All Chapters of BOUND BY VENGEANCE 'CLAIMED BY THE MAFIA': Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The tension in the room was suffocating. Ronan stood before me, his imposing frame radiating a mixture of anger and protectiveness. The air crackled with the intensity of his emotions, his dark eyes locking onto mine as if daring me to defy him."I won’t let them near you again, Ashley," Ronan said, his voice low but brimming with authority. "Not your ex-husband, not your so-called sister, not anyone who dares to hurt you."I wanted to believe him. His words carried the promise of safety, something I had never truly felt before. But the scars from my past clung to me like chains, each memory a weight I couldn’t shake."Ronan," I began hesitantly, my voice barely a whisper, "it’s not just them. My life... it’s a mess. I can’t drag you into it."He took a step closer, his presence commanding. "You don’t get to decide that for me, Ashley. You’re mine now. And I protect what’s mine."His words sent a shiver down my spine, a mixture of fear and something deeper—something I couldn’t quite n

The soft hum of the city drifted through the slightly open windows, mingling with the low murmur of Ronan's voice as he spoke on the phone. His sharp commands in a language I didn’t understand carried a power that left no room for doubt. Sitting across the room, I couldn't help but admire the way he commanded attention, even from a distance. It was a stark contrast to the icy indifference I’d grown accustomed to from others.But now, I felt restless. It had been days since we had left my former life behind, yet the ghosts of my past lingered. Kate’s sneer, David’s cruel dismissal, my parents’ cold indifference—it all haunted me, a cycle of torment I couldn’t escape. No amount of distance seemed to dull the ache.Ronan ended the call and turned to face me. His piercing gaze softened as it met mine. "You’re quiet," he said, his voice carrying an edge of concern."I’m just thinking," I replied, offering a weak smile. "About everything."He crossed the room in a few long strides and knelt

The days seemed to blur together as I settled into my new life with Ronan. The world outside remained as chaotic as ever, but here, within the walls of the penthouse, I felt a strange sense of peace. It was as if I were cocooned in a world where time moved at a different pace, where the ghosts of my past couldn’t reach me.Yet, no matter how much I tried to push them away, the memories of my former life still lingered, haunting the edges of my mind. David’s betrayal, my parents’ rejection, Kate’s cold smirk—they all seemed to hover just beyond my grasp. But with each passing day, I could feel the weight of those memories begin to loosen as if they were no longer as suffocating as they once had been.I stood in front of the large mirror in my room, brushing my hair absently. The reflection staring back at me was different—stronger, more confident. My once-fragile self had been replaced by a woman who had learned to survive in the darkest of circumstances. A woman who had the power to s

The morning air was crisp, and the city felt strangely quiet as I stood by the window, looking out over the skyline. The penthouse was still and calm, a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me. The plan was set into motion, and I could feel the tension in every inch of my being. Today would change everything. I knew that with every fiber of my body.Ronan had been preparing for this moment for weeks, and now it was time to act. The details were all in place: the meeting with my parents, with Kate, with David. It would all come to a head today. The moment I had dreamed of and feared in equal measure.I wasn’t the same person I had been when I was forced to live through the hell of my past life. I had been broken, crushed under the weight of their betrayal. But now? I was stronger. I had fought too hard and survived too much to let them destroy me again.A knock at the door broke me from my thoughts, and I turned, my heart beating a little faster. "Come in," I called.The door open

I stood there, my body still buzzing with the aftermath of everything that had just happened. The room was quiet now, save for the slow, steady breaths I took to steady myself. Kate had been escorted out, her attempts at defiance crumbling under Ronan’s unwavering presence. My parents... they still stood frozen, caught between guilt and the bitter realization that they had lost the control they had once held over me.I felt a rush of emotions, too many to sort through at once. There was relief, yes, a sense of freedom that I hadn’t known I was capable of feeling. But there was also anger, an unrelenting fury that still simmered within me. For too long, I had been their puppet, their victim. And while the battle might have been won, the war was far from over. The scars of my past would take time to heal, but I had no intention of allowing them to haunt me any longer."Are you alright?" Ronan’s voice broke through my thoughts, his hand gently resting on my arm. His touch grounded me, re