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CHAPTER TWENTY: NEVER SEE HIS EYES.
Last Updated:
2024-12-27 21:52:09
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: STETHOSCOPE.
AXEL’S POV:The room was simple. No need for complicated furnishing since I occasionally used this house. Mahogany furniture, custom-designed chandeliers, and marble floor. The walls were a muted shade of gray, adorned with minimalist art—pieces chosen for their precision rather than emotion. A bar sat in the corner, stocked with top-shelf liquor that rarely saw use. The air smelled faintly of leather and cigars, though I neither smoked nor lingered here long enough to drink. Grabbing my suit jacket and phone, I stepped into the corridor, where over thirty men stood at attention. Their heads were bowed in reverence, their black suits masking the firepower some carried beneath. A few had shoulder holsters peeking out, straps taut against their broad frames. These weren’t just men—they were soldiers bound to me by loyalty and fear, their lives pledged by an oath I ensured they would never dare break. Walking past them, not a single head rose as I moved through their ranks. My presenc
Last Updated : 2024-12-28THE WIFE YOU LEFT DO IT FOR SEA.
AXEL’S POV:Cedric's words felt like a heavy burden that was hard to shake off. I wanted to dismiss him outright, but his voice carried sincerity. He looked at me, not as a feared man or a killer, but as someone he cared about—like a father would a son.I forced a dry laugh. "That's rich, Cedric. God? For someone like me?" I shook my head, incredulous. "You’ve been with me for years, patching up my men, stitching the ones I tortured just so I could tear them apart again. You’ve seen it all. Yet you think God has room for someone like me?" I sought. "If He does exist, where was He for the ones I’ve killed? The ones who begged for mercy? Explain that to me."Cedric’s expression didn’t change. He placed his briefcase down and leaned closer, his hand firm but warm on my shoulder. "Axel," he began, "you’re right. I’ve seen what you’re capable of. I’ve seen the destruction you’ve left behind. But God doesn’t weigh your sins when He’s offering to save you. That’s not how it works. You’re dyi
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"Mr. Blackwood," he started, "sorry for barging into your office—" "You better be," I cut him off. "And it better be for a damn good reason." The man straightened, trying to recover. "I'm Detective Harrington Smith," he said. I tilted my head, unimpressed. Surveying the man at the front of the pack, I was able to tell that he was middle-aged, balding, and reeked of bureaucratic arrogance. He tried to look confident, but his shifting eyes gave him away. "And?" Slowly, I removed my hand from the button and clasped it with the other, resting them on my desk. "I know you don’t often get visits like this—" "Because I’m a very busy man," I interrupted again, my patience thinning. "And I hate being interrupted by people who can’t justify their presence. So, tell me why you’re here and get the hell out." Detective Smith hesitated, then placed a document on my desk. A search warrant. I didn’t touch it. My eyes skimmed the bolded text as he continued. "We’re here because a woma
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AVERY’S POV:I lost all sense of time as I stumbled deeper into the endless expanse of woods, my body heavy with exhaustion. My muscles throbbed, my throat burned with thirst, and my stomach churned, empty and relentless in its protest. Lightheaded from starvation and dehydration, I trudged forward, though each step felt like a battle I was losing. The jagged sting of my untreated wounds showed my vulnerability; the thought of infection worried my sanity. My clothes hung in tatters, clinging to my bruised skin. Now, under the shade of a towering oak, I collapsed, seeking reprieve from the unforgiving sun. Its light filtered through the canopy, harsh even in this supposed refuge. For the first time in days, I questioned why I was fighting at all. Maybe life wasn’t worth it anymore. Freedom had once seemed like a promise—a bright, shining thing waiting for me outside those prison gates. But since stepping into the open air, all I’d found was war. One unrelenting battle after anoth
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AVERY’S POV:As I rested my head on the couch, trying to settle into a comfortable position, my body begged for sleep. But my mind wouldn’t relent. My thoughts were like a swarm of bees, buzzing with unease. Why couldn’t I relax? This woman had been nothing but kind to me, yet the heaviness in my chest lingered. I sat upright, my heart thudding against my ribs. Where was she? And why did I feel so on edge? Maybe I was being irrational, letting my paranoia get the best of me. But the tattoo on my back gnawed at my thoughts. It had haunted me ever since I noticed it in the hospital. Could I check it here? I shook my head. "Calm down, Avery. Not everything is a conspiracy." Still, I couldn’t ignore the tension crawling up my spine. Rising to my feet, I moved toward the door. My hand hesitated on the knob for a moment before I cracked it open just enough to peek outside. There she was, standing on the porch, cigarette in hand. Smoke curled lazily around her as she stared into the
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AXEL’S POV:The day started innocently enough, with my little girl and I engrossed in one of her endless imaginary tea parties. She giggled as she poured invisible tea into a porcelain cup, her laughter infectious. Then Logan called, and my mood shifted instantly. Sea’s laughter still echoed in my mind as I picked up Logan’s call, unaware of how quickly the day would shift from innocence to chaos“Turn on the news,” he said, his tone clipped but carrying a hint of satisfaction. I did as he instructed, not out of curiosity, but because I demanded loyalty and obedience from those who served me, and Logan never disappointed. His handiwork lit up the screen of my phone, a blaze of chaos wrapped in polished headlines. Avery’s face stared back at me, plastered across every channel, with fabricated accusations that would ensure no corner of the earth was safe for her. A smile tugged at my lips. Logan had played his part well. I’d told him to light the match, and he’d set the fire where
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AXEL’S POV:"I had plans to be merciful," I said, stepping closer. "You did what those useless cops couldn’t. But for letting your tongue loose, you’ve sealed your fate. You won’t see the light of the next day." The woman froze, her curses dying on her lips as the gravity of my words sunk in. Ryan appeared beside me just then, his face calm but his voice low. "She’s been tossed in the trunk. Everything’s in place." I nodded, satisfied. I spared the woman one last glance before turning my back on her. "Clean this up," I said over my shoulder to Ryan. "I want no traces." The woman’s parting words were like a thorn under my skin, burrowing deeper with every syllable. "When you finally come to me, I'll show no mercy!"I stopped mid-stride, my hand tightening into a fist. Slowly, I turned back to face her, my voice cold as ice. "Tie her up and set her on fire. Leave the gas open so the whole place explodes."Ryan didn’t need further clarification. He gestured to two of my men, w
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AVERY’S POV:I prayed for death as I lay curled up in the cage, crammed into the trunk of the Devil’s car. Breathing my last in that suffocating darkness seemed preferable to whatever awaited me. The rage I’d glimpsed in his eyes, paired with the distant explosion that rattled the air, left no doubt—whatever came next would make death seem merciful. Every attempt to escape him had failed. I was back in his grasp, trapped like an animal awaiting slaughter. The ride stretched on endlessly. The cramped space stole the blood from my limbs, leaving them numb and useless. Every bump in the road jarred the cage, the jagged edges of the metal scraping my skin. Pain pulsed through me, but even that was better than the terrifying silence of what lay ahead. I tried to focus my mind elsewhere—on the fleeting moments of happiness I’d once known. Memories of innocence, laughter, and safety became my refuge, though they felt like they belonged to someone else entirely. Time blurred. The car
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-ONE: RED IS RADIANT.
AXEL’S POV:As Baron left, the room finally settled into silence. I leaned back, the material creaking beneath me, shadows from the light stretching across the floor. My mind wandered—first to Sea, and how she’d surprised me. There was no tantrum, no cold stares. Just quiet acceptance. A daughter who’d been confused for years but chose love over resentment. She was more like Avery than I realized.Speaking of her—Avery sauntered into the living room like a flame in the dark, barefoot, legs bare, wrapped in a blood-red satin nightie that clung to her body like it had been painted on. Thin straps kissed her shoulders, the silk dipping low enough to tease the soft weight of her breasts. Every sway of her hips pulled me to her. Desire pooled low in my stomach, uncoiling like a fuse waiting to be lit.She walked over without a word and slipped onto my lap, her legs curling around me. Her lips found mine in a soft kiss.“Sea’s asleep,” she mumbled against my mouth.I wrapped an arm around
THE WIFE YOU LEFT REMIND THEM WHO THE DON IS.
AXEL’S POV:Avery was bent over Sea, her brows tight with focus as she ran test after test to make sure our girl was okay. Her hands moved gently, like she was touching glass that might shatter. I stood close, arms crossed, jaw clenched, watching every emotion on Sea’s face.“Did anyone hurt you?” Avery asked softly, brushing a strand of hair from Sea’s forehead.“Did anyone ever touch you in a way you didn’t like?” I added, trying best to stay in control while waiting for her answer Sea looked up at us. Her eyes were bright but calm. She looked older than her years—seven years had done that.“No,” she said quietly. “Ryan never hurt me. He was always... kind. Protective. Present. He took care of me. Always made sure I had what I needed. He taught me things, helped me grow up. Like a father should.”I exchanged a glance with Avery. A bitter taste bloomed in the back of my throat.“And the marriage?” Avery asked gently. “Did he force you to marry that man?”Sea shook her head. “No. He
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-NINE: WHOLE AGAIN.
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
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-EIGHT: TRUE COL6.
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
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-SEVEN: GLAD I NEVER LISTENED.
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
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-SIX: THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE.
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.
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-FIVE: FACING MY REFLECTION.
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
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-FOUR: THE CHILD LIVES.
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
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-THREE: THE NEW HOME.
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
