Chapter: يرشحشعرت ميلانو بأنها كوكب آخر، لكن صباح التصوير الرئيسي الرابع جعلها شيئًا آخر تمامًا.وقف كاي على سطح فندق يطل على المدينة في ساعة الذهب، عاري الصدر فقط، بجاكيت جلد أسود مفتوح وجينز داكن منخفض يظهر الحفرة الحادة في وركه. وشم العنقاء احترق على صدره تحت الإضاءة الدرامية، الأجنحة تبدو وكأنها تتلألأ مع كل حركة من الظل والضوء. كان مدير الإبداع يريد «قوة خام مع ضعف»، والمصور يقدم ذلك بالضبط.«مثالي، كاي! هذا النظرة كأنه يمكن أن يدمر شخصًا ويطلب أكثر»، صاح المصور.أعطى كاي الكاميرا بالضبط ما يريده: شدة متأججة، ابتسامة خفيفة، عينان زجاجيتان جليديتان تنظران مباشرة إلى العدسة كتحدٍّ. داخليًا، كان ذهنه ستة مناطق زمنية بعيدًا، يتساءل ماذا يفعل داميان الآن.عندما انتهى التصوير وتحقق من هاتفه في الفندق، كان الإنترنت قد انفجر.هاتفه ينفجر.إشعارات من إنستغرام وتويتر وكل مدونات الأزياء انفجرت. خاصة صور التريزر — خاصة الصورة التي كان فيها عاري الصدر ضد أفق ميلانو، وشم العنقاء يلمع، الجلد المبلل بالمطر يلتقط الضوء — كان قد انفجر في العالمي.#PhoenixBoy يرشح عالميًا.
Last Updated: 2026-10-21
Chapter: قمة أزمة الاندماجشعر غرفة مجلس الإدارة الطابق الثاني والأربعون في برج فال تيك بميدان حرب.وقف داميان في رأس الطاولة الطويلة من الجرانيت الأسود، أكمام قميصه ملفوفة، عيناه تحترقان بنار صُنعت على مدى أربعة وأربعين ليلة من التعلم ما كان يستعد للقتال من أجله حقًا. نظر اثنا عشر منفذًا إليه — بعضهم مخلص، معظمهم يدور كأسماك القرش التي تشم الدم في الماء.دعا التصويت الطارئ للساعة التاسعة مساءً محليًا.جلست إلينا إلى يمين داميان، جهازها اللوحي في يدها، تبدو كأنها لم تنم منذ أيام. كان التوتر في الغرفة كثيفًا بما يكفي ليخنق الجميع.«كفى»، قال داميان، صوته يقطع الهمسات كسيف. «تحدثتم جميعًا. الآن ستصغون لي».انحنى أحد أعضاء المجلس الأكبر سنًا، هارلان غريفز، للأمام بسخرية. «لقد أعطيتك فرصتك، فال. الاندماج ميت. إلهاؤك كلف هذه الشركة ملايين. نحن بحاجة إلى استقرار. قيادة لا تكون… متأثرة».هبطت كلمة «متأثرة» كصفعة. أومأ رؤوس عدة.شد فك داميان، لكنه صوته بقي مستقرًا، باردًا خطيرًا.«متأثرة»، كرر. «اختيار كلمات مثير من رجل صوت لقطع مزايا الموظفين قبل ثلاث سنوات بينما أعطى نفسه زيادة
Last Updated: 2026-10-21
Chapter: أول مكالمة فيديوهبت ميلانو على كاي كحلم حمى.المدينة كانت صاخبة، أنيقة، ولا تُرحم. شوارع ضيقة مليئة بالسكوترات والمشاة الأنيقين، ضوء الظهر الذهبي ينعكس على المباني القديمة، ودومًا نبض الطاقة الحقوقية يرن في الهواء. غرفته في الفندق كانت تطل على الدومو، منظر يشبه أن يشبهًا. كانت فريق لوكس قد أقام كاي في جناح أنيق عصري بأرضيات إلى سقف، سرير ملكي يشعر بأنه كبير جدًا، وثلاجة مكتظة بأشياء لا يستطيع نطقها.كان كل ما توقعه.لكنه شعر بغرابة في فراغه.جلس كاي على حافة السرير عاري الصدر فقط، بنطال رياضي، شعره لا يزال رطبًا بعد الدش بعد يوم طويل من الجلسات والتصوير التجريبي. وشم العنقاء كان أكثر إشراقًا تحت الإضاءة الإيطالية، لكن عينيه كانتا تتجولان باستمرار إلى هاتفه على الطاولة بجانب السرير. كان الوقت الساعة ٢٣:٥٢ في ميلانو — أي ٢٢:٥٢ في المنزل.رفع الهاتف، تردد لحظة، ثم ضغط زر مكالمة الفيديو.رن مرتين قبل أن يرد داميان.ملأ الشاشة وجه داميان، وشد صدر كاي حتى اضطر لتذكر أن يتنفس. كان داميان في الشقة العلوية، جالسًا على الأريكة التي شاركاها عشرات الليالي، يرتدي تي شيرت رمادي ب
Last Updated: 2026-10-20
Chapter: الرحيلكانت الشقة العلوية مختلفة في تلك الليلة.كانت حقيبة كاي تقف بجانب الباب كضيف غير مرحب به؛ سوداء، أنيقة، وأبعد شيء عن نهائية. كانت مليئة بملابس لثلاثة أسابيع في ميلانو، مستحضرات التجميل، وعقد وكالة لوكس الموقع الذي شعر الآن بثقله أكثر من أي محفظة نموذجية على الإطلاق.وقف داميان عند النوافذ بكأس ويسكي في يده، يحدق في المدينة المتلألئة كأنها قد تعطيه إجابات. لم يلمس كأسه بعد عشرين دقيقة.اقترب كاي من خلفه وعانقه حول خصره، يضغط خده على الظهر العريض. «كنت هادئًا من العشاء».وضع داميان الكأس ودار، يسحبه إلى صدره. كانت عيناه الرماديتان الفولاذيتان ألطف هذه المرة، لكن الإرهاق والخوف كانا لا يزالان موجودين، محفورين بعمق.«أحاول تذكرك»، اعترف، صوته منخفض وخشن. «الطريقة التي تشم بها. الظل الدقيق لعينيك عندما تكون خائفًا لكنك تتصرف وكأنك لا تكون. كيف يبدو العنقاء تحت هذه الأضواء». تتبع جناحًا نارًا واحدهًا بإبهامه. «ثلاثة أسابيع تشبه الأبد عندما كنت لديّ كل ليلة لأربعين ليلة متتالية».شد حلق كاي. مد يده ليمسك بوجه داميان. «ثلاثة أسابيع، ليس ثلاث سنوات. سأعود قبل أن
Last Updated: 2026-10-20
Chapter: قرار النمذجةكان العقد يقع على جزيرة المطبخ كقنبلة حية.وقف كاي أمامه في شيرت داميان الأسود الكبير جدًا فقط، شعره لا يزال رطبًا بعد الدش، يحدق في خط التوقيع كأنه قد يعضه. أرسل ماركوس النسخة النهائية منذ ساعة واحدة. أصبح ستة أيام خمسة. الحملة في ميلانو لم تعد إمكانية — لقد كانت ساعة تيك توك.انحنى داميان على البار المقابل، ذراعاه معقودتان، يراقبه في صمت. كانت الشقة العلوية هادئة إلا من الرنين المنخفض للمدينة بعيدًا. لم يكن طعام خارجي الليلة. لا أضواء ناعمة ولا موسيقى هادئة. فقط كلاهما، خامان ومُنهَكان بعد أربعين ليلة من بناء شيء جميل بينما يحاول العالم تمزيقه.«يجب أن أقرر بحلول منتصف الليل غدًا»، قال كاي في النهاية، صوته هادئ. «يحتاجون تأكيدًا قبل أن يطيروا الفريق الإبداعي».لم يتحرك داميان. كانت عيناه الرماديتان الفولاذيتان مستقرتان، لكن كاي كان يستطيع رؤية التوتر في فكه، الطريقة التي تُخدش فيها أصابعه في ذراعيه.«ما تريده، كاي؟» سأل داميان. السؤال بسيط، لكن الوزن خلفه هائل. «ليس ما تظن أنني أريد سماعه. ليس ما يشعر آمنًا. قل لي ما تريده فعلاً».جرّ كاي يده في شعره وأخرج ضحكة مشتتة. «هذه هي المشكل
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
Chapter: جيب صغير من السلاملأول مرة في أسابيع، لم يكن هناك وصول في تمام الساعة ٢٣:٤٧.كتب داميان في السادسة والأربعين مساءً: اجتماع المجلس انتهى مبكرًا. أعود المنزل. لا تنتظرني في المقهى الليلة. فقط تعال إليّ.أغلق كاي إكليبس مبكرًا، تجاهل ثلاث مكالمات من ماركوس، وذهب مباشرة إلى الشقة العلوية.عندما خرج من المصعد، كانت المساحة كلها قد تحولت.أضواء ذهبية ناعمة تتلألأ من كل ركن. كانت النوافذ الكبيرة تظهر المدينة تتلألأ أسفلها، لكن داخل الشقة، قلّل داميان كل شيء آخر. الطعام الخارجي من مكان تايلاندي المفضل له كان مرتبًا على الطاولة المنخفضة بجانب النوافذ. زجاجة نبيذ تنفس على البار. وداميان نفسه وقف حافي القدمين في السروال الرياضي الداكن والتي شيرت الأسود البسيطة، يبدو أكثر إنسانية مما رآه كاي في أيام.«فعلت كل هذا؟» سأل كاي، صوته ناعم مليء بالدهشة وهو يضع حقيبته.عبر داميان الغرفة وسحبه في قبلة بطيئة عميقة. لم يكن هناك يأس هذه المرة. فقط دفء وراحة والإرهاق الهادئ لرجل كان يقاتل حروب وأخيرًا سمح لنفسه بليلة هدنة.«كنت بحاجة إلى ليلة واحدة لا يوجد فيها العالم»، همس داميان ضد شفتيه. «فقط أنت. فقط نحن. لا اندماج. لا عق
Last Updated: 2026-10-19

CLAIMED IN THE DARK
In the ruthless underworld where empires are built on blood and betrayal, Cove Voss is king. Cold. Calculating. Untouchable.
When his enemy’s younger brother is delivered to him bound, blindfolded, and broken Cove expects to use Elliot Reyes as leverage. What he doesn’t expect is the fierce, beautiful hacker who trembles at the mere idea of darkness… yet ignites something far more dangerous in him the moment the blindfold comes off.
Trapped in Cove’s luxurious penthouse prison, Eli fights the possessive crime lord with every sarcastic word and defiant glare. But in the suffocating dark, where fear turns into forbidden heat and every touch is both punishment and promise, resistance begins to crack.
Cove doesn’t just want revenge.
He wants everything.
Eli’s body.
His surrender.
His soul.
As deadly secrets surface and Eli’s own brother plots his death, the lines between captor and captive, hatred and obsession, blur into something far more lethal. In a world where trust gets you killed, Cove Voss has claimed what’s his and he will burn the city to the ground before he lets Eli go.
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Chapter: Chapter 146"You might die on this table."Eli looked at Dr. Vasquez. Her face was pale. Her hands were steady. Her eyes were honest."I know.""Your body is weak. The procedure is risky. Your heart might not survive the strain.""I know.""You could bleed out. You could have a stroke. You could slip into a coma and never wake up.""I know.""And you still want to do this?"Eli looked at Cove. Cove was standing by the door. His face was pale. His eyes were red. He looked like he hadn't slept in days."I want to live," Eli said.Dr. Vasquez nodded. She looked at Cove."And you? Do you consent to this?"Cove's voice was barely a whisper. "I don't have a choice.""You always have a choice.""Not this time."
Last Updated: 2026-10-21
Chapter: Chapter 145"Kill him."Eli stared at the man tied to the chair. He was young. Maybe twenty five. Maybe younger. His face was bruised. His eyes were wide with fear."Who is he?""Does it matter?""Yes.""He's a rival. A Bratva operative. He's been feeding information to the five families. He's a traitor.""So you want me to kill him?""I want you to prove your loyalty."Eli's heart was pounding. His hands were shaking. He looked at the man. The man looked back at him. His eyes were pleading."Please," the man whispered. "I have a family. A daughter. She's only three. Please."Eli's stomach turned. He looked at Adrian."I can't.""You can.""I won't.""Then you're not loyal.""I'm not a
Last Updated: 2026-10-21
Chapter: Chapter 144"You're late."Eli stepped into the old warehouse, his heart pounding, his face calm. Adrian stood in the center of the room, arms crossed, eyes sharp."I'm not late. You're early.""I'm always early. It's the only way to stay ahead."Eli walked past him. He set his laptop on the table. He opened it."What do you want?""Progress. I want to know what you've found."Eli pulled up the files. Names. Accounts. Safe houses. Everything Adrian had asked for."The five families are scrambling. They're hiding. They're scared. They're making mistakes.""Good. What else?""I found a weakness. In their communication systems. I can shut them down. Completely."Adrian leaned closer. His eyes were gleaming."How?""I can upload a
Last Updated: 2026-10-20
Chapter: Chapter 143"You made a deal with him. Without me."Eli stood in the hospital room, his body still weak, his mind still racing. Cove stood across from him, his face pale, his eyes blazing."I made a deal for us. For our future.""You made a deal with the devil.""I made a deal with my brother.""Same thing."Eli flinched. "That's not fair.""None of this is fair." Cove stepped closer. His voice was ice. "You went behind my back. You agreed to help him. You didn't even ask me.""I didn't have time.""You didn't make time.""You were scared. You would have tried to stop me.""Damn right I would have.""See? That's why I didn't tell you."Cove grabbed his shoulders. His grip was tight. Desperate."You can't d
Last Updated: 2026-10-20
Chapter: Chapter 142"I'm going to do it."Cove stared at Eli. His face went pale. His hands started shaking."What did you just say?""I'm going to accept Adrian's offer. The bone marrow transplant. I'm going to let him save me.""No.""Cove...""No. Absolutely not.""Cove, listen to me.""I'm not listening to this. He's a monster. He's a liar. He's the reason you're dying in the first place.""I know.""Then why?""Because I want to live."Cove stepped closer. His eyes were blazing. His voice was ice."At what cost?""Any cost.""Even if it means trusting him?""I don't trust him. But I trust that he wants something. And as long as he wants something, I have leverage.""That's insane.""It's survival.""It's suicide.""It's a chance. The only chance I have."Cove grabbed his shoulders. His grip was tight. Desperate."You can't do this to me.""I'm not doing it to you. I'm doing it for me.""For us?""Yes. For us. For the future we're trying to build. For everything we've fought for.""There is no future
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
Chapter: Chapter 141Eli collapsed in the middle of the meeting.One moment he was standing at the table, presenting evidence to the authorities. The next moment he was on the floor, his body convulsing, his eyes rolled back, foam spilling from his lips."Eli!"Cove's voice was the last thing he heard before the world went dark.---He woke up in a hospital bed.The lights were bright. The machines beeped. The room smelled like antiseptic and fear.Cove was sitting beside him. His face was pale. His eyes were red. He looked like he hadn't slept in days."How long?" Eli whispered."Three days.""Three days?""You've been unconscious. The doctors didn't know if you would wake up."Eli closed his eyes. "I'm sorry.""Don't apologize.""I scared you.""You didn't scare me. You terrified me.""I'm sorry."Cove took his hand. His grip was tight. Desperate."Don't leave me.""I'm not going anywhere.""You don't know that.""I do.""How?""Because I have too much to live for."Cove's eyes filled with tears. "You h
Last Updated: 2026-10-19
Chapter: The New Beginnings The penthouse was warm and bright. Sunlight streamed through the windows. The city sparkled below. It was a beautiful day. The kind of day that made you believe in second chances.Damien stood by the window. He was looking at the skyline. But he wasn't really seeing it. He was thinking about everything that had happened. Everything they had survived. Everything they had become.Kai walked up behind him. He wrapped his arms around Damien's waist. He rested his chin on his shoulder."What are you thinking about?" Kai asked.Damien smiled. "About how different everything is. About how different I am. About how grateful I am."Kai kissed his cheek. "You've come a long way."Damien nodded. "I had help. I had you. I had Kaicen. I had your mother. I had everyone who never gave up on me."Kai tightened his arms around him. "We never gave up because we saw who you really were. Not the cold CEO. Not the broken man. The real y
Last Updated: 2026-08-10
Chapter: The Final Stand The room was silent now. The only sound was the crackling of the fire in the hearth. The flames cast long shadows across the walls. The air was thick with tension. With fear. With years of pain finally coming to a head.Damien stood over his father. His hands were still shaking. His heart was still pounding. He had just tackled the man who had ruined his life. The man who had killed his mother. The man who had made him into a weapon.His father was on the ground. His face was bloody. His eyes were wild. But he was still smiling. Still laughing. Still playing his game."You think you've won?" his father said. His voice was weak but mocking. "You think this is the end? I've been playing this game for forty years. I always win."Damien shook his head. "Not this time. This time, you lose."His father laughed. It was a broken sound. "You're just like your mother. Weak. Soft. Incapable of doing what needs to be done."Damien felt
Last Updated: 2026-08-09
Chapter: The Confrontation The fire crackled in the hearth. The flames cast dancing shadows across the walls. The room was warm, but Damien felt cold. Cold and empty and hollow.His father stood across from him. The gun was still in his hand. It was pointed at the floor. For now.Damien looked at the man who had raised him. The man who had lied to him. The man who had manipulated him. The man who had killed his mother."You were never supposed to find out the truth," his father said. His voice was calm. Controlled. The voice of a man who had been planning this moment for decades. "You were supposed to be the perfect son. The perfect heir. The perfect weapon. But you had to fall in love. You had to find the truth. You had to ruin everything."Damien's voice was cold. "You killed my mother. You killed Victor's mother. You destroyed everyone who ever loved you. And for what? For power? For money?"His father's eyes narrowed. "For legacy. For control. For everythi
Last Updated: 2026-08-09
Chapter: The Mountain The plane touched down in the middle of the night.The air was cold. Sharp. It bit at their faces as they stepped onto the tarmac. The mountains loomed in the distance. Dark. Silent. Imposing.Damien stood at the edge of the runway. He looked up at the peaks. Snow covered the tops. The moon was full. It cast a pale light over everything.Kai walked up beside him. He wrapped his arms around himself. "It's cold here."Damien nodded. "Yeah. It is.""Are you okay?"Damien was silent for a moment. Then he said, "I don't know. I don't know how I feel. This place... it's where he was born. Where he grew up. Where he became the man he is. It's like walking into his past."Kai put his hand on Damien's arm. "You don't have to do this alone. I'm right here."Damien looked at him. For a moment, the mask slipped. He looked tired. He looked scared. He looked like a man who had been fighting his whole life and was finally
Last Updated: 2026-08-08
Chapter: The Evidence The boxes were everywhere.They covered the conference table. They covered the floor. They covered every available surface in the penthouse. There were dozens of them. Maybe more. Files and photographs and documents and letters. Years and years of evidence. Years and years of lies.Damien stood in the middle of the room. He hadn't moved in ten minutes. He was just staring at the boxes. At the truth that was hiding inside them.Kai walked up behind him. He put his hand on Damien's back. "You okay?"Damien shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know how I feel right now.""That's okay. You don't have to know right now. You just have to start."Damien took a deep breath. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right."He walked to the table. He picked up the first file. It was thin. Old. Yellowed with age. He opened it slowly.Inside were photographs. Photographs of his mother. Young. Beautiful. Smiling. She looked happy. She loo
Last Updated: 2026-08-08
Chapter: chapter 155The boat cut through the water like a knife. The engine hummed low and steady. The sun was bright overhead. The water was so blue it almost didn't look real.Damien stood at the front of the boat. His eyes were fixed on the horizon. Somewhere out there was the island. Somewhere out there was his father. Somewhere out there was the end of everything.Kai walked up behind him. He put his hand on Damien's shoulder. "You've been standing here for two hours."Damien didn't turn around. "I know.""Have you eaten anything?""No.""Have you slept?""No."Kai sighed. "Damien. You need to take care of yourself. You can't fight your father if you're running on empty."Damien finally turned. His eyes were tired. His face was drawn. But there was fire in them. "I can't eat. I can't sleep. All I can think about is him. All I can think about is what he did. To my mother. To Victor's mother. To all of us."
Last Updated: 2026-08-07