Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 297

ASHER

Leaving them at the house is much harder than I thought it would be.

I leave them at the top of the stairs, at the threshold of the right wing, and keep walking. I keep walking and I don’t turn back because I know that if I do, if I stop, if I even look back, I won’t leave.

The door closes softly behind me. The sound is final, in a way that tightens my jaw.

I tell myself I have to do this. I remind myself why this is necessary. I tell myself that I will be back before Ariella and Leon get to enjoy the house fully.

Outside, Luca is already waiting. We get into the SUVs with our men and drive toward the location I had prepared just for this meeting.

My father used to conduct his business at the Romano estate, but I’ve chosen to change that. I don’t want to bring people I don’t trust into my house unless I have to. I don’t want faces coming and going, strangers passing through hallways that belong to my family.

I want our house to be a home. A place where Ariella and Leon get to be a mother, a wife, a son, a child without wondering who might show up next. That’s why I told Luca we needed another place for meetings.

I’m changing things now. For Ariella and Leon.

Luca is waiting for me inside the car. The moment I sit down and the engine starts, he opens his mouth. I know he wants to brief me, but he must see the look on my face because he stays quiet until the house disappears behind us.

Then, and only then does he speak.

“I’m sorry to cut you out of your honeymoon,” he says.

“I know you wouldn’t have called me if it wasn’t important. I just want you to get straight to the facts,” I reply. “Tell me what I’m dealing with.”

“There have been losses,” he says. “Missing merchandise. While I was working to trace it, one of our shipments was bombed.”

I say nothing.

“And to make matters worse,” he continues, “there are whispers.”

“What kind of whispers?”

“There are a lot of them.” He hesitates, then goes on. “People are claiming you had something to do with your wife’s death. And her brother.”

My mouth tightens.

“And people are saying Alex Volkov, the senior is planning something..... Revenge."

"That's new. He didn’t seem concerned when I gave him news of his daughter's passing.” I reply frowning.

“Yes,” he says quietly. “But those are just rumours. They’re also saying you’re becoming weak,” Luca adds. “That the Roman Empire is about to fall because you’re not as ruthless as your father or the men before you.”

“And who brought this up?” I question.

“Eddy. Joe Titans. I’ve reason to believe there are traitors within the Romano familia.”

I grit my teeth. I hate that word. Traitors.

I thought I was done with this. Thought I’d cut them out. What more do these men want?

"Shit."

“I know,” Luca says, glancing briefly toward the front, toward the drivers. “But I’ve already sent word. Everyone’s waiting for us.”

I nod and look out the window. This meeting matters. I’m going to look at every face in that room. I’m going to listen. I’m going to observe.

When we arrive, Luca opens the door, and I put my hand on his, halting him. He looks at me, questioning.

“They can wait,” I say.

I nod once.

Luca steps out and opens my door. It’s showtime. My men fall in behind me without a word. They always do. Luca opens the door. I walk in.

Capos, lieutenants, and underbosses rise from their seats, hands to chests, heads bowed. Respect. Fear. Loyalty. I read it the way I always have: quick, instinctive, merciless.

They think I’ve become weak. They don’t understand that I’ve become worse, because now I have something to protect. Something I will protect with everything I have.

“Sit,” I say.

They do. Ledgers and forms are spread across the table. I don’t ask what happened while I was gone. I already know. I didn’t walk away from my honeymoon because I felt like it.

“Let’s begin,” I say. “Luca.”

He speaks first, measured, precise. I don’t interrupt. I watch instead. I track every movement, every hesitation. The men who won’t hold eye contact. The ones who hold it too long.

I read everything. And still, my mind drifts back to Ariella and Leon. To the way they stood together when I left. How Ariella’s hand tightened in mine when I told my son....our son, where he belonged.

She didn’t say anything. But I felt the fear in her. In her face. In her soul.

I straighten.

“Anyone who thinks there’s a crack in my control,” I say easily, “anyone who believes he can rule better than I can.....”

I let my gaze sweep the room.

“....is welcome to test it.”

Silence answers me and it tells me everything I need to know.