Claimed By The Ruthless Mafia

Ryder’s POV.

Kate approached me with a determined expression on her face. “Ryder, we need to talk,” she said firmly.

“Kate, I’m not in the mood…” I attempted to dismiss her, but she was relentless.

“Please, Ryder, just talk to me once,” she pleaded, her voice filled with desperation.

I let out a sigh, realizing she wasn’t going to give up. “Okay, I’m listening,” I relented and turned to face her.RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

“Not here,” she glanced over her shoulder, her eyes scanning the surroundings. “There are too many people around. If someone overhears us, it will become news,” she said, her eyes filled with innocence, accompanied by a subtle pout.

I nodded, understanding the need for privacy. “Fine, but I don’t have much time. Please make it quick,” I told her directly.

She gestured for me to follow her, and we made our way towards an empty room. As we entered, I waited for her to begin.

“Do you remember when we were together? Everything felt so perfect,” she said, batting her long eyelashes, trying to evoke a sense of nostalgia.

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter chuckle. “But I made it clear from day one that I didn’t want a relationship. It was you who wanted to give it a try,” I reminded her, the frustration evident in my voice.

But suddenly, she reached out and grabbed my neck, attempting to pull me closer.

“What are you doing, Kate? You said you wanted to talk. I should have known you wouldn’t change your old tactics,” I said firmly, swiftly removing her hands from my neck and tossing them away with a forceful jerk.

“Please, try to understand what we have. I miss you. I miss the intimacy we shared. I can’t live without you…,” she began to ramble, causing my anger to boil. I had already moved on from her, and I couldn’t comprehend why she was still fixated on me.

“Stop with your nonsensical talk. I’ve made it clear that I don’t want to continue our relationship. Why can’t you accept that it’s over?” I stated, my voice filled with frustration, as I turned to leave the room.

But before I could make my exit, she suddenly threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around me in a tight embrace.

The sound of the door opening caught my attention, and I swiftly pulled away from her, turning to see Bella standing there, a look of shock on her face. Realizing the gravity of the situation, my instinct kicked in, and I desperately tried to stop Bella from witnessing any more of this uncomfortable encounter. However, she swiftly spun on her heels and began to run away, clearly overwhelmed by what she had just witnessed.

I called out her name, desperately hoping she would stop. I hurriedly caught her arm, gently turning her to face me. She tried to pull away, insisting that I should go back to Kat if that’s what I wanted. I wanted to explain, to make her understand that she had misunderstood the situation. But she was not willing to listen.

“I should go,” she said, her voice filled with pain as she turned away.

Determined not to let her slip away, I went after her once again. She was weeping as she ran along the road, her tears blending with the rain.

“Bella! Stop!” I urged, my voice pleading.

“Go away, Ryder,” she sobbed, her words laced with anguish.

Refusing to give up, I quickened my pace and reached out, grasping her wrist firmly. I wouldn’t let her escape. “I won’t go anywhere, Bella. You’re the only one who matters to me, and what you think is a misunderstanding. I’ve made it clear to Kat that everything between us is over,” I explained earnestly.

She looked at me, her eyes filled with tears, searching for the truth. “You did?!” she whispered, her voice trembling with hope.

I nodded, gently wiping away the tears from her cheeks. “Yes,” I asserted, my voice filled with conviction. “Are you going to listen to me now? She tricked me into that room, and just as she hugged me, you walked in. Trust me, baby girl, she is now my ex-girlfriend. I have no feelings for her,” I tried to explain, hoping she would understand.

She lowered her gaze, her eyelashes damp from her tears, and remained silent. The weight of her doubts hung in the air between us.

“So, do you believe me or not?” I frowned, my voice tinged with frustration and concern.

“I want to believe you,” she finally spoke, her voice softening, “but your playboy image and all those girls surrounding you everywhere make me insecure. I can’t help but doubt you.”

Her pout and vulnerable expression tugged at my heart. Her words pierced through me, and I felt a pang of regret.

“You’ve known me your whole life, Bella,” I implored, my gaze fixed on her face, trying to gauge her reaction. “After everything we’ve been through, you still doubt me? Can’t you trust me when I open my heart to you?”

She took a moment, her gaze slowly rising to meet mine. The intensity in her eyes grew as she locked onto my gaze, and she nodded ever so slightly. Her lips were caught between her teeth, a sign of her inner struggle and vulnerability.

“Should we head back home, or would you like to stay at the party and continue enjoying ourselves?” I asked Bella, looking into her eyes for her preference.

“No, I want to go home,” she replied softly, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion.

A warm smile spread across my face upon hearing her refer to our place as home.

Her response brought relief, and the tension in my body dissipated. With her approval, I felt a sense of calmness washing over me.

“And you’ve reminded me that a bad girl like you deserves to be disciplined. You’ve misbehaved, doubted me and now you’ll have to face the consequences,” I whispered gently into her ear, my tone teasing yet affectionate. “I’m going to show you how a naughty girl is taken after her punishment.”

Her eyes widened, the color rising in her cheeks, turning her complexion a soft crimson. She was clearly taken aback by my words.

Closing the distance between us, I leaned in closer and continued to whisper in her ear, my voice intimate and filled with anticipation. “Get ready for your punishment, baby girl.”