Claimed By The Mafia Rogue King (Snow and Cupid) novel Chapter 253

253

Chapter 253

Ares

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I sat in bed alone, staring at the blank wall across from me, the silence pressing in like a physical weight.

In less than a month I’d lost nearly half my company. Distraction, negligence, the divorce, all of it bleeding out faster than I could staunch.

The empire I’d built brick by ruthless brick was crumbling, and the cracks traced back to one name.

Snowflakes.

Doctor Catina had sold me out to Feroz to save her own skin. I’d accepted that betrayal, swallowed it like bitter medicine because rage at her was easier than rage at myself.

But Snow… I didn’t know how she’d learned about Viviana and me. Prayed she hadn’t learned about the dark alley. If she ever discovered that truth, I wouldn’t survive it. Not her disgust. Not her hatred. Not the way her eyes would look at me after.

I was still lost in that spiraling thought when my phone rang.

Viviana’s name flashed on the screen.

On any other night I would have lunged for it, heart racing, already half–hard at the sound of her voice, ready to stroke myself through whatever filthy thing she wanted to whisper. Tonight, irritation wasn’t strong enough a word. Revulsion curled in my gut.

The call ended.

Rang again.

I reached for it, thumb hovering when tires crunched on the gravel outside.

I left the phone where it was and frowned.

I’d sent Ana home hours ago. I wanted solitude. No guests. No interruptions.

Praying it wasn’t my mother, I couldn’t handle her sanctimonious rant right now, I moved to the window.

And nearly had a heart attack.

Snow stood under the porch light, snow dusting her hair like diamonds, smiling tiredly up at the house.

“Ares? Come down please. Pay for my fare.”

Her voice soft, sweet, exactly the way it used to be, cut through the night.

I slapped myself hard across the cheek.

The sting told me this was real.

Slowly, mechanically, I turned, grabbed my wallet, snatched a fistful of notes, and headed downstairs barefoot, forgetting shoes, forgetting everything except the pounding in my chest.

1/3

6:50 pm

Chapter 253

I stepped outside into the cold.

She was beautiful.

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More beautiful than memory had allowed. That smile, open, trusting, unguarded took me straight back to the days when she still looked at me like I hung the moon.

Those eyes, bright, melting reminded me of the girl who used to wait on the porch for my car, who used to throw herself into my arms and kiss me like the world could burn and she wouldn’t care as long as we were together.

I paid the driver, handed him far too much, waved him off without counting change. He drove away grinning.

Then it was just us.

Snow and me.

Under falling snow.

She giggled soft, delighted, and came straight into my arms.

My heart thudded so loud I thought it might crack ribs.

“Goodness. How are you?” She pulled back just enough to look at me. “Oh, it’s cold. Let’s go in.”

She tugged me toward the house.

I followed dazed, reeling, watching her from behind as she walked ahead like she still belonged here. Like nothing had ever torn us apart.

Inside the living room she paused, dabbing quietly at her nose with a tissue she’d pulled from the side table.

I studied her, searching, desperate.

Just then, Viviana’s voice echoed in my head.

Her brain is shrinking… she’s losing memories…

Snow wiped again.

A faint smear of blood stained the tissue.

My stomach dropped.

She was bleeding. Nosebleed. Just like Viviana had described.

She looked up, caught me staring, and smiled like nothing was wrong.

“Is Ana in? I’m so starving… but maybe I should just sleep. I’m tired.”

She turned fully to me, eyes melting into mine, soft, trusting, in love.

I couldn’t name what crashed through me. Joy, guilt, grief, hunger, terror, all at once.

Slowly I closed the distance. Emotion swelled until it threatened to drown me.

2/3

6:50 pm W M

Chapter 253

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How much I’d missed this Snow, the vulnerable one, the innocent one, the one who looked at me like I was her entire world.

I cupped her cheek.

Leaned in and without any hesitation I Kissed her.

The thrill surged through my veins like electricity, sharp, addictive. She held onto me, kissed me back soft and eager and perfect.

I deepened it, tasted her, drank her in, praying this moment would never end.

She broke away first, breathless, smiling into my eyes.

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