บททั้งหมดของ Claiming the RUNT: บทที่ 41 - บทที่ 50

"Can you even stand up on your own, Obi?" Tavian Blake asked, his shadow lengthening across the mahogany floorboards as he cast his heavy wool coat over my blood-streaked, shivering frame.My entire nervous system was failing under the weight of the physical trauma. Every square inch of my flesh radiated an excruciating, deep-seated agony that made it impossible to formulate a coherent response. My mind was completely engulfed by a toxic mixture of suffocating rage, profound humiliation, and absolute helplessness. I couldn't comprehend how Cassius Okoye could treat me with such systematic, calculated barbarism when he possessed full knowledge that I had absolutely no hand in the historical sins committed by my father.Out of all the syndicate soldiers and lower-tier distribution runners who had expressed genuine gratitude for my silence during the asset audits, I had desperately needed the Sire himself to validate my compliance. He had given me a definitive, binding guarantee in the s

Drop the weapons or I will empty this magazine into your skull, kid!" one of the mercenaries barked, his face covered in grease and soot as he yanked me upward by my leather collar."Get your hands off the young master!" Amira Cole screamed, abandoning all tactical restraint as she lunged at the closest soldier, utilizing a hidden ceramic blade to slice across his forearm before the other two operatives pinned her against the chassis of the overturned vehicle.The sheer velocity of the collision had left my skull ringing, the bitter taste of chemical smoke and fuel filling my throat as I was dragged through the gravel. This wasn't a standard territory dispute; it was a targeted, lethal raid executed by the frontline enforcers of the Yellow Teeth gang. They had deployed heavy technical trucks and modified armor to split our convoy clean down the middle, separating the security details from the primary asset transport."Hold him down!" the lead attacker shouted, his boot coming down har

The concrete blocks have been cleared from the transit line, Boss," Tavian Blake reported, stepping into the armored vehicle's briefing space as the dawn light finally broke through the heavy smog. "The entire convoy is conducting a final inventory of the remaining crates before we cover the final miles to the center of the Ashfang Dominion.""Tell the enforcers to burn whatever frames can’t be towed," I commanded, my hand rubbing against the exhaustion settling deep into my temples. "We don't leave assets for the Yellow Teeth syndicate to salvage from the mud. Malakai, ensure the rear guard keeps their weapons hot until we breach the city perimeter.""Most of the luxury sedans are completely written off, Sire," Malakai Reed stated, his voice flat as he wiped carbon grease from his tactical gloves. "The security details are going to have to make the final approach on foot to keep the perimeter secure. Only the frontline captains are taking the utility bikes.""We move within ten minut

OBI ASHFORD POV“Good morning, Obi!”Malakai’s loud voice shattered my thoughts before I could even find my footing in the grand hallway. I flinched, my boots skidding on the cold marble floor. My dark suit coat felt suffocating around my chest, but I pulled the lapels tight, hiding the tremor in my fingers.I gave a stiff, tiny nod, keeping my jaw locked. "Good morning, Malakai."Silence stretched between us like a drawn wire. I couldn't look him in the eye. I didn't belong in the Ashfang Dominion, and I certainly didn't know how to speak to Cassius’s top enforcer. The silence turned heavy, suffocating.Malakai rubbed the back of his neck, forcing a tight grin. "It’s a good day today!"Right on cue, a brutal crack of thunder rattled the floorboards under our feet.I turned my head toward the tall arched windows on my left, my brows drawn low as water slammed against the thick glass. "It’s a downpour," I said, my voice deadpan and flat."Yeah... well, guess we got different ideas of w

CASSIUS OKOYE POV“Why are you suddenly interested in the black market?” Draven asked, his brow furrowed as his dark eyes darted toward Obi.Obi was crouching near the edge of the shelter, wringing the rain out of his dark trousers. He didn't look at us. He was only standing here because I had dragged him out of the Silver Chamber.“Unless your boys can go through this winter without food, you can start giving me answers right now,” I replied smoothly, ignoring Obi’s quiet presence as I focused on the problem at hand.Draven shrugged, leaning his back against the wet concrete wall of the range. “I can survive just fine. And I’m certainly not in the habit of helping the man who stole my family’s territory.”He was pushing his luck. Because Draven hadn't taken the formal oath of allegiance to the Shadowfang Syndicate, I couldn't legally execute him without causing an uproar among the captured Black Eagle loyalists.“Fine,” I said flatly.Draven looked confused. He probably expected me t