All Chapters of The Mafia's Addiction: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

***************CHAPTER 31~Damon’s POV~The next day, I refused to keep Arianna cooked up at home and took her with me to work. As we drove to work, Arianna sat quietly beside me as the engine hummed. She stared out the window, her arms crossed. Her silence was a shield, but I could feel her unease, the residual tension from the events of the previous day.Mars stirred in the back of my mind. “She knows more than she lets on. It’s time, Damon.”I gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Not now.”“If not now, then when? She’s our mate, and the longer you wait, the more you risk losing her.”Mars wasn’t wrong. The glimpses of suspicion and confusion in Arianna’s eyes last night haunted me. But telling her the truth about what I was—what we were—felt like crossing a line I couldn’t uncross.For now, I focused on the day ahead. Bringing her to work as my assistant was a move aimed at keeping her close, ensuring her safety, and keeping Luca's men at bay.We arrived at the office and immedi

***************CHAPTER 33~Arianna’s POV~The guttural growl that tore from my throat was so foreign, so primal, that for a moment, I thought it couldn’t possibly have come from me. But it had.I gasped, staring wide-eyed at the men surrounding me. Their faces twisted in shock and fear, their weapons faltering in their hands.“What the hell—” one of them stammered.Before he could finish, a sharp, searing pain tore through my body. I screamed as my bones cracked and shifted, my muscles burning like fire coursing through them.“What’s happening to me?” I managed to choke out, clutching my head as I easily broke the rope binding my hands."I’ll protect you."The voice slithered into my mind, dangerous and feminine, yet oddly comforting. It wasn’t mine, but it felt like it belonged—a part of me I hadn’t known existed until now.My vision blurred, the edges darkening as my body began to change. Sharp fangs pushed past my gums. I could feel how lethal they were. My fingers elongated into

***************CHAPTER 35~Arianna’s POV~The next morning, the sun poured through the tall windows of Damon’s office, casting long shadows over the polished surfaces. I sat stiffly at my desk, forcing myself to focus on the reports Damon had left for me.After last night, I wasn’t sure how I felt about him—or myself. The dark room, his possessive words, the way he growled—it was all too much. However, a flicker of defiance much stronger than before consumed me instead of fear.If Damon thought he could scare me into submission, he had another thing coming.The sound of sharp heels clicking against the marble floor drew my attention. I looked up just as the door swung open, revealing the young lady I saw in Damon’s arms just yesterday.My mood dropped a big notch. I did not know why the sight of them together unnerved me. Was it because he always claimed I was his and would even let me speak to my boyfriend while he was busy flirting with his whores in my face? Tsk. I shook my head

***************CHAPTER 37~Arianna’s POV~The ride back home was tense. Silent. Every passing moment felt heavier with silence and unresolved emotions.Damon tried to speak once, his deep voice cutting through the quiet. “Arianna…”I didn’t respond. I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the world blur by.Since I mentioned my boyfriend—Henry—yesterday. The very mention had sent Damon into a fit of rage, one I’d grown accustomed to since stepping into his life. But his control over the narrative and his belief in his ability to dictate my choices infuriated me with defiance.This time, though, it was different.I had a plan.When we pulled into the estate, I slipped out of the car before Damon could say anything more, ignoring the feeling of his gaze burning into my back.The moment I reached my room, I locked the door, heading straight for the shower. The hot water cascaded over me, washing away the grime of the day but not the tangled mess of my thoughts.Since last night, I

***************CHAPTER 39~Arianna’s POV~The intensity of Damon’s gaze burned into mine as his hands cupped my cheeks, his grip firm but not harsh. Before I could register what was happening, his lips crashed against mine.The kiss was searing, a raw mix of anger, frustration, and something deeper that I couldn’t quite name. I gasped, shocked by his action and that simple movement helped him slip his tongue between my lips as he deepened the kiss instantly. Damon stole my breath away, crashing his tongue against mine, claiming my mouth with a hunger that left me breathless.At once all reasons were thrown away. My initial reaction was to push him away, my hands pressing against his chest as I tried to break free.“What are you doing?” I managed to mumble against his lips, but his grip didn’t falter.“You ask too many questions,” he growled lowly, his voice vibrating through me.I wanted to fight it. I wanted to remind him—and myself—that I wasn’t his to claim, that I belonged to n