Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 438

ASHER

I was supposed to meet with Luca at one of our warehouses to make sure everything was ready for tonight. With all the attacks on our source of income, we had gotten more cautious with every meeting and every move.

I should be at the warehouse right now. Instead, I was angry. So damn angry. I knew that if I went there and saw him right now, knowing the stunt he had pulled today, I'd probably end up beating the hell out of him before the meeting even started.

So I didn't go. Instead, I drove to the famiglia estate that served as Luca's home, but I didn't get inside the house. I went to one of the back buildings where we kept our prisoners. Then I released every ounce of my anger on one of the bastards we were interrogating for information on the Russians.

By the time I was done, I had drowned half a bottle of whiskey, taken a shower, and somehow managed to fall asleep in one of the rooms upstairs I used whenever I needed to freshen up.

"What the fuck?" Luca's voice echoed through the room.

I groaned awake and narrowed my eyes at him.

"What the hell is your problem?"

"My problem?" he repeated, throwing both hands in the air. "You were supposed to be at the warehouse before the meeting tonight. I waited there for three damn hours, and you were a no-show. Then the men tell me you're here..."

He motioned around the room.

"...sleeping."

I got out of bed without answering and walked toward the closet.

"You should remember that I'm your Don."

"Oh, I never forget," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Do you even know what time it is?"

"Just stop yelling at me, Luca."

He stared at me for a long moment before letting out a frustrated sigh.

"You know what? Fine. I'll wait downstairs. Be quick, we only have an hour."

He reached the door.

"Wait."

He stopped and looked back.

"Now what?"

I buttoned my shirt slowly, not looking at me, focusing on the buttons.

"What happened today?"

He frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"At Mrs Costa's house."

"I did exactly what you asked me to do." He folded his arms. "I made her listen. She forgave Ariella."

I raised my head, and our gazes met.

"She didn't tell her how her father died, just like you instructed." He continued, "As far as I'm concerned, everything worked out exactly the way you wanted."

He studied me.

"Is that why you went into the torture room and nearly killed our prisoner? The one we actually need alive?"

"You seem to be giving me a lot of lectures today, Luca. Thinking of changing careers?"

"Because you're acting like an ass."

"Careful."

He rolled his eyes, then asked.

"What do you want, Asher?" I didn't respond. "I told you I would talk to her, I told you everything would be okay, and it was...... What else do you want?"

I shook my head.

"Something wasn't right."

His expression barely changed.

His eyes flickered away for the briefest second before he walked over and rested a hand on my shoulder.

"Trust me, brother. There are things about your mother-in-law....you do not want to know."

I shoved his hand away.

"What the fuck does that mean?"

"It means..." His voice became unusually serious. "...whatever I did...whatever I'm doing it's for you.... For your family."

He looked me straight in the eye.

"You are my brother. Never forget that.... You know I'd give my life for you."

I swallowed. I did know that.

"I know."

"No." He shook his head. "Say it. Do you trust me?"

The question caught me completely off guard. Why were we having this conversation? Why now? Why today?

I stared at him for several seconds, but he didn't lose the determined look on his face. Then, finally, I nodded.

"I trust you."

It was the truth. Before Ariella came back into my life, Luca had been the only person I trusted completely. He was my brother, my family and my right hand.

He smiled.

"I've got you."

Then he turned, opened the door, and walked away. I wanted to stop him and call him back. To ask more questions and demand real answers, but the words never came. Instead, I stood there alone, trying to convince myself that I was imagining things.

Maybe I was just angry because of the argument with Ariella. Maybe Mrs Costa had gotten under my skin. Maybe I was seeing ghosts where there weren't any. Because this was Luca. The man who had spent his entire life putting me before himself, and despite every doubt trying to creep into my mind...

I still trusted him. I just wish I understood why, for the first time in my life... It felt like he was hiding something from me.