt myself slipping away, my grip on consciousness tenuous at best. The edges of my vision began to blur and darken, like ink spreading through water. A dull, throbbing pain still radiated from my shoulder, but it was no match for the crushing weight that threatened to flatten me. My skull felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, making it hard to think. Yet, despite the fog closing in, I could still hear everything around me – the distant voices, the rustling of clothes, the sound of my own ragged breathing. It was a strange, disjointed sensation, as if my body was shutting down, but my senses remained stubbornly alert.I expected her to hesitate. To freeze. Maybe even walk away and let me bleed out, considering everything I'd done to her. It would be a fitting end, wouldn't it? But Avery surprised me. She moved. Not with panic, not with fear, but with purpose and confidence. Then she screamed. "Help! Someone! We need help!""Fuck." I groaned. This was exactly wh
AVERY’S POV:All this time, Baron and the rest of the guards stood still—positioned with militant stillness, their eyes never drifting from Axel and Ryan. They weren’t statues, though. You could feel the readiness in their posture, in the way fingers hovered just near triggers, how Baron’s gaze scanned every shadow like he expected a war to break out.Me? I kept scanning too. Old habits. But I didn’t feel cornered. Not with Axel here—and not with the numbers we brought. He’d made sure we had enough men. If this turned bloody, it wouldn’t end well for Ryan.Still, something in the air told me we were far from done.Defensively, Ryan snapped, “Her father kept her a secret to shield her from attacks.”Axel’s brows narrowed. “If you found yourself a mafia princess, why couldn’t you stick with her? Build your alliances the right way instead of giving away my daughter?” His voice turned lethal. “If her father is truly who you claim, then why not use that leverage?”Ryan’s jaw flexed. “Becau
AVERY’S POV:“No peace is worth her dignity,” I snapped, my fists clenched so tightly they ached. “You sealed her fate to get yourself out of trouble.”Ryan shook his head violently. “Don’t twist this. You weren’t here. Enemies were striking from all sides. The Russians in Tampa. The East Coast Syndicates in Italy. Everyone thought Axel was dead and Miami was up for grabs. I was just a name. They smelled weakness.”“You were weak,” Axel snapped. “And stupid. You believed that dirty-bag wouldn't touch her? You believed some overweight, power-drunk animal wouldn’t lay hands on my daughter the second she was his?”Ryan’s lip curled. “You think I didn’t struggle with it? That I didn’t weigh every option? I was desperate, Axel. Desperate to hold together what was left of your kingdom while you were dead. I didn’t have the luxury of morals. I had to survive. We all did.”“And for that,” Axel said slowly, stepping toward him until they were nearly nose-to-nose, “you offered her like a gift o
AVERY’S POV:Thank God I didn’t listen.Something told me not to. The moment Axel walked out that door, tension still rolling off his back, I couldn’t sit still. My body wouldn’t let me. So I grabbed my bag, ignored the hesitant grumbles from his guards, and followed.Good thing I did.If I’d been a minute late—hell, a second—who knows what that fat slob would’ve done to our daughter or to Axel.As soon as I reached Axel, I caught him saving him from collapsing. He was trembling. The man who once bathed in the blood of enemies without flinching now couldn’t stomach the sight of one dead body. The irony was bitter.The place was chaos. Screams echoed from the hallway. People tripped over chairs, others bolted for the exits. The guards outside barked orders, trying to herd the crowd into some kind of formation, but it was like trying to sweep water uphill.I stayed inside, watching the mess unfold from behind the glass balcony window above. The moment was frozen in chaos—and then my eye
AXEL’S POVAs I leaned back in that leather chair, the scent of sandalwood and fresh polish settled into my nose. The office was polished. Immaculate. A clean display of taste, ambition, and new money. But my gaze wasn’t interested in decor—it anchored to the walls, to the shelves, to the little details most wouldn’t notice but I did.The picture frames.Dozens of them.Sea.Just Sea.Her tiny fingers wrapped around a paintbrush as she sat cross-legged in an art class. Sea grinning beside Ryan at a science museum, both wearing matching safety goggles. Her in a frilly tutu, mid-spin on a recital stage, wings on her back like some kind of seraphim. Ryan, lifting her on his shoulders as they fed a giraffe. Sea asleep on a couch with a book clutched in hand. Sea in a football jersey, cheering from the sidelines. And then Sea again—older—taller, her baby face giving way to teenage edges, beaming next to a golden trophy. Every phase of her life, etched in photographs, trapped behind glass.
AXEL’S POV:Clearing my throat, “Cedric,” I said, my tone shifting as I stood up, brushing invisible dust from my slacks, “we have more to talk about. But for now, I have somewhere to be. Some examples to set.”I nodded toward him in thanks. “Thaddeus will take you back. I appreciate your help.”Avery blinked as I moved, her joy giving way to confusion. She stood too. “Wait—we’re leaving already? I thought…”I turned toward her, placing both hands gently on her shoulders. “Avery, there’s no ‘we.’ You’re staying home. Rest. I’ve been careless with you—almost lost you one too many times. I won’t make that mistake again. Take care of my child.”She tilted her head, stubbornness rising behind her eyes. “Axel… we’re a team. It’s you and I against the world. You’re not going anywhere without me.” “Avery, remember what I told you the first time we met?” I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping. “I. Hate. Repeating. Myself. Stay home and relax. We’ve been through heaven and hell.”She exhaled
AXEL'S POV:Settling in had been strangely easy. Too easy. After everything, Avery and I managed to freshen up and slip into something lighter. She moved around the house like she already belonged here, her bare feet silent against the polished floors as she prepared a simple fruit bowl for us. It wasn’t a feast, but it was enough—a bowl of sliced strawberries, bananas, blueberries, and cold watermelon. We sat side by side on the couch, snacking between tired conversations, trying to pretend we weren't waiting for the next battle to hit our doorstep.But the peace didn’t last long.Thaddeus arrived, the door buzzing once before the security system confirmed him. I rose to meet him at the entrance, Avery trailing just behind me, wiping her hands on a napkin.He wasn’t alone.Standing beside Thaddeus was Cedric—alive, breathing, and looking one wrong move away from bolting. His hands twitched slightly at his sides, and his face was set somewhere between disbelief and anger like he had
AVERY’S POV:I was getting car sick, which was unusual. I pressed my palm against my mouth, taking slow breaths as the car was maneuvered through winding roads lined with thick trees and endless security cameras. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we pulled up in front of a massive, top-tier secured house. The gate, an intimidating stretch of black steel, buzzed with electricity and slid open only after Axel’s fingerprint and a vocal command. Thaddeus leaned over from the passenger seat, tapping a device on the dashboard, and I watched my name flicker onto a small digital screen. Just like that, I was added to the access list. It was only the three of us who could open the gate now. No one else. As we pulled into the compound, my mouth dropped open slightly. I thought we’d lost guards when Axel’s last estate was blown to pieces, but apparently not. This place was crawling with security — a fortress disguised as a home. Men in all black, bulletproof vests strapped to th
AVERY’S POV:Something in me felt... wrong. A heavy, unsettled feeling gnawed at my chest the whole ride to MedixGen. Maybe it was just nerves—or maybe it was the dizziness and sick feeling that kept flashing hot and cold under my skin. I pushed it aside. We’d been through worse. I wasn’t going to fall apart now.Whether I liked it or not, we were about to make headlines.When we pulled into the lot, my eyes almost popped out of their sockets. The once-polished empire of Axel Blackwood—the building that had dominated every headline, symbolizing wealth, power, and fear—was barely standing. Structures had been torn down, and the main building that once pulsed with life now sat hollow and ignored, as if forgotten by the world. Axel looked like he had seen a ghost.We stepped out of the car, shoes crunching against concrete, and were immediately greeted by a sign swinging weakly on rusted hinges.“Little Loaf Bakery – Home of Fresh Beginnings!”Axel stared at it. Then he stared some
AXEL’S POV:A light knock sounded at the door, followed by Serena’s voice interrupting the quiet, “Boss, we’re landing in five minutes.”I groaned under my breath, dragging a hand down my face. I leaned over and kissed Avery’s temple, brushing my lips softly against her skin.“Wake up, honey,” I whispered. “Time to rise, my Queen.”She mumbled something incoherent and nuzzled closer into my chest.“Come on, baby, we’re landing. We gotta get dressed,” I coaxed again, kissing the tip of her nose.Avery sighed heavily, fluttering her eyes open just enough to glare at me half-heartedly. “Five more minutes,” she grumbled.“No can do, sweetheart. We’ve got a city waiting.”Reluctantly, she sat up, and I got out of bed, shrugging off the robe. Just as I promised, Serena had left us clothes during the night — neat, pressed, and laid out on the dresser. I grabbed my black slacks and button-down shirt, dressing quickly but methodically. Beside me, Avery slipped out of her robe, pulling on a pai