All Chapters of BOUND BY VENGEANCE 'CLAIMED BY THE MAFIA': Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Viktor’s presence filled the room, the air thick with tension as his gaze locked onto mine. His smile was a twisted thing, the kind of smile that never reached the eyes, just a mask to conceal the venom beneath. My heart pounded as I tried to process the sight of Ronan, shackled and battered but still alive. My breath hitched, and every instinct in me screamed to go to him, to free him from the chains that held him, but Viktor’s words stopped me cold.“You’ve come this far, haven’t you?” Viktor’s voice was a low, mocking drawl as he stepped closer. “I must admit, I didn’t think you had it in you. But now that you’re here…” His smile grew, predatory and cruel. “I think it’s time to end this little game of yours.”I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to suppress the burning fury rising inside me. Viktor had taken everything from me. He had destroyed my family, manipulated my life, and caused untold pain to those I loved. There was no more room for mercy. This had to end.“Let him go,

The hallway stretched before us, dimly lit by flickering lights that cast eerie shadows on the walls. Each step we took away from Viktor felt like a small victory, but the tension in the air refused to dissipate. We weren’t safe yet.Ronan’s weight pressed heavily against me as I helped him walk, his injuries slowing our pace. Marco led the way, his gun raised, scanning the corridor for threats. Every creak of the floorboards and every distant noise set my nerves on edge, but I forced myself to stay focused. We couldn’t falter now.“Are you holding up?” I whispered to Ronan, my voice soft but urgent.He gave a faint nod, though his expression was grim. “I’ll live,” he muttered. “But we need to get out of here before Viktor’s men regroup.”Marco glanced over his shoulder. “The exit’s just ahead,” he said, his voice clipped. “We’ll have to move fast once we’re outside. They’ll be watching for us.”I nodded, tightening my grip on Ronan. “We’re ready.”But as we reached the end of the hal

The morning light filtered weakly through the dense canopy of trees surrounding the safe house. It brought a false sense of calm, but I couldn’t let my guard down. Not now.I sat at the small wooden table in the kitchen, staring at a steaming cup of coffee that I hadn’t taken a single sip from. My thoughts were a whirlwind of everything that had happened in the past 24 hours—Viktor’s threats, the narrow escape, and the fragile sense of safety we’d found here.Across the room, Ronan stirred on the couch. He’d been restless all night, his body shifting uncomfortably as the pain from his injuries lingered. I wanted to do more for him, to take away his pain, but I knew that healing would take time, and patience wasn’t my strongest trait.“Morning.” His voice was gravelly, barely more than a whisper, but it still sent a wave of warmth through me.“Morning,” I replied softly, standing to pour him a cup of coffee. As I handed it to him, I noticed the way his fingers brushed mine, lingering j

The aftermath of the battle was eerily quiet, save for the distant rustle of leaves in the cool night breeze. The stench of gunpowder and blood lingered in the air, a grim reminder of what had transpired.I sat on the cold concrete floor of the abandoned warehouse, my back against a rusted metal beam. My hands trembled as I wiped Viktor’s blood from my face, the reality of what I’d done settling into my bones.“Ashley.”Ronan’s voice broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. He crouched down in front of me, his dark eyes searching mine for any signs of doubt or regret.“I’m fine,” I said, though my voice was shaky. “It’s just… a lot.”“You don’t have to do this alone,” he reminded me, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair from my face.I nodded, leaning into his touch. “It’s over, isn’t it?”“It is,” Marco interjected, stepping into the dim light of the warehouse. His shirt was torn, and a thin line of blood trailed down his arm, but he didn’t seem to notice. “Vik

Kate’s words hung in the air like a thick fog, her voice tremulous as she stood there, her face a picture of desperation. A second chance. It was the last thing I ever thought I would hear from her. I couldn’t even fathom how she dared to ask for it after everything she’d done.The silence stretched out, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. Ronan’s hand on my shoulder was the only thing keeping me grounded as I stared at the woman who had once been my sister, the woman who had destroyed everything for her selfish gain.“You want a second chance?” I finally asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. “After everything? After the lies, the betrayal, the way you tried to ruin my life?”Kate nodded, her hands trembling as she clasped her purse tightly. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, Ashley. I can’t take back what I did, but I’ve lost everything. Viktor is gone, and I... I have nothing left but regret.”I wanted to laugh. I wanted to scream at her, to throw every hurt