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.

“I’ve been married to Dinara for years. I’ve stepped out since day one. It’s never been an issue. So why now? Why act like this is some betrayal of honour? What the hell do you care?” Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly. Then he said it, cool, calm like he was talking about the weather. “Well… I’m not married. But if I ever do get married, I think I’ll be loyal to my wife.”

“Yeah,” I said, shaking my head. “That’s you. Do you want loyalty? Fine. But don’t project your fairytale ideals on me.”

“Happy wife, happy life.”

“So what,” I added with a bitter laugh, “you want me to be loyal to your sister all of a sudden? Now? After all these years? Why now, Alex?”

And that’s what I really wanted to know. Why now, why was Alex, who never gave a damn before, suddenly acting like the holy protector of my marriage?

“You’re right, Asher,” Alex began, tone casual but laced with something darker. “I never gave a shit before. But lately, my sister’s been calling. Crying. A lot.”

I said nothing, fists clenched at my sides.

“She said you were still screwing around, nothing new there. But this time…” He tilted head, mock sympathy playing on his face. “This time, there was someone else. Said your routine changed. You were different. You weren’t just cheating…. you were invested.”

He gave a soft chuckle and paced a little.

“She was scared. Scared you’d gotten attached. Scared you’d make bastards that would one day come back to claim the throne. Can you believe that?”

I didn’t flinch, but every word landed like a blow. I hated that Dinara had fucking noticed. Hated that she still fucking spied on me.

“And I’ll admit,” Alex went on, “I figured Dinara was being her usual dramatic self. But my curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to know who this woman was, the one who had the mighty Asher Romano all twisted up.

He paused to look at Ariella, and I swear I nearly unged.

“But she was a ghost,” he said. “Didn’t leave the house. No record. No trace. Until, of course, your little getaway to Zanzibar.”