Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 202

ARIELLA

The truth is, I'm nervous. I am so freaking nervous.

I feel like this will not be a good conversation. I feel like this is it. This is the time that Asher tells me we're going back. This is it. I can feel it in every part of my body. And the last thing I want is to go back and be kept in a cage.....in a prison, in isolation.

But I guess we're going to have this..... we're going to have this conversation. Even if I try to delay it today, it will probably just be later. Or tomorrow. So I know it has to happen. I remove my apron and begin putting things back.

Yes, I’m stalling. Can you blame me?

Before I go, I don’t sit next to him. I just take a chair at the kitchen island, facing him.

"What do you want to talk about?" I ask with a forced smile.

He's quiet for a minute, watching me.

He’s been watching me a lot. He thinks I don't see it, but I see it. I see him, the way he studies me, the way his eyes follow me. Almost like he's trying to make a decision about something.

I just hope that whatever decision he's come to... It’s a good one. For me, anyway. And for Leon, of course.

"Is there anything you want to tell me?" he asks instead.

"I... I'm sorry, what?" I asked.

"I asked if there's anything you think I ought to know. If there's anything you think I should know. And if there is, please tell me now," he says.

I bite my lip and look at him.

I don’t know what he’s expecting me to tell him, but whatever it is, he already knows. He’s asking because he already knows. And there are only two reasons someone asks like that.

Either one, he hopes that the information he got is wrong. Or two, he wants to hear it coming from my mouth.

And here’s the thing… I think I know what it is.

What have I done that could actually need his attention ever since I got here?

Alan. And that stupid kiss.

But I’m also scared. If I tell him, what is he going to do? Is he going to find Alan? Kill him? Torture him?

I’m getting all these images in my head, Asher’s rage, Alan’s blood, Leon screaming and it’s dragging me down.

As I think about it, Asher speaks again, his voice cutting into my spiral.

"Ariella," he says, firm but not cruel. "I asked you if there's anything you want to tell me. Anything I should know?"

I swallow hard and look at him again. My hands fold together on my lap like they’re trying to protect me from the words I’m about to say.

I bite my lip again. And yes.....it’s right there. It’s at the tip of my tongue. But for some reason, I can’t get it out.

He flinches. But I don’t stop.

“I find it so shocking how little that seems to matter to you. Yes, maybe I haven’t screamed about it before, but it bothers me. A lot. It kills me. You’re not mine. You’ve never been mine. You belong to someone else. You have a wife. You probably have lovely children. A perfect little family that smiles in public while you hide me like some dirty secret.”

His expression shifts but I don’t let him speak.

“I’m the other woman, Asher! The mistress. The side chick. The.....”

“Stop it right there,” he snaps, his face darkening.

“I’m not gonna stop it!” I yell, my voice rising, shaking. “I’m just saying what’s true! You’re married, Asher. You have a whole life....a whole family....and I’m not even allowed to go anywhere! I’m locked up like a secret. My son and I. I can’t even take Leon out without you panicking that my life might collide with yours. That I’ll contaminate your perfect world!”

He opens his mouth but I don't let him, I push through.

“You’ve been out there living your best life, going home to your wife, fucking her every night....and I kissed a guy. Once. There wasn’t even any touching. No declarations of love. No promises. Just one kiss, in the dark and suddenly I’ve made the biggest mistake in the universe.”

Tears burn in my throat, but I force them down.

“But you? You do whatever you want. Because you’re a man? Because you're Don? Because you have money and power and that makes everything you do automatically right? And now you come in here, and attack me? Blame me?.....”

My voice cracks, loud, raw, ugly.

I’m not even sure what I expect from him anymore. But I’m done being the villain in his story.