Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 176

Luca only smiled.NA cold, twisted smile that sent shivers down my entire spine.

“Since I can’t touch you and leave all the frustration and anger on you,” he began, his voice low and venom-laced, “not just because I know Asher will kill me for it... but also because there’s this tiny little part in me that cares about you....”

He paused. “Even though I don’t want to. Not right now, not after what you did.”

Then he exhaled sharply, like holding it in had cost him something.

“But,” he continued, “as luck would have it, I don’t have to do anything to you. I don't even have to bottle it inside....” His gaze darkened. “Because Lover Boy is here… and I can let it all out on him instead.”

And just like that, he turned, heading for the stairs. I should have let him go. I should’ve stayed quiet, let it unfold. But something inside me rebelled.

I didn’t want that. I didn’t want Luca and Alan to fight, not over me. Not over something so messy and complicated and already spiralling out of control.

This was a disaster. It was a fucking disaster.

And as Luca took his first step down, Maria’s voice rang out below.

“Everything’s fine! You can go!” she shouted, strained but firm.

Alan’s voice came immediately, hard and unrelenting. “I’m not leaving until I see Ariana. I want to see her. I need to know she’s okay. I’m not leaving.”

Maria’s tone snapped like a whip. “Leave!” she shouted, fury lacing every syllable.

Then, a pause. A breath. And I heard a dry cough, right before Maria’s voice snapped again, more alarmed this time.

“Do not go up there!”

But I knew. He was already on his way. And the fire was about to meet the fuse.

Time seemed to be at a standstill. Before we heard Alan’s footsteps, and then he appeared at the door. He was in a hurry, breathing heavily, but when he reached the bedroom door and saw me, he took a sigh of relief. And then his eyes went towards Luca, and his whole stance changed again. He became alert as if he were ready for anything that would happen next.

We all stood watching Alan. I looked at Luca and saw that he was not hiding his anger or his hate on his face. Alan’s eyes came back towards me as he said, getting inside the door,

"Ariana, are you okay?" He asked.

"I’m fine, I’m okay, everything’s okay, everything’s fine, why don’t you just go?"

I looked back towards Luca, and Alan took a further step inside, as said,

"I heard you screaming. There were shouts from this house. Do not be scared, everything’s gonna be fine, I’m here now," he said. And that made Luca chuckle.

Alan's eyes went towards Luca and he asked, "Who are you?"

Luca just raised an amused eyebrow and said nothing.

Alan came closer and put his hand on my shoulder. "Hey, are you sure everything’s okay? You tell me if there’s anything wrong."

But before I could answer, before I could do anything, Luca’s voice came:

"Get your hands off her!" he shouted.

I screamed, “Stop! You’ll kill him! Just stop!”

Luca raised his hands, a cold smile twisting his lips. “Looks like lover boy can’t protect you, no matter how much he claims he can.”

Alan snapped. He charged at Luca like a bull, slamming him backwards. They crashed to the floor, fists flew, elbows cracked, and lips split. One moment Alan pinned Luca; the next, Luca rolled on top of him.

Maria and I both shrieked, “Stop! Stop!”

I whirled toward Maria. “Help me! Get them apart!”

“What am I supposed to do?” she cried.

I was paralysed, How do you stop two men trying to kill each other?

Then Dana’s voice cut through the chaos. I hadn’t even seen her enter.

“Oh my God, stop!”

Without hesitation, she lunged at the tangle of limbs on the floor, clawing at whichever man she could reach..Luca, who was now straddling Alan.

“Stop it!” she sobbed, pounding his shoulders.

I snapped into action, grabbing Luca’s arm. “Please,” I begged, voice breaking. “Just stop.”

Luca froze. Dana and I hauled him off Alan, though I knew it was only because he allowed it.