The setting sun bathed the calm waters of the Mediterranean in a warm, golden hue, as the luxurious yacht glided gracefully through the sea.
Onboard, the atmosphere was imbued with an air of sophistication and opulence, the clinking of crystal glasses and soft laughter punctuating the evening as the wealthy elite of the city gathered for a dinner hosted by the newly appointed CEO of Brewery, a prominent company in the alcohol industry.
Among the guests of honor was Don Vincenzo since he was a towering figure in the city's business and underworld circles.
After all the guests, he arrived on the yacht with Leia, Ember, and Axe along with Madam Vincenzo.
As they stepped onto the yacht, Axe maintained a stoic expression, and the guests couldn't help but notice his presence. Slowly, they whispered among themselves, their eyes casting judgmental glances at him.
"He's Don's bodyguard," one woman murmured to her husband, her disdain evident in her voice. "I can't believe he brought that...lowlife inside with him even though we all left our men outside as it should be."
"Seriously... He is just an orphan, lucky to be taken in by the Vincenzo," Her husband remarked in a hushed tone. "He's a mute, only good for following the family around like a loyal dog,"
Though aware of the sidelong glances and hushed comments, Axe remained unfazed.The dinner was hosted on the yacht's upper deck, where a couple of tables were set with fine china, silverware, and elegant floral arrangements.
The guests took their seats, and Axe stood attentively nearby, ever watchful, as the yacht continued its voyage into the open sea.
The conversation at the tables was lively, filled with discussions about business, politics, and the latest social events.
Soon, Don and his daughters engaged with the other guests, their charisma and charm capturing the attention of those around them.
After a moment of interacting with a lady, Leia walked over to Axe, her eyes lit up, and he frowned, making her pout.
"Your father warned you how to act tonight," Axe said, looking down at her lips hesitantly, holding back his urge.
"Come sit with us," Leia whispered as she locked eyes with him.
"Your father-""You know from a young age I never cared about what my father thinks, that's why you are mine, and I feel disrespected seeing you stand while they all sit. You are no different from any of us."
"People are watching us, Leia-"
"So? Come sit... or I will make a scene."
"We are not kids anymore Leia... You know that your father is going to blame me if you dare do it. Is that want you want?"
Pouting even harder, Leia's eyes grew big with tears, and Axe couldn't bear to see her upset. Relenting, he sighed and nodded, gesturing for her to lead the way. Leia's face immediately brightened, and she took his hand, pulling him towards the table.
As they approached, the chatter and laughter of the guests momentarily subsided, all eyes turning towards the unexpected sight of Axe joining the Don's table.
Despite the extravagance of the surroundings, Axe's presence continued to raise eyebrows. The guests exchanged knowing glances.
"He's just a glorified hooligan," one man said, his tone dripping with contempt. "The Don's family might have given him a better life, but he'll never be one of us, and it's a shame that the young Don treats him like that... Such beauty..."
"It's incredible what they have done for him, isn't it?" one guest murmured to another, their gaze locked on Axe. "He was just an orphan, a nobody, and look at him now. Don practically picked him up from the gutter and cleaned him up."
Frowning at her older sister, Ember sighed, and then stared at Axe, saying, "You are embarrassing us again. See how they are all staring. It's annoying-"
"Ember, not here," Don Vincenzo said, his voice low but commanding.
As her eyes widened in surprise, Ember's lips parted wanting to argue, but she quickly closed them, realizing the gravity of the situation. Then she cast a fleeting glance at Leia, who was watching her with a disappointing glare.Taking a deep breath, Ember composed herself and nodded at her father. "You're right, Father... I apologize for my outburst... but only to you."
"I Know you don't like Axe, but he's mine, and you should try to respect him," Leia said as she shot another stern look at Ember.
"Dear, I told you to stop making it sound like there's something more between you and Axe than that of a bodyguard and his Miss, especially in public." Mrs. Vincenzo said.The mother and daughter locked eyes in a stare-off, and knowing that Leia was headstrong like her father, she mumbled, "This is all your father's fault for agreeing to such a bizarre decision of a child."
"I don't see the problem with my decision, mother."
"That's enough. Don't ruin our moods for the rest of the night. You are supposed to behave, remember?"
"I was just saying."
Scowling, Mrs. Vincenzo looked at her husband, and Don shook his head slightly, pleading with her to let it go for the moment.
As the host of the party walked across the tables, greeting people for coming to his party, he was stopped by a frown from one of the guests as they said, "Mr. Lucci? I thought this party was for the best of the best... the top-notch in the business world and society…"
Raising a brow, Mr. Lucci glanced back at him, nodding in response. His dark eyes twinkled with humor when he said, "Oh, yes-"
"Why then does a man lower than our status allow to eat and wine here? Isn't this the kind of thing that makes you look bad?" The fellow said, taking a sip of his drink with cold eyes.
"The invitations that are given were for only high-class business people-"
"And yet, the orphan dines with us, and he's nothing but a low bodyguard, wining and dining with his masters."
When the fellow turned his head to look at Axe, Lucci's gaze followed his, and slowly, a smug smile crept on his lips.
Shoving his hands into his pocket, he calmly walked over to the Vincenzos table, and said, "Welcome! Mr. and Mrs. Vincenzos, Ember, and..."
As he locked eyes with Leia, he extended his hand and smiled charmingly, saying, "And you, beauty."
Scoffing, Leia rolled her eyes far back in her head, ignoring his hand, but Mr. Lucci would not withdraw his hand.
Suddenly, Axe stood up, grabbed his hand in a tight shake, and said, "Good evening, Mr. Lucci, or should I say, Jonathan."
Silence settled between the two as fire flashed in Lucci's eyes. The atmosphere in the room began to change, tension rising as everyone stared at Axe and Jonathan Lucci.
With a sudden surge of energy, Axe tightened his grip on Jonathan's hand, his knuckles turning white as the pressure increased. A low, guttural growl escaped his lips as he felt the bones in Jonathan's hand crack under his vice-like grip.
Instantly, Jonathan's eyes widened in shock and pain as he tried to pull his hand away, but Axe held on steadfastly, refusing to let go.
Without care, Axe's eyes bore into Jonathan's, his gaze steady and filled with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.
Trying to suppress his cry, Jonathan's face contorted with pain, his attempts to break free becoming increasingly desperate. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, mingling with the expression of defeat that began to overshadow his features.
"What's happening?" A guy whispered with a frown.Finally, with a sudden release of tension, Axe let go of Jonathan's hand, causing him to stumble backward, clutching his injured hand.
The room erupted in a racket of gasps and murmurs, the shockwaves of this encounter reverberating through every corner.
"Did you see that?" whispered one guest, his tone a mix of shock and disdain. "That Axe.. he's just a glorified bodyguard, a nobody. How dare he cause trouble for someone like Lucci?"
"He's nothing more than an orphan, barely elevated by the Vincenzos," added another guest with a sneer. "To think he'd have the audacity to challenge someone like Lucci... He's going to pay for his foolishness."
"He doesn't know his place," chimed in a third guest, shaking their head disapprovingly. "Lucci won't let this slide. Axe is in for a world of trouble. He's made a grave mistake tonight."
"He'll learn his lesson," affirmed another, a cold glint in their eye. "The Vincenzos may have given him a life beyond what he could have dreamed of, but he's still just a low life. Lucci won't tolerate such insolence from someone like him."
"I bet the Vincenzos will not accept that either. He has put them in hot water, and I bet they will throw him under the bus for sure, and then he will see." A dude muttered. "He's a disgrace, and he deserve what is coming to him."
The tension in the air was raw as the storm brewed in Axe's eyes, and Jonathan Lucci clutched his throbbing hand and stumbled backward, his eyes locked onto Axe's intense gaze. The room had fallen into an eerie silence, broken only by hushed whispers and the occasional gasp from the stunned guests. Still reeling from the pain in his hand, Jonathan Lucci attempted to regain his composure and assert his dominance, glaring away from Axe. With a strained smile, he addressed Don, his voice dripping with a thinly veiled threat, "Mr. Vincenzo, I believe it's in your best interest to discipline your man. This sort of behavior is unacceptable." "Jonathan, I understand your concern, but I won't be disciplining Axe for his actions. He hasn't offended me or acted out of line in any way to me or my family. If anyone feels wronged by his actions, they are free to voice their concerns and present their case." Don said calmly, resting back in his seat. Scoffing, Lucci's eyes narrowed as he str
Looking back at her father, Leia's eyes widened in realization as the woman's words hit her like a ton of bricks. She had never thought about it that way. Her father's decision was not just unfair, but it was also cruel. It was like he was setting Axe up to be caught in the middle of a power struggle between the two families. As she was lost in thought, Jonathan's voice interrupted her, and she turned to face him, her mind still reeling from the woman's words. Clearing his throat, Jonathan's eyes were fixed on Axe, and his face was etched with disgust. Then he turned to Don with a small smile, saying, "Well, for your sake, I will let him go. After all, you saw him fit to be in here with us, so why don't we end the matter here? What do you say?" When Mr. Vincenzo didn't answer, he turned away from him, shoving his hand into his pocket to stop his fingers from clutching into fists, and rage slowly burned in his eyes as he thought, 'Now that I know how irrelevant you are to Mr. Vincenz
A tense silence hung heavy in the atmosphere as Axe and Mr. Vincenzo got into the black car, the engine humming softly in the background, the two inhaling the scent of leather mingled with the faint aroma of cigar smoke. In the silence, Axe's knuckles were raw and bloodied, but he did not attempt to tend to his wounds. His eyes were still ablaze with a fit of seething anger, his jaw clenched tight as he stared out the window, lost in his own thoughts. The events that had transpired had unleashed a storm within him, and it raged on, threatening to consume him entirely. Sitting next to Axe, Mr. Vincenzo looked at him with a mix of concern and admiration. But silence stretched between them, the only sound the steady hum of the engine and the occasional distant honking of a car. Finally, unable to bear the weight of the silence any longer, Mr. Vincenzo broke it, his voice gentle yet firm. "I am sorry." "For what?" Axe asked gruffly, his gaze never leaving the road ahead. "The life
The drive back to the Vincenzo mansion was filled with an unsettling silence. Axe's grip on the steering wheel was tight, his bloody knuckles getting pointy as his mind continued to replay the events of the evening. The car seemed to glide through the empty streets, the city lights passing by in a blur, but Axe's focus remained solely on the road ahead. As they reached the grand gates of the mansion, Axe glanced at the three women in the backseat through the rearview mirror. Ember, her usually vibrant green eyes now clouded with worry, stared out the window with a cold expression. Mrs. Vincenzo, her face pale and lips pressed into a thin line, clutched her daughters' hands tightly. And then there was Leia, her stormy hazel eyes filled with unshed tears, her jaw set in a firm line. Minutes later, once they entered the mansion, Axe escorted the women inside, his protective instincts on high alert. for almost an hour, Axe personally made sure every room was checked, every window sec
The atmosphere in the club shifted as Azrael's cruel command hung in the air. The surrounding customers glanced over, their curiosity piqued by the tension that crackled between the two men. Some employees, who were familiar with Azrael's reputation, exchanged worried glances. They knew better than to interfere, but concern etched deep lines on their faces.The waitress, trembling with a sense of fear and defiance, stood her ground. With a quivering voice, she responded, "I-I can't do that, sir. It would be inhumane. It's not right to treat someone like that."Scoffing, Azrael's eyes narrowed, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. In one swift motion, he raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap across the waitress's cheek. The force of the blow caused the delicate glass to slip from her grasp, the bubbling liquid cascading onto the table and floor as she cowered from the impact, tears welling up in her eyes as pain radiated through her cheek."Bitch!" Azrael spat, hi
Time seemed to slow, stretching each passing second into an eternity as Axe's words reverberated through the room, sinking into the marrow of every bone.Darting his gaze, Azrael's eyes flickered with a desperate plea, as the broken wine bottle pressed even tighter against his throat, the sharp glass biting into his skin, threatening to slice open his jugular with even the slightest movement. Blood trickled down his neck, staining his crisp white collar, as his every breath became a precarious dance between life and death.Around them, the club's customers stood frozen, their wide eyes reflected a mixture of fear, awe, and unsettling excitement.The silence shattered as one of the thugs, emboldened by the growing numbers, stepped forward, and his voice trembled. "You don't scare us. You are just one man."As His grip on Azrael's hair tightened, eliciting a choked gasp from him, Axe's lips curled into a chilling smile, and whispered, "Oh, my friend, you greatly underestimate the wrath
Suddenly, Leia turned her back to the door and said, "Sorry... I am leaving."As she took a step to walk away, Axe grabbed her wrist, his grip tight but gentle. When she turned to look at him, her eyes filled with frustration and hurt, he let out a heavy sigh.Without a word, he led her into the house, his grip on her wrist never loosening. They walked past Mia, who watched them with wide eyes, her towel wrapped tightly around her trembling form. Not looking back, Axe guided Leia upstairs, his footsteps echoing, until they reached his bedroom, and he led her inside, then shut the door behind them.The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting shadows on the walls. The air was heavy with tension, suffocating both Axe and Leia as they stood facing each other, their emotions threatening to spill over."Do you know what time it is?!" Axe lashed out, as he ran his fingers through his already disheveled hair, frustration evident on his face."I called you, and you didn'
Stepping out of his pickup, wearing a white shirt and black pants, no belt, and black shoes without socks, Axe shoved his hands into his pocket, staring up at the skyscraper, that raised at 2,073 ft. He sighed and walked over, entering the building of SpiritsHaven, once he walked into the lobby, he was heading for the elevator as two beautiful girls stood by, watching him. Seeing how Hannah was staring at him, Natalie chuckled and said, "Hey, you have been rubbernecking at him since you started working here. Why don't you talk to him?" "I am not looking at him," Hannah whispered, her eyes glued on Axe. "You liar. Yes, you are." "No... I am..." Silence settled between them, and then Natalie said, "Why don't you go and ask him out? The worst he can say is 'No." "It's not like that," Hannah whispered. When Natalie raised a brow, she sighed and then said, "Fine. I will go talk to him." Tightening her fist, she marched over to Axe, and just then, he was about to walk into the eleva