Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 268

ASHER

“What did you do?” I asked him.

“Well,” he began, fidgeting slightly, “I told her that no one could hurt you. When you told me that Leon was yours, or whatever....I went to Ariella, and I told her to tell you the truth before I did. Anyway, I accused her of a bunch of things, lying to you, taking advantage of you....and then I told her that I was giving her a chance to tell you the truth before I did. Now I know that I accused her of something she hadn’t done, and I think an apology is in order. I’m going to have to apologize to her, too.”

“I know, Luca. I understand,” I said, my voice softening.

Because I know when you’re on his team, when you’re on his side, he loves and he fights fiercely. And I’m just glad that I have a brother, even though I’m not blood, a brother nonetheless, who cares about me, who loves me, someone I never have to doubt is trying to work against me like my own brother is right now at home. So I know it.

I paused, letting the words sink in. “That’s all water under the bridge.”

Then I added,

“I will leave that for the two of you to sort out between yourselves,” I said finally. “I’m just glad we’ve talked it out, that we’ve aired everything out, and that we no longer have to keep things bottled up.”

I smirked faintly. “Although I have to tell you, I really, really wanted to smack your head and knock some sense into you.”

Luca gave me a rueful grin. “I know. You’re forgetting that I know you.”

I chuckled, the tension between us easing just slightly, and sank into my chair, letting out a deep breath.

“What’s on your mind?” Luca asked, his tone shifting as he leaned forward.

“You were right,” I said.

His brows drew together. “About?”

“You were right about Dinara and Dominic.”

Immediately, his expression hardened. The easy, almost playful tone from a moment ago vanished, replaced by business, cold, sharp, and focused.

“What did they do?” he asked, every muscle in his body coiled as if ready for a fight.

I inhaled deeply before answering. “They’re plotting something.”

I didn’t tell him everything, not yet. I needed to move carefully, make sure every step was calculated.

“Plotting something?” he echoed, his voice low. “Like what? And how did you find out?”

“I don’t know the full scope yet,” I admitted. “But it’s either they’re planning to take my business… or take me out. One of those.”

Luca swore under his breath, pushing away from the table. “Plotting to take you out?”

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