Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 58

Chapter 58

+25 Bonus

“Oh, we’re back to that topic again?” Asher growls. “Is that what you want to discuss here? Right now? With Luca sitting here?”

I can’t help myself. I start crying. Not even a cute cry – an ugly cry. A humiliating, messy, gut-wrenching

sob.

Asher cusses under his breath.

“Fuck. I hate this.”

I try to stop myself from crying, desperate not to disappoint him more, desperate not to make him

angrier.

“I just… I just think you’re hurt,” I stammer, wiping my tears roughly. “And if you’re hurt, it means you were hurt protecting me. You’re right. I should never have come to that party. That was the worst thing I could have done. Putting you in danger like that. I’m so sorry. I’m just-”

But Asher cuts me off sharply.

“I would really like it if you just shut the hell up.”

That’s when Luca finally intervenes.

“Okay, okay, everybody,” Luca says, trying to keep his voice calm, but there’s a tightness there. “Why don’t we just calm down, alright? It’s been…,” he searches for words, “an unexpected night. We’re full of tension, we’re rattled from what happened to us. Before we say things we don’t mean, before we say things we can’t take back, let’s just take a deep breath and get to safety. Okay?”

“Okay,” I manage, my voice barely above a whisper, almost a whimper.

But Asher doesn’t let it go. He snaps back bitterly,

“It’s your fault she was there in the first place.”

Luca raises his hands in surrender, then grips the steering wheel again, his knuckles tight.

And just like that, the car goes silent again.

We drive forward. It feels like hours, but it’s probably only minutes before Luca finally pulls the car to a

stop.

We get out quietly. Luca moves quickly, covering the car with branches and dirt, making sure it’s hidden.

We walk for a bit along a narrow, barely visible trail, the ground uneven under our feet. Then, through the trees, I see it a beach, and beyond that, a boat tied up near the edge of the water.

–

I’m not even sure if it’s a river or the ocean. Right now, it doesn’t matter. Water means escape. Water means safety.

1/3

Chapter 58

434

+25 Bonus

We climb onto the boat, and Luca starts the engine. It’s a short ride – maybe only a few minutes – but the entire time, I keep glancing over my shoulder.

When we reach the other side, we jump off quickly. Luca pulls out his phone, checking something before motioning for us to follow.

–

We start hiking up a rough, narrow path. It’s steep and exhausting, but no one complains. We just keep moving, one foot in front of the other, until finally, we reach it a small cabin, tucked away deep in the forest, almost swallowed by the trees.

Luca unlocks the door, and we slip inside. It’s dim, dusty, but solid.

Luca turns to us. “I need to check the perimeter,” he says, voice low but steady. Without waiting for a response, he leaves, disappearing into the darkness outside.

The whole time he’s gone, my mind races.

What if something happens to him? What if someone is already out there?

Asher sits down heavily on one of the chairs, his face pale and drawn, but he doesn’t say anything.

Minutes drag by like hours.

Finally, Luca returns. He shuts the door behind him and addresses Asher first as if I’m not even there.

“Perimeters are clear. I’m turning on the security sensors now,” he says, pulling out a few small devices from his jacket.

–

He catches sight of my face – pale, nervous, my hands wringing together and he offers a small, almost tired smile.

“Don’t worry,” he says. “If anybody even gets close to this cabin, we’ll know. You’re safe here.”

I nod absently, trying to believe him, but my heart still won’t stop racing.

—

Luca turns to look at Asher, and the two share a glance something heavy and silent passing between them that I can’t quite decipher.

Then Luca curses under his breath. “Fuck,” he mutters, before stomping out of the living area, disappearing deeper into the cabin.

I sit frozen, my mind racing.

What was that?

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify