Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 440

ASHER

Luca walked outside and headed behind the bar, toward a dark corner where no one from the club would be able to see us. I followed. The cool evening air hit my face the second I stepped outside.

He reached the spot first and stopped. I walked up until we were standing face-to-face. Neither of us spoke for a moment. We just stared at each other.

Finally, he raised both hands slightly.

"So..." His jaw tightened. "Is this how you want to do it?"

I cracked my neck.

"I've been wanting to do this all day."

The words had barely left my mouth before he threw the first punch. His fist connected with my face Hard. I quickly responded with a fist of my own to the side of his face. His head snapped to the side, and He stumbled a step before straightening again.

Then he looked back at me, and A slow smile spread across his face. I smiled back just the same.

"There you are." He spat a little blood onto the ground.

"I was wondering when you'd stop talking."

He came at me without another word, and His fist buried itself in my ribs. I grunted but barely moved before driving my shoulder into his chest. The two of us crashed into the wall behind him.

People like us couldn't just start fighting in public. The Don didn't brawl in front of his men. And no one in their right mind was stupid enough to pick a fight with the Don. But Luca... Luca and I had our own way of settling things.

Whenever one of us carried too much anger... Too much frustration... We fought. Not to win, but to empty everything we couldn't put into words. And yes... I had said exactly what I did inside because I knew it would make him angry enough to follow me out here. Angry enough to hit me back, and Angry enough not to hold back.

Because right now... I didn't need my Consigliere. I didn't need my brother to comfort me. I needed someone who could punch the hell out of me without apologising afterwards.

Luca wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Then he laughed.

"You really are an asshole."

"Likewise."

A second later, he swung again, and this time... I didn't even try to dodge.

****

Minutes later, Luca and I were standing near the parking lot with bruised faces. Luca had both hands shoved into his pockets.

"I shouldn't have said that," I admitted into the night air.

He let out a quiet laugh before he groaned.

"No. I guess you shouldn't have."

For a few moments, neither of us spoke.

"You know," I finally said, "I didn't mean any of it.... For one, you will always have me."

He shook his head with a hidden smile. Then he looked me in the eye.

"But you're not really angry at me."

"No," I replied honestly.

"You're angry at yourself."

I looked away. Damn him, He always knew somehow.

"I've known you since we were kids, Asher. I know exactly what you look like when you're angry..... And this isn't it."

I swallowed.

"I failed them."

He sighed.

"No."

"I did," I replied. "My wife can't even take our son to see his grandmother without me turning it into a military operation. I've got more guards than needed all around my house, Bulletproof cars and Men following them everywhere, even inside the property."

I shook my head in disappointment. "My son can't even go to school."

I shook my head.

"What kind of life is that?"

"The life of a Don," Luca replied calmly.

"I never wanted that for them," I said honestly. "I want to protect them. I wanted Leon to make friends, and I wanted Ariella to go wherever she wanted."

"I want..." I laughed bitterly. "I want to be powerful enough to give them that."

Luca stayed quiet. Then he spoke.

"You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think you've forgotten something."

I frowned.

"What?"

"They're still alive."

I looked at him.

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