Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 233

ARIELLA

Alan laughs sadly,

"And that's when… I found out about you, Asher. The resemblance hit me like a punch in the gut. I remember Leon, the way he moved, and I think to myself, what are the odds that Luka’s son would look exactly like you?

You have always been like an enigma. Like that… like the devil, the one that’s always there, whispered about, but the person you have never seen, never met. Since I wasn’t involved in the mafia world, just like you pointed out, I wasn’t invited to Dinara's wedding. I wasn’t included in a lot of things because I was an outsider, like their most prized treasure... the woman I loved..."

He smiled sadly as he continued, "I made them billions of dollars. But because I wasn’t born into their world, I could never really be part of it. I could never reach the same stature as you, as them. And that’s why I lost her, Dinara. And when I decided, you know what, fine, I’m going to find myself a normal woman… she’s not normal, is she? Because I found out who she is, too."

He looks at me, laughs, and says, “Yes, I found out who you are. I realized the truth… I found out everything Alex told me. Everything. And I know… you’re the reason he’s dead. You had something to do with Alex’s death.”

I feel it then, the fire in his eyes. His eyes are red, chilling. Alex is not going to let me go. He’s not going to let me go... He’s either going to get what he wants and I don’t know what that is... but there’s no way he’s going to let me go.

I want to burst into tears, but I know it wouldn’t work on him. It wouldn’t work in this situation. So I bite my lip, holding back the flood of emotion, because I know.... I truly know that there is nothing, nothing I could ever say that would make him let me go, nothing that could make this situation better.

“Okay,” Asher said, his voice sharp, clipped. “We already get it. You wanted a woman who didn’t want you. Anything else you forgot to say? Like what you want now, and what you expect from all of this?”

I flicked my eyes toward Asher. He was riling Alan up, pushing him. Did he even realize what Alan would do if he felt backed into a corner? Maybe he did. Maybe he wanted it.

Or maybe Asher wasn’t even here to save me.

Maybe he was here for himself. Maybe he was just here to make sure I was dead, to close whatever twisted chapter still lingered between us. To make sure it was finished, neat and clean. Maybe he just came for proof of my death.

The thought made me close my eyes. I couldn’t look at either of them, at Asher with his unreadable expression, at Alan with his rage and his gun. I just waited. Waiting for it to be over. Either I’d be shot or I’d be saved. I didn’t know which. I just wanted it done.

Alan shook his head slowly, like he couldn’t believe the stupidity standing in front of him.

“You think it’s just about these women?” he said, voice low, carrying something heavier than jealousy.

Asher didn’t flinch. He didn’t blink.

“Yes, we already know,” he replied coolly. “I married Dinara. Ariella is my mistress. We have a child together. Something new you want to say?”

Alan’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. I know the truth.”

“What is it that you know?”

“I know,” Alan said, each word a hammer, “that you killed Alex Volkov. I know it was you.”

There was no hesitation in him, no doubt. He said it as if he’d been there himself, as if he’d watched it happen. A hundred percent sure.

Asher tilted his head slightly, a dangerous calm settling around him. “And how do you know this?” he asked, voice deliberate, almost taunting. “If you would like to provide me with the details, of course.”

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