Marked by Creed

-----Axtons POV----- He handed them off with a wordless nod. Morgan took Lily and Emma gently, wrapping them in a blanket she must’ve snatched from the van. Silas stood behind her like a wall, scanning every corner of the hallway for danger. Lily clutched her book against her chest, and Emma had one hand wrapped around her sister’s sleeve and the other stretched toward Axton as they were led away. He knelt quickly, brushed a hand through Lily’s hair. “I’ll bring her back. I promise.” Lily nodded, her eyes wide. “You better.” Then she turned with Emma and followed Morgan down the corridor. Axton stood slowly. The fire had always been there. In his gut. In his fists. Behind his eyes. But now it roared. The moment he saw that door at the end of the hall, he stopped walking. For just a second. Something primal whispered inside him. If she was hurt— If his baby was hurt— There would be no mercy. No rules. No limit. He would become a god of violence. He kicked the door open. It hit the wall so hard, the hinges screeched. What he saw made time stutter. Helen. Strapped to a metal table. Barely clothed. Shaking. Tears streaming down her face. And standing at the foot of that table, with a sick smile on his lips and a video camera still rolling—Luca Vale. Axton’s entire body locked. The world went red. He didn’t speak. Couldn’t. His rage was too deep to pass through his throat. He stepped inside. Luca turned toward him casually. “Ah. Finally.” Helen’s scream tore through the room. “Axton! Don’t let him—please—!” He looked at her. Straps across her wrists. Ankles bound. Her blouse torn. Purple blooming on her cheek. Her stomach—bare. His child—their child—trapped in this moment. He took another step. Luca raised a hand, slow, easy. “Not so fast. Let’s talk first.” Axton didn’t stop. Didn’t speak. Didn’t blink. “You don’t want to kill me too quickly,” Luca went on. “Don’t you want to know why?” Still silence. “I mean,” Luca chuckled, circling the table, “you clearly care. You stalked her like a lovesick lunatic for years. Watched her. Hunted her. Protected her without her even knowing. That’s what made it delicious, you know? Knowing I was watching you… watching her.” Helen sobbed. Axton’s fists clenched. Still, he said nothing. “She was supposed to be a lesson,” Luca continued, voice rising. “You took from me. Jason? He was mine. A pawn, sure, but he was useful. He owed me. And you slaughtered him like an animal. For her.” He spat the word like venom. “I should’ve killed her weeks ago. But then I realized—no, no… that’s not the way. If I kill her, you’ll just mourn. Move on. But if I show you what almost happened? If I make you feel it?” He walked back to the camera. Pointed it at Helen. “See this? I didn’t touch her. But you won’t be able to unsee it. You’ll never know how far it went. That’s the genius of it.” Axton moved. Just one step. Luca pointed a knife at Helen’s throat. “I’ll do it. I swear.” Axton’s hand hovered near his sidearm. Not yet. Luca grinned. “See? That’s love. That’s weakness.” Helen sobbed. “Please, Axton… please…” His name on her lips cracked something inside him. Still, he said nothing. Luca tilted his head. “Still quiet? That’s unlike you. Where’s the sermon? Where’s the righteous fury?” Axton blinked slowly. Luca stepped closer. “You know what you are? You’re the devil that forgot he was born in hell. You wear love like it’s armor, but underneath, you’re just me with a prettier mask.” Another step. Luca turned back to Helen. “You could’ve been mine, sweetheart. Jason tried to sell you cheap. But I saw the shine. I wanted to taste it. I would’ve made you scream just to hear him howl.” Axton’s gun was out. Luca raised his hands mockingly. “Go ahead. Kill me. But you’ll always wonder—was it a bluff? Was she touched?” Axton didn’t blink. Didn’t breathe. And then—Helen whispered, “I’m okay, Axton. I’m okay. Please…” Her voice broke. And that did it. The red behind his eyes became fire. He moved. Like a bullet. And the devil in the room didn’t even have time to run.