Claimed By The Mafia Rogue King (Snow and Cupid) novel Chapter 381

Chapter 381

Chapter 381

Cupid

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I stood before the television, the volume turned so low it was barely a murmur, watching the newscaster spin lie after polished lis

It wasn’t her fault. She had been paid handsomely, no doubt, to open her mouth and let the poison flow. I turned away, eyes drifting to the wall clock. Midnight. Snow still hadn’t stirred.

Guilt twisted in my gut like a blade. I never should have let her push her gift that far.

I never should have asked her to dive so deep into the past when I knew how much it cost her, how each vision carved another piece from her strength. I shouldn’t have.

I sank onto the couch in the dim living room, exhaling a long, weary breath that carried the weight of everything collapsing around

1. me.

My own father, no, Alpha Ruis was disowning me. Erasing me. Framing me for a crime my brother had committed. Yenda had assaulted Almira. Yenda. And yet the noose was tightening around my neck.

Worries piled higher, heavier, until the soft sound of footsteps broke through the haze. I lifted my gaze.

Snow.

She emerged from the bedroom doorway, pale and unsteady, hair tousled from restless sleep.

I surged to my feet, crossing the room in three strides to meet her at the top of the stairs.

I took her hand gently, guiding her down to the couch as though she were made of glass.

“My goodness,” I murmured, voice rough with worry, “you shouldn’t be walking yet.”

She settled beside me and let out a small, shaky sigh.

“Water, please.”

I moved quickly to the kitchen, filled a glass, and returned. She drained it in one long swallow, then blinked slowly, brow furrowing as awareness returned in fragments.

“It’s my loft,” I said quietly. “You remember it?”

She exhaled again, nodding. A small, sad smile curved the corner of her mouth.

Her gaze drifted to the floor–to–ceiling glass doors where rain lashed against the panes in relentless sheets.

We were deep in the rainforest, a hidden sanctuary no one could find.

“It feels like just yesterday I came here for the first time,” she whispered, turning back to me. “Like yesterday we made love for the first time… right here on this couch.”

The memory hit me like a physical ache. I lowered myself beside her, holding her gaze, searching for the hurt I knew must be there. After a long moment I looked away, throat tight.

1/3

7:31 pm

Chapter 381

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“L… I know you must have heard things about me,” I began, voice low. “Seen things. And I want to answer whatever questions you have. Honestly. Completely.”

“I have no questions,” she said, tender and calm.

But her heartbeat betrayed her. I heard it racing, unsteady, a frantic drum beneath that composed surface.

“Let’s just clear your name so you can walk free,” she continued, voice trembling only at the edges. She blinked rapidly. “It was Yenda. He tried to force himself on Almira. Desmond arrived just in time to stop it. Then your father came in… and everything blurred. I passed out. I’m sorry I couldn’t see the rest.”

I took her hand, cradling it between both of mine.

“You did more than enough,” I said quietly. “Knowing Almira wasn’t… violated… that’s the only good thing that’s come out of this nightmare. All that’s left is finding solid evidence to clear my name. But before I do that, there’s something I need to tell you.”

She held my gaze for a long, frightening second, then dropped her eyes and murmured, “I think I should use the bathroom.”

She rose, too quickly, and started toward the stairs. I stood as well.

“It’s all true,” I said behind her.

She froze mid–step.

“I don’t know exactly what you’ve heard,” I continued, voice steady despite the tremor in my chest, “but the part about me being the Mafia King… and stealing Feroz’s drugs… that’s true.”

She whirled.

Her palm cracked across my cheek, hard. My head snapped to the side; the sting bloomed sharp and immediate. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the devastation in her eyes.

Her lips trembled violently. Tears welled, spilled, and she swiped them away with an angry, shaking hand.

“I told you I have no questions,” she warned, voice deadly soft. “Don’t you dare answer ones I never wanted to ask.”

Then she turned and walked, almost ran up the stairs and into the bedroom.

I stood there, stunned, the echo of the slap ringing in my ears. Slowly I sank back onto the couch, burying my face in my palms.

It was over.

I had finally broken the heart of the only woman I had ever loved more than my own life.

I didn’t know how to move forward. How to breathe through the grief of losing her. How to ask for forgiveness when I had hidden the ugliest parts of myself for so long.

Perhaps I should go to my knees, beg until she saw reason, until she understood I would burn it all down for her.

Fear, real, bone–deep fear clawed at me. If I didn’t act quickly, I would lose her forever.

I rose, heart hammering, and turned toward the stairs.

She was already there.

2/3

9:31 pm

Chapter 381

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Standing at the top, watching me. I hadn’t heard her return. Hadn’t sensed her presence.

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