Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

I knew I was rambling-talking so fast I barely took a breath-but I couldn’t stop. It all just poured out.

“Okay, okay,” Luca said, cutting in gently. “Slow down. I need you to breathe. Just… take a second and talk to me like a calm, rational human. Like someone who’s going to be the queen one day.”

He said it with that signature Luca mockery in his voice-light, teasing, half-serious. And even though I didn’t want to, I smiled. Just a little.

“Please, Luca,” I whispered, letting the panic leak into my voice this time. “Just tell me. Is Asher okay?”

“Yes,” he said firmly. “Asher is fine. He’s going to be okay.”

I held my breath, waiting.

“There were some complications-something to do with his nervous system or whatever,” Luca went on. “I didn’t go to med school, so don’t quote me-but they had to put him under. He hasn’t woken up yet. But they’re expecting him to any day now.”

I finally let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding.

“But they’re sure he’s okay?”

“They’re sure,” Luca said. “And I promise you-when he wakes up, you’ll be the first person I call.”

“Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you, Luca.”

Then a new wave of irritation hit me. “But where were you? Why weren’t you picking up my calls?”

“Well, just because you asked so nicely,” Luca said, “you should know-I was kinda grounded.”

“Grounded?” I echoed.

“All right, punished by my father.”

I frowned. “What does that even mean?”

“It means,” he said with a dramatic sigh, “that while you were being all pretty and concerned, I was literally living in a place that resembled hell. Locked in a basement. No food. No water. No light. For three days. I just got out, took a shower, had my first bite of real food in forever… and then called you.”

I went quiet.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine,” he said, brushing it off. “My dad’s mad because I wasn’t even supposed to go throw that party. And now, with what happened to Asher… he thinks it’s my fault. That maybe none of it would’ve happened if I hadn’t thrown it.”

“Oh…”

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Chapter 72

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“Yeah. So anyway,” Luca added, voice softening, “when Asher wakes up, you’ll be the first person I call. Just… take care of yourself, okay, Ari?”

“I wish I could take care of him,” I admitted.

“It’s okay. He’d understand. And when he wakes up,” Luca said with a grin in his voice, “he’ll want to see you looking more beautiful than ever. Not like some old granny who lost sleep over him.”

I smiled. “Okay,”

“Take care little Ari,”

I hung up, feeling a little less like the world was crumbling around me.

Two days later, Luca called again.

“Asher’s awake,” he told me, and my heart stopped for a beat. “But he’s not allowed around electronics yet.”

“You sure he’s okay?”

“I promise you, Ari. He’s okay.”

And I believed him. That was all I needed.

A week later, Luca found a way to sneak me a call.

When Asher’s voice crackled through the line, I nearly cried. He was groggy, slurring, clearly disoriented- we didn’t say much that made sense-but I didn’t care. His voice was enough.

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