Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 159

“Okay, I’m not a jealous psycho,” she said, “but I did see the way you were checking him out.”

I looked away, feeling heat creep up my neck.

“I wasn’t.”

She gave me the girl please, look.

“Alright, fine,” I admitted. “Yes, he’s handsome. Hot. Charming. But there’s nothing wrong with noticing, okay? I’m human. I looked. That’s it. It doesn’t mean there’s anything more, so you don’t have to worry about me sleeping with your brother.”

She looked a little relieved but still serious. “Okay. I just… I really value our friendship, and I’ve been burned before. I don’t want to lose you because of him. He’s… complicated.”

I nodded. “It’s okay, Dana. I think you’re a great friend for being honest, and I appreciate the warning. But seriously, don’t worry.”

“Okay,” she said softly, then added, “just so you know, he’s kind of persistent. Like, when he wants something, he doesn’t stop until he gets it. That’s how he got to where he is now. Just… keep that in mind. Consider it a friendly disclaimer.”

I laughed, and she laughed too.

“Good night, Dana.”

“Good night, Ariella. See you tomorrow.”

The next morning, there was a knock on the door. Maria went to get it while we were having breakfast. When she came back, she had this furious look in her eyes and said flatly,

“You have a guest.”

I frowned. A guest?

I’d never had a guest before. The only person who ever came by was Dana. And whenever she did, Maria would roll her eyes and say something like, “It’s your bestie,” in this exaggerated tone that was actually kind of funny. It always made Leon laugh.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out tickets. “She’s obsessed with the Muppets, right? Leon too, I think.... So they’re doing a show just outside of town. I got tickets. Five of them.”

He smiled. “Figured since Rosie and Leon are friends, and you and Dana are friends, it wouldn’t be right to take Rosie and leave Leon behind. We’ve got the music ready, the snacks packed... All we need is you and Leon. In two hours. So… what do you say?”

I blinked. My brain scrambled for a polite way to say no. I wasn’t expecting this. And five tickets? He’d already counted me in?

I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Maybe he was just being... nice. But then I remembered Dana’s warning from last night.

Before I could answer, Leon, who I hadn’t even noticed was behind me skipped forward.

“MUPPETS! MUPPETS!” he chanted, launching into a song about them. Then he looked up at me with that signature grin. “Mommy, please! Can we go? Rosie’s going! It’ll be so much fun!”

I turned back to Alan, who was grinning now too, because he knew he had me. He knew exactly what he was doing.