Chapter 70. 

  Author Pov.   Axel’s jaw dropped, his throat tightening as he swallowed nothing. He stared at Tracy, his heart melting. For the first time since becoming a mafia, his eyes watered.   Staring at her now, it felt as if he had never truly seen her before. She had grown into a beautiful young woman, but it saddened him instantly. She hadn’t grown up in his care; she hadn’t grown in his sight. And she had grown in the hands of the wrong person.   He took a few steps toward her, unable to hold himself back.   The look on Tracy’s face was one of pure confusion. She could barely read Axel, and the sympathetic gazes from everyone else in the room made the atmosphere feel like a reunion.   She opened her mouth to speak, but Axel’s actions cut her off.   “Oh, Alexia…” His voice cracked as he pulled her into a tight hug, his breath heavy with emotion. Tears began to fall freely down his cheeks. Tracy, still in shock, stood there, unsure of how to react. Her eyes scanned the room—first meet