Claimed By The Mafia Rogue King (Snow and Cupid) novel Chapter 262

Ares

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I watched the fireworks bloom and fade in the distant sky, each burst a cruel reminder of what tonight meant. Christmas. The shared birthday of Snow and Viviana.

But only one name filled my head now.

Snowflakes.

Memories of her past birthdays crashed over me. Her laughter when the wind stole the candle flame, the way she’d press her cheek

to my chest after blowing them out, whispering that another year with me felt like winning.

I could still feel her fingers tracing lazy circles on my wrist, her quiet promise that forever was just getting started.

Now she was twenty–two and she’d confirmed my worst fear.

She’d moved on.

The man in her heart was cold, untouchable, strange in the most devastatingly handsome way. Son of one of the most powerful Alphas alive. Cupid Godlike.

I looked away from the office window, swallowing the bitter taste rising in my throat.

My phone chimed at that moment and I move to glance at the screen.

Neils White. My brother–in–law.

hesitated, heart kicking hard. Neils rarely texted. No pleasantries. No small talk. If he was reaching out on Christmas night, it wasn’t to wish me well.

opened the message.

Dark Alley Case opens tomorrow. Prepare yourself because you will be called in for questioning but do not panic. Feroz got this.”

My knees buckled.

caught the edge of the desk, breath coming fast, shallow. The room tilted.

She’d said it herself earlier that next time we meet might be in court.

I’d shrug it off in my head.

Now it was real. Tomorrow.

I snapped and dialed Neils.

No answer.

Again. Again.

Nothing.

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5:59 pm D M

Chapter 262

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I shoved the phone in my pocket, grabbed my coat, and stormed out, ignoring the startled stares from the night staff. I slid into my car and peeled out, tires spinning on black ice.

The drive to Neils’s house felt endless. The city blurred past, Christmas lights, laughing families behind windows, fireworks still popping in the sky like mocking applause.

I arrived deep into midnight, shivering, pulse roaring in my ears.

Too much at stake.

I burst through the front door, sidestepping the startled butler, and stopped in the living room.

The Christmas tree blinked softly, red, green, gold, casting shifting colors across the walls. Lovey, my nephew was curled on the couch, eyes glued to a cartoon about snowmen and friendship.

“Uncle Ares!” He grinned upon setting eyes on me, scrambling up to hug me.

I ruffled his hair, absent, mechanical.

“Where’s your dad?”

Before Lovey could answer, Ranta descended the stairs, pausing when she saw me.

“Ares!” Her face lit up. “Goodness, you got Mom’s call, didn’t you?”

“About?”

“Oh, we’re partying tomorrow. Everyone’s invited to the patio.” She walked over, smiling. “Assuming you have a girlfriend now, you can bring her. How about Vivi?”

‘How about your husband?” I asked, quiet, edged.

She faltered, smile dimming at my tone.

‘He’s not back from work yet.”

‘What?”

Before she could respond, tires crunched outside.

The front door opened.

Veils White stepped in, glasses perched on his nose, looking every bit the calm, innocent family man. His eyes flicked to me, brief,

ssessing then widened with a grin as he turned to Lovey.

‘Honey.” He spread his arms.

.ovey ran to him.

Veils lifted him easily, then walk closer to kiss Ranta soft, loving.

‘Ares was just asking about you.”

‘Oh, I got tied up at work. Sorry I’m late.” He kissed her again.

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5:59 pm DMW

Chapter 262

“I’ll serve dinner. Finish here and freshen up.” She turned to me. “Will you stay?”

“Uh… no. Not really.”

She nodded, collected Lovey from Neils and disappeared upstairs.

The second she was gone, Neils’s smile vanished. His gaze turned cold, locked on me.

“What did you do to make her rigid?”

“Nothing.” I looked away, sighed. “Just… snapped a bit. I’m edgy.”

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“You shouldn’t be.” He stepped closer, voice low, controlled. “Feroz is handling everything. All you need to do is stick to acting innocent. It’s over. We have plans.”

I met his eyes, silent for a long beat.

“Feroz said he’s got it covered,” I said slowly, “but the Dark Alley case is open. There’s no way my name won’t come up. I’m the first witness.”

“And I said you’ll be called. You’ll be questioned. You’ll stick to the plan.” He set his jaw, took another step, pinning me with a warning stare. “Feroz is crazy. Psychopath. If he sees you as a problem, you know what happened to Rasha, the stripper. The walls of H.O.W.L. are fragile. He’ll put a bullet through your skull. Just act natural. The case closes in a few days.”

I nodded, looked away and sighed.

His words were supposed to calm me but They didn’t.

My thoughts drifted, settled on Snow again.

How beautiful she’d looked tonight. How perfect it would’ve been to kiss her longer.

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