Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 336

ASHER

But I couldn’t play into that, I had to play smart. So I ignored the underhanded comment and looked directly at his son.

“Yuri,” I said, “it’s nice to meet you.”

He took his time studying me before answering.

“So is mine. I should have met you sooner, but I’m glad to finally get to meet you either way.”

There was something in his voice. Something in his eyes. I knew then He didn’t like me. I didn’t care either way, He could take a number along with everyone else who wanted to kill me.

“Didn’t we meet at your sister's wedding?” I asked, just to get a reaction.

The reaction was immediate. His jaw tightened, his entire expression filling with anger.

“I didn’t support my father’s decision to marry Dinara off to you,” he said coldly. “So no, I was not at your sham wedding.”

Now I looked at him anew, more carefully. There was more there than just simple resentment. It seemed there was more to know from Yuri.

Before either of us could say anything further, his father interrupted.

“Can we get to business?”

He threw Yuri a sharp glance before sitting down.

I didn’t move for a few seconds before taking my seat opposite him.

The table sat between us. Luca is behind me. Yuri is behind him. I let the silence stretch just long enough to remind everyone in the room that respect was mutual. The warehouse itself seemed to hold its breath as we all watched the opponent.

Then I leaned back slightly.

“Last night,” I said calmly, “a bomb went off at my estate. It was targeting my family.”

His expression didn’t change.

“I know.”

His tone was relaxed. Comfortable. He acted as if he didn't care and I knew he didn't. Still......It irritated me, more than I wanted to show.

“Do you?” I asked keeping my emotions in check.

“Yes.”

Silence. Nothing more.

“Did you have something to do with it?” I asked, straight to the point.

A faint smile returned to his lips.

“I had nothing to do with the bomb, Don Romano.”

He said it without hesitation. But that didn’t mean anything. It didn’t mean he didn’t do it.

I studied him carefully, his expression, his eyes, his breathing. Everything mattered.

“Then you understand why we are here,” I continued.

“I do.” He folded his hands on the table. “And I also understand that if I had done it, I wouldn’t be sitting here unarmed meeting with you. I would use this opportunity to kill you. Kill you off and finish the job.”

Luca shifted slightly behind me. I didn’t react, because I knew he was right.

Alex Volkov belonged to a world where men didn’t play mind games. If he hated you, he showed you the bullet.

“Did you?” He asked, almost like he was challenging me.

“You still have your territory. Your shipments continue moving through the Black Sea corridor. None of my men has interfered with your operations. None of my ports has closed its doors to you.”

“That’s not the only thing the contract covered,” he said, holding my gaze. He said calmly, too calmly for my liking.

“That’s not the only thing the contract covered,” he continued.

I held my breath. I felt that there was something more to come. His fingers finally pushed the piece of paper across the table toward me. I did not move to take it.

“I have two things to remind you of the contract,” he said. “I entered into agreements between Damien Romano and me, Alex Volkov Sr.”

His eyes stayed on mine. “And you are not your father,” he added.

“I may not be my father,” I said evenly, “but I am still a Romano. I am still the Don of the Romano Famiglia. That contract was for the Romano family and the Volkov Bratva. So you're trying to get out of it right now, but it really doesn’t cut it unless you want to go back on your word.”

He smiled brightly, leaning back in his chair as he said, “Probably. But then you’re forgetting why that contract was in place.”

His finger tapped the paper between us.

“This contract was in place because you were supposed to be my son-in-law. That contract was made because I was supposed to have a grandson who had both the Romano blood and the Volkov blood.”

His voice stayed calm, but there was steel beneath it.

“That contract was in place because the next Don, my son, Alex Jr., was going to be your brother-in-law. We were trying to be a family so we could be stronger together.”

He tapped the paper again. “That’s what this contract was supposed to be, " he said.”

Then he leaned forward slightly.

“And as we both know now, all of those things don’t exist anymore. Your father doesn’t exist. My son, Alex, doesn’t exist anymore. My daughter....whom you killed, doesn’t exist anymore.”