Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59

My heart plummets.

Shot?

I was right. From the very first moment when he shielded me when he pressed me down and hushed me. – I knew something was wrong.

I feel the sting of tears behind my eyes, hot and fast, but I bite them back.

The last thing Asher needs right now is to see me falling apart again.

Still, I can’t stop myself. My voice comes out in a whisper, shaking despite my best effort to keep it steady.

“You were shot?”

I watch him carefully, trying – begging not to show how scared I am.

But Asher doesn’t even glance at me. He ignores the question entirely, saying nothing as he shrugs off his hoodie with stiff, jerky movements.

Underneath, he’s wearing a t-shirt – and the moment the fabric lifts, blood smears across his arm and side, dripping sluggishly down.

There’s no more hiding it. No more pretending.

I’ve never seen someone shot before. And now it’s Asher.

My Asher.

Seeing it seeing him like this –

I can’t take it. I clench my fists at my sides, digging my nails into my palms so hard it hurts, just so I don’t

break down.

Luca sets the supplies down on the table in front of Asher. He looks him straight in the eye and asks,

“You ready?”

That’s when it hits me – what’s about to happen.

And I realize I can’t be here for it.

Desperately needing an excuse to leave, I blurt out, “Can I use the bathroom?”

Luca raises his hands and points toward a door down the hall. I nod quickly, nearly tripping over my own feet to get there.

I slip inside, shut the door behind me, and press my back against it, breathing hard. I don’t even need to use the bathroom. I just can’t handle seeing Asher in pain.

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Chapter 59

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I sit down on the closed lid of the toilet, wrapping my arms around myself as the sounds start filtering through the thin door.

Grunts.

Whimpers.

Low curses of pain.

I sit there, staring blankly at the wall, feeling each sound like a knife to the chest. Minutes drag into what

feels like hours.

Then, a knock startles me. I freeze.

“Ariella?”

It’s Asher’s voice, muffled but warm.

“Ariella, are you in there? Are you okay?”

I stand up slowly, moving toward the door.

Before I can even reach for the handle, his voice comes again, softer, almost pleading:

“Ariella, open the door. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

My heart squeezes. I open the door.

There he is. Asher. The man I love.

He’s changed into a fresh T-shirt. A bandage wraps around his arm, but he looks so much better than

when I left him with Luca.

Relief floods through me, so strong it nearly knocks me over. I throw my arms around him, hugging him gently, afraid I’ll hurt him.

“You’re okay,” I whisper, voice thick with emotion. “You’re fine. I can’t believe it.”

Asher pulls me closer with his good arm, using his injured one carefully. He lifts my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he says.

I blink up at him. “What do you mean? You haven’t done anything wrong. I should be the one…..”

“I’m sorry for the way I acted earlier,” he says, his voice rough. “For snapping at you. For everything. I promise it won’t happen again. I was just…” He breaks off, swallowing hard. “I was scared. Scared something would happen to you. Scared I was going to lose you.”

His words break me open and heal me all at once.

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