Blood Runs Deep

The soft glow of chandeliers bathed the grand dining hall in a golden hue. Axia Baudelaire sat at her vanity, her reflection staring back at her, a mixture of excitement and unease etched across her delicate features. Tonight was supposed to be perfect—a milestone in her life. Andrew Dawson, her boyfriend of four years, had insisted on throwing a lavish banquet aboard his family’s private cruise ship to celebrate her college graduation. But deep down, Axia couldn't shake the feeling that something was... off.

A knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Miss Axia, your ride is ready," said Preston Marino, his voice steady but laced with authority. He had been her father’s right-hand man for as long as she could remember. Though stoic and distant, Preston was always there—watching, protecting, and silently disapproving of her relationship with Andrew.

Axia glanced at herself one last time and smoothed her gown. “I’ll be down in a moment.”

The banquet hall buzzed with life. Laughter and the clinking of glasses filled the air as servers wove through the crowd, balancing trays of champagne. Andrew had spared no expense; the decorations were immaculate, the music soft yet lively. He looked dazzling as always, standing in the center of the room, surrounded by guests. His charm was magnetic, his smile disarming.

When Axia stepped into the room, Andrew’s eyes locked onto hers, and he strode toward her, enveloping her in a warm embrace.

“You look stunning,” he whispered, his lips brushing her ear.

Axia smiled, letting herself bask in the moment. “This is incredible, Andrew. Thank you.”

As they mingled with the guests, Andrew leaned close and said, “I have a surprise for you later. Just wait until the toast.”

Her heart fluttered, and she couldn’t help but wonder if tonight was the night he’d propose. It seemed too grand to be just a graduation party.

Axia excused herself to catch her breath on the balcony. The cool ocean breeze brushed against her skin as she leaned against the railing, looking out at the endless expanse of water. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Andrew’s assistant, Victoria.

Victoria’s sharp eyes scanned the empty deck before she pulled out her phone and began speaking softly. Axia froze, her curiosity piqued. She took a step closer, careful to stay hidden in the shadows.

“I’ve handled the security cameras,” Victoria said. “He’ll never see it coming.”

Axia’s stomach tightened.

“I’ll make sure the old man is distracted long enough,” Victoria continued. “Andrew has everything planned. Once Antonio Salerno is out of the way, the rest will fall like dominoes.”

Axia’s breath hitched. Her father? Andrew? What was this? She leaned closer, her pulse hammering in her ears.

Victoria hung up and walked back inside. Axia stayed frozen for a moment before bolting toward the door. She needed to find Andrew, to confront him, to make sense of this madness.

The hall was crowded, but Axia’s sharp eyes found Andrew easily. He was standing by the bar, his arm around Victoria’s waist. They were laughing, their closeness far too intimate.

Axia’s world spun. She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the polished floor, but stopped abruptly as she heard his voice.

“She’s an idiot,” Andrew said, chuckling darkly. “Axia’s completely clueless. Do you know how easy it was to get her to trust me?”

Victoria smirked. “Four years of work for this one night. Let’s hope she’s worth it.”

“She is,” Andrew replied coldly. “Through her, I’ll finally get to Antonio. He destroyed my father, ruined my family. Tonight, I’ll finish what he started. By the time this ship docks, the Salerno empire will be ashes.”

Axia’s chest tightened. Her legs trembled, but she forced herself to stay rooted, listening to every vile word. How could she have been so blind?

She turned and ran. She needed to warn her family, but calling them wasn’t an option. Phones weren’t allowed on the cruise ship—a rule Andrew had insisted on under the guise of wanting an "intimate evening."

Her only hope was Preston. He was somewhere on board, blending in with the staff as her father’s silent shadow.

Axia darted through the corridors, ignoring the curious stares from the guests. Finally, she spotted Preston standing near the kitchen, his dark suit and cold demeanor setting him apart from the crowd.

“Preston!” she hissed, grabbing his arm.

His piercing gaze fell on her, immediately registering her distress. “What happened?”

“Andrew—he’s planning to kill my father. Tonight,” Axia gasped, struggling to catch her breath. “He’s been lying to me. He wants revenge.”

Preston’s expression didn’t change, but his hand twitched, brushing against the concealed weapon at his hip. “Stay here,” he ordered, his voice firm.

“No!” Axia protested. “He has people everywhere. I heard his assistant. They’ve tampered with the ship’s security. You have to warn my father.”

Preston hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. “Stay hidden. Don’t let anyone see you.”

He turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving Axia alone.

The minutes felt like hours as Axia waited in the shadows, her heart pounding. She could hear the faint hum of the party continuing in blissful ignorance. She wanted to cry, to scream, but she forced herself to stay calm.

Suddenly, a voice broke through her thoughts.

“There you are.”

Axia spun around and found herself face-to-face with Andrew. His smile was warm, familiar, but now it only sent a chill down her spine.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “Why’d you run off?”

“I... I needed air,” Axia stammered, her mind racing for an excuse.

Andrew’s gaze lingered on her, as if trying to read her thoughts. Then, he smiled and offered his hand. “Come back inside. I have something special to show you.”

Axia hesitated, every instinct screaming at her to run, but she knew she couldn’t tip him off. With trembling fingers, she took his hand and let him lead her back into the lion’s den.

As they reentered the banquet hall, Andrew led her to the center of the room, where a spotlight illuminated a small stage. A waiter handed him a microphone, and the room fell silent.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Andrew began, his voice smooth and confident. “Tonight, we celebrate the incredible achievements of Axia Baudelaire, the love of my life.”

The crowd erupted in applause, but Axia barely heard it. Her mind was spinning, her body frozen as she realized she was standing in the center of a trap.

Andrew glanced down at her, his smile widening. “And what better way to celebrate than with a toast to our future?”

He raised his glass, the crowd following suit. But before he could continue, a loud crash echoed through the room.

The doors burst open, and a group of armed men stormed in, their weapons trained on the guests.

Chaos erupted. Screams filled the air as guests scrambled for cover. Axia’s eyes darted to Andrew, who stood calmly amidst the chaos, his smile now cold and calculating.

“Showtime,” he whispered.

And then he turned to Axia, his voice a quiet, menacing growl.

“Did you really think you could run?”