All Chapters of CLAIMED IN THE DARK : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Nikolai Volkov’s voice carried across the underground ballroom like a blade. “Welcome, Voss. Let the bidding for the city’s soul begin.”The lights dimmed slightly. A large screen lit up at the front of the room, displaying a map of the city with glowing territories and shipping routes marked in red and gold. The crowd settled into their seats. The air felt electric with anticipation and danger. Waiters moved silently between tables, refilling glasses, while armed guards stood watch at every exit.Eli sat beside Cove at a private table near the front. The platinum collar around his neck felt heavier than ever under the stares of the room. Cove’s hand rested possessively on Eli’s thigh, thumb stroking slow circles through the fabric of his suit.“You okay?” Cove asked quietly, leaning close.Eli nodded, though his heart was racing. “I’m okay. Just… this feels like a lion’s den. Everyone is watching us.”“Let them watch,” Cove replied, voice low and steady. “You’re mine. They all see it

Nikolai Volkov’s gun pressed hard against Marco’s forehead. The entire ballroom held its breath. Marco’s face had gone deathly pale, his eyes wide with terror. No one moved. The tension was so thick it felt like the air itself might snap.“Please,” Marco whispered, voice shaking. “Nikolai, we can talk about this. It was just a little”“Shut up,” Nikolai said coldly. His finger tightened on the trigger. “Thieves don’t get second chances.”Eli’s heart pounded so hard he could hear it in his ears. He stood frozen beside Cove, the platinum collar suddenly feeling like a noose around his neck. Cove’s hand gripped his waist tightly, holding him in place.Then everything went black.The lights in the grand ballroom cut out all at once. Pitch darkness swallowed the room. Not a single emergency light came on. Not a glow from a phone screen. Complete, suffocating blackness.Eli’s breath caught in his throat. His childhood trauma slammed into him like a freight train.“No…” he whispered, voice a

 Eli stared at the man in front of him, heart still racing from the panic that hadn’t fully left his body. The chains on his wrists felt cold and heavy. The basement smelled of damp concrete and old water. The single bulb above them flickered slightly, casting long, unsteady shadows across Julian’s face. “Who are you really?” Eli asked, his voice hoarse. “You call yourself The Ghost, but you’re just a man. Tell me the truth.” Julian stood up slowly and pulled the hood back from his head. His face was sharp, with high cheekbones and tired eyes that looked older than the rest of him. Dark hair fell messily across his forehead. He looked like someone who had once been important but had been broken down over time. “My name is Julian,” he said. “Julian Voss.” Eli’s eyes widened. “Voss? You’re related to Cove?&

 Julian slipped the flash drive into Eli’s suit pocket. “When the moment comes, you’ll know what to do.” Eli sat chained to the metal chair, staring at the damp concrete floor. The single bulb above them flickered again, casting shaky shadows across the basement walls. Water dripped steadily in the corner. The platinum collar around his neck felt heavier than ever, like it was pressing down on his throat, reminding him of every lie he had believed. “I don’t know if I can do this,” Eli whispered. “Even after hearing that recording… part of me still wants to believe him.” Julian knelt in front of him, eyes steady. “That’s exactly what he counted on. He made you need him. He made you love him. That’s how men like Cove win.” Eli closed his eyes. Tears slipped down his cheeks. “I feel so stupid. So brok

 Eli shoved Cove away hard with both hands. “Don’t touch me, you liar.” Cove stumbled back a step, surprise flashing across his face. The bathroom lights cast sharp shadows on the tiles. Steam from the running water filled the air, making everything feel thick and heavy. Eli sat on the edge of the tub, chest rising and falling fast, eyes burning with hurt and anger. His hands stayed clenched in his lap, fingers wrapped tightly around the hidden flash drive. Cove raised his good hand slowly, palm out. “Eli, what’s going on? Talk to me.” Eli stood up suddenly, backing away until his back hit the cold marble wall. “Talk to you? After everything? I heard it, Cove. I heard the recording. You told Lena to keep me compliant. You said once you got my brother’s codes, I was disposable. Like a tool. Like a fucking pet you could throw away when you were done.”