All Chapters of CLAIMED BY THE MAFIA DON: Chapter 181 - Chapter 190

ARIELLAI found myself slumping down on the wall beside the door, knees pulled up to my chest, my head buried in my arms. I don’t know how long I sat there, wrapped in my own heartbeat, in the ache of everything I had just witnessed.But then… I heard it. Click!The soft sound of the door opening. My head shot up and there he was...Asher.Standing tall in the doorway, still and quiet, staring down at me. I scrambled to get to my feet, not thinking, just reacting. But my legs, my goddamn legs, they didn’t want to work. I staggered slightly, my balance faltering for just a second, and instinctively, I expected him to reach out. To steady me. To do something.He didn’t.His hands stayed right where they were, clenched at his sides, fists curling into the fabric of his pants like he was holding something in, like he was fighting something inside himself.And then I saw it. The look in his eyes.It was beyond anger. Beyond rage. It was something deeper. Colder. A kind of quiet fury that do

ARIELLAMaria was still looking at me, her eyes wide, her face filled with confusion. It was like she’d walked into a chemistry lab when she’d only ever studied art; she had no idea what was going on here.“But… what did he say?” she finally asked.“Well, practically, he blamed me for everything.”“Blamed you for everything?”“Ketchup, Maria, okay? Didn’t you see the news? Oh my god, why am I even telling you this?" I took a much-needed breath"Anyway, Luca is mad because Asher left and came here, and after he found out about Leon, he got mad and left. Now, Luca doesn’t know where he is. He's not there...and not here either. Apparently, he was supposed to go back today, which I had no idea about. So, now Luca is blaming me for Asher going missing.”“He’s missing?”“Ah, Maria, could you just… I don’t know. Can you make me a coffee or something? Make yourself useful... ”“Okay, just… fine...... Leon was talking about his dad today. He said his dad made him a promise, and he was really

ARIELLALuca’s voice dropped lower, deliberate, each word heavy as it settled into the room.“This isn’t about threats anymore. This isn’t about the mistakes we’ve already made. Those mistakes are already done.”He paused, letting the weight hang between us.“Right now, this is about survival. For you, for Leon, and yes, even for Asher.”A knot tightened in my chest as I struggled to grasp what he was really offering.“I have a way to keep you away from him....a way to make sure you survive and stay with your son.”I swallowed hard, the fear swirling inside me growing sharper.“Listen to me, Ariella,” he said, leaning in slightly, his face calm but convincing. “I know how much you want to protect Leon, and I do too. I love the little guy, you know that.”He paused for a moment, then added, “I’m not going to keep quiet about what I know. You need a plan.... A real one. A way to protect both of you.”I nodded slowly, still unsure if I could trust him. We stood on opposite sides of a lin

ARIELLAI started shaking my head, about to answer, but she pressed on, almost rushing her words.“It’s because he’s afraid. Afraid of what Asher might do. That Asher might bring the whole famiglia into trouble. And if Asher decides to be with you and Leon, I don’t think his wife will take that lightly. And the Russians? They won’t either. This might mean war.”She shook her head again, looking at me as if I held all the answers, all the secrets.“You can’t do that. Asher can’t do that. And I suppose Luca can’t either,” she said, stopping herself mid-thought. Her eyes darkened with pain. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but a lot of people have lost their lives because of war with them.”Her voice cracked as she continued, “I lost my parents in that war with the Russians. They weren’t aiming for my mom, but she was with my dad in that car when it exploded.”She took a deep breath, fighting back tears. “And Asher’s marriage to Dina…”She gave me a look, one full of a mix of sorrow

ARIELLA I rub my temples, trying to push the ache away, but it only grows heavier, pressing against the sides of my skull like it’s trying to split me open. My breathing feels too loud in the silence. I don’t even know why I’m thinking about trusting Alan. Maybe because right now, he’s the only person who’s given me something, anything that feels like information and protection instead of a threat. Luka’s last name isn’t much, but it’s a thread, a thread that could very well become a noose around my neck. I stand again, restless, pacing to the door before I stop myself from opening it. If I step outside, I’ll either find answers… or I’ll make myself an easy target. I’m not sure which one terrifies me more. I glance back toward the window but don’t dare get close. If Alan really saw me, if he’s been watching, he’ll know I’m nervous now. And showing nerves in this world is like bleeding in front of a shark. “What am I going to do?” I whisper to no one. My chest tightens at the