Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 167

The moment the words left my mouth....“Okay. Let’s do it.” the entire table burst into a cheer.

Dana clapped her hands. “Yes! Oh my God, you’re going to love it. I promise.”

Alan gave me a slow, satisfied grin that made my stomach flip in a way I was not going to acknowledge.

“Best birthday ever,” he muttered under his breath.

Maria hadn’t been drinking the whole night, so she said she was okay with driving the kids home and taking care of them until we came back. I tried to make eye contact with her, to gauge how she was taking all of this, but she seemed to be deliberately avoiding my eyes—looking at me, but not into me.

But you know what? I had already made my decision.

I was going to the club. I was going to dance. I was going to set myself free. I was going to have myself a good time because deep down, I knew this was probably the only time I’d ever get to feel this free, this alive. So I was taking this chance with both hands.

Dana and I walked the kids out to the car where Maria was waiting. She was giving us a few minutes to say goodbye to the kids. Dana was still crouched beside Rosie, giving her one last lecture about being a good girl and listening to Auntie Maria.

But I was already done with the Leon. As soon as I’d strapped Leon into his seat, he’d fallen asleep, just like that. I closed the door and went over to Maria’s side. I knocked gently on the window and she rolled it down.

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay doing this?” I asked. “If you’re not, it’s totally fine.”

“No, it’s okay...really,” she said, glancing into the back seat. “Look at Leon, he’s already asleep. He won’t be a problem. And Rosie, I’m sure she’ll knock out too before we even get to the house.”

“But then you’ll have to carry them upstairs. Are you sure you can manage that on your own?”

“You worry too much, Ariana,” she said with a little laugh. “I probably won’t take them upstairs. I’ll just set up a sleepover downstairs. I’ll make a little nest for them, and it’ll be fine. It’s not like I’m going straight to bed either.... I’ll probably watch something until you guys get back.”

“You don’t have to wait for us,” I told her. “I might sleep over at Dana’s place and come back in the morning. I don’t want to wake you.”

She gave me a soft smile. “You better come back home. Don’t worry, I’ll be waiting for you.”

And just like that, before I could say anything else, she rolled the window back up.

Dana was already standing beside me, watching the car as it slowly pulled away from the restaurant. We both stood there for a few quiet seconds, watching it disappear down the street.

Then she turned to me with a mischievous grin. “Yay! It’s mommy’s night!”

She grabbed my hand and started pulling me back toward the restaurant. And just like that, I was standing under the restaurant’s low, golden lights, clutching my purse, heart pounding.

“Are we taking one car or two?” Dana asked, tugging her jacket closed over her sparkly top.

“One,” Alan said, already pulling out his keys. “I’ll drive. David, shotgun. Ladies in the back.”

We piled in. The ride was loud and chaotic in the best way. Dana had already connected her phone and was DJing throwback hits from our teenage years. David and Alan were arguing over the best 2000s hip-hop artist.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I murmured to myself, staring out the window.

Alan caught my eye in the rearview mirror.

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