Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 256

ASHER

But there was still one more stop I had to make. One more person to confront. I was going to see Luca, to make him pay for all the torment he had put me through, for nearly forcing me into a mistake I could never undo, for nearly taking from me the one person and the one child I could never afford to lose.

I got into the car and immediately called to have my private jet prepared. I was going away for a few hours, and this couldn’t wait.

Before I even realized it, I was parked in front of Luca’s house. I had driven faster than I should have, but I didn’t care. My chest still ached from everything Mrs. Costa had just told me, but I refused to let myself drown in the pain, refused to let the guilt win.

No. I was happy. I should feel happy. Ecstatic, even.

Ariella had been pregnant. She had been carrying my baby. My son.

And though I still didn’t fully understand why she hadn’t told me why she had chosen to go through all of this alone.... I believed she must have had a damn good reason.

My father must have pushed her to that point. He must have made her feel like she had no choice but to disappear.

And then Luca…

Luca had almost made me do the unthinkable. He had shoved those papers in my face, twisting the knife my father had left in my back, nearly convincing me to throw away everything I had with Ariella....everything that was mine.

But no more.

No more second-guessing.

No more questions.

By the time I pulled into Luca’s driveway, my heart was pounding hard enough to crack. I didn’t even bother knocking. I shoved the door open, and there he was, sitting casually at the counter like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t been tormenting me, twisting me into knots, trying to convince me of lies.

“Asher,” he said smoothly, like we were friends.

I saw red.

“Stand up,” I growled.

He raised his hands in surrender, his voice calm.

“I know you had a rough night,” he said carefully. “And I know the truth isn’t easy to swallow, isn’t easy to handle. That’s why I didn’t tell you before. But I am glad.....”

I didn’t give him the chance to finish. I was already on him.

My fist connected with his jaw, sending him stumbling backward into the counter. Blood splattered across the marble, vivid against the white. For a split second, he actually looked amused, his lips quirking into the faintest, infuriating smile.

“You feel better?” he said, almost pouting as he wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

“It’s okay,” he added softly. “You can take your anger out on me. I know you’re frustrated. I can take it. Better me than Ariella. Better me than Leon....”

“Shut up,” I ground out through my teeth.

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