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
Reaching into his pocket, Marco withdrew a knife, brandishing it at Leia menacingly as he took a few threatening steps closer to Leia. Her heart pounding in her chest, she struggled to keep her breathing calm, to fight the overwhelming urge to scream as Marco's knife flashed dangerously closer to her."Help!" Leia finally screamed. "Somebody help! Somebody help us!"The group broke into laughter again, and Nico's expression darkened as he glared at her, and said with a smug smile, "Why do you think the music is so loud, sweetheart?""Right! Now, let's see how strong you are, little missy. How dare you defy us?!" Marco yelled, waving the blade in his hand.Just then the door bash opened, and Axe stepped inside, his eyes that of a bull that had seen the color red as he glared at Marco, Nico, and their friends. "You don't want to deal with me. Let the girls go. I am going to say this once." Axe growled, his dark glare fixed firmly on Marco.Pointing the knife at him, Marco laughed mo
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...
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