Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 143

Chapter 143

ASHER

“I just find Ariella’s company to be so comforting. So riveting. She’s… an eye-opener. Charming. I get why you chose her. I do. I get why she’s your little mistress. But honestly, Asher… I think she could be so much better.”

I froze. What the hell did that mean?

I went silent for a beat. Then I spoke, my voice low and deadly.

“I’m here. I don’t want to open fire. I don’t want anybody in that house hurt. So just tell your men to stand down. You and I…. we talk.”

I could almost picture Alex’s grin like he’d just won a game.

“Of course! I have no problem with you, Asher. You and I are family, aren’t we? You’re married to my sister. I’m your brother-in-law. Why would I attack you?”

“Come inside,” he added, “Let’s talk.”

I hung up the call and parked the car, eyes locked on the front of the house. Luca was beside me, tense.

“I don’t like this,” he muttered.

“I’m doing this,” I said, already unbuckling my seatbelt. My voice was steel.

Before I could open the door, he grabbed my arm

“You can’t go in there alone. It might be an ambush…”

I turned to him with a half-smile. “What? You afraid I’m gonna die and leave you in charge?”

“This isn’t funny, Asher. The last thing I want is your hot-headed little brother running the Romano family.”

“I know,” I said, then looked back at the house. “But Ariella’s in there. And Alex… he’s a fucking maniac. God knows what’s going through his head. You heard him…. what he said about her.”

I didn’t want to picture it. Ariella and Alex are in the same room. Him smiling at her like that. My hands clenched,

Luca studied me, Quiet, too quiet,

“It’s time you admit it, man,” he said. “You still Have feelings for her.’

“Fuck off,” I snapped, throwing open the door.

I stepped out and stared at the house like I was staring down a warzone. My men flanked the car, waiting. Luca moved to follow me.

“No. You stay back,” I ordered. “If anything goes wrong, I need someone to keep my little brother from torching the world.”

“I’m your best man, Asher,” he said firmly.

“And that’s exactly why you’re staying out here. I pointed to four of my men. “You come with me. The rest of you, hold the line. No one gets in or out without my word.”

I walked toward the house, four men at my back. The guards at the door didn’t even look at me. Smart. I shoved the door open.

Inside were five, maybe six armed men. All standing like this was a chessboard and I was just another piece. And there he was. Alex Volkov. Sitting in a chair like a king on his throne, that signature manic grin tugging at his lips.

And then my eyes landed on her. Ariella.

She was sitting stiff as a statue on the couch, spine straight, eyes wide. Like she was trying to disappear into the fabric. Like she didn’t want to be seen.

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