All Chapters of BOUND BY VENGEANCE 'CLAIMED BY THE MAFIA': Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The air was heavy with anticipation as the sun began to set, casting long, stretched shadows across the cabin. The silence that had enveloped us earlier now felt suffocating, the quiet before the storm.Ronan and I hadn’t spoken much since the conversation by the fire. He’d retreated into himself, focused on gathering resources, scouting the area, and making plans. His mind was always working, calculating our next move. I admired his determination, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were running out of time. Viktor was out there, and no matter how far we ran, I knew he wouldn’t rest until we were dead or in his control.I sat at the small table, mindlessly tracing patterns in the dust that had settled there. The feeling of being hunted, of always looking over my shoulder, was starting to wear on me. I had lived with that fear for so long, but now it was different. I wasn’t just afraid for myself anymore. I was afraid for Ronan, for everyone who had come into my life and been dra

The silence in the cabin was suffocating, broken only by the occasional creak of the wooden walls as the wind battered against them. Night had fallen, wrapping the world in a blanket of darkness. But it wasn’t the kind of quiet that brought peace—it was the kind that hinted at something sinister lurking just beyond the veil.Ronan stood near the window, his sharp eyes scanning the tree line for any movement. He had been like this for hours, his body tense, his every breath measured. I knew he was waiting, anticipating the enemy’s next move.I sat near the fire, the warmth doing little to chase away the cold that had settled in my chest. My fingers traced the edge of a worn map spread across the table, detailing escape routes and potential strongholds. It was supposed to make me feel prepared, but instead, it only reminded me of how precarious our situation was.“We can’t keep staying on the defensive,” I said, breaking the silence. My voice sounded too loud in the small space, and Ron

The room was heavy with silence as the bound scout slumped against the wall, unconscious. Ronan stood over him like a sentinel, his expression unreadable as he cleaned his knife with slow, deliberate movements. I sat at the table, staring at the note in my hands. Its ominous words had burned into my mind, feeding the unease growing in my chest."We need answers," I said, breaking the quiet.Ronan looked up, his eyes narrowing. "We'll get them. When he wakes up, he'll talk."The confidence in his voice was chilling. Ronan had a way of speaking that left no room for doubt. But this time, doubt lingered like a shadow in the back of my mind. Viktor’s reach seemed endless, his resources limitless. And now, he was closing in on us.“What if he doesn’t know anything?” I asked, folding the note and placing it on the table. “What if he’s just another pawn?”“Then we’ll find someone who does,” Ronan replied, his tone clipped. “But trust me, Ashley, everyone knows something. It’s just a matter o

The aftermath of the fight left an eerie quiet in the safe house. The air smelled of gunpowder and blood, and my heart refused to slow its frantic rhythm. Ronan stood tall amid the chaos, scanning the room for any remaining threats. His intensity was unshaken, his posture that of a man who was used to war and its brutal consequences.“We have to move,” he said, breaking the silence. “More of Viktor’s men will be coming.”I stepped over a fallen body, my boots crunching against broken glass as I made my way to the table. The map was still there, smeared with blood but otherwise intact. It was our ticket to staying one step ahead of Viktor, and I wasn’t leaving without it.“We can’t let this go to waste,” I said, rolling the map up and tucking it into my jacket.Ronan’s eyes softened slightly as he looked at me. “Smart. Let’s go.”We exited the safe house quickly, moving back into the cover of the dense forest. The early morning sun filtered through the trees, casting long shadows that

The aftermath of the ambush left a bitter taste in my mouth. Though we had secured the warehouse, it was clear the battle against Viktor was far from over. Ronan’s men moved swiftly, clearing the area and gathering what little intel they could find. The warehouse, despite its chaotic state, offered no real answers.I watched Ronan from across the room, his presence commanding as he barked orders to his men. He exuded confidence even in the heat of uncertainty—a stark contrast to the turmoil churning in my chest.“Found anything?” I asked, approaching him cautiously.He shook his head, his jaw clenched tight. “Just the usual—guns, money, and fake shipment logs. Nothing that ties Viktor to anything concrete.”“So this was all for nothing?” I couldn’t keep the frustration out of my voice.Ronan’s gaze snapped to mine, his eyes like steel. “This was about sending a message. Viktor’s men know we won’t back down now. That’s worth more than any piece of paper.”His words made sense, but they