Lahat ng Kabanata ng Claimed by the Mafia King : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Chapter Forty-OneDamiano's POV I turned, pushing my hands into my pockets, and started walking. I could hear Alessia's foot stomping the ground as she followed me from behind, but I didn't slow down. I wasn't sure where the word piccola came from. But I guess I kind of liked it. I mean, compared to my age, she was a little after all. And cute like a doll. I was about to step out of the alley when she grabbed my shirt. "Wait," She gasped through ragged breath. "Did you have to walk so fast?""Did you have to walk so slowly?"She glared at me but ignored my question. "It's not yet over."My brow arched. "What isn't?""Your plan?" She straightened up, her hands resting on her hips. "I mean, we can still pull it off."I stared at her, eyes void of any expression. But as she rolled her eyes and folded her arms in front of her I knew she got my message."No, I'm not being ridiculous. Besides, we still have time. When we got here I didn't see any police car parked outside." I didn't let

Damiano's POV Alessia glared at me, her hand darting up to wipe the smudge.I caught her wrist midair, pressing it back down to the table. “Ah, ah. Couples don’t mind a little mess.” I leaned in, close enough that the scent of her pulse teased my senses. Then, with deliberate slowness, I reached out with my thumb, dragging it across the corner of her mouth to wipe the sauce away.She froze. Her lips parted, breath hitching.And then, to make sure the detective—and everyone else watching—believed it, I brought my thumb to my lips and sucked the taste away, eyes locked on hers.Her face went crimson.She tried to pull her hand back, but I tightened my grip, smirking as I whispered, “You wanted a performance, amore. Don’t complain when I give them a show.”Her jaw dropped, outrage flashing behind her eyes—but she didn’t dare cause a scene with the detective still watching.Perfect.I lifted my glass again, savoring my victory, and added lazily, “Your move.”Her eyes were still blazing a

Alessia's POV Damiano still hadn’t said a word. He just sipped his wine like this was the most entertaining show he’d ever seen. Which, of course, only made me angrier.“Hell, half the crazy stuff you’re pointing at probably has a medical term, like dissociation, conditioning, and suggestibility. People are fragile, Detective. You poke around in the right place long enough, with the right resources, and poof.” I snapped my fingers. “You get obedience. You don’t need supernatural mumbo jumbo to explain it.”I leaned forward, lowering my voice like I was sharing the biggest secret of all. “What you really need is a clue. Because right now? You sound like some conspiracy blogger with too much caffeine and not enough sleep.”I dropped back in my chair, smirking, because dammit—if anyone was going to believe Damiano was Dracula’s next in line, it sure as hell wasn’t going to be me. Besides, he was already rich, handsome, and even a Mafia. No need to give him super abilities.“Can't you se

Damiano’s POVHer glare burned holes straight through me, but I didn’t let go. My hand was locked around her elbow, a tether she hated and I refused to release.“What’s going on with you?” I ground out, my voice low and simmering. “Why the hell are you acting like this?”Her eyes narrowed, the corner of her mouth twitching like she was holding back a cruel smile. “Acting like what?”I took a step closer, my grip tightening. “Like a child throwing a tantrum. You stormed off when I tried to help you with the door.”That did it. She threw her head back and laughed—sharp, loud, and jagged. Not the kind of laugh that belonged in amusement but the kind that cut to the bone. “Oh, that?” Her voice dripped sarcasm. “God forbid I offend your chivalry by daring to touch a door handle on my own.”I glared at her, pulse ticking, but she didn’t stop.“I didn’t need your help, Damiano. I don’t need anyone’s help. Never have. My brother and I—we’ve always done just fine on our own. And now, suddenly

Damiano’s POVThat morning had started differently.Leo and I stepped into the café, and the world seemed to pause. Forks clinked against plates, conversations dropped mid-sentence, and then the whispers began to crawl through the room like an infection.“That’s Damiano Valentino.”“The billionaire heir—here?”“My God, what’s he doing in a café?”I let out an exhausted sigh, dragging a hand across my jaw. I hated this. Their gawking, their wide-eyed wonder, the whispers.Beside me, Leo’s shoulders twitched. He was trying not to laugh. I felt it in the way his chest hitched.“Don’t,” I muttered darkly, not even glancing at him.His lips twitched harder, and he cleared his throat, choking down the laugh that threatened to break loose.“Not thinking about it,” he said under his breath, voice strangled with amusement.“Mm.” I slid into a seat near the back, my expression carved from stone. “You’re terrible at lying.”Leo smirked but didn’t push. He knew better.After a beat, he leaned bac