All Chapters of CLAIMED IN THE DARK : Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

 Cove groaned in pain, his body jerking sharply above Eli. Eli’s eyes widened in horror. “Cove? Cove!” He pulled his hands back from where they had been gripping Cove’s side. They were covered in warm, dark blood. The sight made Eli’s stomach drop. “No… no, no, no,” Eli whispered, his voice breaking. “You’re bleeding. Cove, you’re hurt!” Cove pressed his weight down harder, still shielding Eli with his body. His breathing was rough. “I’m fine. Stay down.” “You’re not fine!” Eli cried. “There’s blood everywhere. Let me see!” More gunfire cracked through the night. Bullets slammed into the concrete planter above them, sending small pieces flying. Cove winced but didn’t move. “Stay. Down,&rdq

 Eli sat in the quiet safe room, staring at the glowing screen. The words “For the delivery of Elliot Reyes” still burned in his eyes. He whispered again, softer this time, “Thank you,” even though Cove was still asleep on the cot a few feet away. The safe room felt smaller now. The low lights hummed overhead. Monitors showed quiet security feeds from around the building. Lena had stepped out to check on the teams downstairs, leaving Eli alone with his thoughts and the soft sound of Cove’s breathing. Eli rubbed his tired eyes. His hands still carried faint traces of dried blood from earlier. He couldn’t stop thinking about the truth he had uncovered. Marco hadn’t just given him away. He had sold him. To the Russians. Like cargo. And Cove… Cove had taken him instead. The weight of it pressed down on Eli’s chest. He didn’t hear C

 Eli stared at the open velvet box on the pillow. The heavy platinum collar gleamed under the morning light filtering through the reinforced windows. It was beautiful in a cold, dangerous way thick, perfectly crafted, with a small locking mechanism and what looked like tiny embedded sensors along the inside. A small black key rested beside it. His heart hammered in his chest. The marks from last night still burned pleasantly on his skin bites on his neck, bruises on his hips, the ache between his legs reminding him exactly what had happened in the safe room. But this… this was something else. He heard footsteps and looked up. Cove stood in the doorway, freshly showered, wearing a clean black shirt that hid his bandaged shoulder. His hair was still damp. He looked at Eli, then at the open box, and something soft but possessive flickered in his gray eyes. “You found it,” Cove said quietly.

Eli’s finger hovered over the mouse. The attachment titled “The Truth about 2018” waited on the screen like a loaded gun. He could feel Cove standing right behind him, one hand resting gently on his shoulder. “Don’t open it if you’re not ready,” Cove said quietly. “We can deal with it after the auction.” Eli shook his head slowly. “No. I need to know now. I can’t walk into that room with more secrets between us.” Cove’s grip tightened slightly on his shoulder. “Then open it. But remember whatever is in there, I’m still the man standing behind you.” Eli took a deep breath and clicked the file. It opened into a folder containing scanned police reports, old newspaper clippings, and several grainy photographs. Eli started reading out loud, his voice shaky at first. &ld

 Eli couldn’t look away. Across the crowded underground ballroom, Marco stood frozen in place. His brother’s smile had died the moment their eyes met. The color drained from Marco’s face. His mouth opened slightly, then closed again. For the first time in years, Marco Reyes looked genuinely shocked. Eli’s heart pounded so hard he could feel it in his throat. The platinum collar around his neck suddenly felt heavier, warmer, like a living thing. He stood tall beside Cove in his perfectly tailored black suit, the open collar of his shirt deliberately showing the thick metal band that marked him as Cove’s. Cove noticed immediately. His hand slid from Eli’s waist to the small of his back, fingers spreading possessively across the fabric. The touch was firm, warm, and unmistakable. Cove was claiming him in front of everyone. “Easy,” Cove murmure