AXEL’S POV:
I leaned back in my office chair, rubbing the part of my chest that still ached like a damn knife wound. No one knew the truth I was harboring along with a dozen other secrets: I was dying. Slowly, and it felt as brutal as anything I’d ever inflicted on my enemies. The doctors broke it to me two months ago—an inexplicable hole in my heart, they said. "Six months left, if you're lucky." Nature, or fate, or karma—whatever it was—finally decided to catch up.
It was right after I’d taken care of a bastard and his entire family who’d tried sabotaging one of my shipments. I didn’t feel a damn thing as I strangled him, then ordered my men to take out every breathing thing in his house. There’s no other way to be clear: you cross me, you die. He knew the stakes when he made his choice. Still, something about him and his family felt… strange.
But there was no time for questions now, especially with the ticking clock in my chest. It’s what pushed me to find Sea someone to leave her with once I’m gone—not out of any foolish notion of love or care, but because I need someone who would be so shattered, so controlled, that even after I’m gone, they wouldn’t dare step out of line. Avery fit that description perfectly; she’d serve as more than a pawn for my war against the Grayson family. Maybe this wasn't the entire reason I made my decision but part of it.
A gentle knock broke through my thoughts, and I straightened, making sure the mask I wore held steady, hiding every trace of pain. Only my doctor knew, and if he ever let slip a word, he'd lose his tongue. This secret gets out, and everything I've built goes with it. In our world, weakness isn’t a conversation—it's a death sentence.
Ryan strolled in, looking as self-assured as ever. "Still don’t understand your sudden marriage move, boss. To someone else’s wife, no less. You did the whole thing in her absence, and now the word’s out. Everyone knows you’re married." He settled into the chair across from me, raising an eyebrow.
The only reason his blood didn’t end up decorating my walls for questioning me was simple: Ryan was my second-in-command and my closest friend. We’ve been together since he saved my life—back when a group of kids beat me to a pulp. He’d broken their bones that day, small as he was, then dragged me to Blackwood. For that alone, I’d take a bullet for him, and he’d do the same for me. He was Blackwood’s first recruit and would have taken over as Don if I hadn’t outpaced him in rank. When the time came, I did what was necessary and took Blackwood down—or so everyone thinks. The truth is going with me to my grave, which feels closer with each passing day.
"Did you find what I asked you to find?" I deflected, keeping my gaze steady.
Ryan sighed but dropped it. "Not yet."
"Then you have no business sitting here. I want every scrap of information on him."
"I’ve had the best people on this, Axel," he said, his tone cautious. "But they keep coming back with the same answer. The guy’s a ghost. No records, no family—nothing. You killed every relative he had."
"No one’s a ghost, Ryan. I strangled him with my own hands two months ago. Your ‘best people’ aren’t good enough."
"Axel, they’re baffled you went through with it without proper investigation. I told you going that extreme might have been the wrong move. What if it was a mistake?"
I could feel anger flare in my chest. I’m never wrong. I don’t kill for no reason. I locked eyes with him. "Ryan, if you value your head, then do your damn job and get me the answers I need."
"I’ll involve our Colombian intel," he assured. He looked at me like he wanted to say more, but I cut him off. It was just one man—why the hell was it so hard to dig up dirt on him?
"That’s all. I’ve got work to do," I said sharply.
Ryan gave a nod, his frame towering at six-foot-four. His presence, rugged with sharp features and a chiseled jawline, held a quiet but lethal power that could unnerve most. Beneath his sophisticated veneer—a dark gaze, perfectly styled hair, and a neatly trimmed beard—lay a ruthlessness most couldn’t begin to understand. He was deceptive, a predator hiding behind an innocent face, and I trusted him because he knew how to appear weak to strike hard when it mattered most. That was why I often left him to handle operations. People underestimated him, and when they did, he made them regret it.
As he left, I turned to my laptop and connected to the CCTV feed, my gaze settling on my new “guest.” Avery had showered and changed into fresh clothes, curled up in a corner, her eyes rimmed red, traces of recent tears. I didn’t care. I focused on something else, one insistent curiosity gnawing at the back of my mind—the real reason I’d chosen her. The one I refused to acknowledge, hiding it behind other justifications.
It started with a dream, right after my diagnosis. A strange, peaceful dream, where an angel wrapped her wings around me, and for the first time, I felt calm. I brushed it off as nothing, but then it came back, night after night, the same vision. It was relentless, to the point where I’d begun researching her, only to discover she was real. Since then, she’d been stuck in my mind, her image like a damn brand I couldn’t shake. How could I explain that to anyone, let alone myself?
With a sigh, I switched the feed to show Sea’s room. She was in the middle of a lesson with her tutor, who would leave soon. I wondered how long it would take Sea to warm up to Avery. She’s just like me, that girl—distrusting, quick to shut people out. I’m the only one who can make her smile. She’s mine, in blood and in spirit. One day, she might ask about her mother, and as much as I hate lying, she can never know that darkness. I won’t let her see me the way the rest of the world does.
AVERY'S POV:I was done with crying. It felt like a curse had latched onto my life, shadowing every breath I took. Why did everything have to go wrong? Not a moment to breathe, to laugh, or feel free—just an endless stream of pain, betrayal, and torment. Let me take you back to where it all started, to the reason I can’t seem to stop the tears.Growing up, the only warmth I felt came from my father and grandfather. My mother, Lyra Russell, used to be loving—at least, that’s what I was told. But then something changed when I turned two. My father said her love began to fade. I didn't understand it then, but as I grew older, I saw the truth for myself. The moment Astrid, my younger sister, entered the picture, it was as if all the love my mother once had for me shifted to her.That alone was hard, but at least I had my father and grandfather. They were my sanctuary, wrapping me in a love that softened the sharp edges of my mother’s indifference. But even that comfort was ripped away all
AVERY'S POV:Sea's small voice, full of vulnerability, tugged at memories I hadn’t let myself touch in years. Hearing her admit she was afraid of the dark was like looking in a mirror back to my own childhood. I remembered lying in bed, hiding under covers, watching shadows stretch across the walls, and waiting for the sound of my father’s footsteps. He’d read me a story every night, staying until I drifted off. If he left even a second too soon, I’d call out for him, sure that the monsters would sneak in the moment he was gone.I glanced down at Sea, curled up tightly, hugging her teddy bear. Her eyes peeked over its fuzzy head, watching me warily, not trusting but not sending me away either. Slowly, I stepped closer to her bed and lowered myself down, one hand gently resting on her back. Her shoulders were stiff, defensive, but she didn’t pull away.My eyes locked onto the phone nestled next to her pillow, and I knew I had to act. I paused for a moment, collecting my thoughts.“Woul
AVERY'S POV:The idea hit me like a spark, and suddenly, every cell in my body felt electrified. Could this be my chance? Instead of relaxing into this twisted arrangement, I’d rather be smart and run while I still could. I had no plans to settle into this deceitful life, to play the submissive wife. I had to get out.With my heart pounding, I bolted downstairs, keeping my steps light and quick. Every glance over my shoulder felt like Axel’s eyes might appear in the shadows, tracking my every move. But I didn’t stop. I reached a side door that led outside, and without hesitation, I slipped through, barely closing it behind me before breaking into a run.The night air was sharp and cool, but I barely felt it as I sprinted, following a path that led away from the house. The grounds were enormous, more like an estate than a simple backyard, with sprawling gardens and dense hedges lining the pathways. I thought I could see the edge, some glimpse of freedom, but as I rounded a corner, I st
AVERY'S POV: I bolted from the thicket, leaving the gruesome scene behind me. My pulse thundered in my ears as my bare feet slapped against the damp, cold earth. The maze loomed, suffocating in its enormity, its hedges closing in like walls of an unending prison. I didn’t care about getting lost anymore—I just needed to keep moving. I didn’t think about Axel, bloodied and monstrous, or the guards, or even the possibility of being caught. Survival had taken over, and every breath burned as I pushed my body past exhaustion. The jagged edges of branches snagged at my arms and legs as I tore through the maze, leaving faint trails of blood on the leaves. My dress now shredded and caked with dirt, mostly torn. My feet stung with every step, the soft soles of my shoes long gone, leaving my skin exposed to the rough ground. A sharp stone tore through the arch of my foot, and I bit back a scream, my teeth sinking into my lip until I tasted copper. I couldn’t stop. If I stopped, I was as good
AVERY'S POV:“Avery Grayson,” I whispered, gripping the receiver so tightly my knuckles ached. It was the last name my ID bore. It should give them a heads-up on finding me. “I was taken to a house… a big estate. There were guards—armed guards. I escaped through the woods, but I don’t know where I am now. Please, they’ll find me if I don’t get away.” The dispatcher’s tone shifted, becoming sharper. “Avery, can you see any street signs or landmarks? Anything that might help us locate you?” I looked around frantically, the faint glow of a nearby store sign catching my eye. “There’s… there’s a gas station down the road. I think it says ‘Jefferson Fuel.’” “Good. That’s a start. Stay there if you can. Officers are being dispatched to your location now.” “No!” I blurted out, panic taking over every nerve. “I can’t stay here. What if they find me first? I can’t be taken back to him. I won’t survive.” “Okay, Avery,” the dispatcher said calmly, “do you know the address of where you’r
AVERY’S POV:"Mum, I was kidnapped by a stranger," I began, my eyes scanning every shadowy corner, my gaze darting back and forth to ensure we were truly alone. "I barely managed to escape. Please, we need to call the police. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m so scared," I begged, my voice shaking as I clung to the last shred of hope I had. Their reaction caught me off guard. I had braced myself for concern, for sympathetic hands reaching for phones to call for help, for warm arms enveloping me in comfort. But instead, they stood frozen, their faces impassive, their eyes unyielding. My mother's icy blue eyes bore into me with a look so detached it hurt more than my bruises. "What nonsense are you talking about?" she asked, her voice clipped and dripping with disbelief. "Mum, I’m not joking." I took a shaky step back, my voice cracking as I narrated the entire incident. My disheveled appearance, the bruises and cuts on my skin, and my bloodshot eyes should have been enough
AVERY’S POV:"Avery..." my mother called out. I gnored her and continued."When I was helping you with contracts, bringing in clients, and doing everything you asked, you always had a new task for me. I'm in trouble again, and you're turning your back on me. Please, I need you until the police figure out what's going on." I blurted out, my emotions boiling over.My mother's face crumpled, and she dissolved into sobs. Seeing her like that shattered me. I loved her so much, and knowing I'd caused her pain was unbearable. The weight of my regret crushed me. I shouldn't have spoken those words; they'd tumbled out before I could stop them."Mum, I’m..." I tried to apologize, but she wouldn't let me get the words out."Shut up, Avery!" Her face twisted with rage as she stormed back toward me. The slap landed before I even registered her movement. My cheek stung, the sound echoing in the room. "How dare you!" she spat, her voice venomous and low. "You think you can manipulate me with guilt
AXEL’S POV:I was fuming. My pulse thundered as I stood in the center of the room, glaring at the team that had failed me. "How can you all lose one tiny woman?" I roared, my voice reverberating through the stone walls. Avery was gone. She’d slipped through the cracks of my fortress—my fortress, built to be impenetrable. Now it felt like a mockery, a hollow shell of what it was supposed to be.Ryan stood beside me, maddeningly calm, his hands buried in his pockets. His silence only stoked the fire burning in my chest. They said they'd been combing through every inch of the surrounding area all night, and not one man could give me an answer that made sense. How had she slipped past them? Past me?Brady, head of my security patrol, finally worked up the courage and stepped forward. His massive frame shrank under my gaze, his hands shaking as he began, "It... it appears there was a tiny exit in the dilapidated—" his anxiety got the better of him, and his words poured out in a jumbled, in
AXEL’S POV:I swallowed the lump in my throat and turned back to Baron. “Take him to the dungeon.” Baron hauled Ryan up roughly. He didn’t resist. Didn’t struggle. Just held himself stiff. No remorse. No regret.That silence. That goddamn silence. I should’ve felt victorious. But all I felt was the ache of my heart shattering beyond repair. ***Ryan had always been the strongest in combat—the one who moved faster, hit harder, and never hesitated when it came to pulling the trigger. His skill with a gun was unmatched, his instincts sharp enough to predict a man’s next move before he even made it. And when it came to taking down an enemy, no one was more ruthless. Ryan was a fire—destructive, relentless. I had spent years trusting that fire to burn for me, to protect everything we’d built. But now? That same fire had consumed the bond between us, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake. All the CCTV across the entire mansion had gone dark. Every single camera—inside, outside, t
AXEL’S POV:Devon hesitated. “What happened?” I cut him off with a glare that could’ve turned a man to stone. He swallowed hard, nodded, and took off, barking orders. I wasn’t waiting around. I followed, my heart hammering against my ribs as we tore through the house, searching every inch, every shadow. Baron led the charge, moving like a bloodhound on a scent. But as the minutes stretched, an unsettling realization crawled into my mind. Ryan was missing. I ground to a stop. “Where the fuck is Ryan?” I bellowed. The men exchanged uncertain glances. No one knew.“Devon,” I snapped. “Take a squad and find him. Now.” He nodded and disappeared into the night. I moved on, searching, hoping—but each dead end, chipped away at me. Every step I took was heavy with despair and loneliness. I could feel the fractures spreading inside me.I remembered the mornings when Avery’s laughter filled our home, the way she would greet me with bright eyes over breakfast, sneaking food off m
AXEL’S POV:If Avery hadn’t been there when Sea nearly slipped away, I don’t know if I would have survived it. She was our light in these endless, bruising nights—my guiding star. Every time I thought of the hell that threatened to consume me, I saw her smile, heard her gentle words, and remembered that fate, in its twisted irony, had made her not only my partner but also my cure.I couldn’t keep the secrets from her any longer. If she was to stay in my world, it had to be by her own choice. I craved her pure love, free of deception—something real and untainted.Tonight, I stood among my men, going over every weak spot in our defenses. The estate had to be impenetrable. I wouldn’t risk Avery or Sea. But then—just as I was finalizing orders—the lights cut out.For a split second, I felt as if the very ground had vanished beneath me. I immediately grabbed my phone and contacted Baron, who now controlled the estate’s security. I had already stripped Ryan of his responsibilities in that
AVERY'S POV:The words slammed into me like a punch to the ribs. My breathing slowed, my heart pounded so violently I could hear it in my ears. My eyes darted frantically across the pages, absorbing lines I couldn’t comprehend, but somehow understood too well.The truth was staring at me, undeniable. I couldn't stay.No.No, no, no…My fingers tightened around the edges of the papers, crumpling them in my grip. My chest ached.Axel had betrayed me. Betrayed us.I felt my knees weaken, my body barely keeping itself upright. This wasn’t just a mistake. This wasn’t something we could come back from.I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get out of here. Now. But—Sea. I couldn’t leave her. Not like this. Not after everything she’d been through. But I couldn’t stay. Panic climbed up my throat, squeezing the breath out of me. My mind screamed at me to move, to run, to escape before Axel came back.My world tilted. The thought of Axel, the man I had grown to love despite all his darknes
AVERY’S POV:Sea shut down, and it broke my heart. I couldn’t shake the image of Sea’s frightened eyes. It broke my heart. She wouldn’t let anyone near her except Axel and me. Every sudden noise made her flinch, every bang sent her retreating into herself as if it were a gunshot. I put everything on hold—my volunteer work, my training—just to be around her, to help her feel safe. I called her brave and told her she was beautiful. I read her stories about strong, fearless heroines, hoping the words would seep into her bones and remind her that she was more than her fear. I filled our world with light, with warmth, with anything that might bring her back to herself. Axel was there, too. He was patient, gentle, and present in a way that both surprised and reassured me. Cedric checked on her regularly. But for some reason, Axel kept Ryan away from her. Sea asked about him often, her little face confused by his absence, but Axel refused to let them see each other. I tried to talk to
AXEL’S POV:The dungeon was cold, damp, and reeking of iron and sweat. Chains clanked softly as the second-in-command of the syndicate shifted in his restraints, his swollen eyes darting between me and the tools laid out on the metal tray beside him. He had already been through an hour of pain, but he was stubborn—too stubborn. I rolled my shoulders, exhaling. "You can make this easier on yourself," I said, my voice calm, almost conversational. "Tell me who you're working for, and I’ll consider making your death painless." The man, bruised and bloodied, spit on the floor, his split lip curling into something that might have been a smirk if he weren’t already half-dead. "I ain't saying shit." I sighed, dragging a chair forward and sitting down. "Wrong answer." I was about to switch tactics—maybe something more creative, something that would make him regret every breath he was taking—when the heavy iron door creaked open. The air shifted. My men tensed. Avery walked in. She
AXEL’S POV:Three days. Three goddamn days, and I still had no answers. Every lead had turned into dust. Every search ended in a dead end. My men scoured the city, tearing through every underground contact, every filthy hole where criminals lurked, yet nothing. My wife and daughter were missing. And I was losing my fucking mind. The rage inside me simmered at a constant boil, threatening to spill over and consume everything in its path. The men around me had felt the brunt of it—broken noses, bruised ribs, everyone cowering with fear whenever I entered the room. I wasn’t sleeping. I wasn’t eating. I barely breathed without wanting to kill someone. Then Ryan walked in, his face pale but determined. "Boss. We have a location. This one’s solid." I didn’t waste time. "Move." Within seconds, we were in motion. The convoy tore through the streets like a bullet, my men locked and loaded. My fingers twitched against my thigh, my body vibrating with barely restrained violence.
AVERY’S POV: Gunfire erupted, loud and sudden, tearing through the air. The crack of bullets sent my heart slamming against my ribs as I instinctively ducked, pressing Sea tightly against my chest. Chaos exploded around me. Men shouted, scrambling for cover, their weapons drawn, but they weren’t quick enough. Whoever was shooting had the upper hand, and the sound of bodies dropping confirmed it. What was happening? I prayed that whosoever was attacking was on my side and not another bad story. I used the distraction to turn as I made my way back to the filthy shack where the other children were trapped. My heart pounded and the kids flinched at the noise, their eyes wide with terror. "Come on," I urged. "We’re getting out of here." Most of them hesitated, too frightened to move. I scanned the room, looking for any who seemed braver and stronger. One boy, probably around ten, had a defiant glint in his eyes. "You," I said, crouching beside him. "I need your help. Get the o
AVERY'S POV:The car I was driving would be too recognizable, I thought. Too flashy. It would get me caught before I even got close to Sea. My heartbeat thundered in my chest as I veered off the main road, spotting a rundown gas station where a teenager was refueling an old, dented sedan. Perfect. I pulled up beside him, stepping out before he could process what was happening. His eyes widened as I approached in a hurry. "Hey, kid," I said, tossing my keys at him. He fumbled, catching them with confusion. "Wha—?" "Trade me," I cut in, already pulling a wad of cash from my pocket and shoving it into his hoodie. "I need your car." His jaw dropped. "You serious?" I didn’t have time for this. "Do I look like I’m joking? Take the cash, take the car, and get the hell out of here." He gawked at the machine behind me, then at the crumpled bills in his hands. "Holy shit," he breathed before tossing me his keys. I didn’t wait for a thank-you. I jumped into the rickety car and pe